The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion dated March 26, 2019
|
Pricing supplement underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018
|
Registration Statement Nos. 333-222672
and 333-222672-01 Rule 424(b)(2) |
| JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC |
| Structured Investments |
$ |
General
| · | The notes are designed for investors who seek an unleveraged return equal to any appreciation (up to the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%), or an unleveraged return equal to the absolute value of any depreciation (up to 15.00%), of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF at maturity. |
| · | Investors should be willing to forgo interest and dividend payments and, if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%, be willing to lose some or all of their principal amount at maturity. |
| · | The notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, which we refer to as JPMorgan Financial, the payment on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Financial, as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as guarantor of the notes. |
| · | Minimum denominations of $10,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof |
Key Terms
| Issuer: | JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, an indirect, wholly owned finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. | |
| Guarantor: | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | |
| Fund: | The iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (Bloomberg ticker: EEM) | |
| Payment at Maturity: |
If the Final Share Price is greater than the Initial Share Price, at maturity you will receive a cash payment that provides you with a return per $1,000 principal amount note equal to the Fund Return, subject to the Maximum Upside Return. Accordingly, under these circumstances, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows: | |
| $1,000 + ($1,000 × Fund Return), subject to the Maximum Upside Return | ||
|
If the Final Share Price is equal to the Initial Share Price, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity. If the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by up to 15.00%, you will receive at maturity a cash payment that provides you with a return per $1,000 principal amount note equal to the Absolute Fund Return, and your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows: $1,000 + ($1,000 × Absolute Fund Return) Because the payment at maturity will not reflect the Absolute Fund Return if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than the Buffer Amount of 15.00%, your maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is negative is $1,150 per $1,000 principal amount note. | ||
| If the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%, you will lose 1.17647% of the principal amount of your notes for every 1% that the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%. Under these circumstances, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows: | ||
| $1,000 + [$1,000 × (Fund Return + 15.00%) x 1.17647] | ||
| You will lose some or all of your principal amount at maturity if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%. | ||
| Maximum Upside Return: | 7.00%. For example, if the Fund Return is equal to or greater than 7.00%, you will receive the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%, which entitles you to a maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is positive of $1,070 per $1,000 principal amount note that you hold. | |
| Buffer Amount: | 15.00% | |
| Downside Leverage Factor: | 1.17647 | |
| Fund Return: |
(Final Share Price – Initial Share Price) Initial Share Price |
|
| Absolute Fund Return: | The absolute value of the Fund Return. For example, if the Fund Return is -5%, the Absolute Fund Return will equal 5%. | |
| Initial Share Price: | The closing price of one share of the Fund on the Pricing Date | |
| Final Share Price: | The arithmetic average of the closing prices of one share of the Fund on the Ending Averaging Dates | |
| Share Adjustment Factor: | The Share Adjustment Factor is referenced in determining the closing price of one share of the Fund and is set initially at 1.0 on the Pricing Date. The Share Adjustment Factor is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the Fund. See “The Underlyings — Funds — Anti-Dilution Adjustments” in the accompanying product supplement for further information. | |
| Pricing Date: | On or about March 29, 2019 | |
| Original Issue Date: | On or about April 3, 2019 (Settlement Date) | |
| Ending Averaging Dates*: | April 6, 2020, April 7, 2020, April 8, 2020, April 9, 2020 and April 13, 2020 | |
| Maturity Date*: | April 16, 2020 | |
| CUSIP: | 48130WN80 | |
| * | Subject to postponement in the event of certain market disruption events and as described under “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Determination Date — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying (Other Than a Commodity Index)” and “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Payment Date” in the accompanying product supplement |
Investing in the notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-10 of the accompanying product supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page US-1 of the accompanying underlying supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-5 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Price to Public (1) | Fees and Commissions (2) | Proceeds to Issuer | |
| Per note | $1,000 | $ | $ |
| Total | $ | $ | $ |
| (1) | See “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” in this pricing supplement for information about the components of the price to public of the notes. |
| (2) | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Financial, will pay all of the selling commissions it receives from us to other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers. In no event will these selling commissions exceed $10.00 per $1,000 principal amount note. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement |
If the notes priced today, the estimated value of the notes would be approximately $986.30 per $1,000 principal amount note. The estimated value of the notes, when the terms of the notes are set, will be provided in the pricing supplement and will not be less than $970.00 per $1,000 principal amount note. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement for additional information.
