SEC Form FWP filed by Bank Of Montreal

 

Registration Statement No.333-285508
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Subject to Completion, dated February 20, 2026
Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated March 25, 2025,
the Prospectus Supplement dated March 25, 2025 and the Product Supplement dated March 25, 2025

US$ [ ]
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series K
Autocallable Buffer Enhanced Return Notes due February 25, 2031
Linked to the shares of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF

●The notes are designed for investors who are seeking 126.00% leveraged positive return based on any appreciation in the level of the shares of VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF (the “Reference Asset”) if the notes are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity. Investors should be willing to have their notes automatically redeemed prior to maturity, be willing to forego any potential to participate in any increase in the level of the Reference Asset if the notes are automatically redeemed, be willing to forego any interest payments, and be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity if the notes are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity.

●On March 1, 2027, if the closing level of the Reference Asset is greater than 100.00% of its Initial Level (its “Call Level”), the notes will be automatically redeemed. On the corresponding settlement date (the “Call Settlement Date"), investors will receive their principal amount plus the applicable Call Amount (which represents a return of approximately 25.00% per annum). After the notes are redeemed, investors will not receive any additional payments in respect of the notes and will not participate in any positive performance of the Reference Asset.

●If the notes are not automatically redeemed and the Reference Asset decreases by more than 20.00% from its Initial Level, investors will lose 1.25% of the principal amount for each 1% decrease in the level of the Reference Asset from its Initial Level to its Final Level in excess of 20.00%. In such a case, you will receive a cash amount at maturity that is less than the principal amount, and may lose up to 100.00% of your principal amount at maturity.

●Investing in the notes is not equivalent to a direct investment in the Reference Asset.

●The notes do not bear interest. 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.

●The CUSIP number of the notes is 06370EDV7.

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

●The notes will not be subject to conversion into our common shares or the common shares of any of our affiliates under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (the “CDIC Act”).

Terms of the Notes:1

Pricing Date:	February 20, 2026		Valuation Date:	February 20, 2031
Settlement Date:	February 25, 2026		Maturity Date:	February 25, 2031

1Expected. See “Key Terms of the Notes” below for additional details.

	Price to Public1	Agent’s Commission1	Proceeds to Bank of Montreal1
Per Note Total	100% [ ]	0.00% [ ]	100.00% [ ]

1 We or one of our affiliates may also pay a referral fee to certain dealers in connection with the distribution of the notes.

Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-5 hereof, the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-5 of the product supplement, and the “Risk Factors” section 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 these notes or passed upon the accuracy of this document, 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 hereof, based on the terms set forth above, the estimated initial value of the notes is $973.90 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 $925.00 per $1,000 in principal amount. However, as discussed in more detail below, the actual value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS

Key Terms of the Notes:

Reference Asset:	The shares of the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF (ticker symbol "GDX") . See "The Reference Asset" below for additional information.
Underlying Index:	The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index
Automatic Redemption:	On March 1, 2027, if the closing level of the Reference Asset is greater than its Call Level, the notes will be automatically redeemed. No further amounts will be owed to you under the notes and you will not participate in any positive performance of the Reference Asset.
Payment upon Automatic Redemption:	If the notes are automatically redeemed, then, on the corresponding Call Settlement Date, investors will receive their principal amount plus the applicable Call Amount.
Observation Date, Call Settlement Date and Call Amount:1,2	Observation Date Call Amount (per Note) Potential Call Settlement Date March 1, 2027 $250.00 March 4, 2027 The Call Amount represents a return of approximately 25.00% per annum.
Payment at Maturity:	If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity for the notes is based on the performance of the Reference Asset:    If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is greater than or equal to its Initial Level, then the amount that investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal: $1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change of the Reference Asset x Upside Leverage Factor)] If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level, but is not less than its Buffer Level, then investors will, for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, receive the principal amount of $1,000 and no additional return. If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Buffer Level, then the amount that investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal: $1,000 + [$1,000 x ((Percentage Change of the Reference Asset + Buffer Percentage) x Downside Leverage Factor)] In this case, investors will lose 1.25% of their principal for each 1% that the Final Level of the Reference Asset declines from its Initial Level in excess of 20.00%. You may lose all of the principal amount of your notes.
Upside Leverage Factor:	126.00%
Downside Leverage Factor:	A percentage equal to the quotient of 100% divided by 80% (125.00%)
Percentage Change:	The quotient, expressed as a percentage, of the following formula: (Final Level - Initial Level ) Initial Level
Initial Level:2	The closing level of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date.
Call Level:2	100.00% of the Initial Level.
Buffer Level:2	80.00% of the Initial Level.
Buffer Percentage:2	20.00% Accordingly, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity only if the level of the Reference Asset does not decrease by more than 20.00% over the term of the notes. If the Final Level of the Reference Asset is less than its Buffer Level, you will receive less than the principal amount of your notes at maturity and you could lose up to 100.00% of the principal amount of your notes.
Final Level:	The closing level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date.
Pricing Date:1	February 20, 2026
Settlement Date:1	February 25, 2026
Valuation Date:1	February 20, 2031

