Risks Relating to Characteristics of the Underlying Asset
♦Market risk — The return on the Notes, which may be negative, is directly linked to the performance of the underlying asset and indirectly linked to the performance of the underlying constituents and their issuers (the “underlying constituent issuers”). The level of the underlying asset can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to the underlying asset or the underlying constituents, such as stock or commodity 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, political and other conditions. You, as an investor in the Notes, should conduct your own investigation into the underlying asset and underlying constituents.
♦There can be no assurance that the investment view implicit in the Notes will be successful — It is impossible to predict whether and the extent to which the level of the underlying asset will rise or fall. There can be no assurance that the closing level of the underlying asset will be equal to or greater than the coupon barrier on each observation date or, if UBS does not elect to call the Notes, that the final level will be equal to or greater than the downside threshold. The level of the underlying asset will be influenced by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial and other factors that affect the underlying constituent issuers. You should be willing to accept the downside risks associated with the underlying asset in general and the underlying constituents in particular, and the risk of losing some or almost all of your initial investment.
♦Changes affecting the underlying asset, including regulatory changes, could have an adverse effect on the market value of, and return on, your Notes — The policies of the index sponsor as specified under “Information About the Underlying Asset” (the “index sponsor”), concerning additions, deletions and substitutions of the underlying constituents and the manner in which the index sponsor takes account of certain changes affecting those underlying constituents may adversely affect the level of the underlying asset. The policies of the index sponsor with respect to the calculation of the underlying asset could also adversely affect the level of the underlying asset. The index sponsor may discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the underlying asset. Further, indices like the underlying asset have been, and continue to be, the subject of regulatory guidance and proposal for reform, including the European Union’s Regulation (EU) 2016/1011. The occurrence of a benchmark event (as defined in the accompanying product supplement under “General Terms of the Securities — Discontinuance of, Adjustments to, or Benchmark Event or Change in Law Affecting, an Underlying Index; Alteration of Method of Calculation”), such as the failure of a benchmark (the underlying asset) or the administrator (the index sponsor) or user of a benchmark (such as UBS), to comply with the authorization, equivalence or other requirements of the benchmarks regulation, may result in the discontinuation of the relevant benchmark or a prohibition on its use. If these or other events occur, then the calculation agent may select a successor index, reference a replacement basket or use an alternative method of calculation, in each case, in a manner it considers appropriate, or, if it determines that no successor index, replacement basket or alternative method of calculation would be comparable to the original underlying asset, it may deem the closing level of the original underlying asset on the trading day immediately prior to the date of such event to be its closing level on each applicable date. Such events and the potential adjustments are described further in the accompanying product supplement under “— Discontinuance of, Adjustments to, or Benchmark Event or Change in Law Affecting, an Underlying Index; Alteration of Method of Calculation”. Notwithstanding the ability of the calculation agent to make any of the foregoing adjustments, any such change or event could adversely affect the market value of, and return on, the Notes.
♦UBS cannot control actions by the index sponsor and the index sponsor has no obligation to consider your interests — UBS and its affiliates are not affiliated with the index sponsor and have no ability to control or predict its actions, including any errors in or discontinuation of public disclosure regarding methods or policies relating to the calculation of the underlying asset. The index sponsor is not involved in the Notes offering in any way and has no obligation to consider your interest as an owner of the Notes in taking any actions that might affect the market value of, and return on, your Notes.
♦The S&P 500® Index reflects price return, not total return — The return on the Notes is based on the performance of the S&P 500® Index, which reflects the changes in the market prices of its underlying constituents. The S&P 500® Index is not a “total return” index or strategy, which, in addition to reflecting those price returns, would also reflect any dividends paid on its underlying constituents. The return on the Notes will not include such a total return feature or dividend component.
Estimated Value Considerations
♦The issue price you pay for the Notes exceeds their estimated initial value — The issue price you pay for the Notes exceeds their estimated initial value as of the trade date due to the inclusion in the issue price of the underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance and other costs and projected profits. As of the close of the relevant markets on the trade date, we have determined the estimated initial value of the Notes by reference to our internal pricing models and it is set forth in this pricing supplement. The pricing models used to determine the estimated initial value of the Notes incorporate certain variables, including the level and volatility of the underlying asset and underlying constituents, any expected dividends on the underlying constituents, prevailing interest rates, the term of the Notes and our internal funding rate. Our internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay to issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities of a similar term. The underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance and other costs, projected profits and the difference in rates will reduce the economic value of the Notes to you. Due to these factors, the estimated initial value of the Notes as of the trade date is less than the issue price you pay for the Notes.
♦The estimated initial value is a theoretical price; the actual price at which you may be able to sell your Notes in any secondary market (if any) at any time after the trade date may differ from the estimated initial value — The value of your Notes at any time will vary based on many factors, including the factors described above and in “— Risks Relating to Characteristics of the Underlying Asset — Market risk” above and is impossible to predict. Furthermore, the pricing models that we use are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, after the trade date, if you attempt to sell the Notes in the secondary market, the actual value you would receive may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated initial value of the Notes determined by reference to our internal pricing models. The estimated initial value of the Notes does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your Notes in any secondary market at any time.
♦Our actual profits may be greater or less than the differential between the estimated initial value and the issue price of the Notes as of the trade date — We may determine the economic terms of the Notes, as well as hedge our obligations, at least in part, prior to the trade date. In addition, there may be ongoing costs to us to maintain and/or adjust any hedges and such hedges are often imperfect. Therefore, our actual profits (or potentially, losses) in issuing the Notes cannot be determined as of the trade date and any such differential between the estimated initial value and the issue price of the Notes as of the trade date does not reflect our actual profits. Ultimately, our actual profits will be known only at the maturity of the Notes.
Risks Relating to Liquidity and Secondary Market Price Considerations
♦There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes — The Notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any electronic communications network. There can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Notes will develop. UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required, to make a market in the Notes and may stop making a market at any time. If you are able to sell your Notes prior to maturity you may have to sell them at a substantial loss. The estimated initial value of the Notes does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your Notes in any secondary market at any time.