Term Sheet No. 2290BG
To underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012,
product supplement BG dated October 9, 2012,
prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012
and prospectus dated September 28, 2012
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Registration Statement No. 333-184193
Dated December 2, 2014; Rule 433
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Three-Year Autocallable Securities Linked to the Lesser Performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index due December 22, 2017
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Terms and Conditions
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Payoff Diagram
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Issuer
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Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
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Investing in the securities involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of the accompanying product supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page TS-6 of this term sheet.
The Issuer’s estimated value of the securities on the Trade Date is approximately $950.10 to $970.10 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities, which is less than the Issue Price. Please see “Issuer’s Estimated Value of the Securities” on page TS-1 of this term sheet for additional information.
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Trade Date
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December 19, 2014
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Issue Date
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December 24, 2014
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Final Valuation Date†
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December 19, 2017
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Maturity Date††
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December 22, 2017
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Call Dates†
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December 23, 2015
December 19, 2016
December 19, 2017 (Final Valuation Date)
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Denominations
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$1,000 (the “Face Amount”) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
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Underlyings
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Russell 2000® Index (Ticker: RTY)
S&P 500® Index (Ticker: SPX)
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Issue Price
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100% of the Face Amount
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Automatic Call
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If the closing levels of both Underlyings on any Call Date are greater than or equal to their respective Initial Levels, the securities will be automatically called. If the securities are automatically called, you will be entitled to receive a Redemption Amount in cash per $1,000 Face Amount of securities equal to $1,000 multiplied by the applicable Call Return for the Call Date payable on the corresponding Call Settlement Date. The Call Return reflects an annualized (non-compounded) return of at least 11.75% (to be determined on the Trade Date).
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Call Return
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First Call Date:
Second Call Date:
Last Call Date:
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At least 111.75%
At least 123.50%
At least 135.25%
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Underlying Return
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For each Underlying, the Underlying Return will be calculated as follows:
Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level
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Initial Level
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For each Underlying, the closing level of such Underlying on the Trade Date
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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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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, 80.00% of its Initial Level
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Listing
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The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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CUSIP
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25152RTE3
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ISIN
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US25152RTE35
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Issuer:
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Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
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Underlyings:
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Russell 2000® Index (Ticker: RTY)
S&P 500® Index (Ticker: SPX)
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Issue Price:
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100% of the Face Amount
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Laggard Underlying:
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The Underlying with the lower Underlying Return on the Final Valuation Date. If the calculation agent determines that the two Underlyings have equal Underlying Returns, then the calculation agent will, in its sole discretion, designate either of the Underlyings as the Laggard Underlying.
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Automatic Call:
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If the closing levels of both Underlyings on any Call Date are greater than or equal to their respective Initial Levels, the securities will be automatically called.
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Call Settlement Date††:
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The third business day following the related Call Date. For the last Call Date, the Call Settlement Date will be the Maturity Date.
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Redemption Amount upon Automatic Call:
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If the securities are automatically called, you will be entitled to receive a Redemption Amount in cash per $1,000 Face Amount of securities equal to $1,000 multiplied by the applicable Call Return for the Call Date payable on the corresponding Call Settlement Date. The Call Return reflects an annualized (non-compounded) return of at least 11.75% (to be determined on the Trade Date). The expected Call Settlement Date, Call Return and Redemption Amount applicable to each Call Date are set forth in the table below.
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Call Date†
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Expected Call Settlement Date
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Call Return
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Redemption Amount
(per $1,000 Face Amount of
securities)
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December 23, 2015
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December 30, 2015
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At least 111.75%
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At least $1,117.50
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December 19, 2016
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December 22, 2016
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At least 123.50%
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At least $1,235.00
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December 19, 2017
(Final Valuation Date)
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December 22, 2017
(Maturity Date)
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At least 135.25%
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At least $1,352.50
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the securities are not automatically called, the payment at maturity on the securities will depend on whether a Knock-Out Event occurs, as follows:
• If a Knock-Out Event does not occur, you will be entitled to receive a cash payment at maturity of $1,000.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities.