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Maturity Date:1	February 25, 2031
Calculation Agent:	BMOCM
Selling Agent:	BMOCM

1 Expected and subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event, as described in the accompanying product supplement. If we make any change to the expected Pricing Date and Settlement Date, the Valuation Date and Maturity Date will be changed so that the stated term of the notes remains approximately the same.

2As determined by the calculation agent and subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. See “General Terms of the Notes — Anti-dilution Adjustments to a Reference Asset that Is an Equity Security (Including Any ETF)” and “— Adjustments to Reference Asset that Is an ETF” in the product supplement for additional information.

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Payoff Example

The following table shows the hypothetical payout profile of an investment in the notes assuming the notes are not automatically redeemed, based on various hypothetical Final Levels (and the corresponding Percentage Change) of the Reference Asset, reflecting the 126.00% Upside Leverage Factor, and Buffer Level of 80.00% of the Initial Level and the Downside Leverage Factor of 125.00%. Please see “Examples of the Hypothetical Payment at Maturity for a $1,000 Investment in the Notes” below for more detailed examples. If the notes are automatically redeemed, investors will receive their principal amount plus the applicable Call Amount. After the notes are redeemed, investors will not receive any additional payments in respect of the notes and will not participate in any positive performance of the Reference Asset.

Hypothetical Percentage Change of the Reference Asset	Participation in Percentage Change	Hypothetical Return of the Notes
20%   10%	126.00% Upside Exposure	25.20%   12.60%
-10%   -20%	Buffer Level of 80.00% of Initial Level	0%   0%
-30%   -40%	1.25x Loss Beyond Buffer Level	-12.50%   -25.00%

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Additional Terms of the Notes

You should read this document together with the product supplement dated March 25, 2025, the prospectus supplement dated March 25, 2025 and the prospectus dated March 25, 2025. This document, 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 March 25, 2025:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465925004741/g324250424b2.htm

Prospectus supplement dated March 25, 2025 and prospectus dated March 25, 2025:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312525062081/d840917d424b5.htm

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this document, "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 http://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.

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Selected Risk Considerations

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

Risks Related to the Structure or Features of the Notes

●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 and the Final Level is less than its Buffer Level, you will lose 1.25% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Final Level is less than the Initial Level in excess of the Buffer Percentage. 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 your entire investment in the notes.

●Your notes are subject to automatic early redemption. — We will redeem the notes if the closing level of the Reference Asset on any Observation Date is greater than its Call Level. Following an automatic redemption, you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds in an investment with returns that are comparable to the notes. Furthermore, to the extent you are able to reinvest such proceeds in an investment with a comparable return for a similar level of risk, you may incur transaction costs such as dealer discounts and hedging costs built into the price of the new notes.

●If the notes are automatically redeemed, your return on the notes is limited to the potential Call Amount regardless of any increase in the level of the Reference Asset. — If the notes are automatically redeemed, you will not receive a payment with a value greater than your principal amount plus the applicable Call Amount, even if the Final Level of the Reference Asset exceeds its Call Level by a substantial amount. Accordingly, your maximum return on the applicable notes is limited to the potential return represented by the Call Amount if the notes are automatically redeemed.

●If the notes are not automatically redeemed, your return may be less than if the notes were automatically redeemed and may be negative. — If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity for the notes is based on the performance of the Reference Asset over the term of the notes, which may be negative. If the level of the Reference Asset has performed positively over the term of the notes, your return may still be less than the return represented by the Call Amount. Furthermore, even if the return you receive is greater than the return represented by the Call Amount, such return may reflect a lower return on a per annum basis. If the notes are not automatically redeemed and the Final Level is less than its Buffer Level, your return on the notes will be negative. Depending on the Final level of the Reference Asset, the return you receive at maturity may be less than, and potentially significantly less than, the return represented by the Call Amount.

