Index Governance
An S&P Dow Jones index committee (the “Index Committee”) maintains the SPX Futures Index. All committee members are full-time professional members of S&P Dow Jones’ staff. The Index Committee may revise index policy covering rules for including currencies, the timing of rebalancing or other matters. The Index Committee considers information about changes to the SPX Futures Index and related matters to be potentially market moving and material. Therefore, all Index Committee discussions are confidential.
The Index Committees reserve the right to make exceptions when applying the methodology of the SPX Futures Index if the need arises. In any scenario where the treatment differs from the general rules stated in this document or supplemental documents, notice will be provided, whenever possible.
In addition to the daily governance of the SPX Futures Index and maintenance of its index methodology, at least once within any 12-month period, the Index Committee reviews the methodology to ensure the SPX Futures Index continues to achieve the stated objectives, and that the data and methodology remain effective. In certain instances, S&P Dow Jones may publish a consultation inviting comments from external parties.
License Agreement
JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliate has entered into an agreement with S&P Dow Jones that provides it and certain of its affiliates or subsidiaries, including JPMorgan Financial, with a non-exclusive license and, for a fee, with the right to use the SPX Futures Index, which is owned and published by S&P Dow Jones, in connection with certain securities, including the notes.
The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones or its third-party licensors. Neither S&P Dow Jones nor its third-party licensors make any 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 SPX Futures Index to track general stock market performance. S&P Dow Jones’ and its third-party licensors’ only relationship to JPMorgan Financial or JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P Dow Jones and the third-party licensors and of the SPX Futures Index which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones or its third-party licensors without regard to JPMorgan Financial or JPMorgan Chase & Co. or the notes. S&P Dow Jones and its third-party licensors have no obligation to take the needs of JPMorgan Financial or JPMorgan Chase & Co. or the owners of the notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the SPX Futures Index. Neither S&P Dow Jones nor its third-party licensors are responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the notes are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes.
NEITHER S&P DOW JONES, ITS AFFILIATES NOR THEIR THIRD-PARTY LICENSORS GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SPX FUTURES INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR ANY COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES, ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR THIRD-PARTY LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES 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 MARKS, THE SPX FUTURES INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES, ITS AFFILIATES OR THEIR THIRD-PARTY LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE.
“S&P®” and “S&P 500®” are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates and have been licensed for use by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates, including JPMorgan Financial.
Background on Futures Contracts
Overview of Futures Markets
Futures contracts are contracts that legally obligate the holder to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined delivery price during a specified future time period. Futures contracts are traded on regulated futures exchanges, in the over-the-counter market and on various types of physical and electronic trading facilities and markets. An exchange-traded futures contract provides for the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of an underlying asset or financial instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price. A futures contract provides for a specified settlement month in which the cash settlement is made or in which the underlying asset or financial instrument is to be delivered by the seller (whose position is therefore described as “short”) and acquired by the purchaser (whose position is therefore described as “long”).
No purchase price is paid or received on the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Instead, an amount of cash or cash equivalents must be deposited with the broker as “initial margin.” This amount varies based on the requirements imposed by the exchange clearing