Pricing Supplement
To underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012,
product supplement AZ dated September 28, 2012,
prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012 and
prospectus dated September 28, 2012
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Pricing Supplement No. 2223AZ
Registration Statement No. 333-184193
Dated October 2, 2014; Rule 424(b)(2)
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Deutsche Bank
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Structured
Investments
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Deutsche Bank AG
$1,850,000 Knock-Out Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the S&P 500® Index, the EURO STOXX 50® Index and the Russell 2000® Index due October 6, 2016
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The notes are designed for investors who seek a return at maturity linked to the least performing of the S&P 500® Index, the EURO STOXX 50® Index and the Russell 2000® Index (each, an “Underlying”). If the Final Level of the least performing Underlying, which we refer to as the “Laggard Underlying,” is greater than or equal to its Initial Level, investors will be entitled to receive at maturity a return on the notes equal to the greater of (a) the Contingent Minimum Return of 32.50% and (b) the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying. If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level but greater than or equal to its Knock-Out Level (75.00% of its Initial Level), for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, investors will be entitled to receive at maturity the Face Amount. However, if the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level, a Knock-Out Event has occurred and, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, investors will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. The notes do not pay any coupons or dividends. If a Knock-Out Event has occurred, meaning that at least one Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level, investors should be willing to lose a significant portion or all of their initial investment. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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Senior unsecured obligations of Deutsche Bank AG due October 6, 20162
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Minimum purchase of $10,000. Minimum denominations of $1,000 (the “Face Amount”) and integral multiples thereof.
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The notes priced on October 2, 2014 (the “Trade Date”) and are expected to settle on October 7, 2014 (the “Settlement Date”).
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Issuer:
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Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
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Underlyings:
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Ticker Symbol
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Initial Level
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Knock-Out Level
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S&P 500® Index
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SPX
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1,946.17
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1,459.63
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EURO STOXX 50® Index
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SX5E
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3,106.42
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2,329.82
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Russell 2000® Index
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RTY
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1,096.379
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822.284
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Issue Price:
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100% of the Face Amount
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Knock-Out Event:
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A Knock-Out Event occurs if the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level.
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Knock-Out Level:
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For each Underlying, 75.00% of the Initial Level of such Underlying, as set forth in the table above
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Initial Level, you will be entitled to receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of notes calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + ($1,000 x the greater of (a) Contingent Minimum Return and (b) Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying)
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If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level, but a Knock-Out Event has not occurred (meaning the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Knock-Out Level), you will be entitled to receive a cash payment at maturity of $1,000.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes.
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If a Knock-Out Event has occurred (meaning the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level), you will be entitled to receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of notes calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + ($1,000 x Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying)
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If a Knock-Out Event has occurred, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. In this circumstance, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment at maturity. Any payment at maturity is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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Contingent Minimum Return:
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32.50%
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Laggard Underlying:
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The Underlying with the lowest Underlying Return on the Final Valuation Date. If the calculation agent determines that any two or all three of the Underlyings have equal Underlying Returns, then the calculation agent will, in its sole discretion, designate one of the Underlyings as the Laggard Underlying.
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Underlying Return:
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For each Underlying, the performance of the Underlying from its Initial Level to its Final Level, calculated as follows:
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Final Level – Initial Level
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Initial Level
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The Underlying Return for each Underlying may be positive, zero or negative.
