Registration Statement No. 333-217200

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Autocallable Cash-Settled Notes with Fixed Interest Payments due December 31, 2018

Linked to the Lesser Performing of the Russell 2000^® Index and the VanEck Vectors^® Gold Miners ETF

 

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This pricing supplement relates an offering of Autocallable Cash-Settled Notes with Fixed Interest Payments linked to the Lesser Performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF (the “Underlying Assets”).

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The notes are designed for investors who are seeking fixed periodic interest payments equal to 0.80% of the principal amount per month, as well as a return of principal if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset on any Call Date beginning on June 26, 2018 is greater than 110% of its Initial Level (the “Call Level”). 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.

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The notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 0.80% of the principal amount per month ($8 per $1,000 in principal amount). Any interest will be payable on the 29th day of each month (or the 28th, in the case of February 2018) or the next business day (if not a business day), beginning on January 29, 2018, until December 31, 2018, subject to the automatic redemption feature.

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If on any Call Date beginning on June 26, 2018, the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset is greater than its Call Level, the notes will be automatically called. On the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, investors will receive the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment.

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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 Final Level of each Underlying Asset and whether the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset has declined from its Initial Level below its Trigger Level during the Monitoring Period (a “Trigger Event”), as described below.

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If the notes are not automatically redeemed, and a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, investors will be subject to one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any percentage decrease in the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset from its Initial Level to its Final Level. In such a case, you will receive a cash amount at maturity that is less than the principal amount.

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The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.

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All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.

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The offering priced on December 26, 2017, and the notes will settle through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on December 29, 2017.

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The notes are scheduled to mature on December 31, 2018.

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The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

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Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering.  See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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Product supplement dated May 1, 2017: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465917002863/p427170424b5.htm

 

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

 

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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.

 

 

Selected Risk Considerations

 

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

 

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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 whether a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and whether the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level.  If a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and if the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will be subject to a one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset from its 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.

 

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The protection provided by the Trigger Level of an Underlying Asset may terminate on any day during the Monitoring Period. — If the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset on any trading day during the Monitoring Period is less than its Trigger Level and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will be fully exposed at maturity to any decrease in the value of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.  Under these circumstances, if the Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset 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 Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level. You will be subject to this potential loss of principal even if, after the Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset, the value of each Underlying Asset increases above its Trigger Level.

 

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Your notes are subject to automatic early redemption. — We will redeem the notes if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset on any Call Date specified above is greater than its Call Level. Following an automatic redemption, you will not receive any additional 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.

 

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Your return on the notes is limited to the interest payments, regardless of any appreciation in the value of any Underlying Asset. — You will not receive a payment at maturity with a value greater than your principal amount plus the final interest payment.  In addition, if the notes are automatically called, you will not receive a payment greater than the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment, even if the Final Level of an Underlying Asset exceeds its Call Level by a substantial amount.  Accordingly, your maximum return for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes is equal to the 12 monthly payments of $8, or $96, a return of 9.60%.

 

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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 all 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.

 

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Your payment at maturity may be determined solely by reference to the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, even if the other Underlying Asset performs better. — If a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, your payment at maturity will be determined by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.  Even if the other Underlying Asset has appreciated in value compared to its Initial Level, or has experienced a decline that is less than that of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, your return at maturity will only be determined by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.

 

 

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The payments on the notes will be determined by reference to each Underlying Asset individually, not to a basket, and the payments on the notes will be based on the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset. — The payment at maturity if a Trigger Event occurs, will be determined only by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, regardless of the performance of the other Underlying Asset. The notes are not linked to a weighted basket, in which the risk may be mitigated and diversified among each of the basket components. For example, in the case of notes linked to a weighted basket, the return would depend on the weighted aggregate performance of the basket components reflected as the basket return. As a result, the depreciation of one basket component could be mitigated by the appreciation of the other basket component, as scaled by the weighting of that basket component. However, in the case of the notes, the individual performance of each Underlying Asset would not be combined, and the depreciation of one Underlying Asset would not be mitigated by any appreciation of the other Underlying Asset. Instead, your return at maturity will depend solely on the Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset if a Trigger Event occurs.

