Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-262557
 | The Toronto-Dominion Bank $1,925,000 Leveraged Capped Russell 2000® Index-Linked Notes due November 3, 2023 |
The notes do not bear interest. The amount that you will be paid on your notes on the maturity date (November 3, 2023) is based on the performance of the Russell 2000® Index as measured from the pricing date (August 1, 2022) to and including the valuation date (November 1, 2023). If the final level on the valuation date is greater than the initial level of 1,883.313, the return on your notes will be positive, subject to the maximum payment amount of $1,270.30 for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes. If the final level is equal to the initial level, you will receive the principal amount of your notes. If the final level is less than the initial level, the return on your notes will be negative and you will lose 1% of the principal amount of your notes for every 1% that the final level has declined below the initial level. You may lose your entire principal amount.
To determine your payment at maturity, we will calculate the percentage change of the Russell 2000® Index, which is the percentage increase or decrease in the final level from the initial level. At maturity, for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:
| ● | if the percentage change is positive (the final level is greater than the initial level), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) 300.00% times (c) the percentage change, subject to the maximum payment amount; |
| ● | if the percentage change is zero (the final level is equal to the initial level), $1,000; or |
| ● | if the percentage change is negative (the final level is less than the initial level), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the percentage change. You will receive less than the principal amount of your notes. |
The notes do not guarantee the return of principal at maturity.
The notes are unsecured and are not savings accounts or insured deposits of a bank. The notes are not insured or guaranteed by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality. Any payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk. The notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or electronic communications network.
You should read the disclosure herein to better understand the terms and risks of your investment. See “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or determined that this pricing supplement, the product supplement or the prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The initial estimated value of the notes at the time the terms of your notes were set on the pricing date was $982.90 per $1,000 principal amount, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes” on the following page and “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this document for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
| Public Offering Price | Underwriting Discount1 | Proceeds to TD1 | |
| Per Note | $1,000.00 | $12.50 | $987.50 |
| Total | $1,925,000.00 | $24,062.50 | $1,900,937.50 |
1 | See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” herein. |
TD Securities (USA) LLC
Pricing Supplement dated August 1, 2022
The public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds to TD listed above relate to the notes we issue initially. We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this pricing supplement, at public offering prices and with underwriting discounts and proceeds to TD that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in the notes will depend in part on the public offering price you pay for such notes.
We, TD Securities (USA) LLC (“TDS”) or any of our affiliates, may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, we, TDS or any of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a note after its initial sale. Unless we, TDS or any of our affiliates informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement will be used in a market-making transaction.
Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes
The final terms for the Notes were determined on the Pricing Date, based on prevailing market conditions, and are set forth in this pricing supplement. The economic terms of the Notes are based on TD’s internal funding rate (which is TD’s internal borrowing rate based on variables such as market benchmarks and TD’s appetite for borrowing), and several factors, including any sales commissions expected to be paid to TDS, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees expected to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that TD or any of TD’s affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, the estimated cost TD may incur in hedging its obligations under the Notes and the estimated development and other costs which TD may incur in connection with the Notes. Because TD’s internal funding rate generally represents a discount from the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes rather than the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market is expected to have had an adverse effect on the economic terms of the Notes. On the cover page of this pricing supplement, TD has provided the initial estimated value for the Notes. The initial estimated value was determined by reference to TD’s internal pricing models which take into account a number of variables and are based on a number of assumptions, which may or may not materialize, typically including volatility, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), price-sensitivity analysis, time to maturity of the Notes, and TD’s internal funding rate. For more information about the initial estimated value, see “Additional Risk Factors” herein. Because TD’s internal funding rate generally represents a discount from the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes rather than the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market is expected, assuming all other economic terms are held constant, to increase the estimated value of the Notes. For more information see the discussion under “Additional Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity — TD’s and TDS’s Estimated Value of the Notes are Determined By Reference to TD’s Internal Funding Rates and are Not Determined By Reference to Credit Spreads or the Borrowing Rate TD Would Pay for its Conventional Fixed-Rate Debt Securities”.
TD’s estimated value on the Pricing Date is not a prediction of the price at which the Notes may trade in the secondary market, nor will it be the price at which TDS may buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market. Subject to normal market and funding conditions, TDS or another affiliate of TD’s intends to offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but it is not obligated to do so.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Pricing Date, the price at which TDS may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market, if any, may exceed TD’s estimated value on the Pricing Date for a temporary period expected to be approximately 3 months after the Pricing Date because, in its discretion, TD may elect to effectively reimburse to investors a portion of the estimated cost of hedging its obligations under the Notes and other costs in connection with the Notes which TD will no longer expect to incur over the term of the Notes. TD made such discretionary election and determined this temporary reimbursement period on the basis of a number of factors, including the tenor of the Notes and any agreement TD may have with the distributors of the Notes. The amount of TD’s estimated costs which is effectively reimbursed to investors in this way may not be allocated ratably throughout the reimbursement period, and TD may discontinue such reimbursement at any time or revise the duration of the reimbursement period after the Pricing Date of the Notes based on changes in market conditions and other factors that cannot be predicted.
If a party other than TDS or its affiliates is buying or selling your Notes in the secondary market based on its own estimated value of your Notes which was calculated by reference to TD’s credit spreads or the borrowing rate TD would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities (as opposed to TD’s internal funding rate), the price at which such party would buy or sell your Notes could be significantly less.
We urge you to read the “Additional Risk Factors” in this pricing supplement.
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Summary
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the product supplement and the prospectus.
| Issuer: | The Toronto-Dominion Bank (“TD”) |
| Issue: | Senior Debt Securities, Series E |
| Type of Note: | Leveraged Capped Notes (the “Notes”) |
| Term: | Approximately 15 months |
| Reference Asset: | Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg Ticker: RTY) |
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 89114YAB7 / US89114YAB74 |
| Agent: | TD Securities (USA) LLC (“TDS”) |
| Currency: | U.S. Dollars |
| Minimum Investment: | $1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof |
| Principal Amount: | $1,000 per Note; $1,925,000 in the aggregate for all the offered Notes; the aggregate Principal Amount of the offered Notes may be increased if the Issuer, at its sole option, decides to sell an additional amount of the offered Notes on a date subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. |
| Pricing Date: | August 1, 2022 |
| Issue Date: | August 8, 2022 |
| Valuation Date: | November 1, 2023, subject to postponement for market disruption events and other disruptions, as described under “General Terms of the Notes—Valuation Date(s)” in the product supplement. |
| Maturity Date: | November 3, 2023, subject to postponement for market disruption events and other disruptions, as described under “General Terms of the Notes—Maturity Date” in the product supplement. |
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| Payment at Maturity: | For each $1,000 Principal Amount of the Notes, we will pay you on the Maturity Date an amount in cash equal to: ● if the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Cap Level, the Maximum Payment Amount; ● if the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level but less than the Cap Level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the Leverage Factor times (c) the Percentage Change; ● if the Final Level is equal to the Initial Level, $1,000; or ● if the Final Level is less than the Initial Level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the Percentage Change. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level, the investor will receive less than the Principal Amount of the Notes at maturity and may lose their entire Principal Amount. All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation relating to the Payment at Maturity will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the nearest cent. |
| Leverage Factor: | 300.00% |
| Cap Level: | 109.01% of the Initial Level |
| Maximum Payment Amount: | $1,270.30 per $1,000 Principal Amount of the Notes (127.03% of the Principal Amount of the Notes). As a result of the Maximum Payment Amount, the maximum return at maturity of the Notes is 27.03% of the Principal Amount of the Notes. |
| Percentage Change: | The quotient of (1) the Final Level minus the Initial Level divided by (2) the Initial Level, expressed as a percentage. |
| Initial Level: | 1,883.313, which was the Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date |
| Final Level: | The Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date, except in the limited circumstances described under “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” and subject to adjustment as provided under “General Terms of the Notes—Unavailability of the Level of, or Change in Law Event Affecting, the Reference Asset; Modification to Method of Calculation” in the product supplement. |
| Closing Level: | The Closing Level of the Reference Asset will be the closing level of the Reference Asset or any successor index (as defined in the product supplement) on any Trading Day for the Reference Asset, as displayed on Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”) page “RTY <INDEX>” or any successor page on Bloomberg or any successor service, as applicable. Currently, the Closing Level of the Reference Asset as reported on Bloomberg is published to fewer decimal places than the Closing Level published by FTSE Russell (the “Index Sponsor”). As a result, the Closing Level of the Reference Asset reported by Bloomberg generally may be lower or higher than the Closing Level published by the Index Sponsor. |
| Business Day: | Any day that is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City. |
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| U.S. Tax Treatment: | By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees, in the absence of a statutory or regulatory change or an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize the Notes, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as prepaid derivative contracts with respect to the Reference Asset. Based on certain factual representations received from us, our special U.S. tax counsel, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, is of the opinion that it would be reasonable to treat the Notes in the manner described above. However, because there is no authority that specifically addresses the tax treatment of the Notes, it is possible that your Notes could alternatively be treated for tax purposes as a single contingent payment debt instrument, or pursuant to some other characterization, such that the timing and character of your income from the Notes could differ materially and adversely from the treatment described above. Please see the discussion below under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”. |
| Canadian Tax Treatment: | Please see the discussion in the product supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences”, which applies to the Notes. In addition to the assumptions, limitations and conditions described therein, such discussion assumes that no amount paid or payable to a Non-resident Holder in respect of the Notes will be the deduction component of a “hybrid mismatch arrangement” under which the payment arises within the meaning of proposed paragraph 18.4(3)(b) of the Canadian Tax Act (as defined in the prospectus) contained in proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act released by the Minister of Finance (Canada) on April 29, 2022 (the “Hybrid Mismatch Proposals”). Investors should note that the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals are in consultation form, are highly complex, and there remains significant uncertainty as to their interpretation and application. There can be no assurance that the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals will be enacted in their current form, or at all. We will not pay any additional amounts as a result of any withholding required under the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals. |
| Calculation Agent: | TD |
| Listing: | The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or electronic communications network. |
| Clearance and Settlement: | DTC Global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg) as described under “Description of the Debt Securities — Forms of the Debt Securities” and “Ownership, Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement” in the prospectus. |
| Canadian Bail-in: | The Notes are not bail-inable debt securities (as defined in the prospectus) under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. |
| Change in Law Event: | Not applicable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the product supplement. |
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Additional Terms of Your Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus, as supplemented by the product supplement, relating to our Senior Debt Securities, Series E, of which these Notes are a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement will have the meanings given to them in the product supplement. In the event of any conflict the following hierarchy will govern: first, this pricing supplement; second, the product supplement; and last, the prospectus. The Notes vary from the terms described in the product supplement in several important ways. You should read this pricing supplement carefully.
