Pricing Supplement dated April 30, 2019 (To the Prospectus dated March 30, 2018, the Prospectus Supplement dated July 18, 2016 and the Index Supplement dated July 18, 2016) |
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) |
$377,000 Annual AutoCallable Notes due April 30, 2024 Linked to the Least Performing of the S&P 500® Index and the Russell 2000® Index Global Medium-Term Notes, Series A |
Terms used in this pricing supplement, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the prospectus supplement.
Issuer: |
Barclays Bank PLC |
Denominations: |
Minimum denomination of $1,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof |
Initial Valuation Date: |
April 30, 2019 |
Issue Date: |
May 3, 2019 |
Final Valuation Date:* |
April 25, 2024 |
Maturity Date:* |
April 30, 2024 |
Reference Assets: |
The S&P 500® Index (the S&P 500 Index) and the Russell 2000® Index (the Russell 2000 Index), as set forth in the following table: |
|
|
Reference Asset |
Bloomberg Ticker |
Initial Value |
Barrier Value |
|
|
|
S&P 500 Index |
SPX <Index> |
2,945.83 |
2,062.08 |
|
|
|
Russell 2000 Index |
RTY <Index> |
1,591.21 |
1,113.85 |
|
|
The S&P 500 Index and the Russell 2000 Index are each referred to herein as a Reference Asset and, collectively, as the Reference Assets. |
Automatic Call: |
The Notes will not be automatically called by us for the first year after the Issue Date. If, on any Call Valuation Date, the Closing Value of each Reference Asset is greater than or equal to its respective Initial Value, the Notes will be automatically called for a cash payment per $1,000 principal amount Note equal to the applicable Redemption Price payable on the Call Settlement Date. No further amounts will be payable on the Notes after the Call Settlement Date. |
Payment at Maturity: |
If the Notes are not automatically called on any of the first four Call Valuation Dates, and if you hold the Notes to maturity, you will receive on the Maturity Date a cash payment per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold determined as follows: § If the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is greater than or equal to its Initial Value, the Notes will be subject to an Automatic Call and you will receive the applicable Redemption Price on the Maturity Date § If the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference asset is less than its Initial Value but greater than or equal to its Barrier Value, you will receive a payment of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount Note § If the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value, you will receive an amount per $1,000 principal amount Note calculated as follows: $1,000 + [$1,000 × Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset] If the Notes are not automatically called prior to scheduled maturity, and if the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value, you will be fully exposed to the decline of the Least Performing Reference Asset from its Initial Value. You may lose up to 100.00% of the principal amount of your Notes at maturity. Any payment on the Notes, including any payment upon an Automatic Call or at maturity, is not guaranteed by any third party and is subject to (a) the creditworthiness of Barclays Bank PLC and (b) to the risk of exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power (as described on page PS-4 of this pricing supplement) by the relevant U.K. resolution authority. If Barclays Bank PLC were to default on its payment obligations or become subject to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power (or any other resolution measure) by the relevant U.K. resolution authority, you might not receive any amounts owed to you under the Notes. See Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power and Selected Risk Considerations in this pricing supplement and Risk Factors in the accompanying prospectus supplement for more information. |
Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power: |
Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between Barclays Bank PLC and any holder of the Notes, by acquiring the Notes, each holder of the Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority. See Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power on page PS2 of this pricing supplement. |
[Terms of the Notes Continue on the Next Page]
|
|
Initial Issue Price(1)(2) |
|
Price to Public |
|
Agents Commission(3) |
|
Proceeds to Barclays Bank PLC(3) |
Per Note |
|
$1,000 |
|
100% |
|
1.125% |
|
98.875% |
Total |
|
$377,000 |
|
$377,000 |
|
$3,134 |
|
$373,866 |
(1) Because dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all selling concessions, fees or commissions, the public offering price for investors purchasing the Notes in such fee-based advisory accounts may be between $988.75 and $1,000 per Note. Investors that hold their Notes in fee-based advisory or trust accounts may be charged fees by the investment advisor or manager of such account based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including the Notes.
(2) Our estimated value of the Notes on the Initial Valuation Date, based on our internal pricing models, is $971.60 per Note. The estimated value is less than the initial issue price of the Notes. See Additional Information Regarding Our Estimated Value of the Notes on page PS3 of this pricing supplement.
(3) Barclays Capital Inc. will receive commissions from the Issuer of up to 1.125% of the principal amount of the Notes, or up to $11.25 per $1,000 principal amount. Barclays Capital Inc. will use these commissions to pay variable selling concessions or fees (including custodial or clearing fees) to other dealers. The per Note agents commission and proceeds to Issuer shown above is the minimum amount of proceeds that the Issuer receives per Note, assuming the maximum agents commission per Note of 1.125%. The total agents commission and total proceeds to issuer shown above give effect to the actual amount of the variable agents commission.
Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page S7 of the prospectus supplement and Selected Risk Considerations beginning on page PS9 of this pricing supplement.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of Notes. In addition, Barclays Capital Inc. or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market resale transactions in any Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market resale transaction.
The Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these Notes or determined that this pricing supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Notes constitute our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Notes are not deposit liabilities of Barclays Bank PLC and are not covered by the U.K. Financial Services Compensation Scheme or insured by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or deposit insurance agency of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction.
