 | PRICING SUPPLEMENT Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Statement No. 333-263376 (To Prospectus dated May 27, 2022) |
UBS AG
$2,193,000 Callable Fixed Rate Notes due June 12, 2027
The Callable Fixed Rate Notes due June 12, 2027 (the “Notes”) are unsubordinated, unsecured debt obligations issued by UBS AG (“UBS” or the “Issuer”) that have a term of approximately 36 months, subject to our right to redeem the Notes on the Optional Redemption Dates as set forth below. The Notes pay interest on the Interest Payment Dates, calculated using the Day Count Convention, at a rate of 5.30% per annum (the “Interest Rate”) and may be redeemed by UBS in its absolute and sole discretion in accordance with optional redemption, as set forth below. Investing in the Notes involves significant risks. Any payment on the Notes, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the creditworthiness of UBS. If UBS were to default on its payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the Notes and you could lose all of your investment.
Issuer: | UBS AG London Branch (“UBS”) |
Principal Amount & Denominations: | $1,000 per Note. The Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 per Note and any integral multiples of $1,000. |
Original Offering/Issue Price: | $1,000 per Note. |
Pricing Date: | June 10, 2024 |
Issue Date: | June 12, 2024. We expect to deliver the Notes against payment on the second Business Day following the trade date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one Business Day (T+1), unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes in the secondary market on any date prior to one Business Day before delivery of the Notes will be required, by virtue of the fact that each Note initially will settle in two Business Days (T+2), to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement of the secondary market trade. |
Maturity Date: | June 12, 2027, subject to an Optional Redemption by UBS as set forth below under “Optional Redemption”. The Notes are not subject to repayment at the option of any holder of the Notes prior to the Maturity Date. |
Payment at Maturity: | 100% of the Principal Amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Any payment on the Notes, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the creditworthiness of UBS. If UBS were to default on its payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the Notes and you could lose all of your investment. |
Interest Payment Dates: | Semiannually, on the 12th calendar day of each June and December, commencing on December 12, 2024 and ending on the Maturity Date, subject to the Business Day Convention. If the Notes are subject to an Optional Redemption, the related Optional Redemption Date will be deemed an Interest Payment Date for all purposes under the Notes. |
Interest Payment per Note: | On each Interest Payment Date, you will receive an interest payment per Note equal to the product of (i) the Principal Amount of $1,000 multiplied by (ii) the Interest Rate, determined in accordance with the Day Count Convention. |
Interest Period: | Semiannually, with the first Interest Period beginning on, and including, the Issue Date to, and excluding, the first Interest Payment Date, and each successive Interest Period, beginning on, and including, an Interest Payment Date and ending on, but excluding, the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided that if the Notes are subject to an Optional Redemption, the final Interest Period will end on the Optional Redemption Date. |
Interest Rate: | 5.30% per annum. |
Optional Redemption: | We may, in our absolute and sole discretion, redeem your Notes, in whole but not in part, at the redemption price set forth below on any Optional Redemption Date. If the Notes are subject to an Optional Redemption, the related Optional Redemption Date will be deemed an Interest Payment Date for all purposes under the Notes. Before we elect to redeem your Notes, we will deliver written notice to the trustee at least five Business Days prior to the Optional Redemption Date. |
Optional Redemption Dates: | Quarterly, on the 12th calendar day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on June 12, 2025 (the “first Optional Redemption Date”) and ending on March 12, 2027. |
Redemption Price: | If the Notes are subject to an Optional Redemption, on the Optional Redemption Date, you will receive 100% of the Principal Amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest from and including the preceding Interest Payment Date to but excluding the Optional Redemption Date. |
Business Day: | Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. |
Business Day Convention: | Modified Following; Unadjusted, which means that for any Interest Payment Date (including the Maturity Date) that falls on a day that is not a Business Day, any Interest Payment due on such date will be made on the following Business Day and no adjustment will be made to the amount of such Interest Payment as a result of such postponement; provided that, if such day would fall in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will instead be advanced to the Business Day immediately preceding the originally scheduled Interest Payment Date. |
Day Count Convention: | 30/360 |
Listing: | The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or electronic communications network. |
CUSIP / ISIN: | 90307DRT1 / US90307DRT18 |
You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 herein relating to the Notes.
See “Additional Information About UBS and the Notes” on page ii herein. The Notes will have the terms set forth in the accompanying prospectus, as modified by this document.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these Notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this document or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Offering of Notes | Issue Price to Public(1) | Underwriting Discount(1)(2) | Proceeds to UBS AG(2) | ||||||
| Total | Per Note | Total | Per Note | Total | Per Note | |||
Callable Fixed Rate Notes due June 12, 2027 | $2,193,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $7,675.50 | $3.50 | $2,185,324.50 | $996.50 | |||
(1) Notwithstanding the underwriting discount described below, one or more placement agents or third-party dealers may have agreed to sell the Notes to certain fee-based advisory accounts or registered investment advisers unaffiliated from UBS at a purchase price of at least $996.50 (99.65%) per Note and, with respect to such sales, may have agreed to forgo some or all of the underwriting discount. (2) Our affiliate, UBS Securities LLC, will receive an underwriting discount of $3.50 (0.35%) per Note sold in this offering. UBS Securities LLC has agreed to re-allow the full amount of the underwriting discount received to one or more third-party dealers. Certain other third-party dealers may have agreed to resell the Notes to other securities dealers at the issue price to the public less an underwriting discount of up to the underwriting discount received. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest); Secondary Markets (If any)” herein. UBS Securities LLC UBS Investment Bank | |||||||||
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT UBS AND THE NOTES
UBS has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this document relates. You should read these documents and any other documents relating to the Notes that UBS has filed with the SEC for more complete information about UBS and this offering. You may obtain these documents for free from the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 0001114446.
