Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-211718
 |
The Toronto-Dominion Bank $2,458,000 Buffered Digital MSCI EAFE® Index-Linked Notes due October 3, 2019 | |
The notes do not bear interest. The amount that you will be paid on your notes on the maturity date (October 3, 2019) is based on the performance of the MSCI EAFE® Index as measured from the pricing date (December 28, 2017) to and including the valuation date (September 30, 2019).
If the final level on the valuation date is greater than or equal to the buffer level of 87.50% of the initial level of 2,043.31, you will receive the principal amount plus the product of the principal amount times the digital return of 11.60%, resulting in a payment at maturity of $1,116.00 for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes. If the final level on the valuation date is less than the buffer level of 87.50% of the initial level, your payment will be less than the principal amount and you will have a loss equal to the percentage decrease below the buffer level times the downside multiplier of approximately 1.1429. If the final level declines by more than 12.50% from the initial level, the return on your notes will be negative and you will lose approximately 1.1429% of the principal amount of your notes for every 1% that the final level has declined below the buffer level of 87.50% of the initial level. Despite the inclusion of the buffer level, due to the downside multiplier you may lose your entire principal amount.
To determine your payment at maturity, we will calculate the percentage change of the MSCI EAFE® Index, which is the percentage increase or decrease in the final level from the initial level. On the maturity date, for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:
| ● | if the percentage change is greater than or equal to -12.50% (the final level is greater than or equal to 87.50% of the initial level), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the digital return; or |
| ● | if the percentage change is negative and is below -12.50% (the final level is less than the initial level by more than 12.50%), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) approximately 1.1429 times (c) the sum of the percentage change plus 12.50%. |
The notes do not guarantee the return of principal at maturity.
The notes are unsecured and are not savings accounts or insured deposits of a bank. The notes are not insured or guaranteed by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality. Any payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk. The notes will not be listed on any exchange.
You should read the disclosure herein to better understand the terms and risks of your investment. See “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities 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.
The initial estimated value of the notes at the time the terms of your notes were set on the pricing date was $994.70 per $1,000 principal amount, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes” on the following page and “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this document for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
| Public Offering Price1 | Underwriting Discount | Proceeds to TD | |
| Per Note | $1,000.00 | $0.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Total | $2,458,000.00 | $0.00 | $2,458,000.00 |
TD Securities (USA) LLC
Pricing Supplement dated December 28, 2017
1 See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page P-27 of this pricing supplement.
The public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds to TD listed above relate to the notes we issue initially. We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this pricing supplement, at public offering prices and with underwriting discounts and proceeds to TD that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in the notes will depend in part on the public offering price you pay for such notes.
We, TD Securities (USA), LLC (“TDS”), or any of our affiliates, may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, we, TDS or any of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a note after its initial sale. Unless we, TDS or any of our affiliates informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement will be used in a market-making transaction.
Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes
The final terms for the Notes were determined on the Pricing Date, based on prevailing market conditions and are set forth in this pricing supplement. The economic terms of the Notes are based on TD’s internal funding rate (which is TD’s internal borrowing rate based on variables such as market benchmarks and TD’s appetite for borrowing), and several factors, including any sales commissions expected to be paid to TDS, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees expected to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that TD or any of TD’s affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, the estimated cost TD may incur in hedging its obligations under the Notes and the estimated development and other costs which TD may incur in connection with the Notes. Because TD’s internal funding rate generally represents a discount from the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes rather than the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market is expected to have had an adverse effect on the economic terms of the Notes. On the cover page of this pricing supplement, TD has provided the initial estimated value for the Notes. This initial estimated value was determined by reference to TD’s internal pricing models which take into account a number of variables and are based on a number of assumptions, which may or may not materialize, typically including volatility, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), price-sensitivity analysis, time to maturity of the Notes, and TD’s internal funding rate. For more information about the initial estimated value, see “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7. Because TD’s internal funding rate generally represents a discount from the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes rather than the levels at which TD’s benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market is expected, assuming all other economic terms are held constant, to increase the estimated value of the Notes. For more information see the discussion under “Additional Risk Factors — TD’s and TDS’s Estimated Value of the Notes are Determined By Reference to TD’s Internal Funding Rates and are Not Determined By Reference to Credit Spreads or the Borrowing Rate TD Would Pay for its Conventional Fixed-Rate Debt Securities”.
TD’s estimated value on the Pricing Date is not a prediction of the price at which the Notes may trade in the secondary market, nor will it be the price at which TDS may buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market. Subject to normal market and funding conditions, TDS or another affiliate of TD’s intends to offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but it is not obligated to do so.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Pricing Date, the price at which TDS may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market, if any, may exceed TD’s estimated value on the Pricing Date for a temporary period expected to be approximately 3 months after the Pricing Date because, in its discretion, TD may elect to effectively reimburse to investors a portion of the estimated cost of hedging its obligations under the Notes and other costs in connection with the Notes which TD will no longer expect to incur over the term of the Notes. TD made such discretionary election and determined this temporary reimbursement period on the basis of a number of factors, including the tenor of the Notes and any agreement TD may have with the distributors of the Notes. The amount of TD’s estimated costs which is effectively reimbursed to investors in this way may not be allocated ratably throughout the reimbursement period, and TD may discontinue such reimbursement at any time or revise the duration of the reimbursement period after the Issue Date of the Notes based on changes in market conditions and other factors that cannot be predicted.
If a party other than TDS or its affiliates is buying or selling your Notes in the secondary market based on its own estimated value of your Notes which was calculated by reference to TD’s credit spreads or the borrowing rate TD would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities (as opposed to TD’s internal funding rate), the price at which such party would buy or sell your Notes could be significantly lower.
We urge you to read the “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement.
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Summary
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the product prospectus supplement and the prospectus.