This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all 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, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Additional Risk Factors” herein, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the product supplement and “Risk Factors” in the prospectus, 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. You may access these documents on the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if that address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
| ◾ | Prospectus dated March 4, 2022: |
| ◾ | Product Supplement MLN-EI-1 dated March 4, 2022: |
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 0000947263. As used in this pricing supplement, the “Bank,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries.
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.
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Additional Risk Factors
The Notes involve risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. This section describes the most significant risks relating to the terms of the Notes. For additional information as to these risks, please see “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the product supplement and “Risk Factors” in the prospectus.
You should carefully consider whether the Notes are suited to your particular circumstances. Accordingly, investors should consult their investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as to the risks entailed by an investment in the Notes and the suitability of the Notes in light of their particular circumstances.
Risks Relating to Return Characteristics
Principal at Risk.
Investors in the Notes could lose their entire Principal Amount if there is a decline in the level of the Reference Asset. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level, you will lose a portion of each $1,000 Principal Amount in an amount equal to the negative Percentage Change times $1,000. Specifically, you will lose 1% of the Principal Amount of each of your Notes for every 1% that the Final Level is less than the Initial Level and you may lose your entire Principal Amount.
The Notes Do Not Pay Interest and Your Return on the Notes May Be Less Than the Return on Conventional Debt Securities of Comparable Maturity.
There will be no periodic interest payments on the Notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same term. The return that you will receive on the Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of TD.
Your Potential Return on the Notes Is Limited by the Maximum Payment Amount and May Be Less Than the Return on a Direct Investment In the Reference Asset.
The opportunity to participate in the possible increases in the level of the Reference Asset through an investment in the Notes will be limited because the Payment at Maturity will not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount. Furthermore, the effect of the Leverage Factor will not be taken into account for any Final Level exceeding the Cap Level no matter how much the level of the Reference Asset may rise above the Cap Level. Accordingly, your return on the Notes may be less than your return would be if you made an investment in a security directly linked to the performance of the Reference Asset.
The Payment at Maturity Is Not Linked to the Level of the Reference Asset at Any Time Other than the Valuation Date.
The Final Level will be the Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date (subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement). Therefore, if the Closing Level of the Reference Asset dropped precipitously on the Valuation Date, the Payment at Maturity for your Notes may be significantly less than it would have been had the Payment at Maturity been linked to the Closing Level of the Reference Asset prior to such drop in the level of the Reference Asset. Although the actual level of the Reference Asset on the Maturity Date or at other times during the term of your Notes may be higher than the Final Level, you will benefit from the Closing Level of the Reference Asset only on the Valuation Date.
You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Reference Asset Constituents.
As a holder of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the Reference Asset Constituents would have. The Final Level will not reflect any dividends paid on any Reference Asset Constituents.
If You Purchase Your Notes at a Premium to Principal Amount, the Return on Your Investment Will Be Less Than the Return on Notes Purchased at Principal Amount and the Impact of Certain Key Terms of the Notes Will be Negatively Affected.
The Payment at Maturity will not be adjusted based on the public offering price you pay for the Notes. If you purchase Notes at a price that differs from the Principal Amount of the Notes, then the return on your investment in such Notes held to the Maturity Date will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on Notes purchased at Principal Amount. If you purchase your Notes at a premium to Principal Amount and hold them to the Maturity Date, the return on your investment in the Notes will be less than it would have been had you purchased the Notes at Principal Amount or a discount to Principal Amount. In addition, the impact of the Cap Level on the return on your investment will depend upon the price you pay for your Notes relative to Principal Amount. For example, if you purchase your Notes at a premium to Principal Amount, the Cap Level will only permit a lower positive return on your investment in the Notes than would have been the case for Notes purchased at Principal Amount or a discount to Principal Amount.
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Risks Relating to Characteristics of the Reference Asset
There Are Market Risks Associated with the Reference Asset.
The level of the Reference Asset can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to the Reference Asset, the securities included in the Reference Asset (the “Reference Asset Constituents”) and their issuers (the “Reference Asset Constituent Issuers”), such as stock price volatility, earnings, financial conditions, corporate, industry and regulatory developments, management changes and decisions and other events, as well as general market factors, such as general market volatility and levels, interest rates and economic and political conditions. In addition, recently, the coronavirus infection has caused volatility in the global financial markets and a slowdown in the global economy. Coronavirus or any other communicable disease or infection may adversely affect the Reference Asset Constituent Issuers and, therefore, the Reference Asset. You, as an investor in the Notes, should make your own investigation into the Reference Asset, the Reference Asset Constituents and the Reference Asset Constituent Issuers. For additional information, see “Information Regarding the Reference Asset” herein.
The Notes are Subject to Small-Capitalization Stock Risks.
The Notes are subject to risks associated with small-capitalization companies because the Reference Asset Constituents are considered small-capitalization companies. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and therefore the Reference Asset may be more volatile than an index in which a greater percentage of the Reference Asset Constituents are issued by large-capitalization companies. Stock prices of small-capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded. In addition, small-capitalization companies are typically less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Small-capitalization companies are often given less analyst coverage and may be in early, and less predictable, periods of their corporate existences. Such companies tend to have smaller revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products.
The Reference Asset Reflects Price Return, not Total Return.
The return on your Notes is based on the performance of the Reference Asset, which reflects the changes in the market prices of the Reference Asset Constituents. It is not, however, linked to a “total return” index or strategy, which, in addition to reflecting those price returns, would also reflect dividends paid on the Reference Asset Constituents. The return on your Notes will not include such a total return feature or dividend component.
We Have No Affiliation with the Index Sponsor and Will Not Be Responsible for Any Actions Taken by the Index Sponsor.
The Index Sponsor is not an affiliate of ours and will not be involved in any offerings of the Notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control of any actions of the Index Sponsor, including any actions of the type that would require the Calculation Agent to adjust the Payment at Maturity. The Index Sponsor does not have any obligation of any sort with respect to the Notes. Thus, the Index Sponsor has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of, or any amount payable on, the Notes. None of our proceeds from any issuance of the Notes will be paid to the Index Sponsor, except to the extent that we are required to pay the Index Sponsor licensing fees with respect to the Reference Asset.
Market Disruption Events and Postponements.
The Valuation Date, and therefore the Maturity Date, are subject to postponement as described in the product supplement due to the occurrence of one or more market disruption events. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” in the product supplement.
Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity
TD’s Initial Estimated Value of the Notes at the Time of Pricing (When the Terms of Your Notes Were Set on the Pricing Date) is Less Than the Public Offering Price of the Notes.
TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes is only an estimate. TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes is less than the public offering price of the Notes. The difference between the public offering price of the Notes and TD’s initial estimated value reflects costs and expected profits associated with selling and structuring the Notes, as well as hedging its obligations under
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the Notes with a third party. Because hedging our obligations entails risks 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 a loss.