You may access the accompanying prospectus on the SEC website www.sec.gov as follows:
•Prospectus dated May 27, 2022:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1114446/000119312522162430/d632731d424b3.htm
References to “UBS,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to UBS AG and not to its consolidated subsidiaries and references to “Notes” refer to the Callable Fixed Rate Notes that are offered hereby, unless the context otherwise requires. Also, references to the “accompanying prospectus” mean the UBS prospectus titled “Debt Securities and Warrants,” dated May 27, 2022.
This document, together with the documents listed above, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including all other prior pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” herein as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors concerning an investment in the Notes.
UBS reserves 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, UBS 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 UBS may reject your offer to purchase.
If there is any inconsistency between the terms of the Notes described in the accompanying prospectus or this document, the following hierarchy will govern: first, this document; and last, the accompanying prospectus.
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INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS
The Notes may be suitable for you if:
◼You seek an investment with fixed rate interest and are willing to invest in the Notes based on the Interest Rate indicated on the cover hereof.
◼You are willing to invest in Notes that may be redeemed early at our election and in our absolute and sole discretion on each Optional Redemption Date, are otherwise willing to hold such Notes to maturity and accept that there may be no secondary market for the Notes.
◼You are willing to assume the credit risk of UBS for all payments under the Notes, and understand that if UBS defaults on its obligations you may not receive any amounts due to you including but not limited to any repayment of principal.
The Notes may not be suitable for you if:
◼You seek an investment with a variable rate of interest during the term of the Notes or are unwilling to invest in the Notes based on the Interest Rate indicated on the cover hereof.
◼You are unable or unwilling to hold Notes that may be redeemed early at our election on each Optional Redemption Date, are otherwise unable or unwilling to hold such Notes to maturity or seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.
◼You are not willing to assume the credit risk of UBS for all payments under the Notes, including any repayment of principal.
The investor considerations identified above are not exhaustive. Whether or not the Notes are a suitable investment for you will depend on your individual circumstances. You are urged to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors and to carefully consider the suitability of an investment in the Notes in light of your particular circumstances. You should also review “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 herein for risks related to an investment in the Notes.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Notes involves significant risks and the risks that apply to the Notes are summarized below. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors regarding an investment in the Notes.
Risks Relating to Return Characteristics
The amount of interest you receive may be less than the return you could earn on other investments.
Interest rates may change significantly over the term of the Notes, and it is impossible to predict what interest rates will be at any point in the future. Although the Interest Rate on the Notes will be fixed during the term of the Notes, this rate may be more or less than prevailing market interest rates at any time. As a result, the amount of interest you receive on the Notes may be less than the return you could earn on other investments.
We may redeem the Notes prior to maturity.
We have the right in our absolute and sole discretion to redeem the Notes early, in whole but not in part, on any Optional Redemption Date, beginning on the first Optional Redemption Date specified on the cover hereof, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the Principal Amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest from and including the preceding Interest Payment Date to and excluding the Optional Redemption Date. The aggregate amount that you will receive on the Notes if the Notes are redeemed on an Optional Redemption Date will be less than the aggregate amount that you would have received had the Notes not been redeemed early because you will not receive any interest payments after the Optional Redemption Date. If we redeem the Notes prior to maturity, you will receive no further interest payments and may have to reinvest the proceeds in a lower-rate environment.
The Notes may be redeemed early and the Notes are subject to reinvestment risk.
UBS may elect to redeem the Notes at its discretion prior to the Maturity Date. If UBS elects to redeem your Notes early, you will no longer have the opportunity to receive any interest payments after the Optional Redemption Date. In the event UBS elects to redeem the Notes, there is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds at a comparable return and/or with a comparable interest rate for a similar level of risk. Further, UBS’ right to redeem the Notes may also adversely impact your ability to sell your Notes in the secondary market and you may not be able to reinvest the proceeds from the redeemed Notes in an equivalent investment with a similar interest rate.
To the extent you are able to reinvest such proceeds in an investment comparable to the Notes, you may incur transaction costs such as dealer discounts and hedging costs built into the price of the new Notes. Therefore, the Notes are more likely to remain outstanding when the expected amount payable on the Notes is less than what would be payable on other comparable instruments issued by UBS.
UBS will elect to redeem the Notes at a time that is advantageous to the Issuer and without regard to your interests.