| Issuer: | The Toronto-Dominion Bank (“TD”) |
| Issue: | Senior Debt Securities |
| Type of Note: | Buffered Digital Notes (the “Notes”) |
| Term: | Approximately 21 months |
| Reference Asset: | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Bloomberg Ticker: MXEA) |
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 89114QKE7 / US89114QKE79 |
| Agent: | TD Securities (USA) LLC (“TDS”) |
| Currency: | U.S. Dollars |
| Minimum Investment: | $1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof |
| Principal Amount: | $1,000 per Note; $ 2,458,000 in the aggregate for all the offered Notes; the aggregate principal amount of the offered Notes may be increased if the Issuer, at its sole option, decides to sell an additional amount of the offered Notes on a date subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. |
| Pricing Date: | December 28, 2017 |
| Issue Date: | January 5, 2018 |
| Valuation Date: | September 30, 2019, subject to postponement for market disruption events and other disruptions, as described under “General Terms of the Notes — Valuation Date” on page PS-18 in the product prospectus supplement. |
| Maturity Date: | October 3, 2019, subject to postponement for market disruption events and other disruptions, as described under “General Terms of the Notes — Maturity Date” on page PS-18 in the product prospectus supplement. |
| Payment at Maturity: |
For each $1,000 Principal Amount of the Notes, we will pay you on the Maturity Date an amount in cash equal to: ● if the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Buffer Level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the Digital Return; or ● if the Final Level is less than the Buffer Level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the Downside Multiplier times (c) the sum of the Percentage Change plus the Buffer Percentage. If the Final Level is less than the Buffer Level, investors will receive less than the Principal Amount of the Notes at maturity and may lose their entire Principal Amount. All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation relating to the Notes, including the Payment at Maturity, will be rounded upward or downward as appropriate, to the nearest cent. |
P-3
| Digital Return: | 11.60%. Because the potential return on the Notes is limited to the Digital Return, the maximum Payment at Maturity will be $1,116.00. |
| Buffer Percentage: | 12.50% |
| Buffer Level: | 1,787.89625, which is 87.50% of the Initial Level |
| Downside Multiplier: | The quotient of the Initial Level divided by the Buffer Level, which equals approximately 1.1429. |
| Percentage Change: | The quotient of (1) the Final Level minus the Initial Level divided by (2) the Initial Level, expressed as a percentage. |
| Initial Level: | 2,043.31 |
| Final Level: | The Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date, except in the limited circumstances described under “General Terms of the Notes — Market Disruption Events” beginning on page PS-19 of the product prospectus supplement and subject to adjustment as provided under “General Terms of the Notes — Unavailability of the Level of the Reference Asset” beginning on page PS-18 of the product prospectus supplement. |
| Closing Level: | The Closing Level of the Reference Asset will be the closing level of the Reference Asset or any successor index (as defined in the product prospectus supplement) on any Trading Day for the Reference Asset, as displayed on Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”) page “MXEA <INDEX>” or any successor page on Bloomberg or any successor service, as applicable. Currently, whereas the Index Sponsor publishes the official closing level of the Reference Asset to six decimal places Bloomberg reports the closing level of the Reference Asset to fewer decimal places. As a result, the closing level of the Reference Asset reported by Bloomberg generally may be lower or higher than the official closing level of the Reference Asset published by the Index Sponsor. |
| Trading Day: | A day on which the Reference Asset is calculated and published by the Index Sponsor, regardless of whether one or more of the principal securities markets for the Reference Asset Constituents are closed on that day, if the Index Sponsor publishes the level of the Reference Asset on that day. |
| 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 or Toronto. |
| U.S. Tax Treatment: | By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees, in the absence of a statutory, regulatory, administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize the Notes, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as pre-paid derivative contracts with respect to the Reference Asset. Based on certain factual representations received from us, in the opinion of our special U.S. tax counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, it is 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 from the treatment described above. Please see the discussion below under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”. |
| Canadian Tax Treatment: | Please see the discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences,” which applies to the Notes. |
P-4
| Calculation Agent: | TD |
| Listing: | The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
| Clearance and Settlement: | DTC global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg) as described under “Forms of the Debt Securities” and “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement” in the prospectus. |
P-5
Additional Terms of Your Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus, as supplemented by the product prospectus supplement, relating to our Senior Debt Securities, 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” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” beginning on page PS-5 of the product prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” on page 1 of 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 before you invest in the Notes. You may access these documents on the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if that address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
| § | Prospectus dated June 30, 2016: |
| https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/947263/000119312516638441/d162493d424b3.htm |
| § | Product Prospectus Supplement MLN-EI-1 dated June 30, 2016: |
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/947263/000089109216015847/e70323_424b2.htm
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. Alternatively, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the product prospectus supplement and the prospectus if you so request by calling 1-855-303-3234.
P-6
Additional Risk Factors
The Notes involve risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. This section describes the most significant risks relating to the terms of the Notes. For additional information as to these risks, please see “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” in the prospectus.
You should carefully consider whether the Notes are suited to your particular circumstances before you decide to purchase them. Accordingly, prospective 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.
Principal at Risk.
Investors in the Notes could lose their entire Principal Amount if there is a decline in the level of the Reference Asset by more than the Buffer Percentage. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by more than 12.50%, you will lose a portion of each $1,000 Principal Amount in an amount equal to the Downside Multiplier multiplied by the sum of the negative Percentage Change plus the Buffer Percentage times $1,000. Specifically, you will lose approximately 1.1429% of the Principal Amount of each of your Notes for every 1% that the Final Level is less than the Initial Level in excess of the Buffer Percentage and you may lose your entire Principal Amount.
The Notes Do Not Pay Interest and Your Return on the Notes May Be Less Than the Return on Conventional Debt Securities of Comparable Maturity.
There will be no periodic interest payments on the Notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same term. The return that you will receive on the Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of TD.
Your Potential Return on the Notes Is Fixed and Limited to the Digital Return and You Will Not Participate in Any Appreciation in the Level of the Reference Asset.
Your potential return on the Notes is fixed as of the Pricing Date and is limited to the Digital Return, which you will receive only if the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Buffer Level. The Notes do not provide for any participation in the positive performance of the Reference Asset no matter how much the level of the Reference Asset may rise beyond the Initial Level over the life of your Notes. Therefore, an investment in the Notes could be significantly less than a hypothetical direct investment in the Reference Asset.
Investors Are Subject to TD’s Credit Risk, and TD’s Credit Ratings and Credit Spreads May Adversely Affect the Market Value of the Notes.
Although the return on the Notes will depend on the Final Level of the Reference Asset, the payment of any amount due on the Notes is subject to TD’s credit risk. The Notes are TD’s unsecured debt obligations. Investors are dependent on TD’s ability to pay all amounts due on the Notes on the Maturity Date, and, therefore, investors are subject to the credit risk of TD and to changes in the market’s view of TD’s creditworthiness. Any decrease in TD’s credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking TD’s credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
The Agent Discount, 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 lower than the public offering price. The public offering price includes, and any price quoted to you is likely to exclude, the underwriting discount paid in connection with the initial distribution, offering expenses as well as the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs, such as a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction. In addition, if the dealer from which you purchase Notes, or one of its affiliates, is to conduct hedging activities for us in connection with the Notes, that dealer, or one of its affiliates, may profit in connection with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to the compensation that the dealer receives for the sale of the Notes to you. You should be aware that the potential for that dealer or one of its affiliates to earn fees in connection with hedging activities may create a further incentive for the dealer to sell the Notes to you in addition to the compensation they would receive for the sale of the Notes.
P-7
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 on any securities exchange. TDS and our affiliates may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not required to do so. TDS and our affiliates may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices advantageous to you. We expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and ask prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
If you sell your Notes before the Maturity Date, you may have to do so at a substantial discount from the public offering price irrespective of the level of the Reference Asset and, as a result, you may suffer substantial losses.
If the Level of the Reference Asset Changes, the Market Value of Your Notes May Not Change in the Same Manner.
Your Notes may trade quite differently from the performance of the Reference Asset. Changes in the level of the Reference Asset may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your Notes. Even if the level of the Reference Asset increases above the Initial Level during the life of the Notes, the market value of your Notes may not increase by the same amount and could decline.
The Payment at Maturity Is Not Linked to the Level of the Reference Asset at Any Time Other than the Valuation Date.
The Final Level will be the Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date (subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement). Therefore, if the Closing Level of the Reference Asset dropped to a level that is less than the Buffer Level on the Valuation Date you would not receive the Digital Return and would not receive your full Principal Amount, even though you would have had the Payment at Maturity been linked to the Closing Level of the Reference Asset prior to such drop in the level of the Reference Asset. Although the actual level of the Reference Asset on the Maturity Date or at other times during the life of your Notes may be higher than the Final Level, you will not benefit from the level of the Reference Asset at any time other than the Closing Level on the Valuation Date.
We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at a Different Public Offering Price.
At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. The public offering price of the Notes in the subsequent sale may differ substantially (higher or lower) from the original public offering price you paid as provided on the cover of this pricing supplement.
If You Purchase Your Notes at a Premium to Principal Amount, the Return on Your Investment Will Be Lower Than the Return on Notes Purchased at Principal Amount and the Impact of Certain Key Terms of the Notes Will be Negatively Affected.
The Payment at Maturity will not be adjusted based on the public offering price you pay for the Notes. If you purchase Notes at a price that differs from the Principal Amount of the Notes, then the return on your investment in such Notes held to the Maturity Date will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on Notes purchased at Principal Amount. If you purchase your Notes at a premium to Principal Amount and hold them to the Maturity Date, the return on your investment in the Notes will be lower than it would have been had you purchased the Notes at Principal Amount or a discount to Principal Amount. In addition, the impact of the Buffer Level and the Digital Return on the return on your investment will depend upon the price you pay for your Notes relative to Principal Amount. For example, if you purchase your Notes at a premium to Principal Amount, the Digital Return will only permit a lower positive return on your investment in the Notes than would have been the case for Notes purchased at Principal Amount or a discount to Principal Amount. Similarly, the Buffer Level, while still providing some protection for the return on the Notes, will allow a greater percentage decrease in your investment in the Notes than would have been the case for Notes purchased at Principal Amount or a discount to Principal Amount.