Terms of the Notes, Continued
Call Valuation Dates:* |
April 30, 2020, April 30, 2021, May 2, 2022, May 1, 2023 and the Final Valuation Date |
Call Settlement Date: |
The fifth business day following the Call Valuation Date on which an Automatic Call occurs, provided that the Call Settlement Date with respect to the Final Valuation Date will be the Maturity Date |
Redemption Price: |
For every $1,000 principal amount Note, an amount equal to $1,000 plus the Call Premium applicable to the Call Valuation Date on which an Automatic Call occurs |
Call Premium: |
With respect to a Call Valuation Date, an amount calculated as follows: (a) Annual Call Premium times (b) n, where n equals the number of Call Valuation Dates that have occurred, including the relevant Call Valuation Date for which the Call Premium is being calculated |
Annual Call Premium: |
$102.50 per $1,000 principal amount Note (or 10.25% of the principal amount per Note) |
Barrier Value: |
With respect to each Reference Asset, 70.00% of its Initial Value (rounded to two decimal places), as set forth in the table above |
Initial Value: |
With respect to each Reference Asset, its Closing Value on the Initial Valuation Date, as set forth in the table above |
Final Value: |
With respect to each Reference Asset, its Closing Value on the Final Valuation Date |
Reference Asset Return: |
With respect to each Reference Asset, an amount calculated as follows: Final Value Initial Value |
Least Performing Reference Asset: |
The Reference Asset with the lowest Reference Asset Return, as calculated in the manner set forth above |
Closing Value: |
The term Closing Value means the closing level of the applicable Reference Asset, as further described under Reference AssetsIndicesSpecial Calculation Provisions in the prospectus supplement, rounded to two decimal places (if applicable). |
Calculation Agent: |
Barclays Bank PLC |
CUSIP / ISIN: |
06747ML61 / US06747ML614 |
* Subject to postponement, as described under Additional Terms of the Notes in this pricing supplement
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE OFFERING OF THE NOTES
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated March 30, 2018, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated July 18, 2016 and the index supplement dated July 18, 2016, relating to our Global Medium-Term Notes, Series A, of which these Notes are a part. 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 under Risk Factors in the prospectus supplement and Selected Risk Considerations in this pricing supplement, 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.
When you read the prospectus supplement and the index supplement, note that all references to the prospectus dated July 18, 2016, or to any sections therein, should refer instead to the accompanying prospectus dated March 30, 2018, or to the corresponding sections of that prospectus.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
· Prospectus dated March 30, 2018:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000119312518103150/d561709d424b3.htm
· Prospectus Supplement dated July 18, 2016:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000110465916132999/a16-14463_21424b3.htm
· Index Supplement dated July 18, 2016:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000110465916133002/a16-14463_22424b3.htm
Our SEC file number is 110257. As used in this pricing supplement, we, us, or our refers to Barclays Bank PLC.
Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between us and any holder of the Notes, by acquiring the Notes, each holder of the Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority.
Under the U.K. Banking Act 2009, as amended, the relevant U.K. resolution authority may exercise a U.K. Bail-in Power in circumstances in which the relevant U.K. resolution authority is satisfied that the resolution conditions are met. These conditions include that a U.K. bank or investment firm is failing or is likely to fail to satisfy the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA) threshold conditions for authorization to carry on certain regulated activities (within the meaning of section 55B FSMA) or, in the case of a U.K. banking group company that is a European Economic Area (EEA) or third country institution or investment firm, that the relevant EEA or third country relevant authority is satisfied that the resolution conditions are met in respect of that entity.
The U.K. Bail-in Power includes any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification and/or suspension power, which allows for (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, interest on, or any other amounts payable on, the Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, interest on, or any other amounts payable on, the Notes into shares or other securities or other obligations of Barclays Bank PLC or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the holder of the Notes such shares, securities or obligations); and/or (iii) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the Notes, or amendment of the amount of interest or any other amounts due on the Notes, or the dates on which interest or any other amounts become payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant U.K. resolution authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each holder of the Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders of the Notes are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority. For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights holders of the Notes may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the relevant U.K. resolution authority in breach of laws applicable in England.
For more information, please see Selected Risk ConsiderationsYou May Lose Some or All of Your Investment If Any U.K. Bail-in Power Is Exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority in this pricing supplement as well as U.K. Bail-in Power, Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Securities GenerallyRegulatory action in the event a bank or investment firm in the Group is failing or likely to fail could materially adversely affect the value of the securities and Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Securities GenerallyUnder the terms of the securities, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING OUR ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES
Our internal pricing models take into account a number of variables and are based on a number of subjective assumptions, which may or may not materialize, typically including volatility, interest rates, and our internal funding rates. Our internal funding rates (which are our internally published borrowing rates based on variables such as market benchmarks, our appetite for borrowing, and our existing obligations coming to maturity) may vary from the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market. Our estimated value on the Initial Valuation Date is based on our internal funding rates. Our estimated value of the Notes may be lower if such valuation were based on the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market.
Our estimated value of the Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is less than the initial issue price of the Notes. The difference between the initial issue price of the Notes and our estimated value of the Notes results from several factors, including any sales commissions to be paid to Barclays Capital Inc. or another affiliate of ours, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that we or any of our affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, the estimated cost which we may incur in hedging our obligations under the Notes, and estimated development and other costs which we may incur in connection with the Notes.