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Initial Level:
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For each Underlying, the closing level of such Underlying on the Trade Date, as set forth in the table above
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Final Level:
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For each Underlying, the closing level of such Underlying on the Final Valuation Date
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Trade Date:
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October 2, 2014
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Settlement Date:
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October 7, 2014
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Final Valuation Date1:
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October 3, 2016
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Maturity Date2:
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October 6, 2016
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Listing:
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The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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CUSIP/ISIN:
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25152RRA3 / US25152RRA31
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Price to Public
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Fees(1)
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Proceeds to Issuer
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Per note
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$1,000.00
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$15.00
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$985.00
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Total
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$1,850,000.00
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$27,750.00
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$1,822,250.00
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Title of Each Class of Securities Offered
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Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
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Amount of Registration Fee
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Notes
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$1,850,000.00
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$214.97
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•
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Underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012:
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•
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Product supplement AZ dated September 28, 2012:
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•
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Prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012:
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•
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Prospectus dated September 28, 2012:
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Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying (%)
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Return on the Notes (%)
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Payment
at Maturity ($)
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100.00%
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100.00%
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$2,000.00
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90.00%
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90.00%
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$1,900.00
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80.00%
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80.00%
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$1,800.00
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70.00%
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70.00%
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$1,700.00
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60.00%
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60.00%
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$1,600.00
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50.00%
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50.00%
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$1,500.00
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40.00%
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40.00%
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$1,400.00
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32.50%
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32.50%
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$1,325.00
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30.00%
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32.50%
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$1,325.00
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20.00%
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32.50%
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$1,325.00
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15.00%
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32.50%
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$1,325.00
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10.00%
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32.50%
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$1,325.00
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0.00%
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32.50%
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$1,325.00
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-10.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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-15.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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-20.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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-25.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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-30.00%
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-30.00%
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$700.00
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-40.00%
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-40.00%
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$600.00
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-50.00%
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-50.00%
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$500.00
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-60.00%
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-60.00%
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$400.00
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-70.00%
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-70.00%
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$300.00
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-80.00%
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-80.00%
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$200.00
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-90.00%
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-90.00%
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$100.00
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-100.00%
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-100.00%
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$0.00
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UNCAPPED APPRECIATION POTENTIAL — The notes are linked to the performance of the Laggard Underlying. If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Initial Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will be entitled to receive at maturity the Face Amount plus a return equal to the greater of (i) the Contingent Minimum Return and (ii) the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying. Any payment on the notes is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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LIMITED PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS — If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level, but a Knock-Out Event has not occurred (meaning the Final Levels of all of the Underlyings are greater than or equal to their respective Knock-Out Levels), you will be entitled to receive at maturity the Face Amount per $1,000 Face Amount of notes. However, if a Knock-Out Event has occurred, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. In this circumstance, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the notes.
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RETURN LINKED TO THE LEAST PERFORMING OF THREE UNDERLYINGS — The return on the notes, which may be positive, zero or negative, is linked to the performance of the least performing of the S&P 500® Index, Russell 2000® Index and EURO STOXX 50® Index, as described herein. Any payment on the notes you receive at maturity will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying.
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TAX CONSEQUENCES — In the opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, which is based on prevailing market conditions, it is more likely than not that the notes will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. Generally, if this treatment is respected, (i) you should not recognize taxable income or loss prior to the taxable disposition of your notes (including at maturity) and (ii) the gain or loss on your notes should be capital gain or loss and should be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the notes for more than one year. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or a court might not agree with this treatment, however, in which case the timing and character of income or loss on your notes could be materially and adversely affected.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The notes do not guarantee any return of your investment. The return on the notes at maturity is based on whether or not a Knock-Out Event occurs and the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying. If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level, a Knock-Out Event occurs and, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. In this circumstance, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the notes. Any payment on the notes is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO THE CONTINGENT MINIMUM RETURN IF THE FINAL LEVEL OF THE LAGGARD UNDERLYING IS LESS THAN ITS INITIAL LEVEL— If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level, you will not be entitled to receive the Face Amount per $1,000 Face Amount of notes and, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level.
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YOUR PAYMENT AT MATURITY WILL BE DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LAGGARD UNDERLYING —All determinations of the Payment at Maturity will be determine solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying, without taking into consideration the performance of any other Underlyings.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IS EXPOSED TO A DECLINE IN THE LEVEL OF EACH UNDERLYING — Your return on the notes is not linked to a basket consisting of the Underlyings. Rather, any payment on the notes will be determined by reference to the performance of each individual Underlying. Unlike an instrument with a return linked to a basket, in which risk is mitigated and diversified among all of the basket components, you will be fully exposed to the risks related to each of the Underlyings. Poor performance by any of the Underlyings over the term of the securities will negatively affect your Payment at Maturity and will not be offset or mitigated by a positive performance by the other Underlyings.
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THE NOTES DO NOT PAY ANY COUPONS — Unlike ordinary debt securities, the notes do not pay any coupons and do not guarantee any return of your initial investment in the notes.
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THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO OUR CREDITWORTHINESS — The notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer, Deutsche Bank AG, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment(s) to be made on the notes depends on the ability of Deutsche Bank AG to satisfy its obligations as they come due. An actual or anticipated downgrade in Deutsche Bank AG’s credit rating or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk will likely have an adverse effect on the value of the notes. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Deutsche Bank AG will affect the value of the notes and in the event Deutsche Bank AG were to default on its obligations you might not receive any amount(s) owed to you under the terms of the notes and you could lose your entire investment.