• If a Knock-Out Event occurs, you will be entitled to receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of securities calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Underlying Return of Laggard Underlying)
If the securities are not automatically called and a Knock-Out Event occurs, you will be fully exposed to the negative Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying and you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the securities. Any payment on the securities is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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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, 80.00% of its Initial Level
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Underlying Return:
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For each Underlying, the Underlying Return will be calculated as follows:
Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level
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Initial Level:
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For each Underlying, the closing level of such Underlying on the Trade Date
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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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December 19, 2014
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Issue Date:
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December 24, 2014
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Final Valuation Date†:
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December 19, 2017
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Maturity Date††:
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December 22, 2017
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Listing:
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The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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CUSIP:
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25152RTE3
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ISIN:
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US25152RTE35
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Price to Public
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Total Discounts,
Commissions and Fees(1)
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Proceeds to Us
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Per Security
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$1,000.00
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$22.50
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$977.50
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Total
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$
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$
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$
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Underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012:
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Product supplement BG dated October 9, 2012:
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Prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012:
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Prospectus dated September 28, 2012:
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Call Date
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Expected Call Settlement Date
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Call Return
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Redemption Amount
(per $1,000 Face
Amount of securities)
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December 23, 2015
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December 30, 2015
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111.75%
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$1,117.50
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December 19, 2016
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December 22, 2016
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123.50%
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$1,235.00
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December 19, 2017
(Final Valuation Date)
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December 22, 2017
(Maturity Date)
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135.25%
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$1,352.50
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Hypothetical Underlying
Return of the Laggard
Underlying
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Hypothetical Payment
at Maturity
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Hypothetical Return on the Securities
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60.00%
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N/A
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N/A
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40.00%
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N/A
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N/A
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20.00%
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N/A
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N/A
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0.00%
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N/A
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N/A
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-5.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-10.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-15.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-20.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-25.00%
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$750.00
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-25.00%
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-30.00%
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$700.00
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-30.00%
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-40.00%
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$600.00
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-40.00%
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-60.00%
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$400.00
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-60.00%
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-80.00%
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$200.00
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-80.00%
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-100.00%
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$0.00
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-100.00%
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FIXED APPRECIATION POTENTIAL IF THE SECURITIES ARE AUTOMATICALLY CALLED, AND LIMITED PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS — The securities are designed for investors who believe that the closing level of neither Underlying will decrease more than 20.00% from its respective Initial Level over the term of the securities, and who are willing to risk losing up to 100% of their initial investment if the securities are not automatically called and the closing level of either Underlying declines by more than 20.00% from its Initial Level to its Final Level. If the securities are automatically called, you will receive a positive return reflecting the applicable Call Return for the Call Date. If the securities are not automatically called and the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying is equal to or greater than -20.00%, you will receive the Face Amount per $1,000 Face Amount of securities at maturity. If the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying is less than -20.00%, you will be exposed to any decline in the closing level of the Laggard Underlying measured from its Initial Level to its Final Level and, for each $1,000 Face Amount of securities, 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. You will lose a significant portion or all of your investment if the securities are not automatically called and the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level by an amount greater than 20.00%. Any payment on the securities is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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POTENTIAL EARLY EXIT WITH APPRECIATION AS A RESULT OF AUTOMATIC CALL FEATURE — While the original term of the securities is approximately three years, the securities will be called if the closing levels of both Underlyings are greater than or equal to their respective Initial Levels on any Call Date (including the Final Valuation Date), and you will be entitled to a return on the securities on the applicable Call Settlement Date of at least 11.75% per annum (to be determined on the Trade Date).
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RETURN LINKED TO THE LESSER PERFORMING OF TWO UNDERLYINGS — The return on the securities, which may be positive, zero or negative, is linked to the lesser performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index, as described herein, and if the securities are not automatically called, any payment you receive at maturity will be determined solely by reference to the Laggard Underlying.
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Russell 2000® Index
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The Russell 2000® Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The Russell 2000® Index measures the composite price performance of stocks of approximately 2,000 companies domiciled in the U.S. and its territories and consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 2000® Index represents approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. As of June 2014, business development companies are no longer eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index. Exchange traded funds and mutual funds are also excluded. This is just a summary of the Russell 2000® Index. For more information on the Russell 2000® Index, including information concerning its composition, calculation methodology and adjustment policy, please see the section entitled “The Russell Indices – The Russell 2000® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012.
