Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Statement No. 333-231751 |
The information in this pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these Notes in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, Dated April 22, 2021.
Pricing Supplement dated , 2021 to the
Product Prospectus Supplement MLN-EI-1 dated November 6, 2020 and
Prospectus Dated June 18, 2019
The Toronto-Dominion Bank $[●] Autocallable Contingent Interest Buffered Notes with Downside Leverage Linked to the Russell 2000® Index Due on or about May 1, 2025 | ||
The Toronto-Dominion Bank (“TD” or “we”) is offering the Autocallable Contingent Interest Buffered Notes with Downside Leverage (the “Notes”) linked to the Russell 2000® Index (the “Reference Asset”).
The Notes will pay a Contingent Interest Payment on a Contingent Interest Payment Date (including the Maturity Date) at a per annum rate of at least 6.25% (the “Contingent Interest Rate”, to be determined on the Pricing Date) only if, on the related Contingent Interest Observation Date, the Closing Value of the Reference Asset is greater than or equal to the Contingent Interest Barrier Value, which is equal to 80.00% of the Initial Value. The Notes will be automatically called if, on any Call Observation Date, the Closing Value of the Reference Asset is greater than or equal to the Call Threshold Value, which is equal to 100.00% of the Initial Value. If the Notes are automatically called, on the first following Contingent Interest Payment Date (the “Call Payment Date”), we will pay a cash payment per Note equal to the Principal Amount, plus any Contingent Interest Payment otherwise due. No further amounts will be owed under the Notes. If the Notes are not automatically called, the amount we pay at maturity, in addition to any Contingent Interest Payment otherwise due, if anything, will depend on the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the Final Valuation Date (the “Final Value”) relative to the Buffer Value, which is equal to 80.00% of the Initial Value, calculated as follows:
• | If the Final Value is greater than or equal to the Buffer Value: |
the Principal Amount of $1,000
• | If the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value: |
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change + Buffer Percentage) x Downside Multiplier]
In this scenario, investors will receive less than the Principal Amount of the Notes at maturity and may lose all or a substantial portion of their investment. Specifically, investors will lose 1.25% of the Principal Amount of the Notes for each 1% that the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than 20.00% and, because of the Downside Multiplier, may lose the entire Principal Amount. Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk.
The Notes do not guarantee the payment of any Contingent Interest Payments or the return of the Principal Amount. If the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value, investors may lose up to their entire investment in the Notes. Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk. |
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 of Canada or the United States. The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or electronic communications network.
The Notes have complex features and investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” beginning on page PS-6 in the product prospectus supplement MLN-EI-1 dated November 6, 2020 (the “product prospectus supplement”) and “Risk Factors” on page 1 of the prospectus dated June 18, 2019 (the “prospectus”).
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these Notes or determined that this pricing supplement, the product prospectus supplement or the prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We will deliver the Notes in book-entry only form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on the Issue Date against payment in immediately available funds.
The estimated value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes are set on the Pricing Date is expected to be between $960.00 and $980.00 per Note, as discussed further under “Additional Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity” beginning on page P-8 and “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-21 of this pricing supplement. The estimated value is expected to be less than the public offering price of the Notes.
Public Offering Price | Underwriting Discount | Proceeds to TD1 | |
Per Note | $1,000.00 | $0.00 | $1,000.00 |
Total | $ | $ | $ |
1 TD will reimburse TD Securities (USA) LLC (“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. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” herein.
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 the final 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.
Autocallable Contingent Interest Buffered Notes with Downside Leverage Linked to the Russell 2000® Index Due on or about May 1, 2025 |
Summary
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the product prospectus supplement and the prospectus.