Our estimated value on the Initial Valuation 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 Barclays Capital Inc. may buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market. Subject to normal market and funding conditions, Barclays Capital Inc. or another affiliate of ours intends to offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but it is not obligated to do so.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Initial Valuation Date, the price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market, if any, and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements, if we provide any customer account statements at all, may exceed our estimated value on the Initial Valuation Date for a temporary period expected to be approximately six months after the Issue Date because, in our discretion, we may elect to effectively reimburse to investors a portion of the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes and other costs in connection with the Notes which we will no longer expect to incur over the term of the Notes. We made such discretionary election and determined this temporary reimbursement period on the basis of a number of factors, which may include the tenor of the Notes and/or any agreement we may have with the distributors of the Notes. The amount of our estimated costs which we effectively reimburse to investors in this way may not be allocated ratably throughout the reimbursement period, and we may discontinue such reimbursement at any time or revise the duration of the reimbursement period after the initial Issue Date of the Notes based on changes in market conditions and other factors that cannot be predicted.
We urge you to read the Selected Risk Considerations beginning on page PS9 of this pricing supplement.
SELECTED PURCHASE CONSIDERATIONS
The Notes are not suitable for all investors. The Notes may be a suitable investment for you if all of the following statements are true:
· You do not seek an investment that produces fixed periodic interest or coupon payments or other sources of current income.
· You understand and accept that you will not participate in any appreciation of any Reference Asset, which may be significant, and that your return potential on the Notes is limited to the applicable Call Premium.
· You can tolerate a loss of a significant portion or all of your principal amount, and you are willing and able to make an investment that may have the full downside market risk of an investment in the Least Performing Reference Asset.
· You understand and accept the risk that, if the Notes are not automatically called, the payment at maturity will be based solely on the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset.
· You do not anticipate that the Final Value of any Reference Asset will fall below its Barrier Value and you are willing to accept the risk that, if it does, you will lose some or all of the principal amount of your Notes.
· You understand and are willing and able to accept the risks associated with an investment linked to the performance of the Reference Assets.
· You understand and accept that you will not be entitled to receive dividends or distributions that may be paid to holders of the securities composing the Reference Assets, nor will you have any voting rights with respect to the securities composing the Reference Assets.
· You are willing and able to accept the individual market risk of each Reference Asset and understand that any decline in the value of one Reference Asset will not be offset or mitigated by a lesser decline or any potential increase in the value of any other Reference Asset.
· You are willing and able to accept the risk that the Notes may be automatically called prior to scheduled maturity and that you may not be able to reinvest your money in an alternative investment with comparable risk and yield.
· You can tolerate fluctuations in the price of the Notes prior to scheduled maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the value of the Reference Assets.
· You do not seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market, and you are willing and able to hold the Notes to maturity if they are not automatically called.
· You are willing and able to assume our credit risk for all payments on the Notes.
· You are willing and able to consent to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by any relevant U.K. resolution authority.
The Notes may not be a suitable investment for you if any of the following statements are true:
· You seek an investment that produces fixed periodic interest or coupon payments or other sources of current income.
· You do not anticipate either that an Automatic Call will occur or, if an Automatic Call does occur, that the Final Value of each Reference Asset will be greater than its Barrier Value.
· You seek uncapped exposure to any positive performance of the Reference Assets.
· You seek an investment that provides for the full repayment of principal at maturity, and/or you are unwilling or unable to accept the risk that you may lose some or all of the principal amount of your Notes in the event that the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset falls below its Barrier Value.
· You are unwilling or unable to accept the individual market risk of each Reference Asset and/or do not understand that any decline in the value of one Reference Asset will not be offset or mitigated by a lesser decline or any potential increase in the value of any other Reference Asset.
· You are unwilling or unable to accept the risk that the Notes may be automatically called prior to scheduled maturity.
· You do not understand and/or are unwilling or unable to accept the risks associated with an investment linked to the performance of the Reference Assets.
· You seek an investment that entitles you to dividends or distributions on, or voting rights related to, the securities composing the Reference Assets.
· You are unwilling or unable to accept the risk that the negative performance of only one Reference Asset may cause you to earn no positive return and/or suffer a loss of principal at maturity, regardless of the performance of any other Reference Asset.
· You cannot tolerate fluctuations in the price of the Notes prior to scheduled maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the value of the Reference Assets.
· You seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market, and/or you are unwilling or unable to hold the Notes to maturity if the Notes are not automatically called.
· You prefer the lower risk, and therefore accept the potentially lower returns, of fixed income investments with comparable maturities and credit ratings.
· You are unwilling or unable to assume our credit risk for all payments on the Notes.
· You are unwilling or unable to consent to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by any relevant U.K. resolution authority.
You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment in the Notes. You should reach a decision whether to invest in the Notes after carefully considering, with your advisors, the suitability of the Notes in light of your investment objectives and the specific information set out in this pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement, the prospectus and the index supplement. Neither the Issuer nor Barclays Capital Inc. makes any recommendation as to the suitability of the Notes for investment.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE NOTES
The Call Valuation Dates (including the Final Valuation Date) and the Maturity Date are subject to postponement in certain circumstances, as described under Reference AssetsIndicesMarket Disruption Events for Securities with an Index of Equity Securities as a Reference Asset, Reference AssetsLeast or Best Performing Reference AssetScheduled Trading Days and Market Disruption Events for Securities Linked to the Reference Asset with the Lowest or Highest Return in a Group of Two or More Equity Securities, Exchange-Traded Funds and/or Indices of Equity Securities and Terms of the NotesPayment Dates in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
In addition, the Reference Assets and the Notes are subject to adjustment by the Calculation Agent under certain circumstances, as described under Reference AssetsIndicesAdjustments Relating to Securities with an Index as a Reference Asset in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES OF AMOUNTS PAYABLE UPON AN AUTOMATIC CALL
The following examples demonstrate the hypothetical total return upon an Automatic Call under various circumstances. The total return, as used in these examples, is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment per $1,000 principal amount Note to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis. The hypothetical examples below do not take into account any tax consequences of investing the Notes.