You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Reference Asset Constituents.
As a holder of the Notes, your potential return is limited to the Digital Return and you will not participate in any appreciation of the Reference Asset or the securities included in the Reference Asset (the “Reference Asset Constituents”). Additionally, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities included in the Reference Asset would have. The Final Level will not reflect any dividends paid on any Reference Asset Constituents.
P-8
We Have No Affiliation with the Index Sponsor and Will Not Be Responsible for Any Actions Taken by the Index Sponsor.
MSCI Inc. (the “Index Sponsor”) is not an affiliate of ours and will not be involved in any offerings of the Notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control of any actions of the Index Sponsor, including any actions of the type that would require the Calculation Agent to adjust the Payment at Maturity. The Index Sponsor does not have any obligation of any sort with respect to the Notes. Thus, the Index Sponsor has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the Notes. None of our proceeds from any issuance of the Notes will be delivered to the Index Sponsor, except to the extent that we are required to pay the Index Sponsor licensing fees with respect to the Reference Asset.
The Notes Are Subject to Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.
The Reference Asset Constituents are traded and quoted in foreign currencies on non-U.S. markets. The prices of the Reference Asset Constituents are converted into U.S. dollars for purposes of calculating the value of the Reference Asset. As a result, holders of the Notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies represented in the Reference Asset. The values of the currencies of the Reference Asset Constituents may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation due to changes in interest rates, the effects of monetary policies issued by the United States, foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities, the imposition of currency controls or other national or global political or economic developments. The level of the Reference Asset will depend on the extent to which the relevant non-U.S. currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each non-U.S. Reference Asset Constituent. If, taking into account such weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against the relevant non-U.S. currencies, the value of such Reference Asset Constituent, and therefore the level of the Reference Asset, will be adversely affected and the value of the Notes may decrease.
It has been reported that the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and regulators from other countries are in the process of investigating the potential manipulation of published currency exchange rates. If such manipulation has occurred or is continuing, certain published exchange rates may have been, or may be in the future, artificially lower (or higher) than they would otherwise have been. Any such manipulation could have an adverse impact on any payments on, and the value of, your Notes and the trading market for your Notes. In addition, we cannot predict whether any changes or reforms affecting the determination or publication of exchange rates or the supervision of currency trading will be implemented in connection with these investigations. Any such changes or reforms could also adversely impact your Notes.
Investment in the Offered Notes Is Subject to Risks Associated with Foreign Securities Markets
The value of your Notes is linked to the Reference Asset which holds stocks traded in one or more foreign securities markets. Investments linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. Any foreign securities market may be less liquid, more volatile and affected by global or domestic market developments in a different way than are the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Both government intervention in a foreign securities market, either directly or indirectly, and cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in that market. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. Further, foreign companies are likely subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.
The prices of securities in a foreign country are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that are unique to such foreign country's geographical region. These factors include: recent changes, or the possibility of future changes, in the applicable foreign government's economic and fiscal policies; the possible implementation of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities; fluctuations, or the possibility of fluctuations, in currency exchange rates; and the possibility of outbreaks of hostility, political instability, natural disaster or adverse public health developments. The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union (popularly known as "Brexit"). The effect of Brexit is uncertain, and Brexit has and may continue to contribute to volatility in the prices of securities of companies located in Europe and currency exchange rates, including the valuation of the euro and British pound in particular. Any one of these factors, or the combination of more than one of these or other factors, could negatively affect such foreign securities market and the prices of securities therein. Further, geographical regions may react to global factors in different ways, which may cause the prices of securities in a foreign securities market to fluctuate in a way that differs from those of securities in the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Foreign economies may also differ from the U.S. economy in important respects, including growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency, which may have a positive or negative effect on foreign securities prices.
P-9
Trading and Business Activities by TD and Our Affiliates May Adversely Affect the Market Value of the Notes.
TD and our affiliates may hedge our obligations under the Notes by purchasing securities, futures, options or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the level of the Reference Asset or prices of the Reference Asset Constituents, and we or they may adjust these hedges by, among other things, purchasing or selling securities, futures, options or other derivative instruments at any time. It is possible that we or one or more of our affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging activities while the market value of the Notes declines. We, TDS 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 performance of the Reference Asset or Reference Asset Constituents.
These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interest in the Notes and the interests we, TDS and our affiliates will have in our or their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for our or their customers’ accounts and in accounts under our or their management. These trading activities could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes.
We and our affiliates may, at present or in the future, engage in business with one or more Reference Asset Constituent Issuers, including making loans to or providing advisory services to those companies. These services could include investment banking and merger and acquisition advisory services. These business activities may present a conflict between us and our affiliates obligations, and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we, and our affiliates may have published, and in the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these business activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the price of the Reference Asset or one or more Reference Asset Constituents and, therefore, the market value of the Notes.
TD’s Initial Estimated Value of the Notes at the Time of Pricing (When the Terms of Your Notes Were Set on the Pricing Date) Is Less Than the Public Offering Price of the Notes.
TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes is only an estimate. TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes is less than the public offering price of the Notes. The difference between the public offering price of the Notes and TD’s initial estimated value reflects costs and expected profits associated with selling and structuring the Notes, as well as hedging its obligations under the Notes with a third party. Because hedging our obligations entails risks and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or a loss.
TD’s and TDS’s Estimated Value of the Notes are Determined By Reference to TD’s Internal Funding Rates and are Not Determined By Reference to Credit Spreads or the Borrowing Rate TD Would Pay for its Conventional Fixed-Rate Debt Securities.
TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes and TDS’s estimated value of the Notes at any time are determined by reference to TD’s internal funding rate. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the Notes generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for TD’s conventional fixed-rate debt securities and the borrowing rate TD would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities. This discount is based on, among other things, TD’s view of the funding value of the Notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the Notes in comparison to those costs for TD’s conventional fixed-rate debt, as well as estimated financing costs of any hedge positions, taking into account regulatory and internal requirements. If the interest rate implied by the credit spreads for TD’s conventional fixed-rate debt securities, or the borrowing rate TD would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities were to be used, TD would expect the economic terms of the Notes to be more favorable to you. Additionally, assuming all other economic terms are held constant, the use of an internal funding rate for the Notes is expected to increase the estimated value of the Notes at any time.
TD’s Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Does Not Represent Future Values of the Notes and May Differ From Others’ (Including TDS’s) Estimates.
TD’s initial estimated value of the Notes is determined by reference to its internal pricing models when the terms of the Notes were set. These pricing models take into account a number of variables, such as TD’s internal funding rate on the Pricing Date, and are based on a number of assumptions as discussed further under “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-2. Different pricing models and assumptions (including the pricing models and assumptions used by TDS) could provide valuations for the Notes that are different, and perhaps materially lower, from TD’s initial estimated value. Therefore, the price at which TDS would buy or sell your Notes (if TDS makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) may be materially lower than TD’s initial estimated value. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect.
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The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Not a Prediction of the Prices at Which You May Sell Your Notes in the Secondary Market, If Any, and Such Secondary Market Prices, If Any, Will Likely be Lower Than the Public Offering Price of Your Notes and May Be Lower Than the Estimated Value of Your Notes.
The estimated value of the Notes will not be a prediction of the prices at which TDS, other affiliates of ours or third parties may be willing to purchase the Notes from you in secondary market transactions (if they are willing to purchase, which they are not obligated to do). The price at which you may be able to sell your Notes in the secondary market at any time, if any, will be influenced by many factors that cannot be predicted, such as market conditions, and any bid and ask spread for similar sized trades, and may be substantially less than the estimated value of the Notes. Further, as secondary market prices of your Notes take into account the levels at which our debt securities trade in the secondary market, and do not take into account our various costs and expected profits associated with selling and structuring the Notes, as well as hedging our obligations under the Notes, secondary market prices of your Notes will likely be lower than the public offering price of your Notes. As a result, the price at which TDS, other affiliates of ours or third parties may be willing to purchase the Notes from you in secondary market transactions, if any, will likely be lower than the price you paid for your Notes, and any sale prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you.
