Digital barrier notes from JPMorgan (NYSE: AMJB) offer 8.90% cap
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC is offering $731,000 of unsecured Digital Barrier Notes linked to the Nasdaq-100® Technology Sector Index, the ARK Innovation ETF and the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. The notes pay a fixed 8.90% contingent digital return at maturity if, on the February 16, 2027 observation date, the final value of each underlying is at least 50% of its initial value. If any underlying finishes below this barrier, repayment of principal is reduced one-for-one with the decline of the least performing underlying, and investors can lose more than half, up to all, of their investment. The notes pay no periodic interest or dividends, are not listed on any exchange, and carry the credit risk of both JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The estimated value at pricing was $966.40 per $1,000 note, below the $1,000 issue price due to selling commissions, hedging costs and issuer profits.
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FAQ
What are the key terms of JPMorgan AMJB Digital Barrier Notes in this 424B2?
The notes are unsecured obligations of JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co., with a total offering size of $731,000 and denominations of $1,000. They are linked to the Nasdaq-100® Technology Sector Index, the ARK Innovation ETF and the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF and are scheduled to mature on February 19, 2027, after a single observation date on February 16, 2027.
How do investors in AMJB-linked Digital Barrier Notes earn the 8.90% return?
At maturity, each $1,000 note pays $1,089 (principal plus an 8.90% contingent digital return) if the final value of each underlying is at least 50% of its initial value. This barrier is set at 50.00% of the initial value for each underlying, so even moderate declines can still result in the fixed 8.90% payout as long as all three underlyings remain at or above their barriers.
What happens if one underlying in the JPMorgan AMJB notes falls below its barrier?
If the final value of any underlying is below 50% of its initial value, the 8.90% digital return is not paid. Instead, the maturity payment per $1,000 note is $1,000 plus the return of the least performing underlying, so investors lose 1% of principal for every 1% decline from that underlying’s initial value. In severe declines, investors can lose more than 50% and potentially all of their principal.
Do the JPMorgan Digital Barrier Notes linked to AMJB underlyings pay interest or dividends?
No. The notes do not pay periodic interest and investors do not receive dividends on the ARK Innovation ETF, the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF or the securities in the Nasdaq-100® Technology Sector Index. All potential return comes from the single maturity payment, which depends on underlying performance relative to the 50% barriers.
What are the main risks of the JPMorgan AMJB Digital Barrier Notes?
Key risks include the possibility of losing more than half, up to all, of principal if any underlying finishes below its barrier, credit risk of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co., lack of liquidity since the notes will not be listed on an exchange, and sector and strategy risks tied to technology stocks, utilities and the actively managed ARK Innovation ETF, including exposure to disruptive innovation and cryptocurrencies.
Why is the estimated value of the AMJB Digital Barrier Notes lower than the $1,000 issue price?
The estimated value at pricing was $966.40 per $1,000 note, reflecting the value of a fixed-income component plus embedded derivatives, using JPMorgan’s internal funding rate and models. The difference from the $1,000 issue price primarily represents selling commissions, projected profits from hedging and the estimated cost of hedging JPMorgan’s obligations under the notes.
How are the JPMorgan AMJB Digital Barrier Notes treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes?
Based on current market conditions, JPMorgan’s special tax counsel believes it is reasonable to treat the notes as “open transactions” that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, so gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if held for more than one year. The discussion notes that the IRS could challenge this treatment and that future guidance on prepaid forward contracts could materially affect tax consequences.