Registration Statement No. 333-217200

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Subject to Completion, dated August 3, 2018

 

Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated April 27, 2017,
the Prospectus Supplement dated April 27, 2017, and the Product Supplement dated May 1, 2017

 

o58997bo5899701

 

$●

Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series D

Autocallable Barrier Notes with Contingent Coupons due November 29, 2019

Linked to a Basket of Eight Technology Companies

·The notes are designed for investors who are seeking monthly contingent periodic interest payments (as described in more detail below), as well as a return of principal if the value of the Basket (as defined below) on any monthly Observation Date is greater than the Coupon Barrier. The “Basket” consists of equally weighted equity securities (each a “Basket Component”) of eight publicly traded companies: Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., Netflix Inc., NVIDIA Corporation, Tesla Inc. and Twitter, Inc. Investors should be willing to have their notes automatically redeemed prior to maturity and be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity.
·The notes will pay a Contingent Interest Payment on each monthly Contingent Interest Payment Date at the rate set forth below if the Observation Level of the Basket on the applicable monthly Observation Date is greater than the Coupon Barrier. However, if the Observation Level of the Basket is less than or equal to the Coupon Barrier on an Observation Date, the notes will not pay the Contingent Interest Payment for that Observation Date.
·If on any monthly Observation Date beginning in February 2019, the Observation Level of the Basket is greater than the Initial Level, the notes will be automatically called. On the Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, investors will receive the principal amount plus the Contingent Interest Payment.
·The notes do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. Instead, if the notes are not automatically called, the payment at maturity will be based on the Observation Level of the Basket on the final Observation Date and whether the Observation Level of the Basket has declined from the Initial Level below the Trigger Level during the Monitoring Period (a “Trigger Event”), as described below.
·If the notes are not automatically redeemed, a Trigger Event has occurred, and the Observation Level of the Basket on the final Observation Date is lower than the Initial Level, investors will be subject to one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any percentage decrease from the Initial Level to the Observation Level on the final Observation Date. In such a case, you will receive a cash amount at maturity that is less than the principal amount, together with the final Contingent Interest Payment, if payable.
·The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
·All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.
·The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
·Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below. 

Terms of the Notes:

Pricing Date: On or about August 24, 2018 Valuation Date: On or about November 25, 2019
Settlement Date: On or about August 29, 2018 Maturity Date: On or about November 29, 2019

Specific Terms of the Notes:

Autocallable
RevEx
Number
Initial
Level
Coupon
Barrier and
Trigger Level
Contingent
Interest Rate
CUSIP Principal
Amount
Price to Public Agent’s
Commission
Proceeds to
Bank of
Montreal
419 100 70, 70 9.90% (0.825%
per month)
06367WAS2 100%

0.75%

US$●

99.25%

US$●

 

Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-5 of this pricing supplement, the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-4 of the product supplement, and the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement and on page 8 of the prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy of this pricing supplement, the product supplement, the prospectus supplement or the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will not be savings accounts or deposits that are insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity.

On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, based on the terms set forth above, the estimated initial value of the notes is $976.80 per $1,000 in principal amount. The estimated initial value of the notes on the Pricing Date may differ from this value but will not be less than $955.00 per $1,000 in principal amount. However, as discussed in more detail in this pricing supplement, the actual value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

 

Bank of Montreal Capital Markets Corporation

 

   
 

 

     

Key Terms of the Notes:

 

Basket: An equally weighted basket consisting of the equity securities of the publicly traded companies set forth below.  The Basket Components, their respective Weighting Percentages and their Initial Basket Component Levels are indicated in the table below.

  

  Basket Components Bloomberg
Tickers
Weighting
Percentage
Initial Basket
Component Levels
  Alphabet Inc. GOOGL 1/8 $●
  Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN 1/8 $●
  Apple Inc. AAPL 1/8 $●
  Facebook, Inc. FB 1/8 $●
  Netflix Inc. NFLX 1/8 $●
  NVIDIA Corporation NVDA 1/8 $●
  Tesla Inc. TSLA 1/8 $●
  Twitter, Inc. TWTR 1/8 $●

  

  See the section below entitled “The Basket Components” for additional information about the Basket.
   
Contingent Interest
Payment Dates:
Interest, if payable, will be paid on the last business day of each month, beginning on September 28, 2018, and including the Maturity Date, subject to the automatic redemption feature.  The final Contingent Interest Payment Date will be the Maturity Date.
   
Contingent Interest
Payments:
If the Observation Level of the Basket on an Observation Date is greater than the Coupon Barrier, a Contingent Interest Payment will be paid on the Contingent Interest Payment Date, at the rate specified on the cover page.
   
Contingent Interest
Rate:
9.90% per annum (0.825% of the principal amount per month) unless earlier redeemed. Accordingly, each Contingent Interest Payment, if payable, will equal $8.25 for each $1,000 in principal amount per month.
   
Coupon Barrier
and Trigger Level:
70 (70% of the Initial Level)
   
Automatic
Redemption:
If, on any monthly Observation Date beginning on February 25, 2019, the Observation Level of the Basket is greater than the Initial Level, the notes will be automatically redeemed.
   
Payment upon
Automatic   
Redemption:
If the notes are automatically redeemed, then, on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, investors will receive the principal amount plus the applicable Contingent Interest Payment.
   
Observation Dates: Three trading days prior to the applicable Contingent Interest Payment Date.
   
Call Settlement
Dates:
The Contingent Interest Payment Date immediately following the applicable Observation Date.  
   