Issuer: | TD |
Issue: | Senior Debt Securities, Series E |
Type of Note: | Autocallable Contingent Interest Buffered Notes with Downside Leverage |
Term: | Approximately 4 years, subject to an automatic call |
Reference Asset: | The Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg ticker: “RTY”) |
CUSIP / ISIN: | 89114TGX4 / US89114TGX46 |
Agent: | TDS |
Currency: | U.S. Dollars |
Minimum Investment: | $1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof |
Principal Amount: | $1,000 per Note |
Pricing Date: | April 28, 2021 |
Issue Date: | May 3, 2021, which is three Business Days following the Pricing Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two Business Days (“T+2”), unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes in the secondary market on any date prior to two Business Days before delivery of the Notes will be required, by virtue of the fact that each Note initially will settle in three Business Days (“T+3”), to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement of the secondary market trade. |
Final Valuation Date: | The final Contingent Interest Observation Date, as specified below under “Contingent Interest Observation Dates”. |
Maturity Date: | May 1, 2025, subject to postponement as described below under “Contingent Interest Observation Dates” or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next following Business Day. |
Call Feature: | If the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on any Call Observation Date is greater than or equal to the Call Threshold Value, we will automatically call the Notes and, on the related Call Payment Date, we will pay you a cash payment equal to the Principal Amount, plus any Contingent Interest Payment otherwise due. No further amounts will be owed to you under the Notes. |
Call Threshold Value: | 100.00% of the Initial Value (to be determined on the Pricing Date), as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Call Observation Dates: | Semi-annually, on the 28th calendar day of each April and October, commencing on October 28, 2021 and ending on October 28, 2024 or, if such day is not a Trading Day, the next following Trading Day. If a market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to the Reference Asset on any Call Observation Date, the Call Observation Date will be postponed until the next Trading Day on which no market disruption event occurs or is continuing. In no event, however, will the Call Observation Date be postponed by more than eight Trading Days. If the determination of the Closing Value of the Reference Asset for any Call Observation Date is postponed to the last possible day, but a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that day, that day will nevertheless be the date on which the Closing Value of the Reference Asset will be determined. In such an event, the Calculation Agent will estimate the Closing Value that would have prevailed in the absence of the market disruption event. If a Call Observation Date is postponed, the corresponding Call Payment Date will be postponed to maintain the same number of Business Days between such dates as existed prior to the postponement(s). |
Call Payment Date: | If the Notes are subject to an automatic call, the Call Payment Date will be the Contingent Interest Payment Date immediately following the relevant Call Observation Date, subject to postponement as described above under “Call Observation Dates” if the related Call Observation Date is postponed or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next following Business Day. |
Contingent Interest Payment: | If the Closing Value of the Reference Asset is greater than or equal to the Contingent Interest Barrier Value on any Contingent Interest Observation Date, a Contingent Interest Payment will be paid to you on the corresponding Contingent Interest Payment Date, in an amount equal to: Principal Amount x Contingent Interest Rate x ½ If the Closing Value of the Reference Asset is less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value on any Contingent Interest Observation Date, you will receive no Contingent Interest Payment on the corresponding Contingent Interest Payment Date. All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation relating to a Contingent Interest Payment will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the nearest tenth of a cent. Contingent Interest Payments on the Notes are not guaranteed. You will not receive a Contingent Interest Payment on a Contingent Interest Payment Date if the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the related Contingent Interest Observation Date is less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value. |
Contingent Interest Rate: | At least 6.25% per annum (to be determined on the Pricing Date). |
Contingent Interest Barrier Value: | 80.00% of the Initial Value (to be determined on the Pricing Date), as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Contingent Interest Observation Dates: | Semi-annually, on the 28th calendar day of each April and October, commencing on October 28, 2021 and ending on April 28, 2025 (the “Final Valuation Date”), or if such day is not a Trading Day, the next following Trading Day. If a market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to the Reference Asset on any Contingent Interest Observation Date, the Contingent Interest Observation Date will be postponed until the next Trading Day on which no market disruption event occurs or is continuing. In no event, however, will any Contingent Interest Observation Date be postponed by more than eight Trading Days. If the determination of the Closing Value of the Reference Asset for any Contingent Interest Observation Date is postponed to the last possible day, but a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that day, that day will nevertheless be the date on which the Closing Value will be determined. In such an event, the Calculation Agent will estimate the Closing Value that would have prevailed in the absence of the market disruption event. If a Contingent Interest Observation Date (or the Final Valuation Date) is postponed, the corresponding Contingent Interest Payment Date (or Maturity Date) will be postponed to maintain the same number of Business Days between such dates as existed prior to the postponement(s). |
Contingent Interest Payment Dates: | With respect to each Contingent Interest Observation Date, the third Business Day following the relevant Contingent Interest Observation Date, with the exception of the final Contingent Interest Payment Date, which will be the Maturity Date, subject to postponement as described above under “— Contingent Interest Observation Dates”, or if such day is not a Business Day, the next following Business Day. |
Monitoring Period: | Final Valuation Date Monitoring |
Payment at Maturity: | If the Notes are not automatically called, on the Maturity Date, in addition to any Contingent Interest Payment otherwise due, we will pay a cash payment, if anything, per Note equal to: • If the Final Value is greater than or equal to the Buffer Value: Principal Amount of $1,000. • If the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value: $1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change + Buffer Percentage) x Downside Multiplier]. In this scenario, investors will receive less than the Principal Amount of the Notes at maturity and may lose all or a substantial portion of their investment. Specifically, investors will lose 1.25% of the Principal Amount of the Notes for each 1% that the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than 20.00% and, because of the Downside Multiplier, may lose the entire Principal Amount. Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk. 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. |
Percentage Change: | The quotient, expressed as a percentage, of the following formula: Final Value – Initial Value Initial Value |