 

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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 GDX or the securities represented or held by the Underlying Assets 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 value of an Underlying Asset and, therefore, the market value of 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 Underlying Assets. 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.

 

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Our initial estimated value of the notes is 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 exceeds 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.

 

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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 pricing supplement is derived using our internal pricing models.  This value is based on market conditions and other relevant factors, which include volatility of the Underlying Assets, 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.

 

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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.

 

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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 agent’s commission 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.

 

 

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Owning the notes is not the same as owning the Underlying Assets or their components or a security directly linked to the performance of the Underlying Assets or their components.  — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Underlying Assets or their components or a security directly linked to the performance of the Underlying Assets or their components and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the Underlying Assets.  Changes in the value of an Underlying Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes.  Even if the value of an Underlying Asset increases from its Initial Level 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 prior to maturity to decrease while the value of an Underlying Asset increases.

 

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You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any securities represented by the Underlying Assets at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any securities represented by the Underlying Assets.  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 these securities.

 

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Adjustments to the Underlying Assets could adversely affect the value of the notes.  S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”), the sponsor of the RTY (the “Index Sponsor”), VanEck Associates, the investment advisor of the GDX, may add, delete or substitute the stocks represented or held by the Underlying Assets, or make other methodological changes. Further, these Index Sponsors and these investment advisors may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of these indices or discontinue or suspend maintenance of the GDX at any time, as applicable. Any of these actions could affect the value of and the return on the notes.

 

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We have no affiliation with the Index Sponsor (or the underlying index for the GDX) or the sponsor or investment advisor of the GDX and will not be responsible for any actions taken by them. — The sponsors of these indices and the sponsors or investment advisors of the GDX are not our affiliates, and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of these sponsors or the sponsors or investment advisors of the GDX, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payments on the notes. None of these index sponsors or the sponsor or investment advisor of the GDX has any obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, none of these index sponsors or the sponsor or investment advisor of the GDX has any obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the notes.  None of our proceeds from the issuance of the notes will be delivered to the Index Sponsor or the sponsor or investment advisor of the GDX.

 

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The performance of the GDX may not correlate with the performance of its underlying index as well as the net asset value per share of the GDX. — The performance of the GDX is linked principally to the performance of its underlying index and its net asset value per share. However, because of the potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product supplement, the return on the GDX may correlate imperfectly with the return on its underlying index or its net asset value per share.

 

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The GDX is subject to management risks. — The GDX is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the investment advisor may invest a portion of the GDX’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the investment advisor believes will help the GDX track the relevant industry or sector.

 

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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.

 

 

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Hedging and trading activities.  — We or any of our affiliates may have carried out or  may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including purchasing or selling securities included in an Underlying Asset, or futures or options relating to an Underlying Asset, or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of an Underlying Asset.  We or our affiliates may also engage in trading relating to an Underlying Asset 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 adversely affect our payment to you at maturity.

 

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Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the value of each Underlying Asset 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.

 

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You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Underlying Assets. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the values of the Underlying Assets or the securities represented or held by the Underlying Assets.  One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the Underlying Assets or these securities.  However, these views are subject to change from time to time.  Moreover, other professionals who deal in the markets relating to the Underlying Assets at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates.  You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Underlying Assets 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.

 

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An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated in investing in stocks with a small market capitalization. — The RTY consists of stocks issued by companies with relatively small market capitalizations.  These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies.  As a result, the level of the RTY may be more volatile than that of a market measure that does not track solely small-capitalization stocks.  Stock prices of small-capitalization companies are also generally more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded, and be less attractive to many investors if they do not pay dividends.  In addition, small capitalization companies are typically less well-established and less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of those individuals.  Small capitalization companies tend to have lower revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their target markets, fewer financial resources and fewer competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies.  These companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products or services.

 

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An investment in the notes linked to the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF is subject to risks associated with foreign securities markets. — The underlying index of the GDX, NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, tracks the value of certain foreign equity securities.  You should be aware that investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks.  The foreign securities markets comprising the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index may have less liquidity and may be more volatile than U.S. or other securities markets and market developments may affect foreign markets differently from U.S. or other securities markets.  Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize these foreign securities markets, as well as cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in these markets.  Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.