Payment at
Maturity:

If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity for the notes is based on the performance of the Basket. You will receive $1,000 for each $1,000 in principal amount of the note, unless (a) a Trigger Event has occurred and (b) the Observation Level on the final Observation Date is less than the Initial Level.

 

If a Trigger Event has occurred, and if the Observation Level on the final Observation Date is less than the Initial Level, you will receive at maturity, for each $1,000 in principal amount of your notes, a cash amount equal to:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Percentage Change]

 

This amount will be less than the principal amount of your notes, and may be zero.

 

In each case, you will also receive the final Contingent Interest Payment, if payable.

     

 

 P-2 
 

 

     

Trigger Event: A Trigger Event will be deemed to occur if the Observation Level of the Basket is less than the Trigger Level on any trading day during the Monitoring Period.
   
Monitoring Period: The period from the Pricing Date to and including the Valuation Date.
   
Initial Level: Set to 100 on the Pricing Date.
   
Observation Level: On any trading day, including an Observation Date, Initial Level x [1 + Percentage Change]
   
Percentage
Change:
As of any trading day, including an Observation Date, the sum of the Weighted Percentage Change for each Basket Component.
   
Weighted
Percentage
Change:
As of any trading day, including an Observation Date, with respect to each Basket Component, the product of (a) its Weighting Percentage and (b) its Component Change.
   
Component
Change:

With respect to each Basket Component:

 

Observation Basket Component Level – Initial Basket Component Level

Initial Basket Component Level

   
Initial Basket
Component Level:
With respect to each Basket Component, its closing price on the Pricing Date.  The Initial Basket Component Level of each Basket Component is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. See “General Terms of the Notes—Payment at Maturity” and “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” in the product supplement for additional information about these adjustments.
   
Observation
Basket Component
Level:
With respect to each Basket Component, its closing price on any trading day, including an Observation Date.
   
Pricing Date: On or about August 24, 2018
   
Settlement Date: On or about August 29, 2018
   
Valuation Date: On or about November 25, 2019
   
Maturity Date: On or about November 29, 2019
   
Physical Delivery
Amount:
We will only pay cash on the Maturity Date, and you will have no right to receive any shares of the Basket Components.
   
Calculation Agent: BMOCM
   
Selling Agent: BMOCM

 

The Pricing Date and the Settlement Date are subject to change. The actual Pricing Date, Settlement Date, Observation Dates, Contingent Interest Payment Dates and Maturity Date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.

 

We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless our agent or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.

     

 

 P-3 
 

 

Additional Terms of the Notes

 

You should read this pricing supplement together with the product supplement dated May 1, 2017, the prospectus supplement dated April 27, 2017 and the prospectus dated April 27, 2017. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other 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, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours or the agent. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” in the product supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.

 

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):

 

·Product supplement dated May 1, 2017:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465917002873/j427172424b5.htm

 

·Prospectus supplement dated April 27, 2017:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312517142764/d381374d424b5.htm

 

·Prospectus dated April 27, 2017:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312517142728/d254784d424b2.htm

 

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Bank of Montreal.

 

We have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this document relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we will arrange to send to you the prospectus (as supplemented by the prospectus supplement and product supplement) if you request it by calling our agent toll-free at 1-877-369-5412.

 

 P-4 
 

 

Selected Risk Considerations

 

An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Basket or the Basket Components. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section of the product supplement.

 

·Your investment in the notes may result in a loss. — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity will be based on the Observation Level on the final Observation Date and whether a Trigger Event has occurred. If a Trigger Event has occurred, and if the Observation Level on the final Observation Date is less than the Initial Level, you will be subject to a one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any Percentage Change from the Initial Level. In such a case, you will receive at maturity a cash payment that is less than the principal amount of the notes and may be zero. Accordingly, you could lose up to the entire principal amount of your notes, and your payments on the notes could be limited to the Contingent Interest Payments, if any.

 

·The protection provided by the Trigger Level may terminate on any trading day during the Monitoring Period. — If the Observation Level of the Basket on any trading day during the Monitoring Period is less than the Trigger Level, you will be fully exposed at maturity to any decrease in the value of the Basket. Under these circumstances, if the Percentage Change on the Valuation Date is less than zero, you will lose 1% (or a fraction thereof) of the principal amount of your investment for every 1% (or a fraction thereof) that the Observation Level on the final Observation Date is less than the Initial Level. You will be subject to this potential loss of principal even if, after the Trigger Event, the value of the Basket increases above the Trigger Level for some trading days prior to the Valuation Date.

 

·You may not receive any Contingent Interest Payments with respect to your notes. — We will not necessarily make periodic interest payments on the notes. If the Observation Level of the Basket on an Observation Date is less than the Coupon Barrier, we will not pay you the Contingent Interest Payment applicable to that Observation Date. If the Observation Level of the Basket is less than the Coupon Barrier on each of the Observation Dates, we will not pay you any Contingent Interest Payments during the term of the notes, and you will not receive a positive return on the notes. Furthermore, the non-payment of the Contingent Interest Payment as to the final Observation Date will coincide with a loss of principal on the notes if a Trigger Event has previously occurred, because in such a case, the Observation Level on the final Observation Date will be less than the Trigger Level.

 

·Your notes are subject to automatic early redemption. — We will redeem the notes if the Observation Level of the Basket on any Observation Date beginning on February 25, 2019 is greater than the Initial Level. Following an automatic redemption, you will not receive any additional Conditional Interest Payments on the notes, and you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds in an investment with returns that are comparable to the notes.