Initial Value: | The Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date, as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Closing Value: | The official closing value published by the Index Sponsor (as defined under “Information Regarding the Reference Asset” herein) or any “successor index” (as defined in the product prospectus supplement) on any Trading Day, in each case as displayed on the relevant Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”) page or any successor page or service and as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Final Value: | The Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the Final Valuation Date, as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Buffer Percentage: | 20.00%, which is equal to the amount, expressed as a percentage, by which the Buffer Value is less than the Initial Value. |
Buffer Value: | 80.00% of the Initial Value (to be determined on the Pricing Date), as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Downside Multiplier: | The quotient of (a) 1 divided by (b) the difference of (i) 1 and (ii) the Buffer Percentage, expressed as a percentage, which equals 125.00% |
Trading Day: | A day on which the NYSE and the Nasdaq Stock Market, or their successors, are scheduled to be open for trading, as determined by the Calculation Agent. |
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. |
U.S. Tax Treatment: | By purchasing the Notes, you agree, in the absence of a statutory or regulatory change or an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat the Notes, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as prepaid derivative contracts with respect to the Reference Asset. Pursuant to this approach, it is likely that any Contingent Interest Payment that you receive should be included in ordinary income at the time you receive the payment or when it accrues, depending on your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Based on certain factual representations received from us, our special U.S. tax counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft 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, as described further under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” herein and in the product prospectus supplement. An investment in the Notes is not appropriate for non-U.S. holders, and we will not attempt to ascertain the tax consequences to non-U.S. holders of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the Notes. |
Canadian Tax Treatment: | Please see the discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences,” which applies to the Notes. |
Record Date: | The Business Day preceding the relevant Contingent Interest Payment Date. |
Calculation Agent: | TD |
Listing: | The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or electronic communications network. |
Canadian Bail-in: | The Notes are not bail-inable debt securities (as defined in the prospectus) under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. |
The Pricing Date, the Issue Date, and all other dates listed above are subject to change. These dates will be set forth in the final pricing supplement that will be made available in connection with sales of the Notes.
Additional Terms of Your Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus, as supplemented by the product prospectus supplement MLN-EI-1 (the “product prospectus 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 prospectus supplement. In the event of any conflict the following hierarchy will govern: first, this pricing supplement; second, the product prospectus supplement; and last, the prospectus. The Notes vary from the terms described in the product prospectus 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 prospectus 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 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 June 18, 2019: |
◾ | Product Prospectus Supplement MLN-EI-1 dated November 6, 2020: |
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.
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 and other risks, please see “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” in the prospectus.
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
Your Investment in the Notes May Result in a Loss.
The Notes do not guarantee the return of the Principal Amount and investors may lose up to their entire investment in the Notes. Investors will be exposed to a loss on a leveraged basis if the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than the Buffer Percentage. Specifically, if the Notes are not automatically called and the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value, investors will lose 1.25% of the Principal Amount of the Notes for each 1% that the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than the Buffer Percentage and, because of the Downside Multiplier, may lose their entire Principal Amount.
You Will Not Receive Any Contingent Interest Payment for Any Contingent Interest Payment Date If the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the Corresponding Contingent Interest Observation Date Is Less Than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value.
You will not receive a Contingent Interest Payment on a Contingent Interest Payment Date if the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the related Contingent Interest Observation Date is less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value. If the Closing Value of the Reference Asset is less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value on each Contingent Interest Observation Date over the term of the Notes, you will not receive any Contingent Interest Payments. This non-payment of any Contingent Interest Payment will coincide with a greater risk of principal loss on your Notes at maturity. Furthermore, if the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value, you will lose a significant portion or all of your initial investment in the Notes.
The Potential Positive Return on the Notes Is Limited to the Contingent Interest Payments Paid on the Notes, If Any, Regardless of Any Appreciation of the Reference Asset.
The potential positive return on the Notes is limited to any Contingent Interest Payments paid, meaning any positive return on the Notes will be composed solely of the sum of any Contingent Interest Payments paid over the term of the Notes. Therefore, if the appreciation of the Reference Asset exceeds the sum of any Contingent Interest Payments actually paid on the Notes, the return on the Notes will be less than the return on a hypothetical direct investment in the Reference Asset, in a security directly linked to the positive performance of the Reference Asset or on a hypothetical investment in the stocks and other assets comprising the Reference Asset (the “Reference Asset Constituents”).
Your Return May Be Less than the Return on a Conventional Debt Security of Comparable Maturity.
The return that you will receive on your Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. The Notes do not provide for fixed interest payments and you may not receive any Contingent Interest Payments over the term of the Notes. Even if you do receive one or more Contingent Interest Payments and your return on the Notes is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional interest-bearing senior debt security of TD of comparable maturity. Your investment may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect the time value of money.
The Notes May Be Automatically Called Prior to the Maturity Date And Are Subject to Reinvestment Risk.
If your Notes are automatically called, no further payments will be owed to you under the Notes after the applicable Call Payment Date. Therefore, because the Notes could be called as early as the first potential Call Payment Date, the holding period could be limited. There is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the Notes at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the Notes are automatically called prior to the Maturity Date. Furthermore, to the extent you are able to reinvest such proceeds in an investment with a comparable return for a similar level of risk, you may incur transaction costs such as dealer discounts and hedging costs built into the price of the new notes.