In determining whether to redeem the Notes, we will consider various factors, including then current market interest rates and our expectations about payments we will be required to make on the Notes in the future. If we redeem the Notes early, we will do so at a time that is advantageous to us and without regard to your interests. We are more likely to redeem the Notes at a time when interest rates are performing favorably from your perspective and when we expect them to continue to do so. Therefore, although the Notes may offer the potential to earn a higher yield than the yield on conventional debt securities of the same maturity, if the Notes are paying a higher rate than conventional debt securities and we expect them to continue to do so, it is more likely that we would redeem the Notes early. Conversely we are not likely to redeem the Notes early if interest rates are performing unfavorably from your perspective, resulting in a lower yield than the yield on our conventional debt securities with the same maturity.
An investment in the Notes may be more risky than an investment in notes with a shorter term.
The Notes will mature on the Maturity Date, subject to our right to redeem the Notes on any Optional Redemption Date. By purchasing Notes with a longer term, you will bear greater exposure to fluctuations in interest rates than if you purchased a note with a shorter term. In particular, you may be negatively affected if interest rates begin to rise, because investors have neither the right to redeem the notes early nor the right to cause us to redeem the Notes early and the Interest Rate on the Notes may be less than the interest you could earn on other investments with a similar level of risk available at such time. In addition, if you tried to sell your Notes at such time, the value of your Notes in any secondary market transaction would also be adversely affected.
We expect that, generally, expectations regarding interest rates will affect the market value of the Notes.
Interest rates have experienced periods of volatility and such volatility may occur in the future. Fluctuations and trends in interest rates that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may occur in the future. As a holder of the Notes, the amount of interest payable on the Notes for any Interest Period is fixed at the Interest Rate.
Risks Relating to Liquidity and Secondary Market Price Considerations
There may be no secondary market for the Notes.
The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any electronic communications network. There can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Notes will develop. UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required, to make a market in the Notes and may in its absolute and sole discretion and without notice stop making a market at any time. The price, if any, at which you may be able to sell your Notes prior to maturity could be at a substantial discount from the issue price and to their intrinsic value and you may suffer substantial losses as a result.
The market value of the Notes may be influenced by unpredictable factors.
The market value of your Notes may fluctuate between the date you purchase them and the Maturity Date. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control and interrelate in complex and unpredictable ways, will influence the terms and features of your Notes at issuance and the market value of the Notes. Generally, we expect that prevailing interest rates will affect the market value of the Notes more than any other single factor. Other factors that may influence the terms and features of your Notes at issuance and the market value of the Notes include:
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➢the volatility of interest rates in the U.S. and other markets (i.e. the frequency and magnitude of changes in interest rates).
➢interest rates in the U.S. and other market;
➢the time remaining to the maturity of the Notes;
➢the availability of comparable instruments and supply and demand for the Notes, including inventory positions with UBS Securities LLC or any other market-maker;
➢the creditworthiness of UBS; and
➢geopolitical, economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial, public health, force majeure or other events that affect interest rates generally.
These factors interrelate in complex and unpredictable ways, and the effect of one factor on the terms and features of your Notes at issuance and the market value of your Notes may offset or enhance the effect of another factor. The value of the Notes prior to maturity may be less than the Principal Amount, and may be significantly different than the amount expected at maturity.
The price at which UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates may offer to buy the Notes in the secondary market (if any) may be greater than UBS’ valuation of the Notes at that time, greater than any other secondary market prices provided by unaffiliated dealers (if any) and, depending on your broker, greater than the valuation provided on your customer account statements.
For a limited period of time following the issuance of the Notes, UBS Securities LLC or its affiliates may offer to buy or sell such Notes at a price that exceeds (i) our valuation of the Notes at that time based on our internal pricing models, (ii) any secondary market prices provided by unaffiliated dealers (if any) and (iii) depending on your broker, the valuation provided on customer account statements. The price that UBS Securities LLC may initially offer to buy such Notes following issuance will exceed the valuation of the Notes indicated by our internal pricing models due to the inclusion for a limited period of time of the aggregate value of the underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance costs and theoretical projected trading profit. The portion of such amounts included in our price will decline to zero on a straight line basis over a period ending no later than the date specified under “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest); Secondary Markets (if any).” Thereafter, if UBS Securities LLC or an affiliate makes secondary markets in the Notes, it will do so at prices that reflect our valuation of the Notes determined by reference to our internal pricing models at that time. The temporary positive differential relative to our internal pricing models arises from requests from and arrangements made by UBS Securities LLC with the selling agents of the Notes. As described above, UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required, to make a market for the Notes and may stop making a market at any time. The price at which UBS Securities LLC or an affiliate may make secondary markets at any time (if at all) will also reflect its then current bid-ask spread for similar sized trades of debt securities similar to the Notes. UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates reflect this temporary positive differential on their customer statements. Investors should inquire as to the valuation provided on customer account statements provided by unaffiliated dealers.
Impact of fees on the secondary market price of the Notes.
Generally, the price of the Notes in the secondary market is likely to be lower than the issue price to the public because the issue price to the public includes, and secondary market prices are likely to exclude, the underwriting discount, hedging costs, projected trading profits and any other compensation paid with respect to the Notes. In addition, any such prices may differ from values determined by pricing models used by UBS AG or its affiliates, as a result of dealer discounts, mark-ups or other transactions.