 

·Your return on the notes is limited to the Contingent Interest Payments, if any, regardless of any appreciation in the value of the Basket Components. — You will not receive a payment at maturity with a value greater than your principal amount plus the final Contingent Interest Payment, if payable. In addition, if the notes are automatically called, you will not receive a payment greater than the principal amount plus the applicable Contingent Interest Payment, even if the Observation Level on the final Observation Date exceeds the Initial Level by a substantial amount. Accordingly, your maximum return on the notes is limited to the potential return represented by the Contingent Interest Payments.

 

·Any increase in the price of one or more Basket Components may be offset by decreases in the price of one or more other Basket Components. — The price of one or more Basket Components may increase while the price of one or more of the other Basket Components decreases. Therefore, in determining the value of the Basket at any time, increases in the price of one Basket Component may be moderated, or wholly offset, by decreases in the price of one or more other Basket Components. Because the issuer of each Basket Component operates in the technology sector, it is possible that the prices of several, or even all, of the Basket Components will decline simultaneously.

 

·Your investment is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. — Our credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our ability to pay any amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes.

 

 P-5 
 

 

·Potential conflicts. — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also engage in trading of shares of the Basket Components on a regular basis as part of our general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for our customers. Any of these activities could adversely affect the prices of the Basket Components and, therefore, the market value of, and the payments on, the notes. We 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 Basket or one or more of the Basket Components. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we or one or more of our affiliates could adversely affect the market value of the notes.

 

·Our initial estimated value of the notes will be lower than the price to public. — Our initial estimated value of the notes is only an estimate, and is based on a number of factors. The price to public of the notes will exceed our initial estimated value, because costs associated with offering, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the price to public, but are not included in the estimated value. These costs include the underwriting discount and selling concessions, the profits that we and our affiliates expect to realize for assuming the risks in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging these obligations. The initial estimated value may be as low as the amount indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement.

 

·Our initial estimated value does not represent any future value of the notes, and may also differ from the estimated value of any other party. — Our initial estimated value of the notes as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement is, and our estimated value as determined on the Pricing Date will be, derived using our internal pricing models. This value is based on market conditions and other relevant factors, which include volatility of the Basket Components, dividend rates and interest rates. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide values for the notes that are greater than or less than our initial estimated value. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors after the Pricing Date are expected to change, possibly rapidly, and our assumptions may prove to be incorrect. After the Pricing Date, the value of the notes could change dramatically due to changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness, and the other factors set forth in this pricing supplement and the product supplement. These changes are likely to impact the price, if any, at which we or BMOCM would be willing to purchase the notes from you in any secondary market transactions. Our initial estimated value does not represent a minimum price at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market at any time.

 

·The terms of the notes are not determined by reference to the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. — To determine the terms of the notes, we will use an internal funding rate that represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. As a result, the terms of the notes are less favorable to you than if we had used a higher funding rate.

 

·Certain costs are likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. — Absent any changes in market conditions, any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the price to public. This is because any secondary market prices will likely take into account our then-current market credit spreads, and because any secondary market prices are likely to exclude all or a portion of the underwriting discount and selling concessions, and the hedging profits and estimated hedging costs that are included in the price to public of the notes and that may be reflected on your account statements. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction, such as dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs. As a result, the price, if any, at which BMOCM or any other party may be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the price to public. Any sale that you make prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you.

 

 P-6 
 

 

·Owning the notes is not the same as owning the Basket Components. — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Basket Components and held that investment for a similar period.  Your notes may trade quite differently from the Basket Components.  Changes in the prices of the Basket Components may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes.  Even if the prices of the Basket Components increase during the term of the notes, the market value of the notes prior to maturity may not increase to the same extent.  It is also possible for the market value of the notes to decrease while the prices of the Basket Components increase. In addition, any dividends or other distributions paid on the Basket Components will not be reflected in the amount payable on the notes. The return on the notes may be less than the return on an investment in the Basket Components.

 

·You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any shares of the Basket Components at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the Basket Components. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of the notes will have any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions, or any other rights with respect to those securities.

 

·Lack of liquidity. — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. BMOCM may offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market, but is not required to do so. 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 the notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which BMOCM is willing to buy the notes.

 

·Hedging and trading activities. — We or any of our affiliates may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including in the Basket Components or instruments related to the Basket Components. We or our affiliates may also trade in the Basket Components or instruments related to the Basket Components from time to time. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the Pricing Date and during the term of the notes could affect whether the notes are automatically called, or could adversely affect the payments on the notes.

 

·Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the prices of the Basket Components and interest rates on any trading day, the value of the notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, and which are described in more detail in the product supplement.

 

·You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Basket. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the prices of one or more of the Basket Components. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on one or more of the Basket Components. However, these views are subject to change from time to time. Moreover, other professionals who deal in the markets relating to the Basket Components at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Basket Components from multiple sources, and you should not rely on the views expressed by our affiliates.

 

Neither the offering of the notes nor any views which our affiliates from time to time may express in the ordinary course of their businesses constitutes a recommendation as to the merits of an investment in the notes.

 

·Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain. — The tax treatment of the notes is uncertain. We do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or from any Canadian authorities regarding the tax treatment of the notes, and the Internal Revenue Service or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in this pricing supplement.

 

The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments.  According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department are actively considering whether the holder of such instruments should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis.  While it is not clear whether the notes would be viewed as similar to such instruments, it is possible that any future guidance could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

Please read carefully the section entitled “Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in this pricing supplement, the section entitled “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled “Certain Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.