TD’s and TDS’s Estimated Value of the Notes are Determined By Reference to TD’s Internal Funding Rates and are Not Determined By Reference to Credit Spreads or the Borrowing Rate TD Would Pay for its Conventional Fixed-Rate Debt Securities.
TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes and TDS’s estimated value of the Notes at any time are determined by reference to TD’s internal funding rate. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the Notes generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for TD’s conventional fixed-rate debt securities and the borrowing rate TD would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities. This discount is based on, among other things, TD’s 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 TD’s conventional fixed-rate debt, as well as estimated financing costs of any hedge positions, taking into account regulatory and internal requirements. If the interest rate implied by the credit spreads for TD’s conventional fixed-rate debt securities, or the borrowing rate TD would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities were to be used, TD would expect the economic terms of the Notes to be more favorable to you. Additionally, assuming all other economic terms are held constant, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes is expected to increase the estimated value of the Notes at any time.
TD’s Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Does Not Represent Future Values of the Notes and May Differ From Others’ (Including TDS’s) Estimates.
TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes was determined by reference to its internal pricing models when the terms of the Notes were set. These pricing models take into account a number of variables, such as TD’s internal funding rate on the Pricing Date, and are based on a number of assumptions as discussed further under “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes” herein. Different pricing models and assumptions (including the pricing models and assumptions used by TDS) could provide valuations for the Notes that are different from, and perhaps materially less than, TD’s initial estimated value. Therefore, the price at which TDS would buy or sell your Notes (if TDS makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) may be materially less than TD’s initial estimated value. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect.
The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Not a Prediction of the Prices at Which You May Sell Your Notes in the Secondary Market, If Any, and Such Secondary Market Prices, If Any, Will Likely be Less Than the Public Offering Price of Your Notes and May Be Less Than the Estimated Value of Your Notes.
The estimated value of the Notes is not a prediction of the prices at which TDS, other affiliates of ours or third parties may be willing to purchase the Notes from you in secondary market transactions (if they are willing to purchase, which they are not obligated to do). The price at which you may be able to sell your Notes in the secondary market at any time, if any, will be influenced by many factors that cannot be predicted, such as market conditions, and any bid and ask spread for similar sized trades, and may be substantially less than the estimated value of the Notes. Further, as secondary market prices of your Notes take into account the levels at which our debt securities trade in the secondary market, and do not take into account our various costs and expected profits associated with selling and structuring the Notes, as well as hedging our obligations under the Notes, secondary market prices of your Notes will likely be less than the public offering price of your Notes. As a result, the price at which TDS, other affiliates of ours or third parties may be willing to purchase the Notes from you in secondary market transactions, if any, will likely be less than the price you paid for your Notes, and any sale prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you.
The Temporary Price at Which TDS May Initially Buy the Notes in the Secondary Market May Not Be Indicative of Future Prices of Your Notes.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Pricing Date, the price at which TDS may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if TDS makes a market in the Notes, which it is not obligated to do) may exceed the estimated value of the Notes on the Pricing Date, as well as the secondary market value of the Notes, for a temporary period after the Pricing Date of the Notes, as discussed further under “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes.” The price at which TDS may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market may not be indicative of future prices of your Notes.
The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors.
When we refer to the market value of your Notes, we mean the value that you could receive for your Notes if you chose to sell them in the open market before the Maturity Date. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the market value of your Notes, including:
| • | the level of the Reference Asset; |
| • | the volatility – i.e., the frequency and magnitude of changes – in the level of the Reference Asset; |
| • | the dividend rates, if applicable, of the Reference Asset Constituents; |
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| • | economic, financial, regulatory and political, military or other events that may affect the prices of any of the Reference Asset Constituents and thus the level of the Reference Asset; |
| • | interest rate and yield rates in the market; |
| • | the time remaining until your Notes mature; |
| • | any fluctuations in the exchange rate between currencies in which the Reference Asset Constituents are quoted and traded and the U.S. dollar, as applicable; and |
| • | our creditworthiness, whether actual or perceived, and including actual or anticipated upgrades or downgrades in our credit ratings or changes in other credit measures. |
These factors will influence the price you will receive if you sell your Notes before maturity, including the price you may receive for your Notes in any market-making transaction. If you sell your Notes prior to maturity, you may receive less than the Principal Amount of your Notes.
The future levels of the Reference Asset cannot be predicted. The actual change in the level of the Reference Asset over the term of the Notes, as well as the Payment at Maturity, may bear little or no relation to the hypothetical historical closing levels of the Reference Asset or to the hypothetical examples shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement.
There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes — Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant Losses.
There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or electronic communications network. TDS and our affiliates may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not required to do so. TDS and our affiliates may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices advantageous to you. We expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and ask prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
If you sell your Notes before the Maturity Date, you may have to do so at a substantial discount from the public offering price irrespective of the level of the Reference Asset and, as a result, you may suffer substantial losses.
If the Level of the Reference Asset Changes, the Market Value of Your Notes May Not Change in the Same Manner.
Your Notes may trade quite differently from the performance of the Reference Asset. Changes in the level of the Reference Asset may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your Notes. Even if the level of the Reference Asset increases above the Initial Level during the term of the Notes, the market value of your Notes may not increase by the same amount and could decline.
Risks Relating to Hedging Activities and Conflicts of Interest
The Agent Discount, if any, Offering Expenses and Certain Hedging Costs Are Likely to Adversely Affect Secondary Market Prices.
Assuming no changes in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to sell the Notes will likely be less than the public offering price. The public offering price includes, and any price quoted to you is likely to exclude, any underwriting discount paid in connection with the initial distribution, offering expenses as well as the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect any dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs, such as a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction. In addition, if the dealer from which you purchase Notes, or one of its affiliates, is to conduct hedging activities for us in connection with the Notes, that dealer, or one of its affiliates, may profit in connection with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to any compensation that the dealer receives for the sale of the Notes to you. You should be aware that the potential for the dealer or one of its affiliates to earn fees in connection with hedging activities may create a further incentive for the dealer to sell the Notes to you in addition to any compensation they would receive for the sale of the Notes.
Trading and Business Activities by TD and Our Affiliates May Adversely Affect the Market Value of, and Any Amount Payable on, the Notes.
TD and our affiliates may hedge our obligations under the Notes by purchasing securities, futures, options or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the level of the Reference Asset or prices of one or more Reference Asset Constituents, and we or they may adjust these hedges by, among other things, purchasing or selling any of the foregoing at any time. It is possible that we or one or more of our affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging activities while the market value of, and any amount payable on, the Notes declines. We or one or more of our
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affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to the performance of the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents.
These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interest in the Notes and the interests we and our affiliates will have in our or their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for our or their customers’ accounts and in accounts under our or their management. These trading activities could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes.
We and our affiliates may, at present or in the future, engage in business with one or more Reference Asset Constituent Issuers, including making loans to or providing advisory services to those companies. These services could include investment banking and merger and acquisition advisory services. These business activities may present a conflict between us and our affiliates obligations, and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we, and our affiliates may have published, and in the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these business activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the level of the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents and, therefore, the market value of, and any amount payable on, the Notes.
There Are Potential Conflicts of Interest Between You and the Calculation Agent.
The Calculation Agent will, among other things, determine the amount of your payment on the Notes. We will serve as the Calculation Agent and may appoint a different Calculation Agent after the Issue Date without notice to you. The Calculation Agent will exercise its judgment when performing its functions and may take into consideration our ability to unwind any related hedges. Because this discretion by the Calculation Agent may affect payments on the Notes, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make any such decision. For example, the Calculation Agent may have to determine whether a market disruption event affecting the Reference Asset has occurred. This determination may, in turn, depend on the Calculation Agent’s judgment whether the event has materially interfered with our ability or the ability of one of our affiliates to unwind our hedge positions. Because this determination by the Calculation Agent will affect the payment on the Notes, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make a determination of this kind. For additional information as to the Calculation Agent’s role, see “General Terms of the Notes—Role of Calculation Agent” in the product supplement.
Risks Relating to General Credit Characteristics
Investors Are Subject to TD’s Credit Risk, and TD’s Credit Ratings and Credit Spreads May Adversely Affect the Market Value of the Notes.
Although the return on the Notes will depend on the Final Level of the Reference Asset, the payment of any amount due on the Notes is subject to TD’s credit risk. The Notes are TD’s unsecured debt obligations. Investors are dependent on TD’s ability to pay all amounts due on the Notes on the Maturity Date and, therefore, investors are subject to the credit risk of TD and to changes in the market’s view of TD’s creditworthiness. Any decrease in TD’s credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking TD’s credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the Notes. If TD becomes unable to meet its financial obligations as they become due, investors may not receive any amounts due under the terms of the Notes.
Risks Relating to Canadian and U.S. Federal Income Taxation
Significant Aspects of the Tax Treatment of the Notes Are Uncertain.