Risks Relating to Hedging Activities and Conflicts of Interest
The business activities of UBS or its affiliates may create conflicts of interest.
UBS and its affiliates expect to engage in trading activities, relating to the above mentioned instruments that may affect interest rates that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interest in the Notes and the interests UBS and its affiliates will have in facilitating these transactions. These trading activities, if they influence prevailing interest rates, could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes.
Potential Conflicts of Interest.
With regard to your Notes, from time to time, UBS and/or its affiliates may acquire or dispose of long or short positions in listed and/or over-the-counter options, futures, exchange-traded funds or other instruments based on interest rates (as described under in “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” herein) which may adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
Dealer Incentives
UBS and its affiliates act in various capacities with respect to the Notes. We and our affiliates may act as a principal, agent or dealer in connection with the sale of the Notes. Such affiliates, and any other third party dealers, will derive compensation from the distribution of the Notes and such compensation may serve as an incentive to sell these Notes instead of other investments. We will pay total underwriting compensation in an amount equal to the underwriting discount listed on the cover hereof per Note to any of our affiliates and/or third party dealers acting as agents or dealers in connection with the distribution of the Notes. Given that UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates temporarily maintain a market making premium, it may have the effect of discouraging UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates from recommending sale of your Notes in the secondary market.
Potentially inconsistent research, opinions or recommendations by UBS.
UBS and its affiliates publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that may influence the value of the Notes, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by UBS or its affiliates may not be consistent with each other and may be modified from time to time without notice. Investors should make their own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the Notes.
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Risks Relating to General Credit Characteristics
Credit risk of UBS.
The Notes are unsubordinated, unsecured debt obligations of the Issuer, UBS, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment to be made on the Notes, including but not limited to any repayment of principal upon redemption or maturity, depends on the ability of UBS to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of UBS may affect the market value of the Notes and, in the event UBS were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the Notes and you could lose all of your investment.
The Notes are not bank deposits.
An investment in the Notes carries risks which are very different from the risk profile of a bank deposit placed with UBS or its affiliates. The Notes have different yield and/or return, liquidity and risk profiles and would not benefit from any protection provided to deposits.
If UBS experiences financial difficulties, FINMA has the power to open restructuring or liquidation proceedings in respect of, and/or impose protective measures in relation to, UBS, which proceedings or measures may have a material adverse effect on the terms and market value of the Notes and/or the ability of UBS to make payments thereunder.
The Swiss Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks of November 8, 1934, as amended (the “Swiss Banking Act”) grants the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) broad powers to take measures and actions in relation to UBS if it concludes that there is justified concern that UBS is over-indebted or has serious liquidity problems or, after expiry of a deadline, UBS fails to fulfill the applicable capital adequacy requirements (whether on a standalone or consolidated basis). If one of these pre-requisites is met, FINMA is authorized to open restructuring proceedings or liquidation (bankruptcy) proceedings in respect of, and/or impose protective measures in relation to, UBS. The Swiss Banking Act grants significant discretion to FINMA in connection with the aforementioned proceedings and measures. In particular, a broad variety of protective measures may be imposed by FINMA, including a bank moratorium or a maturity postponement, which measures may be ordered by FINMA either on a stand-alone basis or in connection with restructuring or liquidation proceedings.
In restructuring proceedings, FINMA, as resolution authority, is competent to approve the restructuring plan. The restructuring plan may, among other things, provide for (a) the transfer of all or a portion of UBS’ assets, debts, other liabilities and contracts (which may or may not include the contractual relationship between UBS and the holders of Notes) to another entity, (b) a stay (for a maximum of two business days) on the termination of contracts to which UBS is a party, and/or the exercise of (w) rights to terminate, (x) netting rights, (y) rights to enforce or dispose of collateral or (z) rights to transfer claims, liabilities or collateral under contracts to which UBS is a party, (c) the partial or full conversion of UBS’ debt and/or other obligations, including its obligations under the Notes, into equity (a “debt-to-equity” swap), and/or (d) the partial or full write-off of obligations owed by UBS (a “write-off”), including its obligations under the Notes. Prior to any debt-to-equity swap or write-off with respect to any Notes, outstanding equity and debt instruments issued by UBS qualifying as additional tier 1 capital or tier 2 capital must be converted or written-down, as applicable, and cancelled. The Swiss Banking Act addresses the order in which a debt-to-equity swap or a write-off of debt instruments (other than debt instruments qualifying as additional tier 1 capital or tier 2 capital) should occur: first, all subordinated obligations not qualifying as regulatory capital; second, debt instruments for loss absorbency in the course of insolvency measures (Schuldinstrumente zur Verlusttragung im Falle von Insolvenzmassnahmen) under the Swiss Ordinance concerning Capital Adequacy and Risk Diversification for Banks and Securities Dealers of June 1, 2012, as amended; third, all other obligations not excluded by law from a debt-to-equity swap or write-off (other than deposits), such as the Notes; and fourth, deposits to the extent in excess of the amount privileged by law. However, given the broad discretion granted to FINMA, any restructuring plan approved by FINMA in connection with restructuring proceedings with respect to UBS could provide that the claims under or in connection with the Notes will be fully or partially converted into equity or written-off, while preserving other obligations of UBS that rank pari passu with UBS’ obligations under the Notes. Consequently, the exercise by FINMA of any of its statutory resolution powers or any suggestion of any such exercise could materially adversely affect the rights of holders of the Notes, the price or value of their investment in the Notes and/or the ability of UBS to satisfy its obligations under the Notes and could lead to holders losing some or all of their investment in the Notes.