 

 P-7 
 

 

Examples of the Hypothetical Payment at Maturity for a $1,000 Investment in the Notes

 

The following table illustrates the hypothetical payments on a note at maturity, assuming that the notes are not automatically called. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00, a hypothetical Trigger Level of $70.00 (70% of the hypothetical Initial Level), a range of hypothetical Observation Levels on the final Observation Date and the effect on the payment at maturity if (i) a Trigger Event occurs or (ii) if a Trigger Event does not occur.

 

The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. If the notes are not automatically called, the actual cash amount that you will receive at maturity will depend upon the Observation Level of the Basket on the final Observation Date, and whether a Trigger Event occurs. If the notes are automatically called prior to maturity, the hypothetical examples below will not be relevant, and you will receive on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, the principal amount plus the applicable Contingent Interest Payment.

 

As discussed in more detail above, your total return on the notes will also depend on the number of Contingent Interest Payment Dates on which the Contingent Interest Payment is payable. It is possible that the only payments on your notes will be the payment, if any, due at maturity. The payment at maturity will not exceed the principal amount, and may be significantly less.

 

 

Hypothetical
Observation
Level on the
Final
Observation
Date
Hypothetical Observation
Level on the Final
Observation Date Expressed
as a Percentage of the Initial
Level

 

Payment at Maturity (Excluding Contingent Interest
Payments)

 

 

(i) if the Observation Level
of the Basket on the does not
fall below the Trigger Level
on any trading day during
the Monitoring Period

 

 

(ii) if the Observation
Level of the Basket falls
below the Trigger Level on
any trading day during the
Monitoring Period

 

$150.00 150.00% $1,000.00 $1,000.00
$125.00 125.00% $1,000.00 $1,000.00
$110.00 110.00% $1,000.00 $1,000.00
$100.00 100.00% $1,000.00 $1,000.00
$90.00 90.00% $1,000.00 $900.00
$85.00 85.00% $1,000.00 $850.00
$80.00 80.00% $1,000.00 $800.00
$70.00 70.00% $1,000.00 $700.00
$65.00 65.00% N/A $650.00
$50.00 50.00% N/A $500.00
$25.00 25.00% N/A $250.00
$0.00 0.00% N/A $0.00

 

 P-8 
 

 

Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The following, together with the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement, is a general description of the material U.S. tax considerations relating to the notes. It does not purport to be a complete analysis of all 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 resident for tax purposes and the tax laws of Canada and 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.

 

The following section supplements the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement with respect to United States holders (as defined in the accompanying prospectus). It applies only to those holders who are not excluded from the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus. It does not apply to holders subject to special rules including holders subject to Section 451(b) of the Code. In addition, the discussion below assumes that an investor in the notes will be subject to a significant risk that it will lose a significant amount of its investment in the notes. Bank of Montreal intends to treat Contingent Interest Payments with respect to the notes as U.S. source income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in the notes in your particular circumstances, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.

 

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 AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES ARE UNCERTAIN. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR IN DETERMINING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.

 

We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the entities whose stock is included in the Basket would be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code or a “U.S. real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code. If any of the entities whose stock is included in the Basket were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could possibly apply. You should refer to any available information filed with the SEC by the entities whose stock is included in the Basket and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you in this regard.

 

In the opinion of our counsel, Morrison & Foerster LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat a note with terms described in this pricing supplement as a pre-paid cash-settled contingent income-bearing derivative contract in respect of the Basket for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the terms of the notes require a holder and us (in the absence of a change in law or an administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the notes for all tax purposes in accordance with such characterization. Although the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Contingent Interest Payments is uncertain, we intend to take the position, and the following discussion assumes, that such Contingent Interest Payments (including any interest payment on or with respect to the Maturity Date) constitute taxable ordinary income to a United States holder at the time received or accrued in accordance with the holder’s regular method of accounting. If the notes are treated as described above, it would be reasonable for a United States holder to take the position that it will recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or maturity of the notes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount a United States holder receives at such time (other than amounts properly attributable to any interest payments, which would be treated, as described above, as ordinary income) and the United States holder’s tax basis in the notes. In general, a United States holder’s tax basis in the notes will be equal to the price the holder paid for the notes. Capital gain recognized by an individual United States holder is generally taxed at ordinary income rates where the property is held for one year or less. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

 P-9 
 

 

Alternative Treatments

 

Alternative tax treatments of the notes are also possible and the Internal Revenue Service might assert that a treatment other than that described above is more appropriate. For example, it would be possible to treat the notes, and the Internal Revenue Service might assert that the notes should be treated, as a single debt instrument. Such a debt instrument would be subject to the tax rules governing short-term debt instruments. If the notes are so treated, a United States holder would generally be required to accrue interest currently over the term of the notes irrespective of the Contingent Interest Payments, if any, paid on the notes. In addition, any gain a United States holder might recognize upon the sale or maturity of the notes would be ordinary income and any loss recognized by a holder at such time would be ordinary loss to the extent of interest that same holder included in income in the current or previous taxable years in respect of the notes, and thereafter, would be capital loss.

 

Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate tax characterization of the notes, it is also possible that the Internal Revenue Service could seek to characterize the notes in a manner that results in other tax consequences that are different from those described above.

 

The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of the notes. According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department are actively considering whether the holder of an instrument such as the notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis irrespective of any interest payments, and they sought 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 Internal Revenue Service 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 and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code might be applied to such instruments. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations. We intend to treat the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described in this pricing supplement unless and until such time as the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

Please see the discussion under “United States Federal Income Taxation—Other Considerations—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the applicability of the backup withholding and information reporting rules to payments made on your notes.

 

Non-United States Holders

 

The following discussion applies to non-United States holders of the notes. A non-United States holder is a beneficial owner of a note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, or a foreign estate or trust.