●Your return on the notes may be lower than the return on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. — The return that you will receive on your notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. The notes do not provide for interest payments and the payment you receive at maturity, if any, may be less than the principal amount of the notes. Even if your return on the notes is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of ours with the same maturity or if you invested directly in the Reference Asset. Your investment may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect the time value of money.

Risks Related to the Reference Asset

●Owning the notes is not the same as owning shares of the Reference Asset or a security directly linked to the Reference Asset. — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of the Reference Asset or a security directly linked to the performance of the Reference Asset and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the Reference Asset. Changes in the level of the Reference Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes. Even if the level of the Reference Asset increases 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 level of the Reference Asset increases. In addition, any dividends or other distributions paid on the Reference Asset will not be reflected in the amount payable on the notes.

●You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any shares of the Reference Asset (or any company included in the Reference Asset) at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the Reference Asset or any securities held by the Reference Asset. 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 the Reference Asset or such underlying securities.

●No delivery of shares of the Reference Asset. — The notes will be payable only in cash. You should not invest in the notes if you seek to have the shares of the Reference Asset delivered to you at maturity.

●Changes that affect the applicable Underlying Index will affect the market value of the notes and the amount you will receive at maturity. — The policies of the applicable index sponsor concerning the calculation of the applicable Underlying Index, additions, deletions or substitutions of the components of the applicable Underlying Index and the manner in which changes affecting those components, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, may be reflected in the applicable Reference Asset and, therefore, could affect the share price of the Reference Asset, the amounts payable on the notes, and the market value of the notes prior to maturity. The amount payable on the notes and their market value could also be affected if the applicable index sponsor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the applicable Underlying Index, or if the applicable index sponsor discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the applicable Underlying Index.

●We have no affiliation with the index sponsor of the applicable Underlying Index and will not be responsible for its actions. — The sponsor of the applicable Underlying Index is not our affiliate and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of the index sponsor of the applicable Underlying Index, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The index sponsors have no obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, the applicable index sponsor has no 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 of the applicable Underlying Index.

●Adjustments to the Reference Asset could adversely affect the notes. — The sponsor and advisor of the Reference Asset is responsible for calculating and maintaining the Reference Asset. The sponsor and advisor of the Reference Asset can add, delete or substitute the stocks comprising the Reference Asset or make other methodological changes that could change the share price of the Reference Asset at any time.

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If one or more of these events occurs, the calculation of the amount payable at maturity may be adjusted to reflect such event or events. Consequently, any of these actions could adversely affect the amount payable at maturity and/or the market value of the notes.

●We and our affiliates do not have any affiliation with the applicable investment advisor or the Reference Asset Issuer and are not responsible for their public disclosure of information. — The investment advisor of the Reference Asset advises the issuer of the Reference Asset (the “Reference Asset Issuer” ) on various matters, including matters relating to the policies, maintenance and calculation of the Reference Asset. We and our affiliates are not affiliated with the applicable investment advisor or the Reference Asset Issuer in any way and have no ability to control or predict its actions, including any errors in or discontinuance of disclosure regarding the methods or policies relating to the Reference Asset. Neither the applicable investment advisor nor the Reference Asset Issuer is involved in the offerings of the notes in any way and has no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the notes in taking any actions relating to the Reference Asset that might affect the value of the notes. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has independently verified the adequacy or accuracy of the information about the applicable investment advisor or the Reference Asset contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the notes, should make your own investigation into the Reference Asset Issuer.

●The correlation between the performance of the Reference Asset and the performance of the applicable Underlying Index may be imperfect. — The performance of the Reference Asset is linked principally to the performance of the applicable Underlying Index. However, because of the potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product supplement, the return on the Reference Asset may correlate imperfectly with the return on the applicable Underlying Index.

●The Reference Asset is subject to management risks. — The Reference Asset is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the applicable 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 applicable investment advisor may invest a portion of the Reference Asset Issuer’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the applicable investment advisor believes will help the Reference Asset track the relevant industry or sector.

●You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Reference Asset. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the prices of the Reference Asset or the prices of the securities held by the Reference Asset. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Reference Asset 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.

Risks Relating to the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF

●An investment in the notes is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. — The share price of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF 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 VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF are traded. Accordingly, investors in the notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of these currencies. 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 VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF will be adversely affected and the price of its shares may decrease.

●An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with foreign securities markets. — The Underlying Index of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF 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 Underlying Index of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF 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.