Once FINMA has opened restructuring proceedings with respect to UBS, it may consider factors such as the results of operations, financial condition (in particular, the level of indebtedness, potential future losses and/or restructuring costs), liquidity profile and regulatory capital adequacy of UBS and its subsidiaries, or any other factors of its choosing, when determining whether to exercise any of its statutory resolution powers with respect to UBS, including, if it chooses to exercise such powers to order a debt-to- equity swap and/or a write-off, whether to do so in full or in part. The criteria that FINMA may consider in exercising any statutory resolution power provide it with considerable discretion. Therefore, holders of the Notes may not be able to refer to publicly available criteria in order to anticipate a potential exercise of any such power and, consequently, its potential effects on the Notes and/or UBS.
If UBS were to be subject to restructuring proceedings, the creditors whose claims are affected by the restructuring plan would not have a right to vote on, reject, or seek the suspension of the restructuring plan. In addition, if a restructuring plan with respect to UBS has been approved by FINMA, the rights of a creditor to challenge the restructuring plan or have the restructuring plan reviewed by a judicial or administrative process or otherwise (e.g., on the grounds that the plan would unduly prejudice the rights of holders of Notes or otherwise be in violation of the Swiss Banking Act) are very limited. Even if any of UBS’ creditors were to successfully challenge the restructuring plan in court, the court could only require the relevant creditors to be compensated ex post and there is currently no guidance as to on what basis such compensation would be calculated and how it would be funded. Any such challenge (even if successful) would not suspend, or result in the suspension of, the implementation of the restructuring plan.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are summarized below, but we urge you to discuss the tax consequences of your particular situation with your tax advisor. This discussion is based upon the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final, temporary and proposed U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) regulations, rulings and decisions, in each case, as available and in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possible with retroactive effect. Tax consequences under state, local and non-U.S. laws are not addressed herein. No ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been sought as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes, and the following discussion is not binding on the IRS.
This discussion applies to investors that acquire the Notes upon initial issuance and hold the Notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a holder in light of its particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences and does not address the different tax consequences that apply to holders that are members of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:
➢a dealer in securities or currencies,
➢a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities holdings,
➢a financial institution or a bank,
➢a regulated investment company, real estate investment trust or a common trust fund,
➢a life insurance company,
➢a tax-exempt organization including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth IRA”, as defined in Section 408 or 408A of the Code, respectively,
➢a person that owns Notes as part of a hedging transaction, straddle, synthetic security, conversion transaction, or other integrated transaction, or enters into a “constructive sale” with respect to the Notes or a “wash sale” with respect to the Notes or any underlying assets,
➢taxpayers subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code;
➢a former citizen or resident of the U.S., or
➢a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar.
You should consult your tax advisor concerning the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdictions.
Except as discussed under “— Non-U.S. Holders” below, this discussion is only applicable to U.S. holders. For purposes of this summary, a U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of a Note that is: (i) a citizen or resident of the U.S., (ii) a domestic corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S. or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if a court within the U.S. is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration, and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust. For purposes of this summary, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a Note that is: (i) a nonresident alien individual for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or (iii) an estate or trust whose income is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis.
An individual may, subject to certain exceptions, be deemed to be a resident of the U.S. by reason of being present in the U.S. for at least 31 days in the calendar year and for an aggregate of at least 183 days during a three-year period ending in the current calendar year (counting for such purposes all of the days present in the current year, one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year, and one-sixth of the days present in the second preceding year).
If a partnership, or any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds the Notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the Notes should consult its tax advisor with regard to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in the Notes.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment
The Notes will be treated as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the balance of this summary assumes that the Notes are treated as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to this treatment, interest on the Notes will be taxable to a U.S. holder as non-U.S.-source ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. holder’s normal method of account for tax purposes. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, you agree to treat the Notes consistent with our treatment for all U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Our special U.S. tax counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, is of the opinion that your Notes will be treated as described above. We do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the tax treatment of the Notes, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described herein. We urge you to consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of your investment in the Notes.
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Sale, Exchange, Early Redemption or Maturity of the Notes
Upon the disposition of a Note by sale, exchange, early redemption, maturity or other taxable disposition, a U.S. holder should generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (1) the amount realized on such taxable disposition (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) and (2) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Note generally will equal the U.S. holder’s cost of acquiring such Note. Assuming a Note is held as a capital asset, such gain or loss will generally constitute capital gain or loss. Capital gain of a noncorporate U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the holder has a holding period of greater than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or certain trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “Net Investment Income,” or “Undistributed Net Investment Income” in the case of an estate or trust, which may include any income or gain realized with respect to the Notes, to the extent of their Net Investment Income or Undistributed Net Investment Income (as the case may be) that, when added to their other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return or the dollar amount at which the highest tax bracket begins for an estate or trust. The 3.8% Medicare tax is determined in a different manner than the income tax. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors with respect to the consequences of the 3.8% Medicare tax.
