SCUSA’s pricing models consider certain variables, including principally BNS’ internal funding rate, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), volatility of the underlying asset, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the Notes. These pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold your Notes in the secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated value of the Notes determined by reference to SCUSA’s models, taking into account BNS’ internal funding rate, due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models or assumptions used by others. If SCUSA calculated its estimated value of the Notes by reference to BNS’ credit spreads or the borrowing rate BNS would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities (as opposed to BNS’ internal funding rate), the price at which SCUSA would buy or sell the Notes (if SCUSA makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) could be significantly lower.
In addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price of the Notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted. If SCUSA makes a market in the Notes, the price quoted by SCUSA would reflect any changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, including any deterioration in BNS’ creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness. These changes may adversely affect the value of the Notes, including the price you may receive for the Notes in any market making transaction. To the extent that SCUSA makes a market in the Notes, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to SCUSA’s pricing models at that time, plus or minus SCUSA’s then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and subject to the declining excess amount described above). Furthermore, if you sell your Notes, you will likely be charged a commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your Notes in a secondary market sale.
♦The price of the Notes prior to maturity will depend on a number of factors and may be substantially less than the principal amount — Because structured notes, including the Notes, can be thought of as having a debt component and a derivative component, factors that influence the values of debt instruments and options and other derivatives will also affect the terms and features of the Notes at issuance and the market price of the Notes prior to maturity. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to: (i) actual or anticipated changes in the level of the underlying asset over the full term of the Notes, (ii) volatility of the level of the underlying asset and the market's perception of future volatility of the underlying asset, (iii) changes in interest rates generally, (iv) any actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads, (v) dividend yields on the underlying asset and (vi) time remaining to maturity. In particular, because the provisions of the Notes relating to the contingent coupons and the payment at maturity behave like options, the value of the Notes will vary in ways which are non-linear and may not be intuitive.
Depending on the actual or anticipated level of the underlying asset and other relevant factors, the market value of the Notes may decrease and you may receive substantially less than the principal amount if you sell your Notes prior to maturity regardless of the level of the underlying asset at such time.
Risks Relating to Hedging Activities and Conflicts of Interest
♦Hedging activities by BNS and SCUSA may negatively impact investors in the Notes and cause our respective interests and those of our clients and counterparties to be contrary to those of investors in the Notes — We, SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates has hedged or expects to hedge our obligations under the Notes. Such hedging transactions may include entering into swap or similar agreements, purchasing shares of the underlying asset and/or purchasing futures, options and/or other instruments linked to the underlying asset. We, SCUSA or one or more of our or their respective affiliates also expects to adjust the hedge by, among other things, purchasing or selling any of the foregoing, and perhaps other instruments linked to the underlying asset, at any time and from time to time, and to unwind the hedge by selling any of the foregoing on or before the final valuation date. We, SCUSA or one or more of our or their respective affiliates may also enter into, adjust and unwind hedging transactions relating to other basket- or index-linked Notes whose returns are linked to changes in the level of the underlying asset. Any of these hedging activities may adversely affect the level of the underlying asset— and therefore the market value of the Notes and the amount you will receive, if any, on the Notes.
You should expect that these transactions will cause BNS, SCUSA or our other affiliates, or our or their respective clients or counterparties, to have economic interests and incentives that do not align with, and that may be directly contrary to, those of an investor in the Notes. None of BNS, SCUSA or any of our other affiliates will have any obligation to take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect to these transactions based on the potential effect on an investor in the Notes, and any of the foregoing may receive substantial returns with respect to these hedging activities while the market value of, and return on, the Notes declines.
♦The calculation agent can make antidilution and other adjustments that may adversely affect the market value of, and any amounts payable on, the Notes — For antidilution and certain other events affecting the underlying asset, the calculation agent may make adjustments to its initial level, coupon barrier, downside threshold, closing level and/or final level, as applicable, and any other term of the Notes. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment in response to every corporate event that could affect the underlying asset. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to make an adjustment, the market value of, and any payment on, the Notes may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, all determinations and calculations concerning any such adjustments will be made by the calculation agent. You should be aware that the calculation agent may make any such adjustment, determination or calculation in a manner that differs from that discussed in the accompanying product supplement or this document as necessary to achieve an equitable result. Following certain events relating to the underlying asset issuer, such as a reorganization event or a delisting or suspension of trading, the determination as to whether the contingent coupon is payable to you on any coupon payment date, whether the Notes are subject to an automatic call or the amount you receive at maturity may be based on the equity security of a successor to such underlying asset issuer in combination with any cash or any other assets distributed to holders of such underlying asset, if applicable, or on the common stock of another company, as described further under “General Terms of the Notes — Market Disruption Events — Unavailability of the Closing Value of a Reference Asset; Adjustments to a Reference Asset — Unavailability of the Closing Value of a Reference Equity” and “— Anti-Dilution Adjustments Relating to a Reference Equity” in the accompanying product supplement. The occurrence of any antidilution or other adjustment event and the consequent adjustments may materially and adversely affect the market value of, and any amounts payable on, the Notes. For more information, see the sections “General Terms of the Notes — Market Disruption Events — Unavailability of the Closing Value of a Reference Asset; Adjustments to a Reference Asset — Unavailability of the Closing Value of a Reference Equity” and “— Anti-Dilution Adjustments Relating to a Reference Equity” in the accompanying product supplement.
♦We, the Agents and our or their respective affiliates regularly provide services to, or otherwise have business relationships with, a broad client base, which has included and may include us and the underlying asset issuer and the market activities by us, the Agents or our or their respective affiliates for our or their own respective accounts or for our or their respective clients could negatively impact investors in the Notes — We, the Agents and our or their respective affiliates regularly provide a wide range of financial services, including financial advisory, investment advisory and transactional services to a substantial and diversified client base. As such, we each may act as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, investment advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker or lender. In those and other