 

 

Prices of securities in foreign countries are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that apply in those geographical regions.  These factors, which could negatively affect those securities markets, include the possibility of recent or future changes in a foreign government’s economic and fiscal policies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, the possibility of outbreaks of hostility and political instability and the possibility of natural disaster or adverse public health developments in the region.  Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important respects such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.

 

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An investment in the notes linked to the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. — The share prices of the GDX will fluctuate based upon its net asset value, which will in turn depend in part upon changes in the value of the currencies in which the stocks held by the GDX are traded. Accordingly, investors in the notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which the stocks held by the GDX are traded.  An investor’s net exposure will depend on the extent to which these currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar.  If the dollar strengthens against these currencies, the net asset value of the GDX will be adversely affected and the price of the GDX may decrease.

 

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The holdings of the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF are concentrated in the gold and silver mining industries. — All or substantially all of the equity securities held by the GDX are issued by gold or silver mining companies. An investment in the notes will be exposed to risks in the gold and silver mining industries.  As a result of being linked to a single industry or sector, the notes may have increased volatility as the share price of the GDX may be more susceptible to adverse factors that affect that industry or sector. Competitive pressures may have a significant effect on the financial condition of companies in these industries.

 

In addition, these companies are highly dependent on the price of gold or silver, as applicable. These prices fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors. Factors affecting gold prices include economic factors, including, among other things, the structure of and confidence in the global monetary system, expectations of the future rate of inflation, the relative strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of gold is generally quoted), interest rates and gold borrowing and lending rates, and global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other events. Gold prices may also be affected by industry factors such as industrial and jewelry demand, lending, sales and purchases of gold by the official sector, including central banks and other governmental agencies and multilateral institutions which hold gold, levels of gold production and production costs, and short-term changes in supply and demand because of trading activities in the gold market. Factors affecting silver prices include general economic trends, technical developments, substitution issues and regulation, as well as specific factors including industrial and jewelry demand, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of silver is generally quoted) and other currencies, interest rates, central bank sales, forward sales by producers, global or regional political or economic events, and production costs and disruptions in major silver producing countries such as Mexico and Peru. The supply of silver consists of a combination of new mine production and existing stocks of bullion and fabricated silver held by governments, public and private financial institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals. In addition, the price of silver has on occasion been subject to very rapid short-term changes due to speculative activities. From time to time, above-ground inventories of silver may also influence the market.

 

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Relationship to gold and silver bullion. — The GDX invests in shares of gold and silver mining companies, but not in gold bullion or silver bullion. The GDX may under- or over-perform gold bullion and/or silver bullion over the term of the notes.

 

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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 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 “U.S. Federal Tax Information” in this pricing supplement, the section entitled “Supplemental Tax Considerations–-Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product 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.

 

 

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 for each Underlying Asset, a hypothetical Trigger Level of 70.00 for each Underlying Asset (70% of its hypothetical Initial Level), a hypothetical Call Level of 110 for each Underlying Asset (110% of its hypothetical Initial Level), a range of hypothetical Final Levels of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset and the effect on the payment at maturity if (i) a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset or (ii) if a Trigger Event does not occur with respect to each Underlying Asset.

 

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 whether the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset is below its Trigger Level on any trading day during the Monitoring Period and whether the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is below its Initial Level on the Valuation Date.  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 interest payment.

 

The table below does not reflect the interest payments on the notes.

 

 

 

U.S. Federal Tax Information

 

The following table sets forth the amount of stated interest on the notes and the portion that will be treated as an interest payment and as payment for the Put Option for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

 

Please see the discussion (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product supplement dated May 1, 2017 under “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” which applies to the notes, except that the following disclosure supplements, and to the extent inconsistent supersedes, the discussion in the product supplement.

 

Under current Internal Revenue Service guidance, withholding on “dividend equivalent” payments (as discussed in the product supplement), if any, will not apply to notes that are issued as of the date of this pricing supplement unless such notes are “delta-one” instruments. Based on our determination that the notes are not delta-one instruments, non-U.S. holders should not generally be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the notes.

 

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.

 

Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions.  The public offering price for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be less than 100% of the principal amount, as set forth on the cover page of this document.  Investors that hold their notes in these accounts may be charged fees by the investment advisor or manager of that account based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including 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, 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.