The notes are not bank deposits, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
Additional Terms Specific to the Notes
You may revoke your offer to purchase the notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the applicable agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the notes, we will notify you and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase. You may also choose to reject such changes, in which case we may reject your offer to purchase.
You should read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying prospectus, as supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to our Series A medium-term notes, of which these notes are a part, and the more detailed information contained in the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
| · | Product supplement no. 4-I dated April
5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004519/dp87528_424b2-ps4i.pdf |
| · | Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004514/crt_dp87766-424b2.pdf |
| · | Prospectus supplement and prospectus, each dated April 5, 2018: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004508/dp87767_424b2-ps.pdf
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1665650, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CIK is 19617. As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Financial.
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 1 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Fund?
The following table and examples illustrate the hypothetical total return and the hypothetical payment at maturity on the notes. The “total return” as used in this pricing supplement is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note to $1,000. Each hypothetical total return or payment at maturity set forth below assumes an Initial Share Price of $43 and reflects the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%, the Buffer Amount of 15.00% and the Downside Leverage Factor of 1.17647. Each hypothetical total return or payment at maturity set forth below is for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total return or payment at maturity applicable to a purchaser of the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and in the examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis.
| Final Share Price | Fund Return |
Absolute Fund Return |
Total Return |
| $77.4000 | 80.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $70.9500 | 65.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $64.5000 | 50.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $60.2000 | 40.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $55.9000 | 30.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $51.6000 | 20.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $47.3000 | 10.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $46.0100 | 7.00% | N/A | 7.00% |
| $45.1500 | 5.00% | N/A | 5.00% |
| $44.0750 | 2.50% | N/A | 2.50% |
| $43.0000 | 0.00% | N/A | 0.00% |
| $41.9250 | -2.50% | 2.50% | 2.50% |
| $40.8500 | -5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| $38.7000 | -10.00% | 10.00% | 10.00% |
| $36.5500 | -15.00% | 15.00% | 15.00% |
| $36.5457 | -15.01% | N/A | -0.01% |
| $34.4000 | -20.00% | N/A | -5.88% |
| $30.1000 | -30.00% | N/A | -17.65% |
| $25.8000 | -40.00% | N/A | -29.41% |
| $21.5000 | -50.00% | N/A | -41.18% |
| $17.2000 | -60.00% | N/A | -52.94% |
| $12.9000 | -70.00% | N/A | -64.71% |
| $8.6000 | -80.00% | N/A | -76.47% |
| $4.3000 | -90.00% | N/A | -88.24% |
| $0.0000 | -100.00% | N/A | -100.00% |
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 2 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
Hypothetical Examples of Amount Payable at Maturity
The following examples illustrate how the total payment at maturity in different hypothetical scenarios is calculated.
Example 1: The price of one share of the Fund increases from the Initial Share Price of $43 to a Final Share Price of $44.075.
Because the Final Share Price of $44.075 is greater than the Initial Share Price of $43 and the Fund Return of 2.50% does not exceed the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,025 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × 2.50%) = $1,025
Example 2: The price of one share of the Fund decreases from the Initial Share Price of $43 to a Final Share Price of $40.85.
Although the Fund Return is negative, because the Final Share Price of $40.85 is less than the Initial Share Price of $43 by up to the Buffer Amount of 15.00% and the Absolute Fund Return is 5.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,050 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × 5%) = $1,050
Example 3: The price of one share of the Fund increases from the Initial Share Price of $43 to a Final Share Price of $55.90.
Because the Final Share Price of $55.90 is greater than the Initial Share Price of $43 and the Fund Return of 30% exceeds the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,070 per $1,000 principal amount note, the maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is positive.
Example 4: The price of one share of the Fund decreases from the Initial Share Price of $43 to a Final Share Price of $21.50.
Because the Final Share Price of $21.50 is less than the Initial Share Price of $43 by more than the Buffer Amount of 15.00% and the Fund Return is -50%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $588.24 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (-50% + 15.00%) × 1.17647] = $588.24
Example 5: The price of one share of the Fund decreases from the Initial Share Price of $43 to a Final Share Price of $36.55. Although the Fund Return is negative, because the Final Share Price of $36.55 is less than the Initial Share Price of $43 by up to the Buffer Amount of 15.00% and the Absolute Fund Return is 15.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,150 per $1,000 principal amount note, the maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is negative, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × 15.00%) = $1,150
The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments on the notes shown above apply only if you hold the notes for their entire term. These hypotheticals do not reflect fees or expenses that would be associated with any sale in the secondary market. If these fees and expenses were included, the hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments shown above would likely be lower.