Example 1: The Notes are automatically called on the first Call Valuation Date.
Call Valuation |
Is the Closing Value of any Reference |
Are the Notes |
Redemption Price (per $1,000 principal amount Note) |
1 |
No |
Yes |
$1,102.50 |
Because the Closing Value of each Reference Asset on the first Call Valuation Date is greater than or equal to its respective Initial Value, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive the Redemption Price on the related Call Settlement Date.
The Call Premium with respect to the first Call Valuation Date is calculated as follows:
Call Premium = (a) Annual Call Premium times (b) n
$102.50 × 1 = $102.50
Accordingly, the Redemption Price with respect to the first Call Valuation Date is $1,102.50 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, as shown in the table above. The Notes will cease to be outstanding after the Call Settlement Date and you will not receive any further payments on the Notes.
The total return on investment of the Notes is 10.25%.
Example 2: The Notes are automatically called on the second Call Valuation Date.
Call Valuation |
Is the Closing Value of any Reference |
Are the Notes |
Redemption Price (per $1,000 principal amount Note) |
1 |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
2 |
No |
Yes |
$1,205.00 |
Because the Closing Value of each Reference Asset on the second Call Valuation Date is greater than or equal to its respective Initial Value, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive the Redemption Price on the related Call Settlement Date.
The Call Premium with respect to the second Call Valuation Date is calculated as follows:
Call Premium = (a) Annual Call Premium times (b) n
$102.50 × 2 = $205.00
Accordingly, the Redemption Price with respect to the second Call Valuation Date is $1,205.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, as shown in the table above. The Notes will cease to be outstanding after the Call Settlement Date and you will not receive any further payments on the Notes.
The total return on investment of the Notes is 20.50%.
Example 3: The Notes are automatically called on the fifth Call Valuation Date (the Final Valuation Date).
Call Valuation |
Is the Closing Value of any Reference |
Are the Notes |
Redemption Price (per $1,000 principal amount Note) |
1 |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
2 |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
3 |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
4 |
Yes |
No |
N/A |
5 |
No |
Yes |
$1,512.50 |
Because the Closing Value of each Reference Asset on the fifth Call Valuation Date (the Final Valuation Date) is greater than or equal to its respective Initial Value, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive the Redemption Price on the related Call Settlement Date (which will be the Maturity Date).
The Call Premium with respect to the fifth Call Valuation Date is calculated as follows:
Call Premium = (a) Annual Call Premium times (b) n
$102.50 × 5 = $512.50
Accordingly, the Redemption Price with respect to the fifth Call Valuation Date is $1,512.50 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, as shown in the table above. The Notes will cease to be outstanding after the Call Settlement Date (which will be the Maturity Date) and you will not receive any further payments on the Notes.
The total return on investment of the Notes is 51.25%.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES OF AMOUNTS PAYABLE AT MATURITY
The following examples demonstrate how the payment at maturity will be calculated under various circumstances. The total return as used in these examples, is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount Note to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following tables and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis. The hypothetical examples below do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the Notes and make the following key assumptions:
§ Hypothetical Initial Value of each Reference Asset: 100.00*
§ Hypothetical Barrier Value for each Reference Asset: 70.00 (70.00% of the hypothetical Initial Value set forth above)*
§ The Notes are NOT automatically called on any of the first four Call Valuation Dates
* The hypothetical Initial Value of 100.00 and hypothetical Barrier Value of 70.00 for each Reference Asset have been chosen for illustrative purposes only. The actual Initial Value and Barrier Value for each Reference Asset are as set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement.
Final Value |
|
Reference Asset Return |
|
| ||||
S&P 500 |
Russell |
|
S&P 500 |
Russell |
|
Reference Asset Return of |
Payment at Maturity** |
Total Return on |
150.00 |
165.00 |
|
50.00% |
65.00% |
|
50.00% |
$1,512.50 |
51.25% |
140.00 |
155.00 |
|
40.00% |
55.00% |
|
40.00% |
$1,512.50 |
51.25% |
160.00 |
130.00 |
|
60.00% |
30.00% |
|
30.00% |
$1,512.50 |
51.25% |
120.00 |
150.00 |
|
20.00% |
50.00% |
|
20.00% |
$1,512.50 |
51.25% |
110.00 |
135.00 |
|
10.00% |
35.00% |
|
10.00% |
$1,512.50 |
51.25% |
105.00 |
100.00 |
|
5.00% |
0.00% |
|
0.00% |
$1,512.50 |
51.25% |
90.00 |
105.00 |
|
-10.00% |
5.00% |
|
-10.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
120.00 |
80.00 |
|
20.00% |
-20.00% |
|
-20.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
70.00 |
110.00 |
|
-30.00% |
10.00% |
|
-30.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
120.00 |
60.00 |
|
20.00% |
-40.00% |
|
-40.00% |
$600.00 |
-40.00% |
50.00 |
60.00 |
|
-50.00% |
-40.00% |
|
-50.00% |
$500.00 |
-50.00% |
135.00 |
40.00 |
|
35.00% |
-60.00% |
|
-60.00% |
$400.00 |
-60.00% |
30.00 |
50.00 |
|
-70.00% |
-50.00% |
|
-70.00% |
$300.00 |
-70.00% |
20.00 |
90.00 |
|
-80.00% |
-10.00% |
|
-80.00% |
$200.00 |
-80.00% |
10.00 |
35.00 |
|
-90.00% |
-65.00% |
|
-90.00% |
$100.00 |
-90.00% |
102.00 |
0.00 |
|
2.00% |
-100.00% |
|
-100.00% |
$0.00 |
-100.00% |
** per $1,000 principal amount Note
The following examples illustrate how the payments at maturity set forth in the table above are calculated:
Example 1: The Final Value of the S&P 500 Index is 120.00 and the Final Value of the Russell 2000 Index is 150.00.