Information Reporting with respect to Foreign Financial Assets
U.S. holders may be subject to reporting obligations with respect to their Notes if they do not hold their Notes in an account maintained by a financial institution and the aggregate value of their Notes and certain other “specified foreign financial assets” (applying certain attribution rules) exceeds an applicable threshold. Significant penalties can apply if a U.S. holder is required to disclose its Notes and fails to do so.
Treasury Regulations Requiring Disclosure of Reportable Transactions
Treasury regulations require U.S. taxpayers to report certain transactions (“Reportable Transactions”) on IRS Form 8886. An investment in the Notes or a sale of the Notes generally should not be treated as a Reportable Transaction under current law, but it is possible that future legislation, regulations or administrative rulings could cause an investment in the Notes or a sale of the Notes to be treated as a Reportable Transaction. Holders should consult with their tax advisors regarding any tax filing and reporting obligations that may apply in connection with acquiring, owning and disposing of Notes.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
The proceeds received from a taxable disposition of the Notes will be subject to information reporting unless a holder is an “exempt recipient” and may also be subject to backup withholding at the rate specified in the Code if such holder fails to provide certain identifying information (such as an accurate taxpayer number in the case of a U.S. holder) or meet certain other conditions. A non-U.S. holder that provides a properly executed and fully completed applicable IRS Form W-8, will generally establish an exemption from backup withholding.
Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not additional taxes and may be refunded or credited against U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Tax Treatment of Non-U.S. Holders
Subject to “FATCA”, discussed below, if you are a non-U.S. holder you should generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to payments or gain realized on your Notes or to generally applicable information reporting and backup withholding requirements with respect to payments or gain realized on your Notes if you comply with certain certification and identification requirements as to your non-U.S. status (by providing us (and/or the applicable withholding agent) with a fully completed and duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8). Gain realized from the taxable disposition of a Note generally should not be subject to U.S. tax unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the U.S., (ii) the non-U.S. holder is a non-resident alien individual and is present in the U.S. for more than 182 days in the taxable year of such taxable disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied or (iii) the non-U.S. holder has certain other present or former connections with the U.S.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) was enacted on March 18, 2010, and imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on “Withholdable Payments” (i.e., certain U.S.-source payments, including interest (and original issue discount), dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S.-source interest or dividends) and “Passthru Payments” (i.e., certain payments attributable to Withholdable Payments) made to certain foreign financial institutions (and certain of their affiliates) unless the payee foreign financial institution agrees (or is required), among other things, to disclose the identity of any U.S. individual with an account of the institution (or the relevant affiliate) and to annually report certain information about such account. FATCA also requires withholding agents making Withholdable Payments to certain foreign entities that do not disclose the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of any substantial U.S. owners (or do not certify that they do not have any substantial U.S. owners) to withhold tax at a rate of 30%. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.
Pursuant to final and temporary Treasury regulations and other IRS guidance, the withholding and reporting requirements under FATCA will generally apply to certain “Withholdable Payments”, will not apply to gross proceeds on a sale or disposition, and will apply to certain foreign Passthru Payments only to the extent that such payments are made after the date that is two years after final regulations defining the term “Foreign Passthru Payment” are published. If withholding is required, we (or the applicable paying agent) will not be required to pay additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors about the application of FATCA, in particular if they may be classified as financial institutions (or if they hold their Notes through a foreign entity) under the FATCA rules.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the application of U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership and disposition of the Notes arising under the laws of any state, local, non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction.
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USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING
The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes will be used to provide funding for our operations and other general corporate purposes as described in the accompanying prospectus under “Use of Proceeds”. We and/or our affiliates may also use those proceeds in transactions intended to hedge our obligations under the Notes as described below.
In anticipation of the sale of the Notes, we and/or our affiliates expect to enter into hedging transactions involving purchases and sales of interest rate-linked instruments, listed and/or over-the-counter options, futures, exchange-traded funds or other instruments prior to, on or after the applicable trade date. From time to time, we and/or our affiliates may enter into additional hedging transactions or unwind those we have entered into. Consequently, with regard to your Notes, from time to time, we and/or our affiliates may:
➢acquire or dispose of long or short positions in fixed or floating rate-linked instruments;
➢acquire or dispose of long or short positions in listed or over-the-counter options, futures, exchange-traded funds or other instruments based on interest rates;
➢acquire or dispose of long or short positions in listed or over-the-counter options, futures, exchange-traded funds or other instruments based on indices designed to track the performance of interest rates; or
➢any combination of the above.
We and/or our affiliates may acquire a long or short position in securities similar to the Notes from time to time and may, in our or their sole discretion, hold or resell those securities.
We and/or our affiliates may close out our or their hedge position relating to the Notes during the term of your Notes. That step may involve sales or purchases of the instruments described above. No holder of the Notes will have any rights or interest in our or any affiliates’ hedging activity or any positions we or our affiliates may take in connection with any hedging activity.