Significant aspects of the U.S. tax treatment of the Notes are uncertain. You should consult your tax advisor about your tax situation and should read carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” herein and in the product supplement.
For a discussion of the Canadian federal income tax consequences of investing in the Notes, please see the discussion in the product supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences” and the further discussion herein under “Summary”.
If you are not a Non-resident Holder (as that term is defined in the prospectus) for Canadian federal income tax purposes or if you acquire the Notes in the secondary market, you should consult your tax advisors as to the consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Notes and receiving the payments that might be due under the Notes.
General Risk Factors
We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at a Different Public Offering Price.
At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. The public offering price of the Notes in the subsequent sale may differ substantially (higher or lower) from the original public offering price you paid as provided on the cover of this pricing supplement.
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Hypothetical Returns
The examples and graph set out below are included for illustration purposes only. They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future investment results and merely are intended to illustrate the impact that the various hypothetical levels of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date could have on the Payment at Maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.
The examples below are based on a range of Final Levels that are entirely hypothetical; the levels of the Reference Asset on any day throughout the term of the Notes, including the Final Level on the Valuation Date, cannot be predicted. The Reference Asset has been highly volatile in the past—meaning that the level of the Reference Asset has changed considerably in relatively short periods—and its performance cannot be predicted for any future period.
The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical rates of return on the offered Notes assuming that they are purchased on the Issue Date at the Principal Amount and held to the Maturity Date. If you sell your Notes in a secondary market prior to the Maturity Date, your return will depend upon the market value of your Notes at the time of sale, which may be affected by a number of factors that are not reflected in the examples below, such as interest rates, the volatility of the Reference Asset and our creditworthiness. In addition, the estimated value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes were set on the Pricing Date is less than the original public offering price of your Notes. For more information on the estimated value of your Notes, see “Additional Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity — TD’s Initial Estimated Value of the Notes at the Time of Pricing (When the Terms of Your Notes Were Set on the Pricing Date) is Less Than the Public Offering Price of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. The information in the examples also reflect the key terms and assumptions in the box below.
| Key Terms and Assumptions | ||
| Principal Amount | $1,000 | |
| Leverage Factor | 300.00% | |
| Cap Level | 109.010% of the Initial Level | |
| Maximum Payment Amount | $1,270.30 | |
Neither a market disruption event nor a non-Trading Day occurs on the originally scheduled Valuation Date No change in or affecting any of the Reference Asset Constituents or the method by which the Index Sponsor calculates the Reference Asset Notes purchased on the Issue Date at the Principal Amount and held to the Maturity Date | ||
The actual performance of the Reference Asset over the term of your Notes, as well as the Payment at Maturity, if any, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical levels of the Reference Asset shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the historical levels of the Reference Asset during recent periods, see “Information Regarding the Reference Asset—Historical Information” below.
Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment applicable to your Notes, tax liabilities could affect the after-tax rate of return on your Notes to a comparatively greater extent than the after-tax return on the Reference Asset Constituents.
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The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical Final Levels and are expressed as percentages of the Initial Level. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical Payment at Maturity, based on the corresponding hypothetical Final Level, and are expressed as percentages of the Principal Amount of a Note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent). Thus, a hypothetical Payment at Maturity of 100.000% means that the value of the cash payment that we would pay for each $1,000 of the outstanding Principal Amount of the offered Notes on the Maturity Date would equal 100.000% of the Principal Amount of a Note, based on the corresponding hypothetical Final Level and the assumptions noted above.
Hypothetical Final Level (as Percentage of Initial Level) | Hypothetical Payment at Maturity (as Percentage of Principal Amount) |
| 150.000% | 127.030% |
| 140.000% | 127.030% |
| 130.000% | 127.030% |
| 120.000% | 127.030% |
| 110.000% | 127.030% |
| 109.010% | 127.030% |
| 106.000% | 118.000% |
| 104.000% | 112.000% |
| 102.000% | 106.000% |
| 100.000% | 100.000% |
| 97.000% | 97.000% |
| 95.000% | 95.000% |
| 90.000% | 90.000% |
| 75.000% | 75.000% |
| 50.000% | 50.000% |
| 25.000% | 25.000% |
| 0.000% | 0.000% |
If, for example, the Final Level were determined to be 25.000% of the Initial Level, the Payment at Maturity that we would pay on your Notes at maturity would be 25.000% of the Principal Amount of your Notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you purchased your Notes on the Issue Date at the Principal Amount and held them to the Maturity Date, you would lose 75.000% of your investment (if you purchased your Notes at a premium to Principal Amount you would lose a correspondingly higher percentage of your investment). If the Final Level were determined to be 0.000% of the Initial Level, you would lose 100.000% of your investment in the Notes. In addition, if the Final Level were determined to be 300.000% of the Initial Level, the Payment at Maturity that we would pay on your Notes at maturity would be capped at the Maximum Payment Amount, or 127.030% of each $1,000 Principal Amount of your Notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your Notes to the Maturity Date, you would not benefit from any increase in the Final Level of greater than 109.010% of the Initial Level.
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The following examples illustrate the hypothetical Payment at Maturity for each Note based on hypothetical Final Levels of the Reference Asset, calculated based on the key terms and assumptions above. The values below have been rounded for ease of analysis.
| Example 1— | Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is positive (and the Final Level is below the Cap Level). | |
| Percentage Change: | 3.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | $1,000.00 + ($1,000.00 × 300.00% × 3.00%) = $1,000.00 + $90.00 = $1,090.00 | |
| On a $1,000.00 investment, a 3.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,090.00, a return of 9.00% on the Notes. | ||
| Example 2— | Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is positive (and the Final Level is above or equal to the Cap Level). | |
| Percentage Change: | 50.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | $1,000.00 + ($1,000.00 × 300.00% × 50.00%) = $1,000.00 + $1,500.00 = $2,500.00. However, the Maximum Payment Amount is $1,270.30 and therefore the Payment at Maturity would be $1,270.30. | |
On a $1,000.00 investment, a 50.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,270.30, a return of 27.03% on the Notes. In addition to limiting your return on the Notes, the Maximum Payment Amount limits the positive effect of the Leverage Factor. If the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level, you will participate in the performance of the Reference Asset at a rate of 300.00% up to a certain point. However, the effect of the Leverage Factor will be progressively reduced for Final Levels that are greater than 109.010% of the Initial Level (based on the Maximum Payment Amount of 127.030% or $1,270.30 per $1,000.00 Principal Amount of the Notes) because your return on the Notes for any Final Level greater than 109.010% of the Initial Level will be limited by the Maximum Payment Amount. | ||
| Example 3— | Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is negative. | |
| Percentage Change: | -35.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | $1,000.00 + ($1,000.00 × -35.00%) = $1,000.00 – $350.00 = $650.00 | |
| On a $1,000.00 investment, a -35.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $650.00, a return of ‑35.00% on the Notes. | ||
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The following chart shows a graphical illustration of the hypothetical Payment at Maturity that we would pay on your Notes on the Maturity Date if the Final Level were any of the hypothetical levels shown on the horizontal axis. The hypothetical Payments at Maturity in the chart are expressed as percentages of the Principal Amount of your Notes and the hypothetical Final Levels are expressed as percentages of the Initial Level. The chart shows that any hypothetical Final Level of less than 100.000% (the section left of the 100.000% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a hypothetical Payment at Maturity of less than 100.000% of the Principal Amount of your Notes (the section below the 100.000% marker on the vertical axis) and, accordingly, in a loss of principal to the holder of the Notes. The chart also shows that any hypothetical Final Level of greater than or equal to 109.010% (the section right of the 109.010% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a capped return on your investment.
The Payments at Maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on hypothetical levels of the Reference Asset that may not be achieved on the Valuation Date and assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your Notes on the Maturity Date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your Notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical Payment at Maturity shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the offered Notes. The hypothetical Payment at Maturity on the Notes in the examples above assume you purchased your Notes at their Principal Amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual public offering price you pay for your Notes. The return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your Notes will be affected by the amount you pay for your Notes. If you purchase your Notes for a price other than the Principal Amount, the return on your investment will differ from, and may be significantly less than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the above examples. Please read “Additional Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity —The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” in this pricing supplement.