The Amounts Payable on the Notes Are Not Linked to the Value of the Reference Asset at Any Time Other Than on the Contingent Interest Observation Dates (Including the Final Valuation Date) and Call Observation Dates.
Any payments on the Notes will be based on the Closing Value of the Reference Asset only on the Contingent Interest Observation Dates (including the Final Valuation Date) and Call Observation Dates. Even if the market value of the Reference Asset appreciates prior to the relevant Contingent Interest Observation Date but then drops on that day to a Closing Value that is less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value, you will not receive any Contingent Interest Payment on the corresponding Contingent Interest Payment Date. Additionally, if the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value, you will lose a significant portion or all of your initial investment in the Notes. Similarly, the Payment at Maturity may be significantly less than it would have been had the Notes been linked to the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on a date other than the Final Valuation Date, and may be zero. Although the actual value of the Reference Asset at other times during the term of the Notes may be higher than the price on one or more Contingent Interest Observation Dates (including the Final Valuation Date) or Call Observation Dates, any Contingent Interest Payments on the Notes and
the Payment at Maturity will be based solely on the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on the applicable Contingent Interest Observation Date (including the Final Valuation Date) and Call Observation Dates.
The Contingent Interest Rate Will Reflect, In Part, the Volatility of the Reference Asset and May Not Be Sufficient to Compensate You for the Risk of Loss at Maturity.
Generally, the higher the Reference Asset’s volatility, the more likely it is that the Closing Value of the Reference Asset could be less than the Call Threshold Value or Contingent Interest Barrier Value on a Call Observation Date or Contingent Interest Observation Date or the Buffer Value on the Final Valuation Date. Volatility means the magnitude and frequency of changes in the value of the Reference Asset. This greater risk will generally be reflected in a higher Contingent Interest Rate for the Notes than the interest rate payable on our conventional debt securities of comparable maturity. However, while the Contingent Interest Rate is set on the Pricing Date, the Reference Asset’s volatility can change significantly over the term of the Notes, and may increase. The value of the Reference Asset could fall sharply on the Contingent Interest Observation Dates, resulting in few or no Contingent Interest Payments or on the Final Valuation Date, resulting in a significant or entire loss of principal.
Risks Relating to Characteristics of the Reference Asset
There Are Market Risks Associated with the Reference Asset.
The value of the Reference Asset can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to 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 stock and commodity 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 for your Notes. For additional information, see “Information Regarding the Reference Asset” in this pricing supplement.
The Notes are Subject to Risks Associated with Small-Capitalization Stocks.
The Notes are subject to risks associated with small-capitalization companies because the Reference Asset Constituents of RTY 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 RTY 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 its 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 the offering of the Notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of the Index Sponsor, including any actions of the type that would require the Calculation Agent to adjust any amounts payable on the Notes. The Index Sponsor has no 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 the Reference Asset and, therefore, the market value of, and any amounts payable on, the Notes. Except pursuant to any license agreement with the Index Sponsor and specified in “Information About the Reference Asset” below, none of the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes will be delivered to the Index Sponsor.
Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity
The Estimated Value of Your Notes Is Expected To Be Less Than the Public Offering Price of Your Notes.
The estimated value of your Notes on the Pricing Date is expected to be less than the public offering price of your Notes. The difference between the public offering price of your Notes and the estimated value of the Notes reflects costs and expected profits associated with selling and structuring the Notes, as well as hedging our obligations under the Notes. 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.
The Estimated Value of Your Notes Is Based on Our Internal Funding Rate.
The estimated value of your Notes on the Pricing Date is determined by reference to our 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 our conventional, fixed-rate debt securities and the borrowing rate we would pay for our conventional, fixed-rate debt securities. This discount is based on, among other things, our 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 our 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 our conventional, fixed-rate debt securities, or the borrowing rate we would pay for our conventional, fixed-rate debt securities were to be used, we 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.
The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Based on Our Internal Pricing Models, Which May Prove to Be Inaccurate and May Be Different from the Pricing Models of Other Financial Institutions.
The estimated value of your Notes on the Pricing Date is based on our internal pricing models when the terms of the Notes are set, which take into account a number of variables, such as our internal funding rate on the Pricing Date, and are based on a number of subjective assumptions, which are not evaluated or verified on an independent basis and may or may not materialize. Further, our pricing models may be different from other financial institutions’ pricing models and the methodologies used by us to estimate the value of the Notes may not be consistent with those of other financial institutions that may be purchasers or sellers of Notes in the secondary market. As a result, the secondary market price of your Notes may be materially less than the estimated value of the Notes determined by reference to our internal pricing models. 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 Your 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 the Agent, 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 the Agent, 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 the Agent 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 the Agent may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if the Agent 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 Issue Date of the Notes, as discussed further under “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes.” The price at which the Agent may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market may not be indicative of future prices of your Notes.