●An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with emerging markets. — The Underlying Index of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF consists of stocks issued by companies in countries with emerging markets. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions (due to economic dependence upon commodity prices and international trade), and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens, currency devaluations or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.
The shares tracked by the Underlying Index of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF may be listed on a foreign stock exchange. A foreign stock exchange may impose trading limitations intended to prevent extreme fluctuations in individual security prices and may suspend trading in certain circumstances. These actions could limit variations in the levels of the of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF, which could, in turn, adversely affect the value of, and amount payable on, the notes.

●An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with concentration in the gold and silver mining industries. — All or substantially all of the equity securities held by the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF are issued by gold or silver mining companies. An investment in the notes will be

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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 VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF 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.

●Relationship to gold and silver bullion. — The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF invests in shares of gold and silver mining companies, but not in gold bullion or silver bullion. The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF may under- or over-perform gold bullion and/or silver bullion over the term of the notes.

●The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF has recently transitioned to tracking a new underlying index, which could adversely affect its performance. — Prior to September 19, 2025, the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. After market close on September 19, 2025, the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF’s benchmark index became the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index differs from the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index in important ways, including use of different market capitalization criteria for inclusion in the index and different weighting schemes, and the composition of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF has changed as a result of this transition.
When evaluating the historical performance of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF, you should bear in mind that the index tracked by the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF before market close on September 19, 2025 is different from the index that the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF tracks currently. The historical performance of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF might have been meaningfully different (positive or negative) had the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF tracked the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index before market close on September 19, 2025.
We cannot predict what effect these changes may have on the performance of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF. It is possible that these changes could adversely affect the performance of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF and, in turn, your return on the notes.

General Risk Factors

●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.

●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 Reference Asset 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 level of the Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset. 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 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 of the notes may be as low as the amount indicated on the cover page hereof.

●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 hereof 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 Reference Asset, 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 herein and in 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 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

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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.

●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 have carried out or may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including purchasing or selling shares of the Reference Asset or securities held by the Reference Asset, futures or options relating to the Reference Asset or securities held by the Reference Asset or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance on the Reference Asset or securities held by the Reference Asset. We or our affiliates may also trade in the Reference Asset, such securities, or instruments related to the Reference Asset or such securities 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 the payments on the notes.

●Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the level of the Reference 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.

●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 herein.
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" herein, 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.

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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. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00, a hypothetical Upside Leverage Factor of 126.00%, a hypothetical Buffer Level of $80.00 (80.00% of the hypothetical Initial Level), a Downside Leverage Factor of 125.00%, a range of hypothetical Final Levels and the effect on the payment at maturity.

The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the actual cash amount that you will receive at maturity will depend upon the Final Level of the Reference Asset. If the notes are automatically redeemed 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 Call Amount. You may lose some or all of the principal amount at maturity.

Hypothetical Final Level	Hypothetical Final Level Expressed as a Percentage of the Initial Level	Hypothetical Payment at Maturity	Hypothetical Return on the Notes
$200.00	200.00%	$2,260.00	126.00%
$180.00	180.00%	$2,008.00	100.80%
$160.00	160.00%	$1,756.00	75.60%
$140.00	140.00%	$1,504.00	50.40%
$120.00	120.00%	$1,252.00	25.20%
$100.00	100.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
$90.00	90.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
$80.00	80.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
$79.99	79.99%	$999.875	-0.0125%
$60.00	60.00%	$750.00	-25.00%
$40.00	40.00%	$500.00	-50.00%
$20.00	20.00%	$250.00	-75.00%
$0.00	0.00%	$0.00	-100.00%

The following examples illustrate how the returns set forth in the table above are calculated.

Example 1: The level of the Reference Asset decreases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $60.00, representing a Percentage Change of –40.00%. Because the Percentage Change of the Reference Asset is negative and its hypothetical Final Level is less than its Buffer Level, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $750.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x ((–40.00% + 20.00%) x 125.00%)] = $750.00

Example 2: The level of the Reference Asset decreases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $90.00, representing a Percentage Change of -10.00%. Although the Percentage Change of the Reference Asset is negative, because its hypothetical Final Level is greater than its Buffer Level, the investor receives a payment at maturity equal to the principal amount of the notes.

Example 3: The level of the Reference Asset increases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $120.00, representing a Percentage Change of 20.00%. Because the hypothetical Final Level of the Reference Asset is greater than its hypothetical Initial Level, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,252.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + $1,000 x (20.00% x 126.00%) = $1,252.00

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U.S. Federal Tax Information

By purchasing the notes, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat each note as a pre-paid derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the opinion of our counsel, Mayer Brown LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat the notes as pre-paid derivative contracts in respect of the Reference Asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the discussion in the product supplement dated March 25, 2025 under “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Notes Treated as Pre-Paid Derivative Contracts,” which applies to the notes.