The hedging activity discussed above may adversely affect the market value of your Notes from time to time. See the “Risk Factors” herein for a discussion of these adverse effects.
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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
We, UBS Securities LLC and other of our affiliates may each be considered a “party in interest” within the meaning of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to an employee benefit plan that is subject to ERISA and/or an individual retirement account, Keogh plan or other plan or account that is subject to Section 4975 of the Code (“Plan”). The purchase of the Notes by a Plan with respect to which UBS Securities LLC or any of our affiliates acts as a fiduciary as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code (“Fiduciary”) would constitute a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code unless acquired pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption. The purchase of the Notes by a Plan with respect to which UBS Securities LLC or any of our affiliates does not act as a Fiduciary but for which any of the above entities does provide services could also be prohibited, but one or more exemptions may be applicable.
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may provide exemptive relief for prohibited transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of the Notes. These exemptions are PTCE 84-14 (for transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), 90-1 (for insurance company pooled separate accounts), 91-38 (for bank collective investment funds), 95-60 (for insurance company general accounts) and 96-23 (for transactions managed by in-house asset managers). Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code also provide an exemption for the purchase and sale of Notes where neither UBS nor any of its affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction and the Plan pays no more and receives no less than “adequate consideration” in connection with the transaction (the “service provider exemption”). Upon purchasing the Notes, a Plan will be deemed to have represented that the acquisition, holding and, to the extent relevant, disposition of the Notes is eligible for relief under PTCE 84-14, PTCE 90-1, PTCE 91-38, PTCE 95-60, PTCE 96-23, the service provider exemption or another applicable exemption and that the purchase, holding and, if applicable, subsequent disposition of the Notes will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction. In addition, any such Plan also will be deemed to have represented that none of us, UBS Securities LLC or any other of our affiliates is a fiduciary in connection with the acquisition, holding and disposition of the Notes, or as a result of the exercise by us or our affiliates of any rights in connection with the Notes.
Any person proposing to acquire any Notes on behalf of a Plan should consult with counsel regarding the applicability of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code thereto, including but not limited to the prohibited transaction rules and the applicable exemptions.
The discussion above supplements the discussion under “Benefit Plan Investor Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.
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SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST); SECONDARY MARKETS (IF ANY)
We have agreed to sell to UBS Securities LLC and UBS Securities LLC has agreed to purchase, all of the Notes at the issue price to the public less the underwriting discount indicated on the cover hereof. UBS Securities LLC has agreed to resell the Notes to one or more third-party dealers at a discount from the issue price to public equal to the underwriting discount received. Certain of such third-party dealers may have agreed to resell the Notes to other securities dealers at the issue price to public less an underwriting discount of up to the underwriting discount received. The issue price for the Notes was generally $1,000.00, provided that certain unaffiliated registered investment advisers or fee-based advisory accounts may have agreed to purchase Notes from any placement agent or third-party dealer at a purchase price of at least $996.50 per Note, and any such placement agent or third-party dealer, with respect to such sales, may have agreed to forgo some or all of the underwriting discount.
Conflicts of Interest
UBS Securities LLC is an affiliate of UBS and, as such, has a “conflict of interest” in this offering within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5121. In addition, UBS will receive the net proceeds (excluding the underwriting discount) from the initial public offering of the Notes, thus creating an additional conflict of interest within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, the offering is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. UBS Securities LLC is not permitted to sell Notes in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates may offer to buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if any) at prices greater than UBS’ valuation of the Notes at that time
The value of the Notes at any time will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted. However, the price (not including UBS Securities LLC’s or any affiliates’ customary bid ask spreads) at which UBS Securities LLC or any affiliate would offer to buy or sell the Notes immediately after the Pricing Date in the secondary market is expected to exceed the valuation of the Notes as determined by reference to our internal pricing models. The amount of the excess will decline to zero on a straight line basis over a period ending no later than 6 months after the Pricing Date, provided that UBS Securities LLC may shorten the period based on various factors, including the magnitude of purchases and other negotiated provisions with selling agents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required to make a market for the Notes and may stop making a market at any time. For more information about secondary market offers, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Liquidity and Secondary Market Price Considerations — There may be no secondary market for the Notes”, “ —The price at which UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates may offer to buy the Notes in the secondary market (if any) may be greater than UBS’ valuation of the Notes at that time, greater than any other secondary market prices provided by unaffiliated dealers (if any) and, depending on your broker, greater than the valuation provided on your customer account statements” and “— Impact of fees on the secondary market price of the Notes” herein.
Prohibition of Sales to EEA & UK Retail Investors
The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “EU PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation.
The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (the “UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor in the UK means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, subject to amendments made by the Markets in Financial Instruments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/1403), as may be amended or superseded from time to time (the “EUWA”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (“UK Prospectus Regulation”). Consequently, no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.
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ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE NOTES
In this section, references to “holders” mean those who own the Notes registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in the Notes registered in street name or in the Notes issued in book-entry form through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). Owners of beneficial interests in the Notes should read the section entitled “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in the accompanying prospectus.