The Temporary Price at Which TDS May Initially Buy the Notes in the Secondary Market May Not Be Indicative of Future Prices of Your Notes.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Pricing Date, the price at which TDS may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if TDS makes a market in the Notes, which it is not obligated to do) may exceed the estimated value of the Notes on the Pricing Date, as well as the secondary market value of the Notes, for a temporary period after the Pricing Date of the Notes, as discussed further under “Additional Information Regarding the Estimated Value of the Notes.” The price at which TDS may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market may not be indicative of future prices of your Notes.
The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors.
When we refer to the market value of your Notes, we mean the value that you could receive for your Notes if you chose to sell them in the open market before the Maturity Date. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the market value of your Notes, including:
| · | the level of the Reference Asset; |
| · | the volatility – i.e., the frequency and magnitude of changes – in the level of the Reference Asset; |
| · | the dividend rates, if applicable, of the Reference Asset Constituents; |
| · | economic, financial, regulatory and political, military or other events that may affect the prices of any of the Reference Asset Constituents and thus the level of the Reference Asset; |
| · | interest rate and yield rates in the market; |
| · | the time remaining until your Notes mature; |
| · | fluctuations in the exchange rate between currencies in which the Reference Asset Constituents are quoted and traded and the U.S. dollar; and |
| · | our creditworthiness, whether actual or perceived, and including actual or anticipated upgrades or downgrades in our credit ratings or changes in other credit measures. |
These factors will influence the price you will receive if you sell your Notes before maturity, including the price you may receive for your Notes in any market-making transaction. If you sell your Notes prior to maturity, you may receive less than the Principal Amount of your Notes.
The future levels of the Reference Asset cannot be predicted. The actual change in the level of the Reference Asset over the life of the Notes, as well as the Payment at Maturity, may bear little or no relation to the hypothetical historical closing levels of the Reference Asset or to the hypothetical examples shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement.
There Are Potential Conflicts of Interest Between You and the Calculation Agent.
The Calculation Agent will, among other things, determine the amount of your payment on the Notes. We will serve as the Calculation Agent and may appoint a different Calculation Agent after the Issue Date without notice to you. The Calculation Agent will exercise its judgment when performing its functions and may take into consideration our ability to unwind any related hedges. Since this discretion by the Calculation Agent may affect payments on the Notes, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make any such decision. For example, the Calculation Agent may have to determine whether a market disruption event affecting the Reference Asset has occurred. This determination may, in turn, depend on the Calculation Agent’s judgment whether the event has materially interfered with our ability or the ability of one of our affiliates to unwind our hedge positions. Since this determination by the Calculation Agent will affect the payment on the Notes, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make a
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determination of this kind. For additional information as to the Calculation Agent’s role, see “General Terms of the Notes—Role of Calculation Agent” in the product prospectus supplement.
Market Disruption Events and Adjustments.
The Valuation Date, and therefore the Maturity Date, are subject to postponement as described in the product prospectus supplement due to the occurrence of one or more market disruption events. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.
Significant Aspects of the Tax Treatment of the Notes Are Uncertain.
Significant aspects of the U.S. tax treatment of the Notes are uncertain. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation and should read carefully the section entitled “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” below.
For a more complete 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) or if you acquire the Notes in the secondary market, you should consult your tax advisors as to the consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Notes and receiving the payments that might be due under the Notes.
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Hypothetical Returns
The examples and graph set out below are included for illustration purposes only. They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future investment results and merely are intended to illustrate the impact that the various hypothetical levels of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date could have on the Payment at Maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.
The examples below are based on a range of Final Levels that are entirely hypothetical; the levels of the Reference Asset on any day throughout the life of the Notes, including the Final Level on the Valuation Date, cannot be predicted. The Reference Asset has been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the level of the Reference Asset has changed considerably in relatively short periods — and its performance cannot be predicted for any future period.
The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical rates of return on the offered Notes assuming that they are purchased on the Issue Date at the Principal Amount and held to the Maturity Date. If you sell your Notes in a secondary market prior to the Maturity Date, your return will depend upon the market value of your Notes at the time of sale, which may be affected by a number of factors that are not reflected in the examples below, such as interest rates, the volatility of the Reference Asset and our creditworthiness. In addition, the estimated value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes are set on the Pricing Date is less than the original public offering price of your Notes. For more information on the estimated value of your Notes, see “Additional Risk Factors — TD’s Initial Estimated Value of the Notes at the Time of Pricing (When the Terms of Your Notes Were Set on the Pricing Date) Is Less Than the Public Offering Price of the Notes” on page P-10 of this pricing supplement. The information in the examples also reflect the key terms and assumptions in the box below.
| Key Terms and Assumptions | |
| Principal Amount | $1,000 |
| Digital Return | 11.60% |
| Buffer Level | 87.50% of the Initial Level |
| Downside Multiplier | Approximately 1.1429 |
| Buffer Percentage | 12.50% |
| Neither a market disruption event nor a non-Trading Day occurs on the originally scheduled Valuation Date | |
| No change in or affecting any of the Reference Asset Constituents or the method by which the Index Sponsor calculates the Reference Asset | |
| Notes purchased on the Issue Date at the Principal Amount and held to the Maturity Date | |
The actual performance of the Reference Asset over the life of your Notes, as well as the Payment at Maturity, if any, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical levels of the Reference Asset shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the historical levels of the Reference Asset during recent periods, see “Information Regarding the Reference Asset — Historical Information” below.
Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment applicable to your Notes, tax liabilities could affect the after-tax rate of return on your Notes to a comparatively greater extent than the after-tax return on the Reference Asset Constituents.
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The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical Final Levels and are expressed as percentages of the Initial Level. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical Payment at Maturity, based on the corresponding hypothetical Final Level, and are expressed as percentages of the Principal Amount of a Note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent). Thus, a hypothetical Payment at Maturity of 100.000% means that the value of the cash payment that we would deliver for each $1,000 of the outstanding Principal Amount of the offered Notes on the Maturity Date would equal 100.000% of the Principal Amount of a Note, based on the corresponding hypothetical Final Level and the assumptions noted above.
|
Hypothetical Final Level (as Percentage of Initial Level) |
Hypothetical Payment at Maturity (as Percentage of Principal Amount) | |
| 150.000% | 111.600% | |
| 140.000% | 111.600% | |
| 130.000% | 111.600% | |
| 120.000% | 111.600% | |
| 112.000% | 111.600% | |
| 108.000% | 111.600% | |
| 105.000% | 111.600% | |
| 102.000% | 111.600% | |
| 100.000% | 111.600% | |
| 95.000% | 111.600% | |
| 90.000% | 111.600% | |
| 87.500% | 111.600% | |
| 87.499% | 99.999% | |
| 75.000% | 85.714% | |
| 50.000% | 57.143% | |
| 25.000% | 28.571% | |
| 0.000% | 0.000% |
If, for example, the Final Level were determined to be 25.000% of the Initial Level, the Payment at Maturity that we would deliver
on your Notes at maturity would be approximately 28.571% of the Principal Amount of your Notes, as shown in the table above. As
a result, if you purchased your Notes on the Issue Date at the Principal Amount and held them to the Maturity Date, you would lose
approximately 71.429% of your investment (if you purchased your Notes at a premium to Principal Amount you would lose a correspondingly
higher percentage of your investment). If the Final
Level were determined to be 0.000% of the Initial Level, you would lose 100.000%
of your investment in the Notes. In addition, if the Final Level were determined to be 150.000% of the Initial Level, the
Payment at Maturity that we would deliver on your Notes at maturity would be equal to 111.600% of each $1,000 Principal Amount
of your Notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your Notes to the Maturity Date, your return is limited to
the Digital Return regardless of the appreciation of the Reference Asset.