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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 hereof. 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. We or one of our affiliates may also pay a referral fee to certain dealers in connection with the distribution of the notes. We or one of our affiliates may also pay a referral fee to certain dealers in connection with the distribution of the notes. 

We will deliver the notes on a date that is greater than one business day 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 one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than one business day 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 Reference Asset 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 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 the hedging profit that we or our affiliates expect to realize over the term of the notes. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month period. 

The notes and the related offer to purchase notes and sale of notes under the terms and conditions provided herein do not constitute a public offering in any non-U.S. jurisdiction, and are being made available only to individually identified investors pursuant to a private offering as permitted in the relevant jurisdiction. The notes are not, and will not be, registered with any securities exchange or registry located outside of the United States and have not been registered with any non-U.S. securities or banking regulatory authority. The contents of this document have not been reviewed or approved by any non-U.S. securities or banking regulatory authority. Any person who wishes to acquire the notes from outside the United States should seek the advice or legal counsel as to the relevant requirements to acquire these notes.

Argentina. The notes are not and will not be marketed in Argentina by means of a public offering, as such term is defined under Section 2 of Law Number 26,831, as amended. No application has been or will be made with the Argentine Comisión Nacional de Valores, the Argentine securities governmental authority, to offer the securities in Argentina. The contents of this pricing supplement and the related prospectus supplement and prospectus have not been reviewed by the Argentine Comisión Nacional de Valores.

Brazil. The notes have not been, and will not be issued nor publicly placed, distributed, offered or negotiated in the Brazilian capital markets and, as a result, have not been and will not be registered with the Comissão de Valores Mobiliáros (“CVM”). Any public offering or distribution, as defined under Brazilian laws and regulations, of the notes in Brazil is not legal without prior registration under Law 6,385/76, and CVM applicable regulation. Documents relating to the offering of the notes, as well as information contained therein, may not be supplied to the public in Brazil (as the offering of the notes is not a public offering of securities in Brazil), nor be used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the notes to the public in Brazil. Persons wishing to offer or acquire the notes within Brazil should consult with their own counsel as to the applicability of registration requirements or any exemption therefrom.

British Virgin Islands. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the laws and regulations of the British Virgin Islands, nor has any regulatory authority in the British Virgin Islands passed comment upon or approved the accuracy or adequacy of this document. This pricing supplement and the related documents shall not constitute an offer, invitation or solicitation to any member of the public in the British Virgin Islands for the purposes of the Securities and Investment Business Act, 2010, of the British Virgin Islands.

Cayman Islands. Pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, no invitation may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for the notes by or on behalf of the issuer unless at the time of such invitation the issuer is listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange. The issuer is not presently listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange and, accordingly, no invitation to the public in the Cayman Islands is to be made by the issuer (or by any dealer on its behalf). No such invitation is made to the public in the Cayman Islands hereby.

Chile. Neither the issuer nor the notes have been registered with the Comisión Para el Mercado Financiero pursuant to Law No. 18.045, the Ley de Mercado de Valores and regulations thereunder, so they cannot be publicly offered in Chile. This pricing supplement (and the related prospectus supplement and prospectus) do not constitute an offer of, or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase, the notes in the republic of Chile, other than to individually identified buyers pursuant to a private offering within the meaning of Article 4 of the Ley de Mercado de Valores (an offer that is not addressed to the public at large or to a certain sector or specific group of the public).

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Dominican Republic. Nothing in this pricing supplement constitutes an offer of securities for sale in the Dominican Republic. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered with the Superintendence of Securities Market of the Dominican Republic (Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores), under Dominican Securities Market Law No. 249-17 (“Securities Law 249-17”), and the notes may not be offered or sold within the Dominican Republic or to, or for the account or benefit of, Dominican persons (as defined under Securities Law 249-17 and its regulations). Failure to comply with these directives may result in a violation of Securities Law 249-17 and its regulations.

Hong Kong. WARNING: The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice.

Please note that (1) the notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of this document or any other document other than: (i) to “professional investors” within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Securities and Futures Ordinance of Hong Kong (Cap. 571) (SFO) and any rules made thereunder; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance of Hong Kong (Cap. 32) (CWUMPO) or which do not constitute an offer or invitation to the public for the purposes of the CWUMPO or the SFO, and (2) no person shall issue, or possess for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be assessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to such “professional investors” (as set out above).