Regular Record Dates for Interest
The regular record date relating to a payment on the Notes will be the Business Day prior to the interest payment date.
Redemption Price Upon Optional Tax Redemption
We have the right to redeem your Notes in the circumstances described under “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Optional Tax Redemption” in the accompanying prospectus. If we exercise this right with respect to your Notes, the redemption price of the Notes will be determined by the Calculation Agent in a manner reasonably calculated to preserve your and our relative economic position.
Default Amount on Acceleration
If an event of default occurs and the maturity of your Notes is accelerated, we will pay the Default Amount in respect of the principal of your Notes at maturity. We describe the Default Amount below under “— Default Amount”.
For the purpose of determining whether the holders of our Medium-Term Notes, Series B, of which the Notes are a part, are entitled to take any action under the indenture, we will treat the outstanding Principal Amount of the Notes as the outstanding Principal Amount of the series of Notes constituted by that Note. Although the terms of the Notes may differ from those of the other Medium-Term Notes, Series B holders of specified percentages in Principal Amount of all Medium-Term Notes, Series B together in some cases with other series of our debt securities, will be able to take action affecting all the Medium-Term Notes, Series B including the Notes. This action may involve changing some of the terms that apply to the Medium-Term Notes, Series B accelerating the maturity of the Medium-Term Notes, Series B after a default or waiving some of our obligations under the indenture. We discuss these matters in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default” and “— Modification and Waiver of Covenants”.
Default Amount
The “Default Amount” for your Notes on any day will be an amount, in U.S. dollars for the principal of your Notes, equal to the cost of having a Qualified Financial Institution, of the kind and selected as described below, expressly assume all of our payment and other obligations with respect to your Notes as of that day and as if no default or acceleration had occurred, or to undertake other obligations providing substantially equivalent economic value to you with respect to your Notes. That cost will equal:
➢the lowest amount that a Qualified Financial Institution would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking; plus
➢the reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the holders of your Notes in preparing any documentation necessary for this assumption or undertaking.
During the Default Quotation Period for your Notes, which we describe below, the holders of your Notes and/or we may request a Qualified Financial Institution to provide a quotation of the amount it would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking. If either party obtains a quotation, it must notify the other party in writing of the quotation. The amount referred to in the first bullet point above will equal the lowest — or, if there is only one, the only — quotation obtained, and as to which notice is so given, during the Default Quotation Period. With respect to any quotation, however, the party not obtaining the quotation may object, on reasonable and significant grounds, to the assumption or undertaking by the Qualified Financial Institution providing the quotation and notify the other party in writing of those grounds within two Business Days after the last day of the Default Quotation Period, in which case that quotation will be disregarded in determining the Default Amount.
Default Quotation Period
The “Default Quotation Period” is the period beginning on the day the Default Amount first becomes due and ending on the third Business Day after that day, unless:
➢no quotation of the kind referred to above is obtained; or
➢every quotation of that kind obtained is objected to within five Business Days after the due date as described above.
If either of these two events occurs, the Default Quotation Period will continue until the third Business Day after the first Business Day on which prompt notice of a quotation is given as described above. If that quotation is objected to as described above within five Business Days after that first Business Day, however, the Default Quotation Period will continue as described in the prior sentence and this sentence.
Qualified Financial Institutions
For the purpose of determining the Default Amount at any time, a “Qualified Financial Institution” means a financial institution organized under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States of America, Europe or Japan, which at that time has outstanding debt obligations with a stated maturity of one year or less from the date of issue and rated either:
➢A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency; or
➢P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency.
Manner of Payment
Any payment on your Notes will be made to accounts designated by you or the holder of your Notes and approved by us, or at the office of the trustee in New York City, but only when your Notes are surrendered to the trustee at that office. We may also make any payment in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC (or any successor depositary).
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Role of Calculation Agent
UBS will serve as the calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”). We may change the Calculation Agent after the Issue Date of the Notes without notice. The Calculation Agent will make all determinations regarding the amounts payable in respect of your Notes at maturity, Business Days, the Maturity Date, any Optional Redemption Date, Interest Payments and all other determinations or adjustments with respect to the Notes, in its sole discretion. Absent manifest error, all determinations of the Calculation Agent will be final and binding on you and us, without any liability on the part of the Calculation Agent. You will not be entitled to any compensation from us for any loss suffered as a result of any of the above determinations by the Calculation Agent.
Booking Branch
The booking branch is UBS AG London Branch.
Currency of Notes
The specified currency for your Notes will be U.S. dollars.
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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES
In the opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, as special counsel to the issuer, when the Notes offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by the issuer and authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture and delivered, paid for and sold as contemplated herein, the Notes will be valid and binding obligations of the issuer, enforceable against the issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, receivership or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as this opinion involves matters governed by Swiss law, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has assumed, without independent inquiry or investigation, the validity of the matters opined on by Homburger AG, Swiss legal counsel for the issuer, in its opinion dated March 8, 2022 filed on that date with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 5.3 to the issuer’s registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”). In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and, with respect to the Notes, authentication of the Notes and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP dated March 8, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 5.4 to the Registration Statement.
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