Term Sheet No. 2359BF
To underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012,
product supplement BF dated October 5, 2012,
prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012,
prospectus dated September 28, 2012 and
prospectus addendum dated December 24, 2014
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Registration Statement No. 333-184193
Dated February 12, 2015; Rule 433
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The securities are designed for investors who seek a return at maturity linked to the performance of the lesser performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF (the “Fund”) and the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index,” and together with the Fund, each, an “Underlying”). In addition, the securities will pay Coupons on the Coupon Payment Dates in 13 equal installments. Each installment will equal approximately $4.6667 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities, reflecting a Coupon rate of approximately 6.0667% over the entire term of the securities (5.6000% for the first year and 0.4667% for the remaining two weeks). If the Final Level of the lesser performing Underlying, which we refer to as the “Laggard Underlying,” is greater than or equal to its Knock-Out Level, which is 85.00% of its Initial Level, investors will be entitled to receive at maturity the Face Amount per $1,000 Face Amount of securities (excluding any Coupon payment). However, if the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of securities, investors will lose 1.17647% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. Investors should be willing to lose some or all of their initial investment if the Final Level of either Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level. Any payment on the securities is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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Senior unsecured obligations of Deutsche Bank AG due March 2, 2016
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Minimum purchase of $1,000. Minimum denominations of $1,000 (the “Face Amount”) and integral multiples thereof.
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The securities are expected to price on or about February 12, 2015 (the “Trade Date”) and are expected to settle on or about February 18, 2015 (the “Settlement Date”).
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Issuer:
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Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
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Issue Price:
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100% of the Face Amount
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Underlyings:
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Underlying
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Ticker Symbol
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Initial Level†
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Knock-Out Level†
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iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF
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EFA
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85.00% of its Initial Level
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Russell 2000® Index
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RTY
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85.00% of its Initial Level
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† The actual Initial Level and Knock-Out Level for each Underlying will be set on the Trade Date.
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Coupon:
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The securities will pay Coupons in arrears on an unadjusted basis on the Coupon Payment Dates in 13 equal installments. Each installment will equal approximately $4.6667 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities, reflecting a Coupon rate of approximately 6.0667% over the entire term of the securities (5.6000% for the first year and 0.4667% for the remaining two weeks).
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Coupon Payment Dates1, 4:
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March 16, 2015, April 15, 2015, May 14, 2015, June 16, 2015, July 15, 2015, August 14, 2015, September 16, 2015, October 14, 2015, November 16, 2015, December 16, 2015, January 14, 2016, February 17, 2016 and March 2, 2016 (the Maturity Date).
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Payment at Maturity:
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Any payment you receive at maturity will be determined as follows:
• If a Knock-Out Event does not occur, you will receive a cash payment at maturity equal to the Face Amount per $1,000 Face Amount of securities (excluding any Coupon payment)
• If a Knock-Out Event occurs, you will receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of securities calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying + Buffer Amount) x Downside Participation Factor]
If a Knock-Out Event occurs, for each $1,000 Face Amount of securities, you will lose 1.17647% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. In this circumstance, you will lose some or all of your investment at maturity. Any payment at maturity is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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(Key Terms continued on next page)
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Price to Public
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Discounts and Commissions(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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$0.00
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$1,000.00
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Total
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$
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$
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$
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(1)
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For more detailed information about discounts and commissions, please see “Supplemental Underwriting Information (Conflicts of Interest)” in this term sheet. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”), acting as agent for Deutsche Bank AG, will not receive a selling concession in connection with the sale of the securities. Investors that purchase and hold the securities in fee-based accounts may be charged fees based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including the securities.
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Deutsche Bank Securities
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(Key Terms continued from previous page)
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Knock-Out Event:
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A Knock-Out Event will occur 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, 85.00% of its Initial Level
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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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Underlying Return:
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For each Underlying, the Underlying Return will be calculated as follows:
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Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level
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Buffer Amount:
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15.00%
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Downside Participation Factor:
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1.17647
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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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Closing Level:
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For the Fund, the closing price of one share of the Fund on the relevant date of calculation multiplied by the then-current Share Adjustment Factor, as determined by the calculation agent.
For the Index, the closing level of the Index on the relevant date of calculation.
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Share Adjustment Factor:
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Initially 1.0, subject to adjustment for certain actions affecting the Fund. See “Description of Securities — Anti-Dilution Adjustments for Funds” in the accompanying product supplement.