Because the Final Value of each Reference Asset (including the Least Performing Reference Asset) is greater than or equal to its Initial Value on the Final Valuation Date, the Notes are subject to an Automatic Call. Accordingly, you will receive on the Maturity Date the applicable Redemption Price of $1,512.50 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold.
The total return on investment of the Notes is 51.25%, the maximum possible return on the Notes.
Example 2: The Final Value of the S&P 500 Index is 120.00 and the Final Value of the Russell 2000 Index is 80.00.
Because the Final Value of at least one Reference Asset is less than its respective Initial Value, the Notes are not subject to an Automatic Call. Because the Russell 2000 Index has the lowest Reference Asset Return, the Russell 2000 Index is the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is greater than or equal to its Barrier Value, and you will receive a payment at maturity of $1,000.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold.
The total return on investment of the Notes is 0.00%.
Example 3: The Final Value of the S&P 500 Index is 135.00 and the Final Value of the Russell 2000 Index is 40.00.
Because the Final Value of at least one Reference Asset is less than its respective Initial Value, the Notes are not subject to an Automatic Call. Because the Russell 2000 Index has the lowest Reference Asset Return, the Russell 2000 Index is the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value and you will receive a payment at maturity of $400.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset]
$1,000 + [$1,000 × -60.00%] = $400.00
The total return on investment of the Notes is -60.00%.
Example 4: The Final Value of the S&P 500 Index is 30.00 and the Final Value of the Russell 2000 Index is 50.00.
Because the Final Value of at least one Reference Asset is less than its respective Initial Value, the Notes are not subject to an Automatic Call. Because the S&P 500 Index has the lowest Reference Asset Return, the S&P 500 Index is the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value and you will receive a payment at maturity of $300.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset]
$1,000 + [$1,000 × -70.00%] = $300.00
The total return on investment of the Notes is -70.00%.
Examples 3 and 4 demonstrate that, if the Notes are never subject to an Automatic Call, and if the Final Value of any Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value, your investment in the Notes will be fully exposed to the decline of the Least Performing Reference Asset from its Initial Value. You will not benefit in any way from the Reference Asset Return of any other Reference Asset being higher than the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset.
If the Notes are never subject to an Automatic Call, you may lose up to 100.00% of the principal amount of your Notes. Any payment on the Notes, including the repayment of principal, is subject to the credit risk of Barclays Bank PLC.
An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Reference Assets or their components. These risks are explained in more detail in the Risk Factors section of the prospectus supplement, including the risk factors discussed under the following headings of the prospectus supplement:
· Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Securities Generally;
· Risk FactorsAdditional Risks Relating to Securities with Reference Assets That Are Equity Securities, Indices of Equity Securities or Exchange-Traded Funds that Hold Equity Securities; and
· Risk FactorsAdditional Risks Relating to Securities That We May Call or Redeem (Automatically or Otherwise).
In addition to the risks described above, you should consider the following:
· Your Investment in the Notes May Result in a Significant LossThe Notes differ from ordinary debt securities in that the Issuer will not necessarily repay the full principal amount of the Notes at maturity. If the Notes are not automatically called, and if the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value, your Notes will be fully exposed to the decline of the Least Performing Reference Asset from its Initial Value. You may lose up to 100.00% of the principal amount of your Notes.
· You Are Exposed to the Market Risk of Each Reference AssetYour return on the Notes is not linked to a basket consisting of the Reference Assets. Rather, it will be contingent upon the independent performance of each Reference Asset. Unlike an instrument with a return linked to a basket of underlying assets in which risk is mitigated and diversified among all the components of the basket, you will be exposed to the risks related to each Reference Asset. Poor performance by any Reference Asset over the term of the Notes may negatively affect your return and will not be offset or mitigated by any increases or lesser declines in the value of any other Reference Asset. To receive a positive return on your Notes at maturity, the Final Value of each Reference Asset must be greater than its Barrier Value. If the Reference Asset Return of any Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value, you will be exposed to the full decline in the Least Performing Reference Asset from its Initial Value. Accordingly, your investment is subject to the market risk of each Reference Asset.
· Potential Return is LimitedYou will earn a positive return only if either an Automatic Call occurs or, if an Automatic Call does not occur, the Final Value of each Reference Asset is greater than its Barrier Value. Any positive return on the Notes will be limited to the Call Premium applicable to the relevant Call Valuation Date. You will not participate in any appreciation of any Reference Asset above, as applicable, the return represented by the applicable Call Premium, which may be significant. Any payment on the Notes, including the repayment of principal, is subject to the credit risk of Barclays Bank PLC.