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The following examples illustrate the hypothetical Payment at Maturity for each Note based on hypothetical Final Levels of the Reference Asset, calculated based on the key terms and assumptions above. The values below have been rounded for ease of analysis.
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The following chart shows a graphical illustration of the hypothetical Payment at Maturity that we would pay on your Notes on the Maturity Date, if the Final Level were any of the hypothetical levels shown on the horizontal axis. The hypothetical Payments at Maturity in the chart are expressed as percentages of the Principal Amount of your Notes and the hypothetical Final Levels are expressed as percentages of the Initial Level. The chart shows that any hypothetical Final Level of less than 87.50% (the section left of the 87.50% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a hypothetical Payment at Maturity of less than 100.00% of the Principal Amount of your Notes (the section below the 100.00% marker on the vertical axis) and, accordingly, in a loss of principal to the holder of the Notes. The chart also shows that any hypothetical Final Level of greater than or equal to 87.50% (the section right of the 87.50% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a fixed return on your investment equal to the Digital Return.
The Payments at Maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on levels of the Reference Asset that may not be achieved on the Valuation Date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your Notes on the Maturity Date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your Notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical Payment at Maturity shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the offered Notes. The hypothetical Payment at Maturity on the Notes in the examples above assume you purchased your Notes at their Principal Amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual public offering price you pay for your Notes. The return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your Notes will be affected by the amount you pay for your Notes. If you purchase your Notes for a price other than the Principal Amount, the return on your investment will differ from, and may be significantly lower than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the above examples. Please read “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” beginning on page PS-6 of the product prospectus supplement.
Payments on the Notes are economically equivalent to the amounts that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For example, payments on the Notes are economically equivalent to a combination of a non-interest-bearing bond bought by the holder and one or more options entered into between the holder and us (with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of the Notes or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes, as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement.
| We cannot predict the actual Final Level or what the market value of your Notes will be on any particular Trading Day, nor can we predict the relationship between the level of the Reference Asset and the market value of your Notes at any time prior to the Maturity Date. The actual amount that you will receive, if any, at maturity and the rate of return on the offered Notes will depend on the actual Final Level, which will be determined by the Calculation Agent as described above. Moreover, the assumptions on which the hypothetical returns are based may turn out to be inaccurate. Consequently, the amount of cash to be paid in respect of your Notes, if any, on the Maturity Date may be very different from the information reflected in the examples above. |
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Information Regarding the Reference Asset
The MSCI EAFE® Index
We have derived all information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the MSCI EAFE® Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information, including Bloomberg. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by MSCI Inc., which we refer to as “MSCI.” MSCI has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the MSCI EAFE® Index. The consequences of MSCI discontinuing publication of the Reference Asset are discussed in the section of the accompanying product prospectus supplement entitled “General Terms of the Notes — Unavailability of the Level of the Reference Asset.”
The MSCI EAFE® Index is a stock index calculated, published and disseminated daily by MSCI through numerous data vendors, on the MSCI website and in real time on Bloomberg and Reuters Limited.
The MSCI EAFE® Index is a free float adjusted market capitalization index and is part of the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices, the methodology of which is described below. The index is considered a “standard” index, which means it consists of all eligible large capitalization and mid-capitalization stocks, as determined by MSCI, in the relevant market. Additional information about the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices is available on the following website: msci.com/index-methodology. Daily closing price information for the MSCI EAFE® Index is available on the following website:
msci.com
We are not incorporating by reference these websites or any material they include in this pricing supplement.
The MSCI EAFE® Index is intended to provide performance benchmarks for the developed equity markets in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The constituent stocks of the MSCI EAFE® Index are derived from the constituent stocks in the 21 MSCI standard single country indices for the developed market countries listed above. The MSCI EAFE Index is calculated in U.S. dollars on a total return net basis. The MSCI EAFE Index was launched on December 31, 1969 at an initial value of 100.
Index Stock Weighting by Country as of November 30, 2017: | |
| Country: | Percentage (%)* |
| Japan | 24.28% |
| United Kingdom | 17.43% |
| France | 10.68% |
| Germany | 9.80% |
| Switzerland | 8.07% |
| Other | 29.74% |
* Information provided by MSCI. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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MSCI divides the companies included in the MSCI EAFE® Index into eleven Global Industry Classification Sectors: Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Energy, Financials, Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology, Materials, Real Estate, Telecommunication Services and Utilities.
| Index Stock Weighting by Sector as of November 30, 2017 | |
| Sector** | Percentage (%)* |
| Consumer Discretionary | 12.24% |
| Consumer Staples | 11.25% |
| Energy | 5.23% |
| Financials | 21.20% |
| Health Care | 10.16% |
| Industrials | 14.51% |
| Information Technology | 6.49% |
| Materials | 7.95% |
| Real Estate | 3.57% |
| Telecommunication Services | 4.08% |
| Utilities | 3.32% |
* Information provided by MSCI. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
** Sector designations are determined by the index sponsor using criteria it has selected or developed. Index sponsors may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between indices with different index sponsors may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the indices. MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC have announced that the Global Industry Classification Sector structure is expected to be updated after the close of business on September 28, 2018. Among other things, the update is expected to broaden the current Telecommunications Services sector and rename it the Communication Services sector. The renamed sector is expected to include the existing telecommunication companies, as well as companies selected from the Consumer Discretionary sector currently classified under the Media Industry group and the Internet & Direct Marketing Retail sub-industry, along with select companies currently classified in the Information Technology sector. Further, companies that operate online marketplaces for consumer products and services are expected to be included under the Internet & Direct Marketing sub-industry of the Consumer Discretionary sector, regardless of whether they hold inventory.
Construction of the MSCI Indices
MSCI undertakes an index construction process, which involves: (i) defining the equity universe; (ii) determining the market investable equity universe for each market; (iii) determining market capitalization size segments for each market; (iv) applying index continuity rules for the standard index; (v) creating style segments within each size segment within each market; and (vi) classifying securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard. The index construction methodology differs in some cases depending on whether the relevant market is considered a developed market or an emerging market. The MSCI EAFE® Index is a developed market indices. The MSCI EAFE® Index is a standard index, meaning that only securities that would qualify for inclusion in a large cap index or a mid cap index will be included as described below.
Defining the Equity Universe
| (i) | Identifying Eligible Equity Securities: The equity universe initially looks at securities listed in any of the countries in the MSCI global index series, which will be classified as either “developed markets” or “emerging markets.” All listed equity securities, including real estate investment trusts and certain income trusts in Canada are eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. Limited partnerships, limited liability companies and business trusts, which are listed in the U.S. and are not structured to be taxed as limited partnerships, are likewise eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. Conversely, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, equity derivatives and most investment trusts are not eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. Preferred shares that exhibit characteristics of equity securities are eligible. Securities for which the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has issued high shareholding concentration notices are not eligible. |
| (ii) | Country Classification of Eligible Securities: Each company and its securities (i.e., share classes) are classified in one and only one country, which allows for a distinctive sorting of each company by its respective country. |
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Determining the Market Investable Equity Universes
A market investable equity universe for a market is derived by (1) identifying eligible listings for each security in the equity universe; and (2) applying investability screens to individual companies and securities in the equity universe that are classified in that market. A market is generally equivalent to a single country. The global investable equity universe is the aggregation of all market investable equity universes.
| (1) | Identifying Eligible Listings: A security may have a listing in the country where it is classified (a “local listing”) and/or in a different country (a “foreign listing”). A security may be represented by either a local listing or a foreign listing (including a depositary receipt) in the global investable equity universe. A security may be represented by a foreign listing only if the security is classified in a country that meets the foreign listing materiality requirement (as described below), and the security’s foreign listing is traded on an eligible stock exchange of a developed market country if the security is classified in a developed market country or, if the security is classified in an emerging market country, an eligible stock exchange of a developed market country or an emerging market country. |
In order for a country to meet the foreign listing materiality requirement, MSCI determines all securities represented by a foreign listing that would be included in the country’s MSCI Country Investable Market Index if foreign listings were eligible from that country. The aggregate free-float adjusted market capitalization for all such securities should represent at least (i) 5% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the relevant MSCI Country Investable Market Index and (ii) 0.05% of the free-float adjusted market capitalization of the MSCI ACWI Investable Market Index. If a country does not meet the foreign listing materiality requirement, then securities in that country may not be represented by a foreign listing in the global investable equity universe.
| (2) | Applying Investability Screens: The investability screens used to determine the investable equity universe in each market are: |
| (i) | Equity Universe Minimum Size Requirement: This investability screen is applied at the company level. In order to be included in a market investable equity universe, a company must have the required minimum full market capitalization. The equity universe minimum size requirement applies to companies in all markets and is derived as follows: |
· First, the companies in the developed market equity universe are sorted in descending order of full market capitalization and the cumulative coverage of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the developed market equity universe is calculated for each company. Each company’s free float-adjusted market capitalization is represented by the aggregation of the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the securities of that company in the equity universe.