Israel. This pricing supplement is intended solely for investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended. A prospectus has not been prepared or filed, and will not be prepared or filed, in Israel relating to the notes offered hereunder. The notes cannot be resold in Israel other than to investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended.

No action will be taken in Israel that would permit an offering of the notes or the distribution of any offering document or any other material to the public in Israel. In particular, no offering document or other material has been reviewed or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. Any material provided to an offeree in Israel may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose, nor be furnished to any other person other than those to whom copies have been provided directly by us or the selling agents.

Nothing in this pricing supplement or any other offering material relating to the notes, should be considered as the rendering of a recommendation or advice, including investment advice or investment marketing under the Law For Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management, 1995, to purchase any note. The purchase of any note will be based on an investor’s own understanding, for the investor’s own benefit and for the investor’s own account and not with the aim or intention of distributing or offering to other parties. In purchasing the notes, each investor declares that it has the knowledge, expertise and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of an investment in the notes, without relying on any of the materials provided.

Mexico. The notes have not been registered with the National Registry of Securities maintained by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. This pricing supplement and the related documents may not be publicly distributed in Mexico. The notes may only be offered in a private offering pursuant to Article 8 of the Securities Market Law.

Panama. The notes have not been and will not be registered with the Superintendency of Securities Market of the Republic of Panama under Decree Law N°1 of July 8, 1999 (the “Panamanian Securities Act”) and may not be publicly offered or sold within Panama, except in certain limited transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Panamanian Securities Act, including the private placement rule based on number 2 of Article 83 of Law Decree 1 of July 8, 1999 (or number 2 of Article 129 of the Unified Text of Law Decree 1 of July 8, 1999). The notes do not benefit from the tax incentives provided by the Panamanian Securities Act and are not subject to regulation or supervision by the Superintendency of Securities Market of the Republic of Panama.

Paraguay. The sale of the notes qualifies as a private placement pursuant to Law No. 5810/17 “Stock Market”. The notes must not be offered or sold to the public in Paraguay, except under circumstances which do not constitute a public offering in accordance with Paraguayan regulations. The notes are not and will not be registered before the Paraguayan securities supervisory body Comisión Nacional de Valores (“CNV”) the Paraguayan private stock exchange Bolsa de Valores y Productos de Asunción (“BVPASA”). The issuer is also not registered before the CNV or the BVPASA. In no case may notes not registered before the CNV be offered to the general public via mass media such as press, radio, television, or internet when such media are publicly accessible in the Republic of Paraguay, regardless of the location from where they are issued.

The privately placed notes are not registered with the National Securities Commission, and therefore do not have tax benefits and are not negotiable through the BVPASA. Privately placed securities may have less liquidity, making it difficult to sell such securities in the secondary market, which could also affect the sale price. Private securities of issuers not registered before the CNV may not have periodic financial information or audited financial statements, which could generate greater risk to the investor due to the asymmetry of information. It is the responsibility of the investor to ascertain and assess the risk assumed in the acquisition of the security.

Peru. The notes have not been and will not be registered with the Capital Markets Public Registry of the Capital Markets Superintendence (“SMV”) nor the Lima Stock Exchange Registry (“RBVL”) for their public offering in Peru under the Peruvian Capital Markets Law (Law No. 861/ Supreme Decree No. 093-2002) and the decrees and regulations thereunder. Consequently, the notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this pricing supplement or the related prospectus supplement, the prospectus or any other material relating to the notes be distributed or caused to be distributed in Peru to the general public. The notes may only be offered in a private offering under Peruvian regulation and without using mass marketing, which is defined as a marketing strategy utilizing mass distribution and mass media to offer, negotiate or distribute notes to the whole market. Mass media includes newspapers, magazines, radio, television, mail, meetings, social networks, Internet servers located in Peru, and other media or technology platforms.

Switzerland. This pricing supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in any notes. Neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus compliant with the requirements of

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articles 35 et seq. of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA")) for a public offering of the notes in Switzerland and no such prospectus has been or will be prepared for or in connection with the offering of the notes in Switzerland.

Neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes has been or will be filed with or approved by a Swiss review body (Prüfstelle). No application has been or is intended to be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or any multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of FinSA except (i) in any circumstances falling within the exemptions to prepare a prospectus listed in article 36 para. 1 FinSA or (ii) where such offer does not qualify as a public offer in Switzerland, provided always that no offer of notes shall require the Issuer or any offeror to publish a prospectus pursuant to article 35 FinSA in respect to such offer and that such offer shall comply with the additional restrictions set out below (if applicable). The Issuer has not authorised and does not authorise any offer of notes which would require the Issuer or any offeror to publish a prospectus pursuant to article 35 FinSA in respect of such offer. For purposes of this provision "public offer" shall have the meaning as such term is understood pursuant to article 3 lit. g and h FinSA and the Swiss Financial Services Ordinance ("FinSO").

The notes do not constitute participations in a collective investment scheme within the meaning of the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act. They are not subject to the approval of, or supervision by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA"), and investors in the notes will not benefit from protection under CISA or supervision by FINMA.

Prohibition of Offer to Private Clients in Switzerland - No Key Information Document pursuant to article 58 FinSA (Basisinformationsblatt für Finanzinstrumente) or equivalent document under foreign law pursuant to article 59 para. 2 FinSA has been or will be prepared in relation to the notes. Therefore, the following additional restriction applies: Notes qualifying as "debt securities with a derivative character" pursuant to article 86 para. 2 FinSO may not be offered within the meaning of article 58 para. 1 FinSA, and neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to such notes may be made available, to any retail client (Privatkunde) within the meaning of FinSA in Switzerland.

Uruguay. The sale of the notes qualifies as a private placement pursuant to section 2 of Uruguayan law 18,627. The notes must not be offered or sold to the public in Uruguay, except in circumstances which do not constitute a public S-31 offering or distribution under Uruguayan laws and regulations. The notes are not and will not be registered with the Financial Services Superintendency of the Central Bank of Uruguay.

Venezuela. The notes have not been registered with the Superintendencia Nacional de Valores de Venezuela and are not being publicly offered in Venezuela. No document related to the offering of the notes, including this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, shall be interpreted to constitute an offer of securities or an offer or the rendering of any investment advice, securities brokerage, and/or banking services in Venezuela. Investors wishing to acquire the notes may use only funds located outside of Venezuela.

The notes may also be sold in the following jurisdictions, provided, in each case, any sales are made in accordance with all applicable laws in such jurisdiction:

●Barbados

●Belize

●Bermuda

●Bolivia

●Colombia

●Costa Rica

●Ecuador

●Guatemala

●Honduras

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Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes

 Our estimated initial value of the notes on the date hereof, 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 is 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 the market conditions on the Pricing Date. 

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The Reference Asset

We have derived the following information from publicly available documents. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the following information. We are not affiliated with the Reference Asset Issuer and the Reference Asset Issuer will have no obligations with respect to the notes. This document relates only to the notes and does not relate to the shares of the Reference Asset or any securities included in the Underlying Index. Neither we nor any of our affiliates participates in the preparation of the publicly available documents described below. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Reference Asset in connection with the offering of the notes. There can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described below and that would affect the trading price of the shares of the Reference Asset, have been or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Reference Asset could affect the price of the shares of the Reference Asset on each Observation Date and on the Valuation Date, and therefore could affect the payments on the notes.

The selection of the Reference Asset is not a recommendation to buy or sell the shares of the Reference Asset. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the shares of the Reference Asset. Information provided to or filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to the Reference Asset may be obtained through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

We encourage you to review recent levels of the Reference Assets prior to making an investment decision with respect to the notes.

The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF (“GDX”)

The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF is an investment portfolio maintained, managed and advised by Van Eck Associates Corporation. The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF is classified as a “non-diversified” fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. Information about the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF filed with the SEC can be found by reference to its SEC file numbers: 333-123257 and 811-10325 or its CIK Code: 0001137360. Shares of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF are listed on the NYSE Arca under ticker symbol "GDX."

Prior to September 19, 2025, the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF sought to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. After market close on September 19, 2025, the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF’s benchmark index became the NYSE MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index differs from the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index in important ways, including use of different market capitalization criteria for inclusion in the index and different weighting schemes, and the composition of the VanEck^® Gold Miners ETF has changed as a result of this transition.

The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index

All information in this document regarding the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, is derived from publicly available information. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, Solactive AG (“Solactive”). Neither we nor any of our affiliates has undertaken any independent review or due diligence of such information. The MarketVector is maintained and published by Solactive. Solactive has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue the publication of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index.