 

While the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes (including proper characterization of the Contingent Interest Payments for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is uncertain, U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) will be withheld in respect of the Contingent Interest Payments paid to a non-United States holder unless such payments are effectively connected with the conduct by the non-United States holder of a trade or business in the U.S. (in which case, to avoid withholding, the non-United States holder will be required to provide a Form W-8ECI). We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. To claim benefits under an income tax treaty, a non-United States holder must obtain a taxpayer identification number and certify as to its eligibility under the appropriate treaty’s limitations on benefits article, if applicable (which certification may generally be made on a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or a substitute or successor form). In addition, special rules may apply to claims for treaty benefits made by corporate non-United States holders. A non-United States holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service. The availability of a lower rate of withholding or an exemption from withholding under an applicable income tax treaty will depend on the proper characterization of the Contingent Interest Payments under U.S. federal income tax laws and whether such treaty rate or exemption applies to such payments. No assurance can be provided on the proper characterization of the Contingent Interest Payments for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, accordingly, no assurance can be provided on the availability of benefits under any income tax treaty. Non-United States holders must consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

 P-10 
 

 

Except as discussed below, a non-United States holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain (not including for the avoidance of doubt any amounts properly attributable to any interest which would be subject to the rules discussed in the previous paragraph) upon the sale or maturity of the notes, provided that (i) the holder complies with any applicable certification requirements (which certification may generally be made on a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or a substitute or successor form), (ii) the payment is not effectively connected with the conduct by the holder of a U.S. trade or business, and (iii) if the holder is a non-resident alien individual, such holder is not present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale or maturity of the notes. In the case of (ii) above, the holder generally would be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to any income or gain in the same manner as if the holder were a United States holder and, in the case of a holder that is a corporation, the holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable U.S. income tax treaty) of a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the U.S., subject to certain adjustments. Payments made to a non-United States holder may be subject to information reporting and to backup withholding unless the holder complies with applicable certification and identification requirements as to its foreign status.

 

A “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the U.S. and such payments generally would be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a non-United States holder.  Under U.S. Treasury Department regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are “specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs reference an interest in an “underlying security,” which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, Internal Revenue Service guidance provides that withholding on dividend equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2019. Based on our determination that the notes are not “delta-one” instruments, non-United States holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the notes. However, it is possible that the notes could be treated as deemed reissued for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the underlying or the notes, and following such occurrence the notes could be treated as delta-one specified ELIs that are subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments. Non-United States holders that enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the underlying or the notes should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the notes and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable paying agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.

 

As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the notes to become subject to withholding tax in addition to the withholding tax described above, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate. The Internal Revenue Service has also indicated that it is considering whether income in respect of instruments such as the notes should be subject to withholding tax. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.

 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

 

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments, including interest (and OID), dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S. source interest or dividends (“Withholdable Payments”), if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on behalf of a holder), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury Department to collect and provide to the Treasury Department substantial information regarding U.S. account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution. A note may constitute an account for these purposes. The legislation also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have announced that withholding on payments of gross proceeds from a sale or redemption of the notes will only apply to payments made after December 31, 2018. If we determine withholding is appropriate with respect to the notes, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Account holders subject to information reporting requirements pursuant to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act may include holders of the notes. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act may be subject to different rules. Holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their investment in the notes.

 

 P-11 
 

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)

 

BMOCM will purchase the notes from us at a purchase price reflecting the commission set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. BMOCM has informed us that, as part of its distribution of the notes, it will reoffer the notes to other dealers who will sell them. Each such dealer, or each additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will receive a commission from BMOCM, which will not exceed the commission set forth on the cover page. This commission includes a selling concession of up to 1.60% of the principal amount that we or one of our affiliates will pay to one or more dealers in connection with the distribution of the notes.

 

We will deliver the notes on a date that is greater than two business days following the Pricing Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), 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 more than two business days prior to the issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

 

We own, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity securities of BMOCM, the agent for this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BMOCM may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer.

 

We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering of the notes and to reject orders in whole or in part. You may cancel any order for the notes prior to its acceptance.

 

You should not construe the offering of the notes as a recommendation of the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the Basket or as to the suitability of an investment in the notes.

 

BMOCM may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the notes. BMOCM will determine any secondary market prices that it is prepared to offer in its sole discretion.

 

We may use the final pricing supplement relating to the notes in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use the final pricing supplement relating to the notes in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless BMOCM or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, the final pricing supplement is being used by BMOCM in a market-making transaction.

 

For a period of approximately three months following issuance of the notes, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that BMOCM may also publish for the notes through one or more financial information vendors and which could be indicated for the notes on any brokerage account statements, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from our estimated value of the notes that would otherwise be determined and applicable at that time. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of (a) the hedging profit that we or our affiliates expect to realize over the term of the notes and (b) the underwriting discount and the selling concessions paid in connection with this offering. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month period.

 

No Prospectus (as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (the “Prospectus Directive”)) will be prepared in connection with the notes. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered to the public in any member state of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), and any purchaser of the notes who subsequently sells any of the notes in any EEA member state must do so only in accordance with the requirements of the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that member state.

 

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, and a “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of: (a) a retail client, as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (b) a customer, within the meaning of Insurance Distribution Directive 2016/97/EU, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (c) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”), for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared, and therefore, offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

 

 P-12 
 

 

Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes

 

Our estimated initial value of the notes on the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, and that will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement relating to the notes, equals the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components:

 

·a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the notes, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and

 

·one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the notes.