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THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES ON THE TRADE DATE WILL BE LESS THAN THE ISSUE PRICE OF THE NOTES — The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the notes. The difference between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date is due to the inclusion in the Issue Price of the agent’s commissions, if any, and the cost of hedging our obligations under the notes through one or more of our affiliates. Such hedging cost includes our or our affiliates’ expected cost of providing such hedge, as well as the profit we or our affiliates expect to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in providing such hedge. The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to an internal funding rate and our pricing models. The internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional debt securities on equivalent terms. This difference in funding rate, as well as the agent’s commissions, if any, and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes, reduces the economic terms of the notes to you and is expected to adversely affect the price at which you may be able to sell the
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INVESTING IN THE NOTES IS NOT THE SAME AS INVESTING IN THE STOCKS COMPOSING THE UNDERLYINGS — The return on your notes may not reflect the return you would have realized if you had directly invested in the stocks composing the Underlyings. For instance, your return on the notes is solely dependent on the performance of the Laggard Underlying without taking into consideration the performance of any other Underlyings.
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IF THE LEVEL OF THE UNDERLYINGS CHANGE, THE VALUE OF YOUR NOTES MAY NOT CHANGE IN THE SAME MANNER — Your notes may trade quite differently from levels of the Underlyings. Changes in the levels of the Underlyings may not result in a comparable change in the value of your notes.
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NO DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the notes, you will not have any voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of stocks composing the Underlyings would have.
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THE UNDERLYINGS REFLECT THE PRICE RETURN OF THE STOCKS COMPOSING EACH UNDERLYING, NOT A TOTAL RETURN — The Underlyings reflect the changes in the market prices of the stocks composing each Underlying. The Underlyings are not, however, “total return” indices, which, in addition to reflecting the price returns of their respective component stocks, would also reflect all dividends and other distributions paid on such component stocks.
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THERE ARE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS IN NOTES LINKED TO THE VALUES OF EQUITY SECURITIES ISSUED BY NON-U.S. COMPANIES — THE EURO STOXX 50® Index includes component stocks that are issued by companies incorporated outside of the U.S. Because the component stocks also trade outside the U.S., the notes are subject to the risks associated with non-U.S. securities markets. Generally, non-U.S. securities markets may be more volatile than U.S. securities markets, and market developments may affect non-U.S. securities markets differently than U.S. securities markets, which may adversely affect the level of the EURO STOXX 50® Index and the value of your notes. Furthermore, there are risks associated with investments in notes linked to the values of equity securities issued by non-U.S. companies. There is generally less publicly available information about non-U.S. companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC, and non-U.S. companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. In addition, the prices of equity securities issued by non-U.S. companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, financial and social factors that may be unique to the particular countries in which the non-U.S. companies are incorporated. These factors include the possibility of recent or future changes in a non-U.S. government’s economic and fiscal policies (including any direct or indirect intervention to stabilize the economy and/or securities market of the country of such non-U.S. government), the presence, and extent, of cross shareholdings in non-U.S. companies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other non-U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to non-U.S. companies or investments in non-U.S. securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies. Moreover, certain aspects of a particular non-U.S. economy 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. Specifically, the stocks included in the EURO STOXX 50® Index are issued by companies located in countries within the Eurozone, some of which are and have been experiencing economic stress.
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WE ARE ONE OF THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE UP THE EURO STOXX 50® INDEX — We are one of the companies that make up the EURO STOXX 50® Index. To our knowledge, we are not currently affiliated with any of the other companies the equity securities of which are represented in the EURO STOXX 50® Index. As a result, we will have no ability to control the actions of such other companies, including actions that could affect the value of the equity securities composing the EURO STOXX 50® Index, or your notes. None of the other companies represented in the EURO STOXX 50® Index will be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Neither they nor we will have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the notes in taking any corporate actions that might affect the value of your notes.
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THE UNDERLYING RETURN OF THE EURO STOXX 50® INDEX WILL NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR CHANGES IN THE EURO RELATIVE TO THE U.S. DOLLAR —The EURO STOXX 50® Index is composed of stocks denominated in Euros. Because the level of the EURO STOXX 50® Index is also calculated in Euros (and not in U.S. dollars), the performance of the EURO STOXX 50® Index will not be adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Therefore, if the Euro strengthens or weakens relative to the U.S. dollar over the term of the notes, you will not receive any additional payment or incur any reduction in your return on the notes at maturity.
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THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL-CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES — The stocks composing the Russell 2000® Index are issued by companies with relatively small market capitalization. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and therefore the level of the Russell 2000® Index may be more volatile than the levels of indices that consist of large-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. 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 personnel. Such small-capitalization companies tend to have lower revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products. These companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products or services.