· Automatic Call and Reinvestment RiskWhile the original term of the Notes is as indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement, the Notes will be automatically called if the Closing Value of each Reference Asset on any Call Valuation Date is greater than or equal to its respective Initial Value. Accordingly, the term of the Notes may be as short as approximately one year.
In the event than an Automatic Call occurs on any Call Valuation Date prior to the Final Valuation Date, you may not be able to reinvest any amounts received on the Call Settlement Date in a comparable investment with similar risk and yield. No further payments will be made on the Notes after the relevant Call Settlement Date. The automatic call feature may also adversely impact your ability to sell your Notes and the price at which they may be sold.
· If the Notes Are Not Automatically Called, the Payment at Maturity, If Any, is Based Solely on the Closing Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset on the Final Valuation DateIf the Notes are not automatically called prior to scheduled maturity, the Final Values (and resulting Reference Asset Returns) will be based solely on the Closing Values of the Reference Assets on the Final Valuation Date, and your payment at maturity, if any, will be determined based solely on the performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, if the value of the Least Performing Reference Asset drops on the Final Valuation Date, the payment at maturity on the Notes, if any, may be significantly less than it would have been had it been linked to the value of the Reference Asset at any time prior to such drop.
If the Final Value of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Value, you will lose some or all of the principal amount of your Notes. Your losses will not be offset in any way by virtue of the Reference Asset Return of any other Reference Asset being higher than the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset.
· Credit of IssuerThe Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Issuer, Barclays Bank PLC, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment to be made on the Notes, including any payment upon an Automatic Call or at maturity, is subject to the ability of Barclays Bank PLC to satisfy its obligations as they come due and is not guaranteed by any third party. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Barclays Bank PLC may affect the market value of the Notes, and in the event Barclays Bank PLC were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the Notes.
· You May Lose Some or All of Your Investment If Any U.K. Bail-in Power Is Exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution AuthorityNotwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between Barclays Bank PLC and any holder of the Notes, by acquiring the Notes, each holder of the Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority as set forth under Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power in this pricing supplement. Accordingly, any U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised in such a manner as to result in you and other holders of the Notes losing all or a part of the value of your investment in the Notes or receiving a different security from the Notes, which may be worth significantly less than the Notes and which may have significantly fewer protections than those typically afforded to debt securities. Moreover, the relevant U.K. resolution authority may exercise the U.K. Bail-in Power without providing any advance notice to, or requiring the consent of, the holders of the Notes. The exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority with respect to the Notes will not be a default or an Event of Default (as each term is defined in the indenture) and the trustee will not be liable for any action that the trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case, in accordance with the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority with respect to the Notes. See Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power in this pricing supplement as well as U.K. Bail-in Power, Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Securities GenerallyRegulatory action in the event a bank or investment firm in the Group is failing or likely to fail could materially adversely affect the value of the securities and Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the Securities GenerallyUnder the terms of the securities, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
· Payment of the Principal Amount Applies Only at Maturity or upon Any Automatic CallYou should be willing to hold your Notes to maturity or any automatic call. Although the Notes provide for repayment of the principal amount of your Notes at maturity or upon any automatic call, if you sell your Notes prior to such time in the secondary market, if any, you may have to sell your Notes at a price that is less than the principal amount even if at that time the value of each Reference Asset has increased from its Initial Value. See Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the Notes below.
· Owning the Notes is Not the Same as Owning the Reference AssetsThe return on the Notes may not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the securities underlying the Reference Assets. As a holder of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the securities underlying the Reference Assets would have.
· Each Reference Asset Reflects the Price Return of the Securities Composing that Reference Asset, Not the Total Return The return on the Notes is based on the performance of the Reference Assets, which reflect changes in the market prices of the securities composing each Reference Asset. Each Reference Asset is not a total return index that, in addition to reflecting those price returns, would also reflect dividends paid on the securities composing the applicable Reference Asst. Accordingly, the return on the Notes will not include such a total return feature.
· Historical Performance of the Reference Assets Should Not Be Taken as Any Indication of the Future Performance of the Reference Assets Over the Term of the NotesThe value of each Reference Asset has fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. The historical performance of a Reference Asset is not an indication of the future performance of that Reference Asset over the term of the Notes. The historical correlation between the Reference Assets is not an indication of the future correlation between them over the term of the Notes. Therefore, the performance of the Reference Assets individually or in comparison to each other over the term of the Notes may bear no relation or resemblance to the historical performance of any Reference Asset.
· The Notes Are Subject to Risks Associated with Small Capitalization StocksThe Russell 2000 Index tracks companies that are considered small-capitalization companies. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies, and therefore securities linked to the Russell 2000 Index may be more volatile than an investment linked to an index with component stocks issued by large-capitalization companies. Stock prices of small-capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments. In addition, small-capitalization companies are typically less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Small-capitalization companies are often subject to less analyst coverage and may be in early, and less predictable, periods of their corporate existences. Such companies tend to have smaller revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products.
· The Estimated Value of Your Notes is Lower Than the Initial Issue Price of Your NotesThe estimated value of your Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is lower than the initial issue price of your Notes. The difference between the initial issue price of your Notes and the estimated value of the Notes is a result of certain factors, such as any sales commissions to be paid to Barclays Capital Inc. or another affiliate of ours, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that we or any of our affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, the estimated cost which we may incur in hedging our obligations under the Notes, and estimated development and other costs which we may incur in connection with the Notes.