Payments on the Notes are economically equivalent to the amounts that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For example, payments on the Notes are economically equivalent to a combination of a non-interest-bearing bond bought by the holder and one or more options entered into between the holder and us (with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of the Notes or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes, as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement.
| We cannot predict the actual Final Level or what the market value of your Notes will be on any particular Trading Day, nor can we predict the relationship between the level of the Reference Asset and the market value of your Notes at any time prior to the Maturity Date. The actual amount that you will receive, if any, at maturity and the rate of return on the offered Notes will depend on the actual Final Level, which will be determined by the Calculation Agent as described above. Moreover, the assumptions on which the hypothetical returns are based may turn out to be inaccurate. Consequently, the amount of cash to be paid in respect of your Notes, if any, on the Maturity Date may be very different from the information reflected in the examples above. |
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Information Regarding the Reference Asset
Russell 2000® Index
The Russell 2000® Index, which we also refer to in this description as the “index”:
| • | is an equity index, and therefore cannot be invested in directly; |
| • | does not file reports with the SEC; |
| • | was first launched in 1984 based on an initial value of 100 as of December 31, 1978; and |
| • | is sponsored by FTSE Russell (“FTSE Russell”) |
The Russell 2000® Index measures the composite price performance of stocks of approximately 2,053 companies in the U.S. equity market. It is generally considered to be a “small-cap” index. Additional information about the Russell 2000® Index, including sectors and sector weights and top constituents, is available on the following website: ftserussell.com/products/indices/russell-us. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this pricing supplement or any document incorporated herein by reference.
The Russell 2000® Index includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities that form the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000® Index is comprised of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies, or 98% based on market capitalization, of the investable U.S. equity market. The Russell 2000® Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market.
Selection of Constituent Stocks of the Russell 2000® Index
The Russell 2000® Index is a sub-index of the Russell 3000® Index. To be eligible for inclusion in the Russell 3000® Index, and, consequently, the Russell 2000® Index, a company’s stocks must be listed on the rank day in May of a given year (the timetable is announced each spring) and FTSE Russell must have access to documentation verifying the company’s eligibility for inclusion. Eligible initial public offerings (“IPOs”) are added to Russell U.S. Indices quarterly, based on total market capitalization rankings within the market-adjusted capitalization breaks established during the most recent reconstitution. To be added to any Russell U.S. index during a quarter outside of reconstitution, IPOs must meet additional eligibility criteria.
A company is included in the U.S. equity markets and is eligible for inclusion in the Russell 3000® Index, and consequently, the Russell 2000® Index, if that company incorporates in the U.S., has its headquarters in the U.S. and also trades with the highest liquidity in the U.S. If a company does not satisfy all of the above criteria, it can still be included in the U.S. equity market if any one of the following home country indicators is in the United States: (i) country of incorporation, (ii) country of headquarters and (iii) country in which the company trades with the highest liquidity (as defined by a two-year average daily dollar trading volume from all exchanges within the country), and the primary location of that company’s assets or its revenue, based on an average of two years of assets or revenues data, is also in the United States. In addition, if there is insufficient information to assign a company to the U.S. equity markets based on its assets or revenue, the company may nonetheless be assigned to the U.S. equity markets if the headquarters of the company is located in the United States or if the headquarters of the company is located in certain “benefit-driven incorporation countries”, or “BDIs”, and that company’s most liquid stock exchange is in the United States. The BDI countries are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curaçao, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten and Turks and Caicos Islands. A U.S.-listed company is not eligible for inclusion within the U.S. equity market if it has been classified by FTSE Russell as a China N share on the rank date of the index reconstitution. A company will be considered a China N share if the following criteria are satisfied: (i) the company is incorporated outside of the People’s Republic of China, (ii) the company is listed on the NYSE, the Nasdaq or the NYSE American (formerly the NYSE MKT), (iii) over 55% of the revenue or assets of the company are derived from the People’s Republic of China, and (iv) the company is controlled by a mainland Chinese entity, company or individual (if the shareholder background cannot be determined with publicly available information, FTSE Russell will consider whether the establishment and origin of the company are in mainland China and whether the company is headquartered in mainland China). An existing China N Share which fails one or more of the following criteria will cease to be classified as a China N share: (i) the company is no longer incorporated outside the People’s Republic of China, (ii) the company is no longer listed on the NYSE, the Nasdaq exchange, or the NYSE American, (iii) the percentages of revenue and assets derived from the People’s Republic of China have both fallen below 45 percent, or (iv) the company is acquired/a controlling stake is held by a non-Mainland Chinese state entity, company or individual. Only asset and revenue data from the most recent annual report is considered when evaluating whether a company should be classified a China N share (i.e., there will be no two year averaging). ADRs and ADSs are not eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index.
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In addition, all securities eligible for inclusion in the Russell 3000® Index, and consequently, the Russell 2000® Index, must trade on an eligible exchange (CBOE (formerly BATS), NYSE, NYSE American (formerly NYSE MKT), NYSE Arca and Nasdaq).
Exclusions from the Russell 2000® Index
FTSE Russell specifically excludes the following companies and securities from the Russell 2000® Index: (i) preferred and convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants, rights, depositary receipts, installment receipts and trust receipts; (ii) royalty trusts, U.S. limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies, companies that are required to report Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (as defined by the SEC), including business development companies, blank check companies, special-purpose acquisition companies and limited partnerships; (iii) companies with a total market capitalization less than $30 million; (iv) companies with only a small portion of their shares available in the marketplace (companies with less than an absolute 5% of shares available); (v) bulletin board, pink sheets or over-the-counter traded securities, including securities for which prices are displayed on the FINRA ADF; (vi) real estate investment trusts and publicly traded partnerships that generate, or have historically generated, unrelated business taxable income and have not taken steps to block their unrelated business taxable income to equity holders; and (vii) companies with 5% or less of the company’s voting rights in the hands of unrestricted shareholders (existing constituents that do not currently have more than 5% of the company’s voting rights in the hands of unrestricted shareholders have until the September 2022 review to meet this requirement).
Initial List of Eligible Securities
The primary criterion FTSE Russell uses to determine the initial list of securities eligible for the Russell 3000® Index and, consequently, the Russell 2000® Index, is total market capitalization, which is calculated by multiplying the total outstanding shares for a company by the market price as of the rank day for those securities being considered at annual reconstitution. IPOs may be added between constitutions as noted below. All common stock share classes are combined in determining a company’s total shares outstanding. If multiple share classes have been combined, the number of total shares outstanding will be multiplied by the primary exchange close price and used to determine the company’s total market capitalization. In cases where the common stock share classes act independently of each other (e.g., tracking stocks), each class is considered for inclusion separately. Stocks must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange or an eligible secondary exchange on the last trading day of May of each year to be eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index. In order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s closing price is less than $1.00 on the rank day in May, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices from their primary exchange during the 30 days prior to the rank day is equal to or greater than $1.00. If an existing member does not trade on the rank day, it must price at $1.00 or above on another eligible U.S. exchange to remain eligible.
Multiple Share Classes
If an eligible company trades under multiple share classes or if a company distributes shares of an additional share class to its existing shareholders through a mandatory corporate action, each share class will be reviewed independently for inclusion. Share classes in addition to the primary vehicle (the pricing vehicle) that have a total market capitalization larger than $30 million, an average daily dollar trading value that exceeds that of the global median, and a float greater than 5% of shares available in the market place are eligible for inclusion.
The pricing vehicle will generally be designated as the share class with the highest two-year trading volume as of the rank day. In the absence of two years’ worth of data, all available data will be used for this calculation. If the difference between trading volumes for each share class is less than 20%, the share class with the most available shares outstanding will be used as the pricing vehicle. At least 100 day trading volume is necessary to consider the class as a pricing vehicle for existing members. New members will be analyzed on all available data, even if that data is for less than 100 days.
Annual Reconstitution
The Russell 2000® Index is reconstituted annually by FTSE Russell to reflect changes in the marketplace. The list of companies is ranked based on total market capitalization on the last trading day in May, with the actual reconstitution occurring on the final Friday of June each year, unless the final Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, in which case reconstitution will occur on the preceding Friday. A full calendar for reconstitution is made available each spring.
A company’s total shares are multiplied by the primary exchange close price of the pricing vehicle and used to determine the company’s total market capitalization for the purpose of ranking of companies and determination of index membership. If no volume exists on the primary exchange on the rank day, the last trade price from an eligible secondary exchange will be used where volume exists (using the lowest trade price above $1.00 if multiple secondary markets exist). The company’s rank will be determined based on the cumulative market capitalization. As of the June 2016 reconstitution, any share class not qualifying for eligibility independently will not be aggregated with the pricing vehicle within the available shares calculation.
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For mergers and spin-offs that are effective between the rank day and the business day immediately before the index lock down takes effect ahead of the annual reconstitution in June, the market capitalizations of the impacted securities are recalculated and membership is reevaluated as of the effective date of the corporate action. For corporate events that occur during the reconstitution lock down period (which takes effect from the open on the first day of the lock down period onwards), market capitalizations and memberships will not be reevaluated. Non index members that have been considered ineligible as of rank day will not be reevaluated in the event of a subsequent corporate action that occurs between rank day and the reconstitution effective date.
Index Calculation and Capitalization Adjustments
As a capitalization-weighted index, the Russell 2000® Index reflects changes in the capitalization, or market value, of the index stocks relative to the capitalization on a base date. This discussion describes the “price return” calculation of the Russell 2000® Index. The current Russell 2000® Index value is the compounded result of the cumulative daily (or monthly) return percentages, where the starting value of the Russell 2000® Index is equal to the base value (100) and base date (December 31, 1978). Returns between any two dates can then be derived by dividing the ending period index value (IV1) by the beginning period (IV0) index value, so that the return equals [(IV1 / IV0) –1]*100.