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 3 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
Selected Purchase Considerations
| · | CAPPED, UNLEVERAGED APPRECIATION POTENTIAL IF THE FUND RETURN IS POSITIVE — The notes provide the opportunity to earn a capped, unleveraged return equal to a positive Fund Return, up to the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%. Accordingly, the maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is positive is $1,070 per $1,000 principal amount note. Because the notes are our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, the payment of which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co., payment of any amount on the notes is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay its obligations as they become due. |
| · | POTENTIAL FOR UP TO A 15.00% RETURN ON THE NOTES EVEN IF THE FUND RETURN IS NEGATIVE — If the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by up to the Buffer Amount, you will earn a positive, unleveraged return on the notes equal to the Absolute Fund Return. Under these circumstances, you will earn a positive return on the notes even though the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price. For example, if the Fund Return is -5%, the Absolute Fund Return will equal 5%. Because the payment at maturity will not reflect the Absolute Fund Return if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than the Buffer Amount of 15.00%, your maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is negative is $1,150 per $1,000 principal amount note. |
| · | LOSS OF PRINCIPAL BEYOND BUFFER AMOUNT — If the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%, for every 1% that the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%, you will lose an amount equal to 1.17647% of the principal amount of your notes. Accordingly, you may lose some or all of your principal amount at maturity. |
| · | RETURN LINKED TO THE iSHARES® MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF — The return on the notes is linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. The iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is an exchange-traded fund of iShares®, Inc., a registered investment company, that seeks to track the investment results, before fees and expenses, of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization emerging market equities, which we refer to as the “Underlying Index” with respect to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. The Underlying Index with respect to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is currently the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of global emerging markets. For additional information about the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, see “Fund Descriptions — The iShares® ETFs” in the accompanying underlying supplement. |
| · | TAX TREATMENT — You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I. The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of notes. |
Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel it is reasonable to treat the notes as “open transactions” that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as more fully described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences — Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Notes Treated as Open Transactions That Are Not Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement. Assuming this treatment is respected, subject to the possible application of the “constructive ownership” rules, the gain or loss on your notes should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your notes for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of notes at the issue price. The notes could be treated as “constructive ownership transactions” within the meaning of Section 1260 of the Code, in which case any gain recognized in respect of the notes that would otherwise be long-term capital gain and that was in excess of the “net underlying long-term capital gain” (as defined in Section 1260) would be treated as ordinary income, and a notional interest charge would apply as if that income had accrued for tax purposes at a constant yield over your holding period for the notes. Our special tax counsel has not expressed an opinion with respect to whether the constructive ownership rules apply to the notes. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of the constructive ownership rules.
The IRS or a court may not respect the treatment of the notes described above, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on your notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the constructive ownership regime described above. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including the potential application of the constructive ownership rules, possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax (unless an income tax treaty applies) on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 4 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. Section 871(m) provides certain exceptions to this withholding regime, including for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices that meet requirements set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (such an index, a “Qualified Index”). Additionally, a recent IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued prior to January 1, 2021 that do not have a delta of one with respect to underlying securities that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each an “Underlying Security”). Based on certain determinations made by us, we expect that Section 871(m) will not apply to the notes with regard to Non-U.S. Holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If necessary, further information regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) will be provided in the pricing supplement for the notes. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the notes.
Withholding under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” may (if the notes are recharacterized as debt instruments) apply to amounts treated as interest paid with respect to the notes, as well as to payments of gross proceeds of a taxable disposition, including redemption at maturity, of a note, although under recently proposed regulations (the preamble to which specifies that taxpayers are permitted to rely on them pending finalization), no withholding will apply to payments of gross proceeds (other than any amount treated as interest). You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of FATCA to the notes.