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. The Agent may make a market for the Notes; however, it is not required to do so and 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 then-current value of the Reference Asset and, as a result, you may suffer substantial losses.
The 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 offering expenses and the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect 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.
If the Value 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 value of the Reference Asset may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your Notes. Even if the Closing Value of the Reference Asset remains equal to or greater that the Buffer Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value or increases to greater than its Initial Value 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
There Are Potential Conflicts of Interest Between You and the Calculation Agent.
The Calculation Agent will, among other things, determine the amounts payable 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. For example, the Calculation Agent may have to determine whether a market disruption event affecting the Reference Asset has occurred, which may, in turn, depend on the Calculation Agent’s judgment as to 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 may affect the amounts payable 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 on the Calculation Agent’s role, see “General Terms of the Notes — Role of Calculation Agent” in the product prospectus supplement.
Trading and Business Activities by TD or its Affiliates May Adversely Affect the Market Value of, and Any Amounts Payable on, the Notes.
We, the Agent and our other 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 value of the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents, and we may adjust these hedges by, among other things, purchasing or selling at any time any of the foregoing assets. 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 amounts payable on, the Notes declines. We or one or more of our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in 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, the Agent 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 our, the Agent’s and our affiliates’ obligations, and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we, the Agent or 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 activities by us or one or more of our affiliates or the Agents or their affiliates may affect the value of the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents and, therefore, the market value of, and any amounts payable on, the Notes.
The Contingent Interest Observation Dates (including the Final Valuation Date), Call Observation Dates and the Related Payment Dates are Subject to Market Disruption Events and Postponements.
Each Contingent Interest Observation Date (including the Final Valuation Date), Call Observation Date and related payment date (including the Maturity Date) is subject to postponement due to the occurrence of one of 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 prospectus supplement and under “Summary—Call Observation Dates” and “—Contingent Interest Observation Dates” herein.
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 be based on the performance 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 senior unsecured debt obligations. Investors are dependent on TD’s ability to pay all amounts due on the Notes 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.
The U.S. tax treatment of the Notes is uncertain. Please read carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” herein and in the product prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of your investment in the Notes.
For a discussion of the Canadian federal income tax consequences of investing in the Notes, please see the discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences.” 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 advisor as to the consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Notes and receiving the payments that might be due under the Notes.
Hypothetical Returns
The examples set out below are included for illustration purposes only and are hypothetical examples only; amounts below may have been rounded for ease of analysis. The Closing Values and Percentage Changes of the Reference Asset used to illustrate the calculation of whether the Notes are subject to an automatic call, a Contingent Interest Payment is payable on a Contingent Interest Payment Date and the Payment at Maturity are not estimates or forecasts of the Initial Value, the Closing Value, the Final Value or the value of the Reference Asset on any Trading Day prior to the Maturity Date. All examples assume an Initial Value of 3,000.00, a Contingent Interest Barrier Value of 2,400.00 (80.00% of the Initial Value), a Buffer Value of 2,400.00 (80.00% of the Initial Value), a Buffer Percentage of 20.00%, a Downside Multiplier of 125.00%, a Contingent Interest Payment of $31.25 per Note (reflecting a Contingent Interest Rate of 6.25% per annum, which is the minimum specified on the cover), that a holder purchased Notes with a Principal Amount of $1,000 and that no market disruption event occurs on any Call Observation Date or Contingent Interest Observation Date (including the Final Valuation Date). The actual terms of the Notes will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.
Example 1 — | The Closing Value is Greater Than or Equal to the Call Threshold Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value on the First Call Observation Date and The Notes are Automatically Called. |
Contingent Interest and Call Observation Dates | Closing Values | Payment (per Note) | ||
First Contingent Interest Observation Date and First Call Observation Date | 3,100.00 (greater than or equal to the Call Threshold Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value) | $1,031.25 (Total Payment upon Automatic Call) |
Because the Closing Value of the Reference Asset is greater than or equal to the Call Threshold Value (and therefore also greater than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value) on the first Call Observation Date, (which is approximately six months after the Pricing Date), the Notes will be automatically called and, on the corresponding Call Payment Date, we will pay you a cash payment equal to $1,031.25 per Note, reflecting the Principal Amount plus the applicable Contingent Interest Payment, a return of 3.125% per Note. No further amounts will be owed under the Notes.