· Second, when the cumulative free float-adjusted market capitalization coverage of 99% of the sorted equity universe is achieved, by adding each company’s free float-adjusted market capitalization in descending order, full market capitalization of the company that reaches the 99% threshold defines the equity universe minimum size requirement.
· The rank of this company by descending order of full market capitalization within the developed market equity universe is noted, and will be used in determining the equity universe minimum size requirement at the next rebalance.
As of November 2017, the equity universe minimum size requirement was set at US$261,000,000. Companies with a full market capitalization below this level are not included in any market investable equity universe. The equity universe minimum size requirement is reviewed and, if necessary, revised at each semi-annual index review, described below.
| (ii) | Equity Universe Minimum Free Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization Requirement: This investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have a free float-adjusted market capitalization equal to or higher than 50% of the equity universe minimum size requirement. |
| (iii) | Minimum Liquidity Requirement: This investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have at least one eligible listing that has adequate liquidity as measured by its twelve-month and three-month annualized traded value ratio (“ATVR”) and three-month frequency of trading. The ATVR attempts to mitigate the impact of extreme daily trading volumes and takes into account the free float-adjusted market capitalization of securities. A minimum liquidity level of 20% of the 3-month ATVR and 90% of 3-month frequency of trading over the last 4 consecutive quarters, as well as 20% of the 12-month ATVR, are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of a developed market. A minimum liquidity level of 15% of the 3-month ATVR and 80% of 3-month frequency of trading over the last 4 consecutive quarters, as well as 15% of the 12-month ATVR, are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of an emerging market. |
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Only one listing per security may be included in the market investable equity universe. In instances where a security has two or more eligible listings that meet the above liquidity requirements, then the following priority rules are used to determine which listing will be used for potential inclusion of the security in the market investable equity universe:
| (a) | Local listing (if the security has two or more local listings, then the listing with the highest three-month ATVR will be used) |
| (b) | Foreign listing in the same geographical region (MSCI classifies markets into three main geographical regions: EMEA, Asia Pacific and Americas. If the security has two or more listings in the same geographical region, then the listing with the highest 3-month ATVR will be used). |
| (c) | Foreign listing in a different geographical region (if the security has two or more listings in a different geographical region, then the listing with the highest 3-month ATVR will be used). |
Due to liquidity concerns relating to securities trading at very high stock prices, a security that is currently not a constituent of a MSCI Global Investable Markets Index that is trading at a stock price above US$10,000 will fail the liquidity screening and will not be included in any market investable equity universe.
| (iv) | Global Minimum Foreign Inclusion Factor Requirement: This investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To determine the free float of a security, MSCI considers the proportion of shares of such security available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. In practice, limitations on the investment opportunities for international investors include: strategic stakes in a company held by private or public shareholders whose investment objective indicates that the shares held are not likely to be available in the market; limits on the proportion of a security’s share capital authorized for purchase by non-domestic investors; or other foreign investment restrictions which materially limit the ability of foreign investors to freely invest in a particular equity market, sector or security. |
MSCI will then derive a “foreign inclusion factor” for the company that reflects the proportion of shares outstanding that is available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. MSCI will then “float-adjust” the weight of each constituent company in an index by the company’s foreign inclusion factor.
Once the free float factor has been determined for a security, the security’s total market capitalization is then adjusted by such free float factor, resulting in the free float-adjusted market capitalization figure for the security.
| (v) | Minimum Length of Trading Requirement: This investability screen is applied at the individual security level. For an initial public offering to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, the new issue must have started trading at least three months before the implementation of a semi-annual index review. This requirement is applicable to small new issues in all markets. Large initial public offerings are not subject to the minimum length of trading requirement and may be included in a market investable equity universe and a standard index, such as the MSCI EAFE® Index, outside of a quarterly or semi-annual index review. |
| (vi) | Minimum Foreign Room Requirement: This investability screen is applied at the individual security level. For a security that is subject to a foreign ownership limit to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, the proportion of shares still available to foreign investors relative to the maximum allowed (referred to as “foreign room”) must be at least 15%. |
Defining Market Capitalization Size Segments for Each Market
Once a market investable equity universe is defined, it is segmented into the following size-based indices:
- Investable Market Index (Large Cap + Mid Cap + Small Cap)
- Standard Index (Large Cap + Mid Cap)
- Large Cap Index
- Mid Cap Index
- Small Cap Index
Creating the size segment indices in each market involves the following steps: (i) defining the market coverage target range for each size segment; (ii) determining the global minimum size range for each size segment; (iii) determining the market size segment cutoffs and associated segment number of companies; (iv) assigning companies to the size segments; and (v) applying final size-segment investability requirements. For developed market indices, the market
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coverage for a standard index is 85%. As of November 2017, the global minimum size range for a developed market standard index is a full market capitalization of USD 3.05 billion to USD 7.02 billion.
Index Continuity Rules for Standard Indices
In order to achieve index continuity, as well as provide some basic level of diversification within a market index, notwithstanding the effect of other index construction rules, a minimum number of five constituents will be maintained for a developed market standard index and a minimum number of three constituents will be maintained for an emerging market standard index, and involves the following steps:
- If after the application of the index construction methodology, a developed market standard index contains fewer than five securities or an emerging market standard index contains fewer than three securities, then the largest securities by free float-adjusted market capitalization are added to the index in order to reach the minimum number of required constituents.
- At subsequent index reviews, if the minimum number of securities described above is not met, then after the market investable equity universe is identified, the securities are ranked by free float-adjusted market capitalization, however, in order to increase stability the free float-adjusted market capitalization of the existing index constituents (prior to review) is multiplied by 1.50, and securities are added until the desired minimum number of securities is reached.
“Constituent Index” means any of the developed equity market country indices comprising the MSCI EAFE® Index. Creating Style Indices within Each Size Segment
All securities in the investable equity universe are classified into value or growth segments. The classification of a security into the value or growth segment is used by MSCI to construct additional indices.
Classifying Securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard
All securities in the global investable equity universe are assigned to the industry that best describes their business activities. The Global Industry Classification Standard classification of each security is used by MSCI to construct additional indices.
Calculation Methodology for the MSCI EAFE® Index
Prices used to calculate the component securities are the official exchange closing prices or prices accepted as such in the relevant market. In the case of a market closure, or if a security does not trade on a specific day or during a specific period, MSCI carries forward the previous day’s price (or latest available closing price). In the event of a market outage resulting in any component security price to be unavailable, MSCI will generally use the last reported price for such component security for the purpose of performance calculation unless MSCI determines that another price is more appropriate based on the circumstances. Closing prices are converted into U.S. dollars, as applicable, using the closing spot exchange rates calculated by WM/Reuters at 4:00 P.M. London Time.