Constituent stocks of the Russell 2000® Index are weighted in the Russell 2000® Index by their free-float market capitalization, which is calculated by multiplying the primary closing price by the number of free-float shares. Free-float shares are shares that are available to the public for purchase as determined by FTSE Russell. Adjustments to shares are reviewed quarterly (including at reconstitution) and for major corporate actions such as mergers. Total shares and adjustments for available shares are based on information recorded in SEC corporate filings.
The following are excluded from free float: shares directly owned by state, regional, municipal and local governments (excluding shares held by independently managed pension schemes for governments); shares held by sovereign wealth funds where each holding is 10% or greater of the total number of shares in issue; shares held by directors, senior executives and managers of the company, and by their family and direct relations, and by companies with which they are affiliated; shares held within employee share plans; shares held by public companies or by non-listed subsidiaries of public companies; shares held by founders, promoters, former directors, founding venture capital and private equity firms, private companies and individuals (including employees) where the holding is 10% or greater of the total number of shares in issue; all shares where the holder is subject to a lock-up clause (for the duration of that clause, after which free float changes resulting from the expiry of a lock-up will be implemented at the next quarterly review subject to the lock-up expiry date occurring on or prior to the share and float change information cut-off date); shares held by an investor, investment company or an investment fund that is actively participating in the management of a company or is holding shares for publicly announced strategic reasons, or has successfully placed a current member to the board of directors of a company; and shares that are subject to ongoing contractual agreements (such as swaps) where they would ordinarily be treated as restricted. In addition, while portfolio holdings such as pension funds, insurance funds or investment companies will generally not be considered as restricted from free float, where a single portfolio holding is 30% or greater it will be regarded as strategic and therefore restricted (and will remain restricted until the holding falls below 30%).
Corporate Actions Affecting the Index
FTSE Russell adjusts the Russell 2000® Index on a daily basis in response to certain corporate actions and events. Therefore, a company’s membership in the Russell 2000® Index and its weight in the Russell 2000® Index can be impacted by these corporate actions. The adjustment is applied based on sources of public information, including press releases and Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Prior to the completion of a corporate action or event, FTSE Russell estimates the effective date. FTSE Russell will then adjust the anticipated effective date based on public information until the date is considered final. Depending on the time on a given day that an action is determined to be final, FTSE Russell will generally either (1) apply the action before the open on the ex-date or (2) apply the action after providing appropriate notice. If FTSE Russell has confirmed the completion of a corporate action, scheduled to become effective subsequent to a rebalance, the event may be implemented in conjunction with the rebalance to limit turnover, provided appropriate notice can be given. FTSE Russell applies the following methodology guidelines when adjusting the Russell 2000® Index in response to corporate actions and events:
“No Replacement” Rule — Securities that are deleted from the Russell 2000® Index between reconstitution dates, for any reason (e.g., mergers, acquisitions or other similar corporate activity) are not replaced. Thus, the number of securities in the Russell 2000® Index over the past year will fluctuate according to corporate activity.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Adjustments due to mergers and acquisitions are applied to the Russell 2000® Index after the action is determined to be final. In the event that a constituent is being acquired for cash or is delisted subsequent to an index review, such constituent will be removed from the Russell 2000® Index in conjunction with the index review, assuming that the action is determined to be final and a minimum of two days’ notice can be provided.
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Between constituents: When mergers and acquisitions take place between companies that are both constituents of a Russell index for cash, the target company is deleted from the Russell 2000® Index at the last traded price. When mergers and acquisitions take place between companies that are both constituents of a Russell index for stock, the target company is deleted from the Russell 2000® Index and the shares of the acquiring stock are increased according to the offer terms. When mergers and acquisitions take place between companies that are both constituents of a Russell index for cash or stock or a combination thereof, the target company is deleted from the Russell 2000® Index and the shares of the acquiring company are simultaneously increased per the merger terms.
Between a constituent and a non-constituent: If the target company is a member of the Russell 2000® Index, it is deleted from the Russell 2000® Index and the acquiring company will be included initially in the Russell 2000® Index provided it is eligible in all other respects at the time of the merger, regardless of previous eligibility screenings. If the acquiring company is deemed eligible it will be added to the Russell 2000® Index on the effective date and the opening price will be calculated using the offer terms. When the target company is a FTSE Russell Universe member, the shares of the member acquiring company will be updated to reflect the merger. Any share update will be made giving appropriate notice.
Given sufficient market hours after the confirmation of a merger or acquisition, FTSE Russell effects the action after the close on the last day of trading of the target company, or at an appropriate time once the transaction has been deemed to be final.
Rights Offerings — Rights offered to shareholders are reflected in the Russell 2000® Index only if the subscription price of the rights is at a discount to the market price of the stock. Provided that FTSE Russell has been alerted to the rights offer prior to the ex-date, it will adjust the price of the stock for the value of the rights and increased shares according to the terms of the offering before the open on the ex-date.
Spin-offs— If the spin-off entity meets the eligibility requirements for the Russell 2000® Index, the spin-off entity will be added to the Russell 2000® Index on the ex-date of the distribution. The spin-off entity will be retained in the Russell 2000® Index until the next annual reconstitution, when it will be evaluated for inclusion. If the spin-off entity does not meet the eligibility requirements for the Russell 2000® Index, the spin-off entity will be added to the Russell 2000® Index on the ex-date of the distribution. It will remain in the Russell 2000® Index until listing and settlement and then deleted at market price with notice.
Initial Public Offerings — Eligible IPOs are added to the Russell 2000® Index based on total market capitalization ranking within the market-adjusted capitalization breaks established at the most recent annual reconstitution.
An IPO of additional share classes will be considered for eligibility and must meet the same eligibility criteria for all other multiple share classes. If at the time of the IPO the additional share class does not meet the eligibility criteria for separate index membership, it will not be added to the Russell 2000® Index and will subsequently be reviewed for index membership during the next annual reconstitution.
Once IPO additions have been announced, an IPO may be added to the Russell 2000® Index prior to the previously announced schedule, if a corporate action has deemed this to be appropriate and notice can be provided (e.g. an index member automatically receives shares via a stock distribution into a projected IPO add).
Tender Offers — A company acquired as a result of a tender offer is removed when (i) (a) offer acceptances reach 90%; (b) shareholders have validly tendered and the shares have been irrevocably accepted for payment; and (c) all pertinent offer conditions have been reasonably met and the acquirer has not explicitly stated that it does not intend to acquire the remaining shares; (ii) there is reason to believe that the remaining free float is under 5% based on information available at the time; or (iii) following completion of the offer the acquirer has stated intent to finalize the acquisition via a short-form merger, squeeze-out, top-up option or any other compulsory mechanism.
Where the conditions for index deletion are not met, FTSE Russell may implement a free float change based on the reported acceptance results at the expiration of the initial, subsequent or final offer period where (i) the minimum acceptance level as stipulated by the acquiror is met; (ii) shareholders have validly tendered and the shares have been irrevocably accepted for payment; (iii) all pertinent offer conditions have been reasonably met and (iv) the change to the current float factor is greater than 3%. FTSE Russell uses the published results of the offer to determine the new free float of the target company. If no information is published in conjunction with the results from which FTSE Russell can determine which shareholders have and have not tendered, the free float change will reflect the total shares now owned by the acquiring company. A minimum T+2 notice period of the change is generally provided. . Any subsequent disclosure on the updated shareholder structure will be reviewed during the quarterly review cycle. If the offer includes a stock consideration, the acquiring company’s shares will be increased proportionate to the free float change of the target company. If the target company’s free float change is greater than 3%, the associated change to the acquiring company’s shares will be implemented regardless of size. Additionally, if the change to the target company is less than 3%, then no change will be implemented to the target or the acquiring company at the time of the event, regardless of any change to the acquiring company’s shares. The target company will then be deleted as a second-step, if the conditions for deletion are achieved at the expiration of a subsequent offer period.
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In the event that a tender offer results in an additional listed and active “tendered” line prior to the tendered shares being accepted and exchanged for settlement, FTSE Russell will generally evaluate the following factors to determine whether to switch to the tendered line: (i) the objective of the offer is to fully acquire and delist the target company (and FTSE Russell is not aware of any obstacles designed to prevent this objective; e.g. there are no major shareholders who have publicly disclosed that they will not be tendering); (ii) the offer is deemed to be successful (i.e. the minimum acceptance threshold has been achieved); (iii) more than 50% of the shares subject to the offer have been tendered; (iv) there is an additional tender offer period to provide a window for index users to tender into the tendered shares’ line; and (v) there are outstanding regulatory or other substantive hurdles preventing the transaction completing immediately at the conclusion of the tender offer, with the results not expected to be known for some time. Index implementation will generally occur immediately after the opening of the additional offer period (with the provision of appropriate notice) – with an informative notice published announcing the change, to supplement the information within the applicable tracker files. In the event that the tendered line is halted prior to index implementation, its close price will be updated to reflect the deal terms until implementation. In the event that the prerequisites for deletion are not achieved and the target company is retained within the Russell 2000® Index at a reduced weight, the tendered line will be removed at deal terms (if no active market) with the ordinary line being re-added at a reduced weight at its last close price.