· The Estimated Value of Your Notes Might be Lower if Such Estimated Value Were Based on the Levels at Which Our Debt Securities Trade in the Secondary MarketThe estimated value of your Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is based on a number of variables, including our internal funding rates. Our internal funding rates may vary from the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market. As a result of this difference, the estimated value referenced above might be lower if such estimated value was based on the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market.
· The Estimated Value of the Notes is Based on Our Internal Pricing Models, Which May Prove to be Inaccurate and May be Different from the Pricing Models of Other Financial InstitutionsThe estimated value of your Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is based on our internal pricing models, which take into account a number of variables and are based on a number of subjective assumptions, which may or may not materialize. These variables and assumptions are not evaluated or verified on an independent basis. Further, our pricing models may be different from other financial institutions pricing models and the methodologies used by us to estimate the value of the Notes may not be consistent with those of other financial institutions which may be purchasers or sellers of Notes in the secondary market. As a result, the secondary market price of your Notes may be materially different from the estimated value of the Notes determined by reference to our internal pricing models.
· The Estimated Value of Your Notes Is Not a Prediction of the Prices at Which You May Sell Your Notes in the Secondary Market, if any, and Such Secondary Market Prices, If Any, Will Likely be Lower Than the Initial Issue Price of Your Notes and May be Lower Than the Estimated Value of Your NotesThe estimated value of the Notes will not be a prediction of the prices at which Barclays Capital Inc., 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 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 our 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 related to the Notes such as fees, commissions, discounts, and the costs of hedging our obligations under the Notes, secondary market prices of your Notes will likely be lower than the initial issue price of your Notes. As a result, the price at which Barclays Capital Inc., 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 We May Initially Buy The Notes in the Secondary Market And the Value We May Initially Use for Customer Account Statements, If We Provide Any Customer Account Statements At All, May Not Be Indicative of Future Prices of Your NotesAssuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Initial Valuation Date, the price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if Barclays Capital Inc. makes a market in the Notes, which it is not obligated to do) and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements, if we provide any customer account statements at all, may exceed our estimated value of the Notes on the Initial Valuation Date, as well as the secondary market value of the Notes, for a temporary period after the initial Issue Date of the Notes. The price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements may not be indicative of future prices of your Notes.
· We and Our Affiliates May Engage in Various Activities or Make Determinations That Could Materially Affect the Notes in Various Ways and Create Conflicts of InterestWe and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, as described below. In performing these roles, our and our affiliates economic interests are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes.
In connection with our normal business activities and in connection with hedging our obligations under the Notes, we and our affiliates make markets in and trade various financial instruments or products for our accounts and for the account of our clients and otherwise provide investment banking and other financial services with respect to these financial instruments and products. These financial instruments and products may include securities, derivative instruments or assets that may relate to the Reference Assets or their components. In any such market making, trading and hedging activity, and other financial services, we or our affiliates may take positions or take actions that are inconsistent with, or adverse to, the investment objectives of the holders of the Notes and such compensation or financial benefit may serve as incentive to sell the Notes instead of other investments. We and our affiliates have no obligation to take the needs of any buyer, seller or holder of the Notes into account in conducting these activities. Such market making, trading and hedging activity, investment banking and other financial services may negatively impact the value of the Notes.
In addition, the role played by Barclays Capital Inc., as the agent for the Notes, could present significant conflicts of interest with the role of Barclays Bank PLC, as issuer of the Notes. For example, Barclays Capital Inc. or its representatives may derive compensation or financial benefit from the distribution of the Notes. Furthermore, we and our affiliates establish the offering price of the Notes for initial sale to the public, and the offering price is not based upon any independent verification or valuation.
In addition to the activities described above, we will also act as the Calculation Agent for the Notes. As Calculation Agent, we will determine any values of the Reference Assets and make any other determinations necessary to calculate any payments on the Notes. In making these determinations, we may be required to make discretionary judgments, including determining whether a market disruption event has occurred on any date that the value of a Reference Asset is to be determined; if a Reference Asset is discontinued or if the sponsor of a Reference Asset fails to publish that Reference Asset, selecting a successor reference asset or, if no successor reference asset is available, determining any value necessary to calculate any payments on the Notes; and calculating the value of a Reference Asset on any date of determination in the event of certain changes in or modifications to a Reference Asset . In making these discretionary judgments, our economic interests are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes, and any of these determinations may adversely affect any payments on the Notes.
· Lack of LiquidityThe Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC intend to make a secondary market for the Notes but are not required to do so, and may discontinue any such secondary market making at any time, without notice. Barclays Capital Inc. may at any time hold unsold inventory, which may inhibit the development of a secondary market for the Notes. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the Notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the Notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your Notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC are willing to buy the Notes. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.
· The U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of an Investment in the Notes Are UncertainThere is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS). Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the Notes are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the Notes as prepaid forward contracts, as described below under Tax Considerations. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the Notes, the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 the Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on various issues regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of prepaid forward contracts and similar instruments. Any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the Notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should review carefully the sections of the accompanying prospectus supplement entitled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsequencesTax Consequences to U.S. HoldersNotes Treated as Prepaid Forward or Derivative Contracts and, if you are a non-U.S. holder, Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders, and consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the Notes (including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by the 2007 notice), as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
· Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the NotesThe value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that interact in complex and unpredictable ways and that may either offset or magnify each other, including:
o the market prices of, dividend rates on and expected volatility of the Reference Assets and the components of each Reference Asset;
o correlation (or lack of correlation) of the Reference Assets;
o the time to maturity of the Notes;
o interest and yield rates in the market generally;
o a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events;
o supply and demand for the Notes; and
o our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REFERENCE ASSETS
S&P 500® Index
The S&P 500 Index consists of stocks of 500 companies selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. For more information about the S&P 500 Index, please see IndicesThe S&P U.S. Indices in the accompanying index supplement.