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Fund, the Underlying Index or any of the component securities of the Fund or the Underlying Index. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement.
| · | YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. The return on the notes at maturity is linked to the performance of the Fund and will depend on whether, and the extent to which, the Fund Return is positive or negative. Your investment will be exposed to a loss on a leveraged basis if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%. For every 1% that the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than 15.00%, you will lose an amount equal to 1.17647% of the principal amount of your notes. Accordingly, you may lose some or all of your principal amount at maturity. |
| · | YOUR MAXIMUM GAIN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED BY THE MAXIMUM UPSIDE RETURN AND THE BUFFER AMOUNT — If the Final Share Price is greater than the Initial Share Price, for each $1,000 principal amount note, you will receive at maturity $1,000 plus an additional return that will not exceed the Maximum Upside Return of 7.00%, regardless of the appreciation of the Fund, which may be significant. In addition, if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by up to the Buffer Amount of 15.00%, you will receive at maturity $1,000 plus an additional return equal to the Absolute Fund Return, up to 15.00%. Because the payment at maturity will not reflect the Absolute Fund Return if the Final Share Price is less than the Initial Share Price by more than the Buffer Amount of 15.00%, your maximum payment at maturity if the Fund Return is negative is $1,150 per $1,000 principal amount note. |
| · | CREDIT RISKS OF JPMORGAN FINANCIAL AND JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. — The notes are subject to our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit risks, and our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay all amounts due on the notes. Any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads, as determined by the market for taking that credit risk, is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. If we and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the notes and you could lose your entire investment. |
| · | AS A FINANCE SUBSIDIARY, JPMORGAN FINANCIAL HAS NO INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS AND HAS LIMITED ASSETS — As a finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities. Aside from the initial capital contribution from JPMorgan Chase & Co., substantially all of our assets relate to obligations of our affiliates to make payments under loans made by us or other intercompany agreements. As a result, we are dependent upon payments from our affiliates to meet our obligations under the notes. If these affiliates do not make payments to us and we fail to make payments on the notes, you may have to seek payment under the related guarantee by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
| · | POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent and as an agent of the offering of the notes, hedging our obligations under the notes and making the assumptions used to determine the pricing of the notes and the estimated value of the notes when the terms of the notes are set, which we refer to as the estimated value of the notes. In performing these duties, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests and the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. In addition, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s business activities, including hedging and trading activities, could cause our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests to be adverse to yours and could adversely affect any payment on the notes and the value of the notes. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates in connection with the notes could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value |
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 5 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
of the notes declines. Please refer to “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying product supplement for additional information about these risks.
| · | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES WILL BE LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE PRICE (PRICE TO PUBLIC) OF THE NOTES — The estimated value of the notes is only an estimate determined by reference to several factors. The original issue price of the notes will exceed the estimated value of the notes because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the selling commissions, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
| · | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES DOES NOT REPRESENT FUTURE VALUES OF THE NOTES AND MAY DIFFER FROM OTHERS’ ESTIMATES — The estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to internal pricing models of our affiliates when the terms of the notes are set. This estimated value of the notes is based on market conditions and other relevant factors existing at that time and assumptions about market parameters, which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the notes that are greater than or less than the estimated value of the notes. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect. On future dates, the value of the notes could change significantly based on, among other things, changes in market conditions, our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness, interest rate movements and other relevant factors, which may impact the price, if any, at which JPMS would be willing to buy notes from you in secondary market transactions. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
| · | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES IS DERIVED BY REFERENCE TO AN INTERNAL FUNDING RATE — The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes may differ from the market-implied funding rate for vanilla fixed income instruments of a similar maturity issued by JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates. Any difference may be based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed income instruments of JPMorgan Chase & Co. This internal funding rate is based on certain market inputs and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, and is intended to approximate the prevailing market replacement funding rate for the notes. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the notes and any secondary market prices of the notes. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
| · | THE VALUE OF THE NOTES AS PUBLISHED BY JPMS (AND WHICH MAY BE REFLECTED ON CUSTOMER ACCOUNT STATEMENTS) MAY BE HIGHER THAN THE THEN-CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES FOR A LIMITED TIME PERIOD — We generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. These costs can include selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, and, in some circumstances, estimated hedging costs and our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances. See “Secondary Market Prices of the Notes” in this pricing supplement for additional information relating to this initial period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your notes during this initial period may be lower than the value of the notes as published by JPMS (and which may be shown on your customer account statements). |
| · | SECONDARY MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES WILL LIKELY BE LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE PRICE OF THE NOTES — Any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the original issue price of the notes because, among other things, secondary market prices take into account our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances and, also, because secondary market prices may exclude selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, and estimated hedging costs that are included in the original issue price of the notes. As a result, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to buy notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, is likely to be lower than the original issue price. Any sale by you prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. See the immediately following risk consideration for information about additional factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes. |
The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity. See “— Lack of Liquidity” below.