 

The internal funding rate used in the determination of the initial estimated value generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The value of these derivative transactions are derived from our internal pricing models. These models are based on factors such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on other inputs, which include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. As a result, the estimated initial value of the notes on the Pricing Date will be determined based on market conditions at that time.

 

 P-13 
 

 

The Basket Components

 

Companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act, are required to file financial and other information specified by the SEC periodically. Information provided to or filed with the SEC can be inspected or copied at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, information provided to or filed with the SEC by the issuers of each Basket Component under the Exchange Act can be located through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

This pricing supplement relates only to the notes offered hereby and does not relate to any Basket Components or other securities of any issuer of each Basket Component. We derived all disclosures in this pricing supplement regarding the issuers of each Basket Component from publicly available documents described in the preceding paragraph. In connection with the offering of the notes, neither we nor any of our affiliates have participated in the preparation of such documents or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the issuer of any Basket Component. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has made any independent investigation as to whether such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the issuer of any Basket Component is current, accurate or complete. None of such documents shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this pricing supplement.

 

Neither we nor our affiliates takes any responsibility for the selection of the Basket and the identity of the Basket Components or otherwise endorses those stocks, and none of those companies makes any representation as to the future performance of any Basket Component or the Basket.

 

 P-14 
 

 

Alphabet Inc.

 

Alphabet Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides web-based search, advertisements, maps, software applications, mobile operating systems, consumer content, enterprise solutions, commerce, and hardware products. Its Class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “GOOGL.”

 

Historical Information of the Class A Common Stock of Alphabet Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the first quarter of 2008 through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2008 First Quarter 343.00   207.01
  Second Quarter 297.74   223.64
  Third Quarter 277.84   190.68
  Fourth Quarter 206.06   128.84
         
2009 First Quarter 189.57   141.51
  Second Quarter 222.38   177.22
  Third Quarter 249.77   198.51
  Fourth Quarter 311.63   242.52
         
2010 First Quarter 313.68   263.47
  Second Quarter 297.94   222.69
  Third Quarter 265.46   218.25
  Fourth Quarter 313.88   261.43
         
2011 First Quarter 320.12   278.82
  Second Quarter 296.19   237.67
  Third Quarter 311.53   245.70
  Fourth Quarter 323.26   248.00
         
2012 First Quarter 334.46   284.33
  Second Quarter 325.82   279.80
  Third Quarter 378.62   285.52
  Fourth Quarter 384.40   323.90
         
2013 First Quarter 419.75   351.78
  Second Quarter 458.39   383.05
  Third Quarter 462.79   423.86
  Fourth Quarter 560.90   427.25
         
2014 First Quarter 610.68   551.15
  Second Quarter 585.93   518.00
  Third Quarter 605.40   571.81
  Fourth Quarter 587.78   498.16
         
2015 First Quarter 581.44   497.06
  Second Quarter 573.66   532.74
  Third Quarter 699.62   541.70
  Fourth Quarter 793.96   642.00
         
2016 First Quarter 780.91   701.02
  Second Quarter 787.68   681.14
  Third Quarter 815.95   704.89
  Fourth Quarter 835.74   753.22
         
2017 First Quarter 872.37   807.77
  Second Quarter 1,004.28   839.88
  Third Quarter 998.31   919.46
  Fourth Quarter 1,085.09   966.78
         
2018 First Quarter 1,187.56   1,005.18
  Second Quarter 1,184.07   1,009.95
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 1,285.50   1,116.28

 

 P-15 
 

 

Amazon.com, Inc.

 

Amazon.com, Inc. is an online retailer that offers a wide range of products. The company products include books, music, videotapes, computers, electronics, home and garden, and numerous other products. The company offers personalized shopping services, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers. Its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “AMZN.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of Amazon.com, Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the first quarter of 2008 through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2008 First Quarter 96.25   62.43
  Second Quarter 84.51   71.99
  Third Quarter 88.09   63.35
  Fourth Quarter 69.58   35.03
         
2009 First Quarter 75.58   48.44
  Second Quarter 87.56   73.50
  Third Quarter 93.85   75.63
  Fourth Quarter 142.25   88.67
         
2010 First Quarter 136.55   116.00
  Second Quarter 150.09   108.61
  Third Quarter 160.73   109.14
  Fourth Quarter 184.76   153.03
         
2011 First Quarter 191.25   160.97
  Second Quarter 206.07   178.34
  Third Quarter 241.69   177.79
  Fourth Quarter 246.71   173.10
         
2012 First Quarter 205.44   175.93
  Second Quarter 231.90   185.50
  Third Quarter 261.68   215.36
  Fourth Quarter 261.50   220.64
         
2013 First Quarter 283.99   253.39
  Second Quarter 281.76   248.23
  Third Quarter 318.12   280.93
  Fourth Quarter 404.39   298.23
         
2014 First Quarter 407.05   336.52
  Second Quarter 342.99   288.32
  Third Quarter 360.84   307.06
  Fourth Quarter 338.64   287.06
         
2015 First Quarter 387.83   286.95
  Second Quarter 445.99   370.26
  Third Quarter 548.39   429.70
  Fourth Quarter 693.97   520.72
         
2016 First Quarter 636.99   482.07
  Second Quarter 728.24   586.14
  Third Quarter 837.31   725.68
  Fourth Quarter 844.36   719.07
         
2017 First Quarter 886.54   753.67
  Second Quarter 1,011.34   884.67
  Third Quarter 1,052.80   938.60
  Fourth Quarter 1,195.83   957.10
         
2018 First Quarter 1,598.39   1,189.01
  Second Quarter 1,750.08   1,371.99
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 1,863.61   1,693.96

 

 P-16 
 

 

Apple Inc.