The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index is a float-adjusted modified market capitalization-weighted index that tracks the performance of companies involved primarily in the gold and silver mining industry. The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index includes common stocks, ADRs and GDRs of selected companies that are involved primarily in mining for gold or silver ore 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. Solactive will use its discretion to avoid exchanges and markets that are considered “frontier” in nature or have major restrictions to foreign ownership. The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index includes companies that derive at least 50% (25% for current Index components) of their revenues from gold and/or silver mining/royalties/streaming or have at least 50% (25% for current Index components) of their mineral resources related to gold. The weight of companies with less than 50% exposure to gold-related activities will not exceed 20% of the Index at rebalance.

Only companies that have a market capitalization of greater than $150 million as of the end of the month prior to the month in which a rebalancing date occurs that have an average monthly trading volume of at least 250,000 shares over the past six months and an average daily value traded of at least $1 million are eligible for inclusion in the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index.

For reasons of practicality, Solactive has the discretion to not include all companies that meet the minimum levels for inclusion. These include, but are not limited to, pending corporate actions, litigation or geo-political events that may affect a given stock. In addition, Solactive has the discretion to include companies that do not meet the minimum levels for inclusion, if it determines that by doing so it maintains the quality and/or character of the index.

The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index was assigned a base date of April 30, 2006 and a base value of 1,000.00.

Calculation of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index

The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index is calculated using modified float-adjusted market cap weighting strategy. The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index is weighted based on the float-adjusted market capitalization of each of the component securities, modified to conform to the asset diversification requirements, which are applied in conjunction with the scheduled quarterly adjustments to the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index and described below as Diversification Rule 1 and Diversification Rule 2.

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The MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index is reviewed quarterly so that the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index components continue to represent the index’s objective of measuring the performance of highly capitalized companies in the gold and silver mining industries. The MarketVector 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, in the event of certain corporate actions or if, in the MarketVector’s discretion, such addition, deletion or substitution is necessary or appropriate to maintain the quality and/or character of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. Changes to the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index compositions and/or the component share weights in the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index typically take effect after the close of trading on the third Friday of each calendar quarter month in connection with the quarterly index rebalance.

At the time of the quarterly rebalance, the weights for the components stocks (taking into account expected component changes and share adjustments), are modified in accordance with the following procedures.

Diversification Rule 1: If any component stock exceeds 20% of the total value of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, then all stocks greater than 20% of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index are reduced to represent 20% of the value of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index. The aggregate amount by which all component stocks are reduced is redistributed proportionately across the remaining stocks that represent less than 20% of the index value. After this redistribution, if any other stock then exceeds 20%, the stock is set to 20% of the index value and the redistribution is repeated. If there is no component stock over 20% of the total value of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index to start, then this Diversification Rule 1 is not executed.

Diversification Rule 2: All components with more than 50% exposure to gold-related activities outlined that exceed 4.5% in weight but at least the largest five and at the maximum the largest 9 of these components are grouped together ( “Large-Weights”). All other components are grouped together as well (“Small-Weights”). If the aggregated weighting of all components in Large-Weight exceeds 45%, then a capping factor is calculated to bring the weighting down to 45% - at the same time a second capping factor for the Small-Weights is calculated to increase the aggregated weight to 55%. These two factors are then applied to all components in the Large-Weights or the Small-Weights respectively. This will be adjusted for through the following process:

(1)

The maximum weight for any single “Large-Weight” security is 20% and the minimum weighting is 5%. If a security is above the maximum or below the minimum weight, then the weight will be reduced to the maximum weight or increased to the minimum weight and the excess weight shall be redistributed proportionally across all other remaining index constituents in the Large-Weights.

(2)

The maximum weight for any single “Small-Weight” security is 4.5%. If a security is above the maximum weight, then the weight will be reduced to the maximum weight and the excess weight shall be redistributed proportionally across all other remaining index constituents in the Small-Weights.

In conjunction with the quarterly review, the share weights used in the calculation of the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index are determined based upon current shares outstanding modified, if necessary, to provide greater index diversification, as described above. As a general rule, the index components and their share weights are determined and announced prior to taking effect according to the timing set forth in the methodology, however emergency actions may require Solactive to deviate from the normal scheduling. The share weight of each component stock in the index portfolio remains fixed between quarterly reviews except in the event of certain types of corporate actions. The MarketVector may substitute stocks or change the number of stocks included in the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, based on changing conditions in the industry or in the event of certain types of corporate actions. If changes are made, the index divisor may be adjusted to ensure that there are no changes to the index price as a result of non-market forces.

 

 

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