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S&P 500® Index
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The S&P 500® Index is intended to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. The calculation of the level of the S&P 500® Index is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the shares of 500 companies as of a particular time as compared to the aggregate average market value of the shares of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. On March 11, 2014, the sponsor of the S&P 500® Index announced that the sponsor will start including, on a case by case basis, multiple share class lines in the S&P 500® Index. This will result in the S&P 500® Index including more than 500 component shares while continuing to include only 500 component companies. The sponsor expects to revise the S&P 500® Index’s methodology to fully reflect a multiple share class structure by September 2015. This is just a summary of the S&P 500® Index. For more information on the S&P 500® Index, including information concerning its composition, calculation methodology and adjustment policy, please see the section entitled “The S&P Indices – The S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012. On March 11, 2014, the sponsor of the S&P 500® Index announced that beginning April 3, 2014, the sponsor will start including, on a case by case basis, multiple share class lines in the S&P 500® Index. This will result in the S&P 500® Index including more than 500 component shares while continuing to include only 500 component companies. The sponsor expects to revise the S&P 500® Index’s methodology to fully reflect a multiple share class structure by September 2015.
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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 securities 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 securities (including at maturity or pursuant to a call) and (ii) the gain or loss on your securities should be capital gain or loss and should
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be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the securities 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 securities could be materially and adversely affected.
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. The notice focuses in particular on whether beneficial owners of these instruments should be required to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. persons should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, 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 securities, possibly with retroactive effect.
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You should review carefully the section of the accompanying product supplement entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.” The preceding discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the securities.
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Under current law, the United Kingdom will not impose withholding tax on payments made with respect to the securities.
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For a discussion of certain German tax considerations relating to the securities, you should refer to the section in the accompanying prospectus supplement entitled “Taxation by Germany of Non-Resident Holders.”
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You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities (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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YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The securities do not pay any coupons or dividends and do not guarantee any return of your investment. If the securities are not automatically called, the Payment at Maturity will depend on whether the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level, in which case a Knock-Out Event will occur. If a Knock-Out Event occurs, for each $1,000 Face Amount of securities, 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 securities. Any payment on the securities is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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YOUR APPRECIATION POTENTIAL IS LIMITED TO THE CALL RETURN — The appreciation potential of the securities is limited to the pre-specified Call Return on the relevant Call Date, regardless of the performance of the Underlyings. If the securities are not automatically called, you will realize no positive return on the securities, and you may lose up to 100% of your initial investment if a Knock-Out Event occurs.
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IF THE SECURITIES ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY CALLED, YOUR PAYMENT AT MATURITY WILL BE DETERMINED SOLELY BY REFERENCE TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LAGGARD UNDERLYING — If your securities are not automatically called, any payment at maturity will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IS EXPOSED TO A DECLINE IN THE LEVEL OF EACH UNDERLYING — Your return on the securities is not linked to a basket consisting of the Underlyings. Rather, any payment on the securities will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the lesser performing of the two Underlyings. 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 exposed to the risks related to each of the Underlyings, and your return will be based on the lesser performing of the Underlyings, as measured on the Call Dates and the Final Valuation Date. Poor performance by either of the Underlyings over the term of the securities may negatively affect your return on the securities and will not be offset or mitigated by a positive performance by the other Underlying.
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REINVESTMENT RISK — If your securities are automatically called, the term of the securities may be reduced to as short as approximately one year. There is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the securities at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the securities are automatically called prior to the Maturity Date.
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THE SECURITIES DO NOT PAY ANY COUPONS — Unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities do not pay any coupons and do not guarantee any return of your initial investment at maturity.
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THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CREDIT OF THE DEUTSCHE BANK AG — The securities are senior unsecured obligations of Deutsche Bank AG and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment(s) to be made on the securities 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 the credit risk of Deutsche Bank AG will likely have an adverse effect on the value of the securities. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Deutsche Bank AG will affect the value of the securities 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 securities and you could lose your entire investment.
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THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE SECURITIES ON THE TRADE DATE WILL BE LESS THAN THE ISSUE PRICE OF THE SECURITIES — The Issuer’s estimated value of the securities on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this term sheet) is less than the Issue Price of the securities. The difference between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the securities 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 securities 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 securities 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 securities, reduces the economic terms of the securities to you and is expected to adversely affect the price at which you may be able to sell the securities in any secondary market. In addition, our internal pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. If at any time a third party dealer were to quote a price to purchase your securities or otherwise value your securities, that price or value may differ materially from the estimated value of the securities determined by reference to our internal funding rate and pricing models. This difference is due to, among other things, any difference in funding rates, pricing models or assumptions used by any dealer who may purchase the securities in the secondary market.
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INVESTING IN THE SECURITIES IS NOT THE SAME AS A HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT IN THE UNDERLYINGS OR A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE STOCKS COMPOSING THE UNDERLYINGS — The return on your securities may not reflect the return you would have realized if you had hypothetically invested in the Underlyings or directly invested in the stocks composing the Underlyings. For instance, you will not participate in any potential increase in the level of either Underlying, which could be significant, even though at maturity you may be exposed to the negative performance of the Laggard Underlying.