Maintenance of the MSCI EAFE® Index
In order to maintain the representativeness of the MSCI EAFE® Index, structural changes may be made by adding or deleting component securities. Currently, such changes in the MSCI EAFE® Index may generally only be made on four dates throughout the year: after the close of the last business day of each February, May, August and November.
Each country index is maintained with the objective of reflecting, on a timely basis, the evolution of the underlying equity markets. In maintaining each component country index, emphasis is also placed on its continuity, continuous investability of constituents and replicability of the index and on index stability and minimizing turnover.
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MSCI classifies index maintenance in three broad categories. The first consists of ongoing event related changes, such as mergers and acquisitions, which are generally implemented in the country indices in which they occur. The second category consists of quarterly index reviews, aimed at promptly reflecting other significant market events. The third category consists of semi-annual index reviews that systematically re-assess the various dimensions of the equity universe.
Ongoing event-related changes to the index are the result of mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, bankruptcies, reorganizations and other similar corporate events. They can also result from capital reorganizations in the form of rights issues, stock bonus issues, public placements and other similar corporate actions that take place on a continuing basis. MSCI will remove from the index as soon as practicable securities of companies that file for bankruptcy or other protection from their creditors, that are suspended and for which a return to normal business activity and trading is unlikely in the near future, or that fail stock exchange listing requirements with a delisting announcement. Securities may also be considered for early deletion in other significant cases, such as decreases in free float and foreign ownership limits, or when a constituent company acquires or merges with a non-constituent company or spins-off another company. In practice, when a constituent company is involved in a corporate event which results in a significant decrease in the company’s free float-adjusted market capitalization or the company decreases its foreign inclusion factor to below 0.15, the securities of that constituent company are considered for early deletion from the indices simultaneously with the event unless, in either case, it is a standard index constituent with a minimum free float-adjusted market capitalization that is not at least two-thirds of one-half of the standard index interim size segment cut-off. Share conversions may also give rise to an early deletion. All changes resulting from corporate events are announced prior to their implementation, provided all necessary information on the event is available.
MSCI’s quarterly index review process is designed to ensure that the country indices continue to be an accurate reflection of evolving equity markets. This goal is achieved by timely reflecting significant market driven changes that were not captured in each index at the time of their actual occurrence and that should not wait until the semi-annual index review due to their importance. These quarterly index reviews may result in additions and deletions of component securities from a country index (or a security being removed from one country listing and represented by a different country listing) and changes in “foreign inclusion factors” and in number of shares. Additions and deletions to component securities may result from: the addition of large companies that did not meet the minimum size criterion for inclusion at the time of their initial public offering or secondary offering; the replacement of companies which are no longer suitable industry representatives; the deletion of securities whose overall free float has fallen to less than 15% and that do not meet specified criteria; the deletion of securities that have become very small or illiquid; and the addition or deletion of securities as a result of other market events. Significant changes in free float estimates and corresponding changes in the foreign inclusion factor for component securities may result from: block sales, block buys, secondary offerings and transactions made by way of immediate book-building that did not meet the requirements for implementation at the time of such event; corporate events that should have been implemented at the time of such event but could not be reflected immediately due to lack of publicly available details at the time of the event; exercise of IPO over-allotment options which result in an increase in free float; increases in foreign ownership limits; decreases in foreign ownership limits which did not require foreign investors to immediately sell shares in the market; re-estimates of free float figures resulting from the reclassification of shareholders from strategic to non-strategic, and vice versa; the end of lock-up periods or expiration of loyalty incentives for non-strategic shareholders; conversion of a non-index constituent share class or an unlisted line of shares which has an impact on index constituents; and acquisition by shares of non-listed companies or assets. However, no changes in foreign inclusion factors are implemented for any of the above events if the change in free float estimate is less than 1%, except in cases of correction. Small changes in the number of shares resulting from, for example, exercise of options or warrants, conversion of convertible bonds or other instruments, conversion of a non-index constituent share class or an unlisted line of shares which has an impact on index constituents, periodic conversion of a share class into another share class, exercise of over-allotment options, exercise of share buybacks, or the cancellation of shares, are generally updated at the quarterly index review rather than at the time of the event. The results of the quarterly index reviews are announced at least two weeks in advance of their effective implementation dates as of the close of the last business day of February and August. MSCI has noted that consistency is a factor in maintaining each component country index.
MSCI’s semi-annual index review is designed to systematically reassess the component securities of the index. During each semi-annual index review, the universe of component securities is updated and the global minimum size range for the index is recalculated, which is based on the full market capitalization and the cumulative free float-adjusted market capitalization coverage of each security that is eligible to be included in the index. The following index maintenance activities, among others, are undertaken during each semi-annual index review: the list of countries in which securities may be represented by foreign listings is reviewed; the component securities are updated by identifying new equity securities that were not part of the index at the time of the previous quarterly index review; the minimum size requirement for the index is updated and new companies are evaluated relative to the new minimum size requirement; existing component securities that do not meet the minimum liquidity requirements of the index may be removed (or, with respect to any such security that has other listings, a determination is made as to whether any such listing can be used to represent the security in the market investable universe); and changes in “foreign inclusion factors” are implemented (provided the change in free float is greater than 1%, except in cases of correction). During a semi-annual index review, component securities may be added or deleted from a country index for a range of reasons, including the reasons discussed with respect to component securities changes during quarterly index reviews as discussed above. Foreign listings may become eligible to represent securities only from the countries that met the foreign listing materiality
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requirement during the previous semi-annual index review (this requirement is applied only to countries that do not yet include foreign listed securities). Once a country meets the foreign listing materiality requirement at a given semi-annual index review, foreign listings will remain eligible for such country even if the foreign listing materiality requirements are not met in the future.
The results of the semi-annual index reviews are announced at least two weeks in advance of their effective implementation date as of the close of the last business day of May and November.
Index maintenance also includes monitoring and completing adjustments for share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructurings or spin-offs.
These guidelines and the policies implementing the guidelines are the responsibility of, and, ultimately, subject to adjustment by, MSCI.
License Agreement
The MSCI indices are the exclusive property of MSCI. MSCI and the MSCI index names are service mark(s) of MSCI or its affiliates and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by TD. The Notes referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such Notes. No purchaser, seller or holder of Notes, or any other person or entity, should use or refer to any MSCI trade name, trademark or service mark to sponsor, endorse, market or promote the Notes without first contacting MSCI to determine whether MSCI’s permission is required. Under no circumstances may any person or entity claim any affiliation with MSCI without the prior written permission of MSCI.
Historical Information
The graph below shows the daily historical Closing Levels of the Reference Asset from December 19, 2007 through December 28, 2017. The dotted line represents the Buffer Level of 1,787.89625, which is equal to 87.50% of the Closing Level of the Reference Asset on December 28, 2017. We obtained the information regarding the historical performance of the Reference Asset in the chart below from Bloomberg.
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg. Although the official closing level of the Reference Asset is published to six decimal places by the Index Sponsor, Bloomberg Financial Services reports the level of the Index to fewer decimal places. 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.
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
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Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
General. The following is a general description of certain U.S. federal tax considerations relating to the Notes. Prospective purchasers of the Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the consequences under the tax laws of the country of which they are a resident for tax purposes and the tax laws of the U.S. of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Notes and receiving payments under the Notes. This summary is based upon the law as in effect on the date of this pricing supplement and is subject to any change in law that may take effect after such date. We urge you to read the more detailed discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are uncertain. Some of these tax consequences are summarized below, but we urge you to read the more detailed discussion in “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” of the product prospectus supplement and discuss the tax consequences of your particular situation with your tax advisor.
This discussion, other than the section entitled “Non-U.S. Holders” below, is applicable to you only if you are a U.S. holder. You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of a Note and you are: (i) a citizen or resident of the U.S., (ii) a domestic corporation, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
An individual may, subject to certain exceptions, be deemed to be a resident of the U.S. by reason of being present in the U.S. for at least 31 days in the calendar year and for an aggregate of at least 183 days during a three-year period ending in the current calendar year (counting for such purposes all of the days present in the current year, one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year, and one-sixth of the days present in the second preceding year).
If a partnership holds the Notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the Notes should consult its tax advisor with regard to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in the Notes.
U.S. Tax Treatment. No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly discusses how the Notes should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are uncertain. Accordingly, we urge you to consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of your investment in the Notes (and of having agreed to the required tax treatment of your Notes described below) and as to the application of state, local or other tax laws to your investment in your Notes and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, TD and you agree, in the absence of a statutory, regulatory, administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize your Notes as pre-paid derivative contracts with respect to the Reference Asset. If your Notes are so treated, you should generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your Notes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount you receive at such time and the amount you paid for your Notes. Such gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Notes for more than one year (otherwise such gain or loss should be short-term capital gain or loss). The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
In the opinion of our counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 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 from the treatment described above.
Section 1297. We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the Reference Asset Constituent Issuers would be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”). If any such entity were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of a Note. You should refer to information filed with the SEC or the equivalent governmental authority by such entities and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you if any such entity is or becomes a PFIC.
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Possible Change in Law. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of the Notes. According to Notice 2008-2, the IRS and the Treasury Department are actively considering whether a holder of an instrument such as the Notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis, and they are seeking taxpayer comments on the subject. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of the Notes will ultimately be required to accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive basis. The IRS and the Treasury Department are also considering other relevant issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code should be applied to such instruments.
In 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if it had been enacted, would have required holders of Notes purchased after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of the Notes despite the fact that there will be no interest payments over the term of the Notes. It is not possible to predict whether a similar or identical bill will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your Notes.
Additionally, in 2013, the House Ways and Means Committee released in draft form certain proposed legislation relating to financial instruments. If 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 what any such legislation or administrative or regulatory guidance might provide, and whether the effective date of any legislation or guidance will affect Notes that were issued before the date that such legislation or guidance is issued. You are urged to consult your tax advisor as to the possibility that any legislative or administrative action may adversely affect the tax treatment of your Notes.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income. U.S. holders that are individuals or estates and 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 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 (which, in 2018, is $12,500). The 3.8% Medicare tax is determined in a different manner than the regular income tax. U.S. holders should consult their advisors with respect to 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 $50,000. Significant penalties can apply if a U.S. holder is required to disclose its Notes and fails to do so.
Non-U.S. Holders. This section applies only if you are a non-U.S. holder. For these purposes, you are a non-U.S. holder if you are the beneficial owner of the Notes and are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | a non-resident alien individual; |
| · | a non-U.S. corporation; or |
| · | an estate or trust that, in either case, is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from the Notes. |
If you are a non-U.S. holder, you should generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to payments on your Notes or to generally applicable information reporting and backup withholding requirements with respect to payments on your Notes if you comply with certain certification and identification requirements as to your foreign status including providing us (and/or the applicable withholding agent) a properly executed and fully completed applicable IRS Form W-8. Subject to Section 871(m) of the Code, as discussed below, gain from the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of the Notes generally will not be subject to U.S. tax unless such gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by you in the U.S. or unless you are a non-resident alien individual and are present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of such sale, exchange, redemption or maturity and certain other conditions are satisfied.
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Section 871(m). A 30% withholding tax (which may be reduced by an applicable income tax treaty) is imposed under Section 871(m) of the Code on certain “dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to a non-U.S. holder with respect to a “specified equity-linked instrument” that references one or more dividend-paying U.S. equity securities or indices containing U.S. equity securities. The withholding tax can apply even if the instrument does not provide for payments that reference dividends. Treasury regulations provide that the withholding tax applies to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on specified equity-linked instruments that have a delta of one (“delta one specified equity-linked instruments”) issued after 2016 and to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on all other specified equity-linked instruments issued after 2018.
Based on our determination that the Notes are not “delta-one” with respect to the Reference Asset or any U.S. Reference Asset Constituent, our counsel is of the opinion that the Notes should not be delta one specified equity-linked instruments and thus should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalents. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Furthermore, the application of Section 871(m) of the Code will depend on our determinations made upon issuance of the Notes. If withholding is required, we will not make payments of any additional amounts.
Nevertheless, after issuance, it is possible that your Notes could be deemed to be reissued for tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the Reference Asset or the Reference Asset Constituents or your Notes, and following such occurrence your Notes could be treated as delta one specified equity-linked instruments that are subject to withholding on dividend equivalents. It is also possible that withholding tax or other tax under Section 871(m) of the Code could apply to the Notes under these rules if a non-U.S. holder enters, or has entered, into certain other transactions in respect of the Reference Asset or the Reference Asset Constituents or the Notes. A non-U.S. holder that enters, or has entered, into other transactions in respect of the Reference Asset or the Reference Asset Constituents or the Notes should consult its tax advisor regarding the application of Section 871(m) of the Code to its Notes in the context of its other transactions.
Because of the uncertainty regarding the application of the 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents to the Notes, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) of the Code and the 30% withholding tax to an investment in the Notes.
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization of the Notes cause payments with respect to the Notes to become subject to withholding tax, we (or the applicable withholding agent) will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate and we will not make payments of any additional amounts.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction (including that of TD and those of the Reference Asset Constituent Issuers).
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Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
We have appointed TDS, an affiliate of TD, as the agent for the sale of the Notes. Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, TDS will purchase the Notes from TD at the public offering price less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement for distribution to other registered broker-dealers, or has offered the Notes directly to investors. TD will reimburse TDS for certain expenses in connection with its role in the offer and sale of the Notes, and TD will pay TDS a fee in connection with its role in the offer and sale of the Notes.
Delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on January 5, 2018, which is the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Pricing Date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two Business Days (T+2), unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than two Business Days prior to the Issue Date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
Conflicts of Interest. TDS is an affiliate of TD and, as such, has a ‘‘conflict of interest’’ in this offering within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5121. In addition, TD will receive the net proceeds from the initial public offering of the Notes, thus creating an additional conflict of interest within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, the offering is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. TDS is not permitted to sell Notes in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
We, TDS or any of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, we, TDS or any of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a Note after its initial sale. If a purchaser buys the Notes from us, TDS or any of our affiliates, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction unless we, TDS or any of our affiliates informs such purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale.
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Validity of the Notes
In the opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, as special products counsel to TD, when the Notes offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by TD and authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture and delivered, paid for and sold as contemplated herein, the Notes will be valid and binding obligations of TD, enforceable against TD in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium, receivership or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as this opinion involves matters governed by Canadian law, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has assumed, without independent inquiry or investigation, the validity of the matters opined on by McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Canadian legal counsel for TD, in its opinion expressed below. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and, with respect to the Notes, authentication of the Notes and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP dated May 31, 2016 which has been filed as Exhibit 5.3 to the registration statement on form F-3 filed by the Bank on May 31, 2016.
In the opinion of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, the issue and sale of the Notes has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of TD, and when this pricing supplement has been attached to, and duly notated on, the master note that represents the Notes, the Notes will have been validly executed and issued and, to the extent validity of the Notes is a matter governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, will be valid obligations of TD, subject to the following limitations: (i) the enforceability of the indenture is subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, winding up, moratorium and other similar laws of general application limiting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (ii) the enforceability of the indenture is subject to general equitable principles, including the fact that the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief and specific performance, is in the discretion of a court; (iii) courts in Canada are precluded from giving a judgment in any currency other than the lawful money of Canada; and (iv) the enforceability of the indenture will be subject to the limitations contained in the Limitations Act, 2002 (Ontario), and such counsel expresses no opinion as to whether a court may find any provision of the indenture to be unenforceable as an attempt to vary or exclude a limitation period under that Act. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the Provinces of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto. In addition, this opinion is subject to: (i) the assumption that the senior indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of, the trustee, enforceable against the trustee in accordance with its terms; and (ii) customary assumptions about the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated May 31, 2016, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the registration statement on form F-3 filed by TD on May 31, 2016.
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