Beginning in June 2016 (or July 2017, in the case of IEX), U.S. common equities listed on Cboe BZX, Cboe BYX, Cboe EDGA, Cboe EDGX or IEX were added to the universe of securities that are eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500 Index and, effective March 10, 2017, the minimum unadjusted company market capitalization for potential additions to the S&P 500 Index was increased to $6.1 billion from $5.3 billion. In addition, as of July 2017, the securities of companies with multiple share class structures are no longer eligible to be added to the S&P 500 Index, but securities already included in the S&P 500 Index have been grandfathered and are not affected by this change.
Historical Performance of the S&P 500 Index
The graph below sets forth the historical performance of the S&P 500 Index based on the daily Closing Values from January 1, 2014 through April 30, 2019. We obtained the Closing Values shown in the graph below from Bloomberg Professional® service (Bloomberg). We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg.
Historical Performance of the S&P 500® Index
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Russell 2000® Index
The Russell 2000 Index is calculated, maintained and published by FTSE Russell. The Russell 2000 Index measures the capitalization-weighted price performance of 2,000 small-capitalization stocks and is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. For more information about the Russell 2000 Index, see IndicesThe Russell Indices in the accompanying index supplement, as supplemented by the following updated information. As of August 2017, to be eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index, each company is required to have more than 5.00% of its voting rights (aggregated across all of its equity securities) in the hands of unrestricted shareholders. Companies already included in the Russell 2000 Index have a 5 year grandfathering period to comply or they will be removed from the Russell 2000 Index in September 2022.
Historical Performance of the Russell 2000 Index
The graph below sets forth the historical performance of the Russell 2000 Index based on the daily Closing Values from January 1, 2014 through April 30, 2019. We obtained the Closing Values shown in the graph below from Bloomberg. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg.
Historical Performance of the Russell 2000® Index
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
You should review carefully the sections entitled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsequencesTax Consequences to U.S. HoldersNotes Treated as Prepaid Forward or Derivative Contracts and, if you are a non-U.S. holder, Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders, in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The following discussion, when read in combination with those sections, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the Notes. The following discussion supersedes the discussion in the accompanying prospectus supplement to the extent it is inconsistent therewith.
Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel, it is reasonable to treat the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes as prepaid forward contracts with respect to the Reference Assets. Assuming this treatment is respected, upon a sale or exchange of the Notes (including redemption upon an automatic call or at maturity), you should recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and your tax basis in the Notes, which should equal the amount you paid to acquire the Notes. This gain or loss on your Notes should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your Notes for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of Notes at the original issue price. However, the IRS or a court may not respect this treatment, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on the Notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of prepaid forward contracts and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the constructive ownership regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the Notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Treasury regulations under Section 871(m) generally impose a withholding tax on certain dividend equivalents under certain equity linked instruments. A recent IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued prior to January 1, 2021 that do not have a delta of one with respect to underlying securities that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each an Underlying Security). Based on our determination that the Notes do not have a delta of one within the meaning of the regulations, our special tax counsel is of the opinion that these regulations should not apply to the Notes with regard to non-U.S. holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the Notes.
You should review the section entitled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsequencesTax Consequences to Non-U.S. HoldersForeign Account Tax Compliance Withholding in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The discussion in that section is modified to reflect regulations proposed by the U.S. Treasury Department indicating an intent to eliminate the requirement under FATCA of withholding on gross proceeds (other than amounts treated as interest) of the disposition of financial instruments. The U.S. Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization.
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We have agreed to sell to Barclays Capital Inc. (the Agent), and the Agent has agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the Notes, and at the price, specified on the cover of this pricing supplement. The Agent commits to take and pay for all of the Notes, if any are taken.
We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on the Issue Date indicated on the cover of this pricing supplement, which is expected to be more than two business days following the Initial Valuation Date. Under Rule 15c61 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes will initially settle in more than two business days, to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement. See Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (EEA Retail Investor). For these purposes, an EEA Retail Investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended from time to time, MiFID); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC (as amended from time to time), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended from time to time, including by Directive 2010/73/EU). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended from time to time, the PRIIPs Regulation) for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to EEA Retail Investors has been prepared and therefore offering or selling such Notes or otherwise making them available to any EEA Retail Investor may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.
VALIDITY OF THE NOTES
In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as special United States products counsel to Barclays Bank PLC, when the Notes offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by Barclays Bank PLC and authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture, and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such Notes will be valid and binding obligations of Barclays Bank PLC, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith) and possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors rights, provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above. 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 English law, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has relied, with Barclays Bank PLCs permission, on the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP, dated as of August 20, 2018, filed as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K by Barclays Bank PLC on August 20, 2018, and this opinion is subject to the same assumptions, qualifications and limitations as set forth in such opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustees authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and its authentication of the Notes and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, dated August 20, 2018, which has been filed as an exhibit to the report on Form 6-K referred to above.