| · | SECONDARY MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES WILL BE IMPACTED BY MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS — The secondary market price of the notes during their term will be impacted by a number of economic and market factors, which may either offset or magnify each other, aside from the selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, estimated hedging costs and the price of one share of the Fund, including: |
| · | any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads; |
| · | customary bid-ask spreads for similarly sized trades; |
| · | our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances; |
| · | the actual and expected volatility of the Fund; |
| · | the time to maturity of the notes; |
| · | the dividend rates on the Fund and the equity securities held by the Fund; |
| · | interest and yield rates in the market generally; |
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 6 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
| · | the exchange rates and the volatility of the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and each of the currencies in which the equity securities held by the Fund trade and the correlation among those rates and the price of one share of the Fund; |
| · | the occurrence of certain events relating to the Fund that may or may not require an adjustment to the Share Adjustment Factor; and |
| · | a variety of other economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events. |
Additionally, independent pricing vendors and/or third party broker-dealers may publish a price for the notes, which may also be reflected on customer account statements. This price may be different (higher or lower) than the price of the notes, if any, at which JPMS may be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market.
| · | NO INTEREST OR DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the notes, you will not receive interest payments, and you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of shares of the Fund or securities held by the Fund or included in the Underlying Index would have. |
| · | THERE ARE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUND — Although the shares of the Fund are listed for trading on a securities exchange and a number of similar products have been traded on securities exchanges for varying periods of time, there is no assurance that an active trading market will continue for the shares of the Fund or that there will be liquidity in the trading market. The Fund is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the investment strategies of the Fund’s investment adviser, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. These constraints could adversely affect the market price of the shares of the Fund, and consequently, the value of the notes. |
| · | THE PERFORMANCE AND MARKET VALUE OF THE FUND, PARTICULARLY DURING PERIODS OF MARKET VOLATILITY, MAY NOT CORRELATE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND’S UNDERLYING INDEX AS WELL AS THE NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE — The Fund does not fully replicate its Underlying Index and may hold securities different from those included in its Underlying Index. In addition, the performance of the Fund will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of its Underlying Index. All of these factors may lead to a lack of correlation between the performance of the Fund and its Underlying Index. In addition, corporate actions with respect to the equity securities underlying the Fund (such as mergers and spin-offs) may impact the variance between the performances of the Fund and its Underlying Index. Finally, because the shares of the Fund are traded on a securities exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market value of one share of the Fund may differ from the net asset value per share of the Fund. |
During periods of market volatility, securities underlying the Fund may be unavailable in the secondary market, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of the Fund and the liquidity of the Fund may be adversely affected. This kind of market volatility may also disrupt the ability of market participants to create and redeem shares of the Fund. Further, market volatility may adversely affect, sometimes materially, the prices at which market participants are willing to buy and sell shares of the Fund. As a result, under these circumstances, the market value of shares of the Fund may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the Fund. For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the Fund may not correlate with the performance of its Underlying Index as well as the net asset value per share of the Fund, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the notes in the secondary market and/or reduce any payment on the notes.
| · | NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND — The equity securities held by the Fund have been issued by non-U.S. companies. Investments in securities linked to the value of such non-U.S. equity securities involve risks associated with the securities markets in the home countries of the issuers of those non-U.S. equity securities, including risks of volatility in those markets, governmental intervention in those markets and cross shareholdings in companies in certain countries. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about companies in some of these jurisdictions than there is about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. |
| · | EMERGING MARKETS RISK WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND — The equity securities held by the Fund have been issued by non-U.S. companies located in emerging markets countries. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. |
| · | THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO CURRENCY EXCHANGE RISK WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND — Because the prices of the equity securities held by the Fund are converted into U.S. dollars for purposes of calculating the net asset value of the Fund, your notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which the equity securities held by the Fund trade. Your net exposure will depend on the extent to which those currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of the equity securities held by the Fund denominated in those currencies. If, taking into account the relevant weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against those currencies, the price of the Fund will be adversely affected and any payment on the notes may be reduced. Of particular importance to potential currency exchange risk are: |
| · | existing and expected rates of inflation; |
· existing and expected interest rate levels;
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 7 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
| · | the balance of payments in the countries issuing those currencies and the United States and between each country and its major trading partners; |
· political, civil or military unrest in the countries issuing those currencies and the United States; and
| · | the extent of government surpluses or deficits in the countries issuing those currencies and the United States. |
All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of countries issuing those currencies and the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance.