 

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers and related personal computing and mobile communication devices along with a variety of related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, its retail stores, its direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, and resellers. Its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “AAPL.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of Apple Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the first quarter of 2008 through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2008 First Quarter 27.85   17.02
  Second Quarter 27.14   21.02
  Third Quarter 25.67   15.04
  Fourth Quarter 15.86   11.50
         
2009 First Quarter 15.70   11.17
  Second Quarter 20.67   15.53
  Third Quarter 26.59   19.34
  Fourth Quarter 30.23   25.82
         
2010 First Quarter 33.69   27.43
  Second Quarter 39.17   33.69
  Third Quarter 41.78   34.31
  Fourth Quarter 46.50   39.81
         
2011 First Quarter 51.88   46.67
  Second Quarter 50.44   45.05
  Third Quarter 59.06   49.03
  Fourth Quarter 60.32   51.93
         
2012 First Quarter 88.23   58.75
  Second Quarter 90.89   75.73
  Third Quarter 100.30   82.13
  Fourth Quarter 95.96   72.71
         
2013 First Quarter 78.43   60.01
  Second Quarter 66.26   55.79
  Third Quarter 72.53   58.46
  Fourth Quarter 81.44   68.71
         
2014 First Quarter 79.62   71.35
  Second Quarter 94.25   73.99
  Third Quarter 103.30   93.08
  Fourth Quarter 119.00   96.26
         
2015 First Quarter 133.00   105.99
  Second Quarter 132.65   124.25
  Third Quarter 132.07   103.12
  Fourth Quarter 122.57   105.26
         
2016 First Quarter 109.56   93.42
  Second Quarter 112.10   90.34
  Third Quarter 115.57   94.99
  Fourth Quarter 118.25   105.71
         
2017 First Quarter 144.12   116.02
  Second Quarter 156.10   140.68
  Third Quarter 164.05   142.73
  Fourth Quarter 176.42   153.48
         
2018 First Quarter 181.72   155.15
  Second Quarter 193.98   162.32
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 201.50   183.92

 

 P-17 
 

 

Facebook, Inc.

 

Facebook, Inc. operates a social networking website. The company website allows people to communicate with their family, friends, and co-workers. The company develops technologies that facilitate the sharing of information, photographs, website links, and videos. The company’s users have the ability to share and restrict information based on their own specific criteria. Its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “FB.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of Facebook, Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the second quarter of 2012 (when they commenced trading) through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2012 Second Quarter 38.37   25.87
  Third Quarter 32.17   17.73
  Fourth Quarter 28.24   18.99
         
2013 First Quarter 32.46   25.14
  Second Quarter 28.97   22.90
  Third Quarter 51.24   24.37
  Fourth Quarter 57.96   44.82
         
2014 First Quarter 72.03   53.53
  Second Quarter 67.60   56.14
  Third Quarter 79.04   62.76
  Fourth Quarter 81.45   72.63
         
2015 First Quarter 85.31   74.05
  Second Quarter 88.86   77.46
  Third Quarter 98.39   82.09
  Fourth Quarter 109.01   90.95
         
2016 First Quarter 116.14   94.16
  Second Quarter 120.50   108.76
  Third Quarter 131.05   114.00
  Fourth Quarter 133.28   115.05
         
2017 First Quarter 142.65   116.86
  Second Quarter 155.07   139.39
  Third Quarter 173.51   148.43
  Fourth Quarter 183.03   168.42
         
2018 First Quarter 193.09   152.22
  Second Quarter 202.00   155.10
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 217.50   176.26

 

 P-18 
 

 

Netflix Inc.

 

Netflix Inc. is an Internet subscription service for watching television shows and movies. Subscribers can watch unlimited television shows and movies streamed over the Internet to their televisions, computers, and mobile devices and in the United States, subscribers can receive standard definition DVDs and Blu-ray Discs delivered to their homes. Its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “NFLX.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of Netflix Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the first quarter of 2008 through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2008 First Quarter 5.45   3.11
  Second Quarter 5.81   3.72
  Third Quarter 4.71   3.82
  Fourth Quarter 4.29   2.56
         
2009 First Quarter 6.20   4.22
  Second Quarter 7.09   5.30
  Third Quarter 6.82   5.53
  Fourth Quarter 8.73   6.37
         
2010 First Quarter 10.72   7.02
  Second Quarter 18.12   10.71
  Third Quarter 24.38   14.00
  Fourth Quarter 29.41   21.33
         
2011 First Quarter 35.36   25.41
  Second Quarter 39.10   32.59
  Third Quarter 42.68   16.17
  Fourth Quarter 17.61   9.12
         
2012 First Quarter 18.46   10.32
  Second Quarter 16.28   8.95
  Third Quarter 12.14   7.68
  Fourth Quarter 13.67   8.01
         
2013 First Quarter 28.06   13.14
  Second Quarter 34.77   23.29
  Third Quarter 44.86   31.56
  Fourth Quarter 54.37   41.20
         
2014 First Quarter 65.00   46.96
  Second Quarter 64.10   44.89
  Third Quarter 69.20   60.27
  Fourth Quarter 66.69   45.21
         
2015 First Quarter 69.00   45.55
  Second Quarter 97.31   59.02
  Third Quarter 126.45   93.51
  Fourth Quarter 130.93   97.32
         
2016 First Quarter 117.68   82.79
  Second Quarter 111.51   85.33
  Third Quarter 100.09   85.84
  Fourth Quarter 128.35   99.50
         