 

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

 

The Underlying Assets

 

All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Underlying Assets, including, without limitation, their make-up, method of calculation, and changes in their components and their historical closing values, have been derived from publicly available information prepared by the applicable sponsors. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the sponsors. The sponsors own the copyrights and all rights to the Underlying Assets. The sponsors are under no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Underlying Assets. Neither we nor BMO Capital Markets Corp. accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of any Underlying Asset or any successor.

 

 

The RTY was developed by Russell Investments (“Russell”) before FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) and Russell combined in 2015 to create FTSE Russell, which is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. Russell began dissemination of the RTY (Bloomberg L.P. index symbol “RTY”) on January 1, 1984. The RTY was set to 135 as of the close of business on December 31, 1986. FTSE Russell calculates and publishes the RTY. The RTY is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. As a subset of the Russell 3000^® Index, the RTY consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000^® Index. The Russell 3000^® Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies. The RTY is determined, comprised, and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the notes.

 

Selection of Stocks Comprising the RTY

 

All companies eligible for inclusion in the RTY must be classified as a U.S. company under FTSE Russell’s country-assignment methodology. If a company is incorporated, has a stated headquarters location, and trades in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible), then the company is assigned to its country of incorporation. If any of the three factors are not the same, FTSE Russell defines three Home Country Indicators (“HCIs”): country of incorporation, country of headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange (as defined by a two-year average daily dollar trading volume) (“ADDTV”) from all exchanges within a country. Using the HCIs, FTSE Russell compares the primary location of the company’s assets with the three HCIs. If the primary location of its assets matches any of the HCIs, then the company is assigned to the primary location of its assets. If there is insufficient information to determine the country in which the company’s assets are primarily located, FTSE Russell will use the primary country from which the company’s revenues are primarily derived for the comparison with the three HCIs in a similar manner. FTSE Russell uses the average of two years of assets or revenues data to reduce potential turnover. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenues data, FTSE Russell will assign the company to the country of its headquarters, which is defined as the address of the company’s principal executive offices, unless that country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation “BDI” country, in which case the company will be assigned to the country of its most liquid stock exchange. BDI countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands. For any companies incorporated or headquartered in a U.S. territory, including countries such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. HCI is assigned.

 

All securities eligible for inclusion in the RTY must trade on a major U.S. exchange. Bulletin board, pink sheets, and over-the-counter (“OTC”) traded securities are not eligible for inclusion. Stocks must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange on the last trading day in July to be eligible for inclusion during annual reconstitution. However, in order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s closing price is less than $1.00 on the last day of July, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from its primary exchange) during the month of July is equal to or greater than $1.00. Initial public offerings must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on the last day of their eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion. If an existing stock does not trade on the “rank day” (typically the last trading day in July but a confirmed timetable is announced each spring), but does have a closing price at or above $1.00 on another eligible U.S. exchange, that stock will be eligible for inclusion. Companies with a total market capitalization of less than $30 million are not eligible for the RTY. Similarly, companies with only 5% or less of their shares available in the marketplace are not eligible for the RTY.

 

 

Royalty trusts, limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies (companies that are required to report Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, as defined by the SEC, including business development companies, are not eligible), blank check companies, special-purpose acquisition companies, exchange traded funds, mutual funds and limited partnerships are ineligible for inclusion. Preferred and convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants, rights, installment receipts and trust receipts are not eligible for inclusion in the RTY.

 

Annual reconstitution is a process by which the RTY is completely rebuilt. On the rank day of July, all eligible securities are ranked by their total market capitalization. The largest 4,000 become the Russell 3000E Index, and the other FTSE Russell indexes are determined from that set of securities. Reconstitution of the RTY occurs on the last Friday in June or, when the last Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, reconstitution occurs on the prior Friday. In addition, FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings to the RTY on a quarterly basis based on total market capitalization ranking within the market-adjusted capitalization breaks established during the most recent reconstitution.

 

After membership is determined, a security’s shares are adjusted to include only those shares available to the public. This is often referred to as “free float.” The purpose of the adjustment is to exclude from market calculations the capitalization that is not available for purchase and is not part of the investable opportunity set.