| · | THE ANTI-DILUTION PROTECTION FOR THE FUND IS LIMITED — The calculation agent will make adjustments to the Share Adjustment Factor for certain events affecting the shares of the Fund. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment in response to all events that could affect the shares of the Fund. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to make an adjustment, the value of the notes may be materially and adversely affected. |
| · | LACK OF LIQUIDITY — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. JPMS intends to offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which JPMS is willing to buy the notes. |
| · | THE FINAL TERMS AND VALUATION OF THE NOTES WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PRICING SUPPLEMENT — The final terms of the notes will be based on relevant market conditions when the terms of the notes are set and will be provided in the pricing supplement. In particular, the estimated value of the notes will be provided in the pricing supplement and may be as low as the minimum for the estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement. Accordingly, you should consider your potential investment in the notes based on the minimum for the estimated value of the notes. |
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 8 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
Historical Information
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Fund based on the weekly historical closing prices of one share of the Fund from January 3, 2014 through March 22, 2019. The closing price of one share of the Fund on March 25, 2019 was $42.53.
We obtained the closing prices above and below from the Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”), without independent verification. The closing prices above and below may have been adjusted by Bloomberg for actions taken by the Fund, such as stock splits. The historical prices of one share of the Fund should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the closing price of one share of the Fund on the Pricing Date or any Ending Averaging Date. There can be no assurance that the performance of the Fund will result in the return of any of your principal amount.
The Estimated Value of the Notes
The estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement is equal to the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components: (1) a fixed-income debt component with the same maturity as the notes, valued using the internal funding rate described below, and (2) the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes. The estimated value of the notes does not represent a minimum price at which JPMS would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes may differ from the market-implied funding rate for vanilla fixed income instruments of a similar maturity issued by JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates. Any difference may be based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed income instruments of JPMorgan Chase & Co. This internal funding rate is based on certain market inputs and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, and is intended to approximate the prevailing market replacement funding rate for the notes. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the notes and any secondary market prices of the notes. For additional information, see “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate” in this pricing supplement. The value of the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes is derived from internal pricing models of our affiliates. These models are dependent on inputs such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on various other inputs, some of which are market-observable, and which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors, as well as assumptions about future market events and/or environments. Accordingly, the estimated value of the notes is determined when the terms of the notes are set based on market conditions and other relevant factors and assumptions existing at that time. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Does Not Represent Future Values of the Notes and May Differ from Others’ Estimates” in this pricing supplement.
The estimated value of the notes will be lower than the original issue price of the notes because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the selling commissions paid to JPMS and other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. Because hedging our obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or it may result in a loss. We or one or more of our affiliates will retain any profits realized in hedging our obligations under the notes. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Lower Than the Original Issue Price (Price to Public) of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 9 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |
Secondary Market Prices of the Notes
For information about factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes, see “Selected Risk Considerations — Secondary Market Prices of the Notes Will Be Impacted by Many Economic and Market Factors” in this pricing supplement. In addition, we generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period that is intended to be the shorter of six months and one-half of the stated term of the notes. The length of any such initial period reflects the structure of the notes, whether our affiliates expect to earn a profit in connection with our hedging activities, the estimated costs of hedging the notes and when these costs are incurred, as determined by our affiliates. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Value of the Notes as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Notes for a Limited Time Period.”
Supplemental Use of Proceeds
The notes are offered to meet investor demand for products that reflect the risk-return profile and market exposure provided by the notes. See “What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Fund?” and “Hypothetical Examples of Amount Payable at Maturity” in this pricing supplement for an illustration of the risk-return profile of the notes and “Selected Purchase Considerations — Return Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF” in this pricing supplement for a description of the market exposure provided by the notes.
The original issue price of the notes is equal to the estimated value of the notes plus the selling commissions paid to JPMS and other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, plus (minus) the projected profits (losses) that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes, plus the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment for the notes on or about the Original Issue Date set forth on the front cover of this pricing supplement, which will be the third business day following the Pricing Date of the notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.
| JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 10 |
| Capped Dual Directional Buffered Equity Notes Linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | |