SCUSA’s pricing models consider certain variables, including principally BNS’ internal funding rate, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), the volatility of the underlying stock, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the securities. These pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold your securities in the secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated value of the securities determined by reference to SCUSA’s models, taking into account BNS’ internal funding rate, due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models or assumptions used by others. See “— The price of the securities prior to maturity will depend on a number of factors and may be substantially less than the stated principal amount” herein.
In addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price of the securities at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted. If SCUSA makes a market in the securities, the price quoted by SCUSA would reflect any changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, including any deterioration in BNS’ creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness. These changes may adversely affect the value of the securities, including the price you may receive for the securities in any market making transaction. To the extent that SCUSA makes a market in the securities, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to SCUSA’s pricing models at that time, plus or minus SCUSA’s then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and subject to the declining excess amount described above).
Furthermore, if you sell your securities, you will likely be charged a commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your securities in a secondary market sale.
There is no assurance that SCUSA or any other party will be willing to purchase your securities at any price and, in this regard, SCUSA is not obligated to make a market in the securities. See “— The securities have limited liquidity” herein.
■The price of the securities prior to maturity will depend on a number of factors and may be substantially less than the stated principal amount. The price at which the notes may be sold prior to maturity will depend on a number of factors. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to: (i) actual or anticipated changes in the price of the underlying stock over the full term of the securities, (ii) volatility of the price of the underlying stock and the market's perception of the future volatility of the underlying stock, (iii) changes in interest rates generally, (iv) any actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads, (v) dividend yields on the underlying stock and (vi) time remaining to maturity. In particular, because the provisions of the securities relating to the contingent monthly coupons and the payment at maturity behave like options, the value of the securities will vary in ways which are non-linear and may not be intuitive.
Depending on the actual or anticipated price of the underlying stock and other relevant factors, the market value of the securities may decrease and you may receive substantially less than the stated principal amount if you sell your securities prior to maturity regardless of the price of the underlying stock at such time.
See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes — Risks Relating to Liquidity — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” in the accompanying product supplement.
Risks Relating to General Credit Characteristics
■Payments on the securities are subject to the credit risk of BNS. The securities are senior unsecured debt obligations of BNS and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment to be made on the securities, including any repayment of principal, depends on the ability of BNS to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, BNS’ actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the market value of the securities. If BNS were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the securities and you could lose your entire investment in the securities.
Risks Relating to Hedging Activities and Conflicts of Interest
■Hedging activities by BNS and SCUSA may negatively impact investors in the securities and cause our respective interests and those of our clients and counterparties to be contrary to those of investors in the securities. We, SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates has hedged or expects to hedge our obligations under the securities. Such hedging transactions may include entering into swap or similar agreements, purchasing shares of the underlying stock and/or purchasing futures, options and/or other instruments linked to the underlying stock. We, SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates also expects to adjust the hedge by, among other things, purchasing or selling any of the foregoing, and perhaps other instruments linked to the underlying stock, at any time and from time to time, and to unwind the hedge by selling any of the foregoing on or before the final determination date. We, SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates may also enter into, adjust and unwind hedging transactions relating to other basket- or equity-linked securities whose returns are linked to changes in the price of the underlying stock. Any of these hedging activities may adversely affect the price of the underlying stock — and therefore the market value of the securities and the amount you will receive, if any, on the securities.
You should expect that these transactions will cause BNS, SCUSA or our other affiliates, or our clients or counterparties, to have economic interests and incentives that do not align with, and that may be directly contrary to, those of an investor in the securities. None of BNS, SCUSA or any of our other affiliates will have any obligation to take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect to these transactions based on the potential effect on an investor in the securities, and any of the foregoing may receive substantial returns with respect to these hedging activities while the value of, and return on, the securities declines.