 

 

License Agreement

 

“Russell 2000^®” and “Russell 3000^®” are trademarks of FTSE Russell and have been licensed for use by us.

 

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the RTY to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell's publication of the RTY in no way suggests or implies an opinion by FTSE Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the RTY is based. FTSE Russell's only relationship to the Issuer is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of FTSE Russell and of the RTY which is determined, composed and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the Issuer or the notes. FTSE Russell is not responsible for and has not reviewed the notes nor any associated literature or publications and FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. FTSE Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the RTY. FTSE Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes.

 

FTSE RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND FTSE RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ISSUER, INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED HEREIN WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING. IN NO EVENT SHALL FTSE RUSSELL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

 

 

In this section, the Underlying Asset refers to the shares of the VanEck Vectors^® Gold Miners ETF (the “GDX”), and the Underlying Index refers to the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index.

 

The Underlying Asset is an investment portfolio maintained, managed and advised by Van Eck. The Market Vectors^® ETF Trust is a registered open-end investment company that consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the Underlying Asset.

 

The Underlying Asset is an exchange traded fund that trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “GDX.”

 

The Underlying Asset seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index was developed by the NYSE Amex and is calculated, maintained and published by NYSE Arca. The Underlying Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in mining for gold or silver.

 

The Underlying Asset utilizes a “passive” or “indexing” investment approach in attempting to track the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Asset will invest in all of the securities which comprise the Underlying Index. The Underlying Asset will normally invest at least 95% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Underlying Index.

 

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Van Eck. Van Eck makes no representations or warranties to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the notes. Van Eck has no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the notes.

 

The Underlying Index

 

We have derived all information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Underlying Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information and information supplied by NYSE Arca. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, NYSE Arca. The Underlying Index was developed by the NYSE Amex (formerly the American Stock Exchange) and is calculated, maintained and published by the NYSE Arca. The NYSE Arca has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue the publication of, the Underlying Index.

 

The Underlying Index includes common stocks, ADRs and GDRs of selected companies that are involved primarily in mining for gold or silver and that are listed for trading and electronically quoted on a major stock market that is accessible by foreign investors.  Generally, this will include exchanges in most developed markets and major emerging markets, and will include companies that are cross-listed, e.g., both U.S. and Canadian listings. NYSE Arca will use its discretion to avoid exchanges and markets that are considered “frontier” in nature or have major restrictions to foreign ownership. The Underlying Index includes companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from gold mining and related activities (40% for companies that were included in the Underlying Index prior to September 23, 2013).  Also, the Underlying Index maintains exposure to companies with a significant revenue exposure to silver mining in addition to gold mining, which will not exceed 20% of the Underlying Index weight at each rebalance.

 

Only companies with market capitalizations greater than $750 million that have an average daily volume of at least 50,000 shares over the past three months and an average daily value traded of at least $1 million over the past three months are eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index. Starting in December 2013, for companies that were included in the Underlying Index prior to September 23, 2013, the market capitalization requirement at each rebalance became $450 million, the average daily volume requirement will be at least 30,000 shares over the past three months and the average daily value traded requirement will be at least $600,000 over the past three months. NYSE Arca has the discretion to not include all companies that meet the minimum criteria for inclusion. The Underlying Index’s benchmark value was 500.00 at the close of trading on December 20, 2002.

 

 

Calculation of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is calculated by NYSE Arca on a price return basis. The calculation is based on the current modified market capitalization divided by a divisor. The divisor was determined on the initial capitalization base of the Underlying Index and the base level and may be adjusted as a result of corporate actions and composition changes, as described below.

 

Index Maintenance.  The Underlying Index is reviewed quarterly to ensure that at least 90% of the index weight is accounted for by index components that continue to meet the initial eligibility requirements. NYSE Arca may at any time and from time to time change the number of securities comprising the group by adding or deleting one or more securities, or replacing one or more securities contained in the group with one or more substitute securities of its choice, if in NYSE Arca’s discretion such addition, deletion or substitution is necessary or appropriate to maintain the quality and/or character of the Underlying Index. Components will be removed from the Underlying Index during the quarterly review if (1) the market capitalization falls below $450 million, or (2) the traded average daily shares for the previous three months is lower than 30,000 shares and the traded average daily value for the previous three months is less than $600,000.