In exceptional circumstances, any review changes due to be effective for the companies involved in a tender offer may be retracted if FTSE Russell becomes aware of a tender offer which is due to complete on or around the effective date of such index review changes. Such exceptional circumstances may include undue price pressure being placed on the companies involved, or if proceeding with the review changes would compromise the replicability of the Russell 2000® Index.
Delisted and Suspended Stocks — A stock will be deleted as a constituent if it is delisted from all eligible exchanges. A stock will be deleted if FTSE Russell becomes aware (in its country of assigned nationality) that the stock has become bankrupt, has filed for bankruptcy protection, enters administration, is insolvent or is liquidated, or where evidence of a change in circumstances makes it ineligible for index inclusion. If, however, FTSE Russell becomes aware that a constituent is suspended, index treatment will be determined as follows:
| • | if a constituent is declared bankrupt without any indication of compensation to shareholders, the last traded price will be adjusted to zero value and the constituent will be removed from the Russell 2000® Index with notice (typically T+2); |
| • | in all other cases, a constituent will continue to be included in the Russell 2000® Index for a period of up to 20 business days at its last traded price; |
| • | if a constituent continues to be suspended at the end of that 20 business day period (the suspension period), it will be subject to review. FTSE Russell will take into account the stated reasons for the suspension. These reasons may include announcements made by the company regarding a pending acquisition or restructuring, and any stated intentions regarding a date for the resumption of trading. If following review, a decision is taken to remove the constituent, FTSE Russell will provide notice of 20 business days (the notice period) that it intends to remove the constituent, at zero value, at the conclusion of the notice period. If the security has not resumed trading at the conclusion of the notice period, it will be removed with two days’ notice. If during the notice period further details are disclosed as to the reason for a company’s suspension, those reasons (and any possible resumption of trade date) will be taken into account when determining if the company should remain on notice; |
| • | if a suspended constituent resumes trading on or before the last business day of the notice period, the deletion notice will be rescinded and the constituent will be retained in the Russell 2000® Index. However, where the constituent resumes trading after the 40th business day of suspension, the constituent will continue to be removed from the Russell 2000® Index as previously announced but in these circumstance the deletion will be implemented at market value unless there are barriers that render a market value irreplicable. In this event, the company will continue to be removed at zero; |
| • | if the notice period expires in the week preceding an index review, the company will be removed in conjunction with the index review; |
| • | in certain limited circumstances where the index weight of the constituent is significant and FTSE Russell determines that a market-related value can be established for the suspended constituent, for example because similar company securities continue to trade, deletion may take place at the market-related value instead. In such circumstances, FTSE Russell will set out its rationale for the proposed treatment of the constituent at the end of the suspension period. The company would then be removed at that value at the end of the notice period; |
| • | if a constituent has been removed from the Russell 2000® Index and trading is subsequently restored, the constituent will only be reconsidered for inclusion after a period of 12 months from its deletion. For the purposes of index eligibility it will be treated as a new issue. |
For example, if FTSE Russell becomes aware that a U.S. company has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or a liquidation plan, it will be removed from the Russell 2000® Index at the time of filing. If a constituent
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is removed pursuant to this rule and is not trading, FTSE Russell will remove the stock at a nominal price of $0.0001. If a price on an ineligible market (e.g. OTC) is available, the constituent may be removed using this price.
A stock which has been deleted from the Russell 2000® Index as a result of bankruptcy protection or insolvency will only be reconsidered for index eligibility after a period of 12 months from when it comes out of bankruptcy protection.
A stock will also be deleted if FTSE Russell becomes aware (at a quarterly review) that the price of an existing constituent is considered reaching its minimum permissible trade price. The constituent will be removed from the Russell 2000® Index in line with the review subject to it still being at the minimum permissible trade price up to the start of the quarterly review lock down period. The stock will only be reconsidered for index eligibility after a period of 12 months.
Stock Distributions and distributions in specie— A price adjustment for stock distributions is applied on the ex-date of the distribution. Where FTSE Russell is able to value a distribution in specie prior to the ex-date, a price adjustment is made to the company paying the dividend at the open on the ex-date. If no valuation of the distribution exists prior to the ex-date, no price adjustment is applied. Where the company whose holders are receiving the distribution is an index member, its shares will be increased according to the terms of the distribution. If such company is not an index member, the distributed shares will be added to the Russell 2000® Index until they have been settled and have listed, at which point they will be removed at the last traded price giving appropriate notice.
Special Cash Dividends — If a constituent pays out a special cash dividend, the price of the stock is adjusted to deduct the dividend amount before the open on the ex-date. No adjustment for regular cash dividends is made in the price return calculation of the Russell 2000® Index.
Updates to Shares Outstanding and Free Float — FTSE Russell reviews the Russell 2000® Index quarterly for updates to shares outstanding and to free floats used in calculating the Russell 2000® Index. The changes are implemented quarterly in March, June, September and December after the close on the third Friday of such month. The June reconstitution will be implemented on the last Friday of June (unless the last Friday occurs on the 29th or 30th of the month, in which case reconstitution will occur on the Friday prior).
In March, September and December shares outstanding and free floats are updated to reflect (i) cumulative share changes greater than 1%, (ii) for constituents with a free float less than or equal to 15%, cumulative free float changes greater than 1%, and (iii) for constituents with a free float greater than 15%, cumulative free float changes greater than 3%. Updates to shares outstanding and free floats will be implemented each June regardless of size (i.e., the percentage change thresholds above will not be applied). FTSE Russell implements the June updates using data sourced primarily from the companies’ publicly available information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Outside of the quarterly update cycle, outstanding shares and free float will be updated with at least two days’ notice if prompted by primary or secondary offerings if (i) there is a USD $1 billion investable market capitalization change related to a primary/secondary offering measured by multiplying the change to index shares by the subscription price or (ii) there is a resultant 5% change in index shares related to a primary or secondary offering and a USD $250 million investable market capitalization change measured by multiplying the change to index shares by the subscription price. The pricing date will serve as the trigger for implementation; i.e. once FTSE Russell is aware that an offering has priced, the update will be implemented with two days’ notice from market close (contingent on the thresholds described above being triggered). If discovery of the pricing date occurs more than two days after the pricing date, the update will be deferred until the next quarterly review.
In exceptional circumstances, FTSE Russell may defer implementation until after the new shares are listed and with the provision of two days’ notice. An offering may be deemed exceptional if implementation prior to the listing of the new shares may cause undue price pressure on the company, or if proceeding with the changes may compromise the replicability of the index.
If a company distributes shares of an additional share class to its existing shareholders through a mandatory corporate action, the additional share class will be evaluated for separate index membership. The new share class will be deemed eligible if the market capitalization of the distributed shares meets the minimum size requirement (the market capitalization of the smallest member of the Russell 3000E Index from the previous rebalance as adjusted for performance to date). If the additional share class is not eligible at the time of distribution, it will not be added to the Russell 2000® Index.
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License Agreement
The Russell 2000® Index is a trademark of FTSE Russell and has been licensed for use by TD. The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by FTSE Russell and FTSE Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Notes.
FTSE Russell does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Russell 2000® Index or any data included in the Russell 2000® Index and has no liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions in the Russell 2000® Index. FTSE Russell makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the calculation agent, holders of the Notes, or any other person or entity from the use of the Russell 2000® Index or any data included in the Russell 2000® Index in connection with the rights licensed under the license agreement described in this document or for any other use. FTSE Russell makes no express or implied warranties, and hereby expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Russell 2000® Index or any data included in the Russell 2000® Index. Without limiting any of the above information, in no event will FTSE Russell have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, including lost profits, even if notified of the possibility of these damages.
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the Russell 2000® Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell’s publication of the Russell 2000® Index in no way suggests or implies an opinion by FTSE Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the stocks upon which the Russell 2000® Index is based. FTSE Russell's only relationship to TD is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of FTSE Russell and of the Russell 2000® Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to TD or the Notes. FTSE Russell is not responsible for and has not reviewed the Notes nor any associated literature or publications and FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. FTSE Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the Russell 2000® Index. FTSE Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Notes.
“Russell 2000®” and “Russell 3000®” are registered trademarks of FTSE Russell in the U.S. and other countries.
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Historical Information
The graph below shows the daily historical Closing Levels of the Reference Asset from August 1, 2012 through August 1, 2022.