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PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE UNDERLYINGS IS NO GUIDE TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE — The actual performance of the Underlyings over the term of the notes may bear little relation to the historical closing levels of the Underlyings and may bear little relation to the hypothetical return examples set forth elsewhere in this pricing supplement. We cannot predict the future performance of the Underlyings or whether the performance of the Underlyings will result in the return of any of your investment.
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ASSUMING NO CHANGES IN MARKET CONDITIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS, THE PRICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FOR YOUR NOTES IN SECONDARY MARKET TRANSACTIONS WOULD GENERALLY BE LOWER THAN BOTH THE ISSUE PRICE AND THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES ON THE TRADE DATE — While the payment(s) on the notes described in this pricing supplement is based on the full Face Amount of your notes, the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the notes. The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date does not represent the price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market at any time. Assuming no changes in market conditions or our creditworthiness and other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, would generally be lower than both the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date. Our purchase price, if any, in secondary market transactions would be based on the estimated value of the notes determined by reference to (i) the then-prevailing internal funding rate (adjusted by a spread) or another appropriate measure of our cost of funds and (ii) our pricing models at that time, less a bid spread determined after taking into account the size of the repurchase, the nature of the assets underlying the notes and then-prevailing market conditions. The price we report to financial reporting services and to distributors of our notes for use on customer account statements would generally be determined on the same basis. However, during the period of approximately three months beginning from the Trade Date, we or our affiliates may, in our sole discretion, increase the purchase price determined as described above by an amount equal to the declining differential between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date, prorated over such period on a straight-line basis, for transactions that are individually and in the aggregate of the expected size for ordinary secondary market repurchases.
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THE NOTES WILL NOT BE LISTED AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE LIMITED LIQUIDITY — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. There may be little or no secondary market for the notes. We or our affiliates intend to act as market makers for the notes but are not required to do so and may cease such market making activities at any time. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to sell the notes when you wish to do so or at a price advantageous to you. Because we do not expect other dealers to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to sell your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates are willing to buy the notes. If, at any time, we or our affiliates do not act as market makers, it is likely that there would be little or no secondary market in the notes. If you have to sell your notes prior to maturity, you may not be able to do so or you may have to sell them at a substantial loss, even in cases where the levels of the Underlyings have increased since the Trade Date.
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MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — While we expect that, generally, the levels of the Underlyings will affect the value of the notes more than any other single factor, the value of the notes will also be affected by a number of other factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:
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the expected volatility of the Underlyings;
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the composition of the Underlyings;
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the time remaining to the maturity of the notes;
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the market prices and dividend rates of the stocks composing the Underlyings and changes that affect those stocks and their issuers;
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interest rates and yields in the market generally;
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geopolitical conditions and a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the Underlyings or markets generally;
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supply and demand for the notes; and
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our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.
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TRADING AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS BY US OR OUR AFFILIATES IN THE EQUITY AND EQUITY DERIVATIVE MARKETS MAY IMPAIR THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — We or one or more of our affiliates expect to hedge our exposure from the notes by entering into equity and equity derivative transactions, such as over-the-counter options or exchange-traded instruments. Such trading and hedging activities may affect the Underlyings and make it less likely that you will receive a positive return on your investment in the notes. It is possible that we or our affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging activities while the value of the notes declines. We or our affiliates may also engage in trading in instruments linked to the Underlyings 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 customers, including block transactions. We or our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns
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WE, OUR AFFILIATES OR OUR AGENTS, OR JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. OR ITS AFFILIATES, MAY PUBLISH RESEARCH, EXPRESS OPINIONS OR PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH INVESTING IN OR HOLDING THE NOTES. ANY SUCH RESEARCH, OPINIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LEVELS OF THE UNDERLYINGS TO WHICH THE NOTES ARE LINKED OR THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — We, our affiliates or our agents, or JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates, may publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that could adversely affect the value of the notes, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the notes. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by us, our affiliates or our agents, or JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates, may not be consistent with each other and may be modified from time to time without notice. You should make your own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the notes and the Underlyings to which the notes are linked.
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POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent, hedging our obligations under the notes and determining the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date and the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions. In performing these roles, our economic interests and those of our affiliates are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. The calculation agent will determine, among other things, all values, prices and levels required to be determined for the purposes of the notes on any relevant date or time. The calculation agent will also be responsible for determining whether a Knock-Out Event and/or a market disruption event has occurred. Any determination by the calculation agent could adversely affect the return on the notes.
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THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES ARE UNCERTAIN — There is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS. Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the notes as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the notes, the tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, as described above under “Tax Consequences,” in 2007 the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on various issues regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. Any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should review carefully the section of the accompanying product supplement entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” and consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes (including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by the 2007 notice), as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
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