 

At the time of the quarterly rebalance, the component security quantities will be modified to conform to the following asset diversification requirements:

 

(1)

the weight of any single component security may not account for more than 20% of the total value of the Underlying Index;

 

(2)

the component securities are split into two subgroups–-large and small, which are ranked by market capitalization weight in the Underlying Index. Large securities are defined as having a starting index weight greater than or equal to 5%. Small securities are defined as having a starting index weight below 5%; and

 

(3)

the final aggregate weight of those component securities which individually represent more than 4.5% of the total value of the Underlying Index may not account for more than 45% of the total index value.

 

The weights of the components securities (taking into account expected component changes and share adjustments) are modified in accordance with the Underlying Index’s diversification rules.

 

Changes to the index composition and/or the component security weights in the Underlying Index are determined and announced prior to taking effect, which typically occurs after the close of trading on the third Friday of each calendar quarter month in connection with the quarterly index rebalance. The share quantities of each component security in the index portfolio remains fixed between quarterly reviews except in the event of certain types of corporate actions such as stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, or similar events. The share quantities used in the index calculation are not typically adjusted for shares issued or repurchased between quarterly reviews. However, in the event of a merger between two components, the share quantity of the surviving entity may be adjusted to account for any stock issued in the acquisition.  NYSE Arca may substitute securities or change the number of securities included in the Underlying Index, based on changing conditions in the industry or in the event of certain types of corporate actions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and reorganizations. In the event of component or share quantity changes to the index portfolio, the payment of dividends other than ordinary cash dividends, spin-offs, rights offerings, re-capitalization, or other corporate actions affecting a component security of the Underlying Index, the index divisor may be adjusted to ensure that there are no changes to the index level as a result of nonmarket forces.

 

 

Historical Performances of the Underlying Assets

 

The following tables set forth the quarter-end high and low closing levels for each Underlying Asset from the first quarter of 2008 through the Pricing Date.

 

The historical levels of the Underlying Assets are provided for informational purposes only. You should not take the historical levels of the applicable Underlying Asset as an indication of its future performance, which may be better or worse than the levels set forth below.

Closing Levels of the Russell 2000^® Index

 

 

 

Closing Prices of the VanEck Vectors^® Gold Miners ETF

 

 

 

Validty of the Notes

 

In the opinion of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, the issue and sale of the notes has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Bank in conformity with the Senior Indenture, and when this pricing supplement has been attached to, and duly notated on, the master note that represents the notes, the notes will have been validly executed and issued and, to the extent validity of the notes is a matter governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, and will be valid obligations of the Bank, subject to the following limitations (i) the enforceability of the Senior Indenture may be limited by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (Canada), the Winding-up and Restructuring Act (Canada) and bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, arrangement or winding-up laws or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (ii) the enforceability of the Senior Indenture may be limited by equitable principles, including the principle that equitable remedies such as specific performance and injunction may only be granted in the discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction; (iii) pursuant to the Currency Act (Canada) a judgment by a Canadian court must be awarded in Canadian currency and that such judgment may be based on a rate of exchange in existence on a day other than the day of payment; and (iv) the enforceability of the Senior Indenture will be subject to the limitations contained in the Limitations Act, 2002 (Ontario), and such counsel expresses no opinion as to whether a court may find any provision of the Senior Debt Indenture to be unenforceable as an attempt to vary or exclude a limitation period under that Act.  This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the Provinces of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto.  In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the Trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated April 27, 2017, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.3 to Bank of Montreal’s Form 6-K filed with the SEC and dated April 27, 2017.

 

In the opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP, when the pricing supplement has been attached to, and duly notated on, the master note that represents the notes, and the notes have been issued and sold as contemplated by the prospectus supplement and the prospectus, the notes will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of Bank of Montreal, entitled to the benefits of the Senior Indenture, 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).  This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York.  This opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the Trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Senior Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and to such counsel’s reliance on the Bank and other sources as to certain factual matters, all as stated in the legal opinion dated April 27, 2017, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.4 to the Bank’s Form 6-K dated April 27, 2017.

 

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