Example 2 — | The Closing Value of the Reference Asset is Greater Than or Equal to the Contingent Interest Barrier Value on Each of the Contingent Interest Observation Dates, the Notes Are Not Automatically Called on any Call Observation Date and the Final Value is Greater Than or Equal to the Buffer Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value. |
Contingent Interest and Call Observation Dates | Closing Values | Payment (per Note) | ||
First Contingent Interest Observation Date and First Call Observation Date | 2,500.00 (greater than or equal to the Contingent Interest Barrier Value; less than the Call Threshold Value) | $31.25 (Contingent Interest Payment) | ||
Second through Seventh Contingent Interest Observation Dates; Second through Seventh Call Observation Dates | Various (all greater than or equal to the Contingent Interest Barrier Value; less than the Call Threshold Value) | $187.50 (Aggregate Contingent Interest Payments) | ||
Final Valuation Date | 2,800.00 (greater than or equal to the Buffer Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value) | $1,000 (Principal Amount) + $31.25 (Contingent Interest Payment) | ||
$1,031.25 (Total Payment on Maturity Date) |
Because the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on each of the Contingent Interest Observation Dates prior to the Final Valuation Date is greater than or equal to the Contingent Interest Barrier Value and less than the Call Threshold Value on each Call Observation Date, we will pay the Contingent Interest Payment on each corresponding Contingent Interest Payment Date and the Notes will not be subject to an automatic call. Because the Final Value is greater than or equal to the Buffer Value and the Contingent Interest Barrier Value on the Final Valuation Date (which is also the final Contingent Interest Observation Date), on the Maturity Date we will pay you a cash payment equal to $1,031.25 per Note, reflecting the Principal Amount plus the applicable Contingent Interest Payment. When added to the Contingent Interest Payments of $218.75 paid in respect of the prior Contingent Interest Payment Dates, TD will have paid you a total of $1,250.00 per Note, a return of 25.00% per Note.
Example 3 — | The Closing Value of the Reference Asset is Less Than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value on Each of the Contingent Interest Observation Dates, the Notes Are Not Automatically Called on any Call Observation Date and the Final Value is Less Than the Buffer Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value. |
Contingent Interest and Call Observation Date | Closing Value | Payment (per Note) | ||
First Contingent Interest Observation Date and First Call Observation Date | 2,000.00 (less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value and Call Threshold Value) | $0 | ||
Second through Seventh Contingent Interest Observation Dates; Second through Seventh Call Observation Dates | Various (all less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value and Call Threshold Value) | $0 | ||
Final Valuation Date | 1,200.00 (less than the Buffer Value and Contingent Interest Barrier Value) | = $1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change + Buffer Percentage) x Downside Multiplier] = $1,000 + [$1,000 x (–60.00% + 20.00%) x 125.00%] = $500.00 (Total Payment on Maturity Date) |
Because the Closing Value of the Reference Asset on each of the Contingent Interest Observation Dates prior to the Final Valuation Date is less than the Contingent Interest Barrier Value (and therefore also less than the Call Threshold Value on each Call Observation Date), we will not pay the Contingent Interest Payment on any of the corresponding Contingent Interest Payment Dates and the Notes will not be subject to an automatic call. Because the Final Value is less than the Buffer Value and the Contingent Interest Barrier Value, on the Maturity Date we will pay you a cash payment that is less than the Principal Amount, if anything, equal to the sum of the Principal Amount plus the product of (i) the Principal Amount, (ii) the sum of (a) the Percentage Change plus (b) the Buffer Percentage and (iii) the Downside Multiplier, for a total of $500.00 per Note, a loss of 50.00% per Note.
In this scenario, investors will receive less than the Principal Amount of the Notes at maturity and may lose all or a substantial portion of their investment. Specifically, investors will lose 1.25% of the Principal Amount of the Notes for each 1% that the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than 20.00% and, because of the Downside Multiplier, may lose the entire Principal Amount. Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk
Information Regarding the Reference Asset
All disclosures contained in this document regarding the Reference Asset, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in any Reference Asset components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the Index Sponsor. The Index Sponsor owns the copyright and all other rights to the Reference Asset and has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Reference Asset. None of the websites referenced in the Reference Asset description below, or any materials included in those websites, are incorporated by reference into this document or any document incorporated herein by reference.
The graph below sets forth the information relating to historical performance of the Reference Asset. The graph below shows the daily historical Closing Values of the Reference Asset for the period specified. We obtained the information regarding the historical performance of the Reference Asset in the graph below from Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”).
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg. 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 assurance that the performance of the Reference Asset will result in any positive return on your initial investment.
Russell 2000® Index |
All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Russell 2000® Index (the “RTY”), including, without limitation, its makeup, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the FTSE Russell (the “Index Sponsor”).
FTSE Russell, which owns the copyright and all other rights to the RTY, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the RTY at any time. The RTY is determined, comprised, and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the Notes. The consequences of FTSE Russell discontinuing publication of the RTY are discussed in the section of the product prospectus supplement entitled “General Terms of the Notes—Unavailability of the Level of the Reference Asset.” Neither we nor TDS accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the RTY or any successor index.
The RTY measures the performance of stocks of 2,000 companies in the U.S. equity market and is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The RTY is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index, which is an index that measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies, representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. The RTY was set to 135 as of the close of business on December 31, 1986 and is calculated, maintained and published by FTSE Russell.