We obtained the information regarding the historical performance of the Reference Asset in the graph below from Bloomberg.
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg. Currently, the Closing Level of the Reference Asset as reported on Bloomberg is published to fewer decimal places than the Closing Level published by the Index Sponsor. As a result, the Closing Level of the Reference Asset reported by Bloomberg generally may be lower or higher than the Closing Level published by the Index Sponsor. The historical performance of the Reference Asset should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Final Level of the Reference Asset. We cannot give you any assurance that the performance of the Reference Asset will result in any positive return on your initial investment.
Russell 2000® Index (RTY)
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
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Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are uncertain. No statutory, regulatory, judicial or administrative authority directly discusses how the Notes should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Some of these tax consequences are summarized below, but we urge you to read the more detailed discussion under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the product supplement and 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, possibly 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.
U.S. Tax Treatment. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, TD and you agree, in the absence of a statutory or regulatory change or an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize your Notes as prepaid derivative contracts with respect to the Reference Asset. If your Notes are so treated, you should generally recognize gain or loss upon the taxable disposition of your Notes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount you receive at such time and the amount you paid for your Notes. Such gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Notes for more than one year (otherwise such gain or loss should be short-term capital gain or loss if held for one year or less). The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Based on certain factual representations received from us, our special U.S. tax counsel, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, is of the opinion that it would be reasonable to treat your Notes in the manner described above. However, because there is no authority that specifically addresses the tax treatment of the Notes, it is possible that your Notes could alternatively be treated for tax purposes as a single contingent payment debt instrument, or pursuant to some other characterization, such that the timing and character of your income from the Notes could differ materially and adversely from the treatment described above, as described further under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences — Alternative Treatments” in the product supplement.
Except to the extent otherwise required by law, TD intends to treat your Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described above and under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” of the product supplement, unless and until such time as the Treasury and the IRS determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.
Notice 2008-2. In 2007, the IRS released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of the Notes. According to Notice 2008-2, the IRS and the Treasury are actively considering whether a holder of an instrument such as the Notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of the Notes will ultimately be required to accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive basis. The IRS and the Treasury are also considering other relevant issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether non-U.S. holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code should be applied to such instruments. Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations on their investments in the Notes.
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 regular income tax. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of the 3.8% Medicare tax.
Specified 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.
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Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a non-U.S. holder, subject to Section 871(m) of the Code and FATCA, as discussed below, you should generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to payments on your Notes or to generally applicable information reporting and backup withholding requirements with respect to payments on your Notes if you comply with certain certification and identification requirements as to your non-U.S. status including providing us (and/or the applicable withholding agent) a properly executed and fully completed applicable IRS Form W-8. Subject to Section 897 of the Code and Section 871(m) of the Code, as discussed below, gain realized from the taxable disposition of the Notes generally should not be subject to U.S. tax unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by you in the U.S., (ii) you are a non-resident alien individual and are present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of such taxable disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied or (iii) you have certain other present or former connections with the U.S.
Section 897. We will not attempt to ascertain whether any Reference Asset Constituent Issuer would be treated as a “United States real property holding corporation” (a “USRPHC”) within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code. We also have not attempted to determine whether the Notes should be treated as “United States real property interests” (“USRPI”) as defined in Section 897 of the Code. If any such entity and the Notes were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could possibly apply, including subjecting any gain to a non-U.S. holder in respect of a Note upon a taxable disposition of the Note to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis, and the proceeds from such a taxable disposition to a 15% withholding tax. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential treatment of any such entity as a USRPHC and the Notes as USRPI.
Section 871(m). A 30% withholding tax (which may be reduced by an applicable income tax treaty) is imposed under Section 871(m) of the Code on certain “dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to a non-U.S. holder with respect to a “specified equity-linked instrument” that references one or more dividend-paying U.S. equity securities or indices containing U.S. equity securities. The withholding tax can apply even if the instrument does not provide for payments that reference dividends. Treasury regulations provide that the withholding tax applies to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on specified equity-linked instruments that have a delta of one (“delta-one specified equity-linked instruments”) issued after 2016 and to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on all other specified equity-linked instruments issued after 2017. However, the IRS has issued guidance that states that the Treasury and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the Treasury regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid will not apply to specified equity-linked instruments that are not delta-one specified equity-linked instruments and are issued before January 1, 2023.
Based on our determination that the Notes are not “delta-one” with respect to the Reference Asset or any U.S. Reference Asset Constituent, our special U.S. tax counsel is of the opinion that the Notes should not be delta-one specified equity-linked instruments and thus should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalents. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Furthermore, the application of Section 871(m) of the Code will depend on our determinations on the date the terms of the Notes are set. If withholding is required, we will not make payments of any additional amounts.
Nevertheless, after the date the terms are set, it is possible that your Notes could be deemed to be reissued for tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the Reference Asset, any Reference Asset Constituent or your Notes, and following such occurrence your Notes could be treated as delta-one specified equity-linked instruments that are subject to withholding on dividend equivalents. It is also possible that withholding tax or other tax under Section 871(m) of the Code could apply to the Notes under these rules if you enter, or have entered, into certain other transactions in respect of the Reference Asset, any Reference Asset Constituent or the Notes. If you enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the Reference Asset, any Reference Asset Constituent or the Notes, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the application of Section 871(m) of the Code to your Notes in the context of your other transactions.
Because of the uncertainty regarding the application of the 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents to the Notes, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) of the Code and the 30% withholding tax to an investment in the Notes.
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization of the Notes cause payments with respect to the Notes to become subject to withholding tax, we (or the applicable withholding agent) will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate and we will not make payments of any additional amounts.
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 income, and the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type that 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 at the institution (or the relevant affiliate) and to annually report certain
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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.
Investors 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.
Proposed Legislation. In 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if it had been enacted, would have required holders of Notes purchased after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of the Notes despite the fact that there will be no interest payments over the term of the Notes.
Furthermore, in 2013, the House Ways and Means Committee released in draft form certain proposed legislation relating to financial instruments. If it had been enacted, the effect of this legislation generally would have been to require instruments such as the Notes to be marked to market on an annual basis with all gains and losses to be treated as ordinary, subject to certain exceptions.
It is impossible to predict whether any similar or identical bills will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your Notes. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the possible changes in law and their possible impact on the tax treatment of your Notes.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction (including that of TD).
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Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
We have appointed TDS, an affiliate of TD, as the agent for the sale of the Notes. Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, TDS will purchase the Notes from TD at the public offering price less any underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement for distribution to other registered broker-dealers. We or one of our affiliates will also pay a fee to SIMON Markets LLC, a broker-dealer affiliated with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, who is acting as a dealer in connection with the distribution of the Notes. TD will reimburse TDS for certain expenses in connection with its role in the offer and sale of the Notes, and TD will pay TDS a fee in connection with its role in the offer and sale of the Notes.
Delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on the Issue Date, which is the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Pricing Date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+5”). 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 (“T+2”), unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than two Business Days prior to the Issue Date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
Conflicts of Interest. TDS is an affiliate of TD 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, TD will receive the net proceeds 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. TDS 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.
We, TDS or any of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, we, TDS or any of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a Note after its initial sale. If a purchaser buys the Notes from us, TDS or any of our affiliates, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction unless we, TDS or any of our affiliates informs such purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale.
Prohibition of Sales to EEA and United Kingdom 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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Validity of the Notes
In the opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, as special products counsel to TD, when the Notes offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by TD 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 TD, enforceable against TD 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 Canadian law, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has assumed, without independent inquiry or investigation, the validity of the matters opined on by McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Canadian legal counsel for TD, in its opinion expressed below. 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 4, 2022 filed as an exhibit to the current report on Form 6-K on March 4, 2022.
In the opinion of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, the issue and sale of the Notes has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of TD, and when this pricing supplement has been attached to, and duly notated on, the master note that represents the Notes, the Notes will have been validly executed and issued and, to the extent validity of the Notes is a matter governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, will be valid obligations of TD, subject to the following limitations: (i) the enforceability of the indenture is subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, winding up, moratorium and other similar laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (ii) the enforceability of the indenture is subject to general equitable principles, including the fact that the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief and specific performance, is in the discretion of a court; (iii) courts in Canada are precluded from giving a judgment in any currency other than the lawful money of Canada; and (iv) the enforceability of the indenture will be subject to the limitations contained in the Limitations Act, 2002 (Ontario), and such counsel expresses no opinion as to whether a court may find any provision of the indenture to be unenforceable as an attempt to vary or exclude a limitation period under that Act. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto. In addition, this opinion is subject to: (i) the assumption that the senior indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of, the trustee, enforceable against the trustee in accordance with its terms; and (ii) customary assumptions about the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated February 4, 2022, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the registration statement on Form F-3 filed by TD on February 4, 2022.
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