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IF THE LEVELS OF THE UNDERLYINGS CHANGE, THE VALUE OF YOUR SECURITIES MAY NOT CHANGE IN THE SAME MANNER — Your securities may trade quite differently from the levels of the Underlyings. Changes in the levels of the Underlyings may not result in comparable changes in the value of your securities.
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NO DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the securities, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the stocks composing the Underlyings would have.
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BOTH UNDERLYINGS REFLECT THE PRICE RETURN OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPONENT STOCKS, NOT THE TOTAL RETURN — Both Underlyings reflect the changes in the market prices of their respective component stocks. Both 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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THE SECURITIES 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
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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 securities, as well as any amount payable on the securities, 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 term sheet. 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 SECURITIES IN SECONDARY MARKET TRANSACTIONS WOULD GENERALLY BE LOWER THAN BOTH THE ISSUE PRICE AND THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE SECURITIES ON THE TRADE DATE — While the payment(s) on the securities described in this term sheet is based on the full Face Amount of your securities, the Issuer’s estimated value of the securities on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this term sheet) is less than the Issue Price of the securities. The Issuer’s estimated value of the securities on the Trade Date does not represent the price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your securities 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 securities 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 securities on the Trade Date. Our purchase price, if any, in secondary market transactions would be based on the estimated value of the securities 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 securities and then-prevailing market conditions. The price we report to financial reporting services and to distributors of our securities for use on customer account statements would generally be determined on the same basis. However, during the period of approximately four 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 securities 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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In addition to the factors discussed above, the value of the securities and our purchase price in secondary market transactions after the Trade Date, if any, will vary based on many economic and market factors, including our creditworthiness, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. These changes may adversely affect the value of your securities, including the price you may receive in any secondary market transactions. Any sale prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. The securities are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your securities to maturity.
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THE SECURITIES WILL NOT BE LISTED AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE LIMITED LIQUIDITY — The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. There may be little or no secondary market for the securities. We or our affiliates intend to act as market makers for the securities 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 securities 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 securities, the price at which you may be able to sell your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates are willing to buy the securities. 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 securities. If you have to sell your securities 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 SECURITIES — While we expect that, generally, the levels of the Underlyings will affect the value of the securities more than any other single factor, the value of the securities 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 maturity of the securities;
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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 securities; 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 SECURITIES — We or our affiliates expect to hedge our exposure from the securities by entering into equity and equity derivative transactions, such as over-the-counter options, futures or exchange-traded instruments. We or our affiliates may also engage in trading in instruments linked or related to the Underlyings on a regular basis as part of our or their general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for customers, including block transactions. Such trading and hedging activities may affect the levels of the Underlyings and make it less likely that you will receive a positive return on your investment in the securities. It is possible that we or our affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging and trading activities while the value of the securities declines. We or our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to the Underlyings. Introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner could adversely affect the value of the securities. Any of the foregoing activities described in this paragraph may reflect trading strategies that differ from, or are in direct opposition to, investors’ trading and investment strategies related to the securities.
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WE, OUR AGENTS, OR OUR OR THEIR AFFILIATES MAY PUBLISH RESEARCH, EXPRESS OPINIONS OR PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH INVESTING IN OR HOLDING THE SECURITIES. ANY SUCH RESEARCH, OPINIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LEVELS OF THE UNDERLYINGS OR THE VALUE OF THE SECURITIES — We, our agents, or our or their affiliates may publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that could adversely affect the value of the securities, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the securities. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by us, our agents or our or their 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 securities and the Underlyings.
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POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the securities, including acting as calculation agent, hedging our obligations under the securities and determining the Issuer’s estimated value of the securities on the Trade Date and the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the securities 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 securities. The calculation agent will determine, among other things, all values, prices and levels required to be determined for the purposes of the securities on any relevant date or time. The calculation agent will also be responsible for determining whether a market disruption event has occurred and, in some circumstances, the prices or levels related to the Underlyings that affect whether the securities are automatically called and whether a Knock-Out Event has occurred. Any determination by the calculation agent could adversely affect the return on the securities.
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THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES ARE UNCERTAIN — There is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of the securities, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS. Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the securities are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the securities as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the securities, the tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the securities 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
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consequences of an investment in the securities, 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 securities (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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