Select information regarding top constituents and industry and/or sector weightings may be made available by FTSE Russell on its website.
Selection of Stocks Underlying the RTY
All companies eligible for inclusion in the RTY must be classified as a U.S. company under FTSE Russell’s country-assignment methodology. If a company is incorporated, has a stated headquarters location and also trades on a “standard exchange” in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible), then the company is assigned to its country of incorporation. If any of the three factors are not the same, FTSE Russell defines three Home Country Indicators (“HCIs”): country of incorporation, country of headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange (as defined by a two-year average daily dollar trading volume). Using the HCIs, FTSE Russell compares the primary location of the company’s assets with the three HCIs. If the primary location of its assets matches any of the HCIs, then the company is assigned to the primary location of its assets. If there is insufficient information to determine the country in which the company’s assets are primarily located, FTSE Russell will use the primary country from which the company’s revenues are primarily derived for the comparison with the three HCIs in a similar manner. FTSE Russell uses an average of two years of assets or revenues data for this analysis to reduce potential turnover. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenues data, FTSE Russell will assign the company to the country in which its headquarters (which is defined as the address of the company’s principal executive offices are located) unless that country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation “BDI” country, in which case the company will be assigned to the country of its most liquid stock exchange. BDI countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Panama, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Suriname and Turks and Caicos Islands. For any companies incorporated or headquartered in a U.S. territory, including countries such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. HCI is assigned. 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 (the “PRC”), (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 PRC, and (iv) the company is controlled by a mainland Chinese entity, company or individual, provided that if the shareholder background cannot be determined with publicly available information, FTSE Russell will consider other criteria, including 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 PRC, (ii) the company is no longer listed on the NYSE, the Nasdaq or the NYSE American, (iii) the percentages of revenue and assets derived from the PRC have both fallen below 45%, or (iv) the company is acquired by, or 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).
FTSE Russell requires that all securities eligible for inclusion in the RTY trade on CBOE (formerly bats), NYSE, the Nasdaq exchange, NYSE American (formerly NYSE MKT) or NYSE Arca, each a “standard exchange”. Bulletin board, pink-sheets, and over-the-counter (“OTC”) traded securities are not eligible for inclusion. Stocks must trade at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange on the last trading day in May to be eligible for inclusion during annual reconstitution. However, in order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s closing price is less than $1.00 on the last day of May, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from its primary exchange) during the month of May is equal to or greater than $1.00. If an existing index member does not trade on the rank day in May, it must price at $1.00 or above on another eligible U.S. exchange to remain eligible. Initial public offerings are added each quarter and must have a closing price on its primary exchange at or above $1.00 on the last day of their eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion.
An important criteria used to determine the list of securities eligible for the RTY is total market capitalization, which is defined as the market price as of the last trading day in May for those securities being considered at annual reconstitution times the total number of shares outstanding. Where applicable, common stock, non-restricted exchangeable shares and partnership units/membership interests are used to determine market capitalization. Any other form of shares such as preferred stock, convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants and rights, or trust receipts, are excluded from the calculation. If multiple share classes of common stock exist, they are combined. In cases where the common stock share classes act independently of each other (e.g., tracking stocks), each class is considered for inclusion separately. If multiple share classes exist, FTSE Russell will determine a primary trading vehicle, and the price of that primary trading vehicle (usually the most liquid) is used to calculate market capitalization.
Companies with a total market capitalization of less than $30 million are not eligible for the RTY. Similarly, companies with only 5% or less of their shares available in the marketplace are not eligible for the RTY. Royalty trusts, limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies, blank check companies, special-purpose acquisition companies, and limited partnerships are also not eligible for inclusion in the Russell U.S. Indices. Business development companies, exchange traded funds and mutual funds are also excluded. Bulletin board, pink-sheets, and OTC traded securities are not eligible for inclusion.
Annual reconstitution is a process by which the RTY is completely rebuilt. Based on closing levels of the company’s common stock on its primary exchange on the last trading day of May of each year, FTSE Russell reconstitutes the composition of the RTY using the then existing market capitalizations of eligible companies. Reconstitution of the RTY occurs on the last Friday in June or, when the last Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, reconstitution occurs on the prior Friday. In addition, FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings to the RTY on a quarterly basis based on market capitalization guidelines established during the most recent reconstitution.
After membership is determined, a security’s shares are adjusted to include only those shares available to the public. This is often referred to as “free float”. The purpose of the adjustment is to exclude from market calculations the capitalization that is not available for purchase and is not part of the investable opportunity set.
License Agreement
The RTY 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 RTY or any data included in the RTY and has no liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions in the RTY. 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 RTY or any data included in the RTY 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 RTY or any data included in the RTY. 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 RTY to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell’s publication of the RTY 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 RTY is based. FTSE Russell’s only relationship to TD is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of FTSE Russell and of the RTY, 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 RTY. 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.