2017 First Quarter 148.06   127.49
  Second Quarter 165.88   139.76
  Third Quarter 189.08   146.17
  Fourth Quarter 202.68   177.01
         
2018 First Quarter 331.44   201.07
  Second Quarter 416.76   280.29
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 418.97   334.96

 

 P-19 
 

 

NVIDIA Corporation

 

NVIDIA Corporation designs, develops, and markets three dimensional (3D) graphics processors and related software. The company offers products that provide interactive 3D graphics to the mainstream personal computer market. Its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “NVDA.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of NVIDIA Corporation

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the first quarter of 2008 through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2008 First Quarter 33.01   17.66
  Second Quarter 24.85   17.91
  Third Quarter 18.75   9.29
  Fourth Quarter 10.41   5.90
         
2009 First Quarter 10.56   7.21
  Second Quarter 12.30   8.40
  Third Quarter 16.47   10.09
  Fourth Quarter 18.13   11.96
         
2010 First Quarter 18.88   15.39
  Second Quarter 18.01   10.21
  Third Quarter 12.28   8.88
  Fourth Quarter 15.11   10.70
         
2011 First Quarter 25.69   15.77
  Second Quarter 20.50   15.41
  Third Quarter 16.15   11.73
  Fourth Quarter 15.82   11.81
         
2012 First Quarter 16.45   13.52
  Second Quarter 15.33   11.73
  Third Quarter 14.81   12.37
  Fourth Quarter 13.62   11.38
         
2013 First Quarter 13.16   11.98
  Second Quarter 14.92   12.13
  Third Quarter 16.00   14.09
  Fourth Quarter 16.22   14.54
         
2014 First Quarter 18.88   15.36
  Second Quarter 19.61   17.98
  Third Quarter 20.03   17.46
  Fourth Quarter 21.14   16.79
         
2015 First Quarter 23.47   19.14
  Second Quarter 22.76   20.11
  Third Quarter 24.65   19.31
  Fourth Quarter 33.75   24.17
         
2016 First Quarter 35.76   25.22
  Second Quarter 48.49   34.76
  Third Quarter 68.52   46.66
  Fourth Quarter 117.32   65.35
         
2017 First Quarter 119.13   97.67
  Second Quarter 159.94   95.49
  Third Quarter 187.55   139.33
  Fourth Quarter 216.96   179.00
         
2018 First Quarter 250.48   199.35
  Second Quarter 266.91   214.25
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 254.84   236.84

 

 P-20 
 

 

Tesla Inc.

 

Tesla Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance electric vehicles and electric vehicle powertrain components. The company owns its sales and service network, and sells electric powertrain components to other automobile manufacturers. Its common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “TSLA.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of Tesla Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the second quarter of 2010 (when they commenced trading) through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2010 Second Quarter 23.89   23.83
  Third Quarter 21.98   15.80
  Fourth Quarter 35.47   20.05
         
2011 First Quarter 28.45   21.83
  Second Quarter 30.14   24.65
  Third Quarter 29.73   21.95
  Fourth Quarter 34.94   23.66
         
2012 First Quarter 37.94   22.79
  Second Quarter 38.01   27.56
  Third Quarter 35.96   26.10
  Fourth Quarter 35.28   27.33
         
2013 First Quarter 39.48   32.91
  Second Quarter 110.30   40.50
  Third Quarter 193.42   109.10
  Fourth Quarter 193.00   120.50
         
2014 First Quarter 254.84   139.34
  Second Quarter 240.06   178.59
  Third Quarter 286.04   215.40
  Fourth Quarter 260.62   197.81
         
2015 First Quarter 220.99   185.00
  Second Quarter 268.79   187.59
  Third Quarter 282.26   218.87
  Fourth Quarter 247.57   206.93
         
2016 First Quarter 238.32   143.67
  Second Quarter 265.42   193.15
  Third Quarter 234.79   194.47
  Fourth Quarter 219.74   181.45
         
2017 First Quarter 280.98   216.99
  Second Quarter 383.45   295.00
  Third Quarter 385.00   308.83
  Fourth Quarter 359.65   299.26
         
2018 First Quarter 357.42   257.78
  Second Quarter 370.83   252.48
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 335.07   290.17

 

 P-21 
 

 

Twitter, Inc.

 

Twitter, Inc. provides online social networking and microblogging service. The company offers users the ability to follow other users’ activity, read, and post tweets. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TWTR.”

 

Historical Information of the Common Stock of Twitter, Inc.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of this Basket Component from the fourth quarter of 2013 (when they commenced trading) through August 1, 2018.

 

    High (in $)   Low (in $)
2013 Fourth Quarter 73.31   26.00
         
2014 First Quarter 69.00   44.43
  Second Quarter 46.98   30.50
  Third Quarter 53.00   36.87
  Fourth Quarter 55.42   35.13
         
2015 First Quarter 51.47   36.38
  Second Quarter 52.87   34.21
  Third Quarter 36.72   24.38
  Fourth Quarter 31.34   22.14
         
2016 First Quarter 22.56   14.31
  Second Quarter 17.75   14.01
  Third Quarter 23.72   15.77
  Fourth Quarter 24.87   16.30
         
2017 First Quarter 18.72   14.54
  Second Quarter 19.49   14.29
  Third Quarter 20.53   15.75
  Fourth Quarter 25.20   17.09
         
2018 First Quarter 36.60   22.16
  Second Quarter 46.76   27.54
  Third Quarter (through August 1, 2018) 46.65   31.38

 

 

P-22