Historical Information
The graph below illustrates the performance of the Reference Asset from April 20, 2011 through April 20, 2021. 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. 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 Value. 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.
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 the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities with terms that are substantially the same as the Notes. 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 prospectus supplement and to discuss the tax consequences of your particular situation with your tax advisor. This discussion is based upon the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final, temporary and proposed U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) regulations, rulings and decisions, in each case, as available and in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder, as defined in the product prospectus supplement. An investment in the Notes is not appropriate for non-U.S. holders, and we will not attempt to ascertain the tax consequences to non-U.S. holders of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the Notes. 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 treat the Notes as prepaid derivative contracts with respect to the Reference Asset. If your Notes are so treated, any Contingent Interest Payments paid on the Notes (including any Contingent Interest Payments paid on or with respect to a Call Payment Date or the Maturity Date) would be treated as ordinary income includable in income by you in accordance with your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations.
Upon the taxable disposition of a Note, you generally should recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such taxable disposition (adjusted for amounts or proceeds attributable to any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest Payments, which would be treated as ordinary income) and your tax basis in the Note. Your tax basis in a Note generally should equal your cost for the Note. 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. Although uncertain, it is possible that proceeds received from the sale or exchange of your Notes prior to a Contingent Interest Payment Date, but that could be attributed to an expected Contingent Interest Payment, could be treated as ordinary income. You should consult your tax advisor regarding this risk.
Based on certain factual representations received from us, our special U.S. tax counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft 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 prospectus 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” in the product prospectus 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 the 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 current income, possibly in excess of any Contingent Interest Payments received 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, and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code should be applied to such instruments. You are urged to consult your tax advisor concerning the significance and the potential impact of the above considerations.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income. U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or certain trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income” or “undistributed net investment income” in the case of an estate or trust, which may include any income or gain realized with respect to the Notes, to the extent of their net investment income or undistributed net investment income (as the case may be) that when added to their other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return or the dollar amount at which the highest tax bracket begins for an estate or trust. The 3.8% Medicare tax is determined in a different manner than the income tax. You should consult your tax advisor 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.
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 may 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.
You are urged to consult your tax advisor concerning the application of U.S. federal income tax laws to an investment in the Notes, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership and disposition of the Notes arising under the laws of any state, local, non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction (including that of TD).
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 and will resell the Notes to other registered broker-dealers, or will offer the Notes directly to investors. TDS or such other registered broker-dealers will offer the Notes at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. 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.
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. If any other affiliate of TD, including but not limited to TD Ameritrade, Inc., participates in this offering, that affiliate will also have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of 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. This offering of the Notes will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, neither TDS nor any other affiliate of ours is permitted to sell the 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, another of our affiliates or third parties may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, we, TDS, another of our affiliates or third parties may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in the Notes after their initial sale. If a purchaser buys the Notes from us, TDS, another of our affiliates or third parties, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction unless we, TDS, another of our affiliates or third parties 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”) or the United Kingdom. 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 (EU) 2016/97, 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 Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”), for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.
Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes
The final terms for the Notes will be determined on the date the Notes are initially priced for sale to the public, which we refer to as the Pricing Date, based on prevailing market conditions, and will be communicated to investors in the final pricing supplement.
The economic terms of the Notes are based on our internal funding rate (which is our internal borrowing rate based on variables such as market benchmarks and our appetite for borrowing), and several factors, including any sales commissions expected to be paid to TDS or another affiliate of ours, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees expected to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that we or any of our affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, estimated costs which we may incur in connection with the Notes and the estimated cost which we may incur in hedging our obligations under the Notes. Because our internal funding rate generally represents a discount from the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes rather than the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market is expected to have an adverse effect on the economic terms of the Notes.
On the cover page of this pricing supplement, we have provided the estimated value range for the Notes. The estimated value range was determined by reference to our 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 our internal funding rate. For more information about the estimated value, see “Additional Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity” herein. Because our internal funding rate generally represents a discount from the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes rather than the levels at which our 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 — The Estimated Value of Your Notes Is Based on Our Internal Funding Rate.”
Our 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 the Agent may buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market. Subject to normal market and funding conditions, the Agent or another affiliate of ours 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 the Agent may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market, if any, may exceed our estimated value on the Pricing Date for a temporary period expected to be approximately 3 months after the Issue Date because, in our discretion, we may elect to effectively reimburse to investors a portion of the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes and other costs in connection with the Notes which we will no longer expect to incur over the term of the Notes. We 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 we may have with the distributors of the Notes. The amount of our estimated costs which we effectively reimburse to investors in this way may not be allocated ratably throughout the reimbursement period, and we may discontinue such reimbursement at any time or revise the duration of the reimbursement period after the Issue Date of the Notes based on changes in market conditions and other factors that cannot be predicted.
We urge you to read the “Additional Risk Factors” herein.