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Trade Date4:
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February 12, 2015
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Settlement Date4:
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February 18, 2015
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Final Valuation Date3, 4:
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February 26, 2016
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Maturity Date2, 4:
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March 2, 2016
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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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2515A1MD0
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ISIN:
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US2515A1MD00
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are deemed irrevocably to have agreed, and you will agree: (i) to be bound by any Resolution Measure; (ii) that you will have no claim or other right against us arising out of any Resolution Measure; (iii) and that the imposition of any Resolution Measure will not constitute a default or an event of default under the securities, under the senior indenture dated November 22, 2006 among us, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as issuing agent, paying agent, authenticating agent and registrar, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”), or for the purpose of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”);
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waive, to the fullest extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act and applicable law, any and all claims against the trustee and the paying agent for, agree not to initiate a suit against the trustee and the paying agent in respect of, and agree that neither the trustee nor the paying agent will be liable for, any action that the trustee or the paying agent takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the imposition of a Resolution Measure by our competent resolution authority with respect to the securities; and
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will be deemed irrevocably to have (i) consented to the imposition of any Resolution Measure as it may be imposed without any prior notice by the competent resolution authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the Securities and (ii) authorized, directed and requested The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and any participant in DTC or other intermediary through which you hold such securities to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the imposition of any Resolution Measure with respect to the Securities as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on your part or on the part of the trustee, paying agent, issuing agent, authenticating agent, registrar or calculation agent.
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Hypothetical Underlying
Return of the
Laggard Underlying (%)
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Hypothetical Payment
at Maturity ($) (excluding Coupon payments)
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Hypothetical Return
on securities (%) (excluding
Coupon payments)
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100.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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90.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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80.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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70.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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60.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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50.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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40.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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30.00%
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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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10.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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5.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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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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$941.18
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-5.88%
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-30.00%
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$823.53
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-17.65%
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-40.00%
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$705.88
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-29.41%
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-50.00%
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$588.24
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-41.18%
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-60.00%
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$470.59
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-52.94%
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-70.00%
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$352.94
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-64.71%
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-80.00%
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$235.29
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-76.47%
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-90.00%
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$117.65
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-88.24%
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-100.00%
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$0.00
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-100.00%
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$1,000 + [$1,000 x (Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying + Buffer Amount) x Downside Participation Factor]
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$1,000 + [$1,000 x (Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying + Buffer Amount) x Downside Participation Factor]
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THE SECURITIES OFFER A HIGHER COUPON IN EXCHANGE FOR EXPOSURE TO DOWNSIDE RISK OF THE LAGGARD UNDERLYING — The securities will pay Coupons on the Coupon Payment Dates in 13 equal installments. Each installment will equal approximately $4.6667 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities, reflecting a Coupon rate of approximately 6.0667% over the entire term of the securities (5.6000% for the first year and 0.4667% for the remaining two weeks). This rate may be higher than the yield on debt securities of comparable maturity issued by us or an issuer with a comparable credit rating, because you are taking downside risk with respect to the Laggard Underlying if it declines below its Knock-Out Level. Any payment on the securities is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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COUPON PAYMENTS — The securities will pay Coupons in arrears on an unadjusted basis on the Coupon Payment Dates in 13 equal installments. Each installment will equal approximately $4.6667 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities, reflecting a Coupon rate of approximately 6.0667% over the entire term of the securities (5.6000% for the first year and 0.4667% for the remaining two weeks). The Coupon Payment Dates are March 16, 2015, April 15, 2015, May 14, 2015, June 16, 2015, July 15, 2015, August 14, 2015, September 16, 2015, October 14, 2015, November 16, 2015, December 16, 2015, January 14, 2016, February 17, 2016 and March 2, 2016.
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RETURN LINKED TO THE LESSER PERFORMING OF THE TWO UNDERLYINGS — The return on the securities, which may be positive, zero or negative, is linked to the lesser performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the Russell 2000® Index as described herein. If a Knock-Out Event occurs, the payment you receive at maturity will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying.
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The iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF is an exchange-traded fund managed by iShares® Trust, a registered investment company. The iShares® Trust consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF. The iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the European, Australasian and Far Eastern markets, as measured by the MSCI EAFE® Index (the “Tracked Index”). The iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “EFA.” It is possible that the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF may not fully replicate or may in certain circumstances diverge significantly from the performance of the Tracked Index due to the temporary unavailability of certain securities in the secondary markets, the performance of any derivative instruments contained in the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF, the fees and expenses of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF or due to other circumstances. This section is only a summary of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF. For more information on the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF, including information concerning calculation methodology and adjustment policy, please see the section entitled “Exchange Traded Funds – iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012. For more information on the MSCI EAFE® Index, please see the section entitled “The MSCI Indices – The MSCI EAFE® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012. On July 1, 2013, the iShares® MSCI EAFE Index Fund was renamed the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF. All references to the iShares® MSCI EAFE Index Fund in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012 are deemed to refer to the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF.
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TAX CONSEQUENCES — Due to the lack of direct legal authority, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities. Our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, believes that it is reasonable to treat a security for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a put option (the “Put Option”) written by you to us with respect to the Laggard Underlying, secured by a cash deposit equal to the Issue Price of the security (the “Deposit”), which will have an annual yield based on our cost of borrowing. Our special tax counsel has advised, however, that it is unable to conclude that it is more likely than not that this treatment will be upheld, and that alternative treatments are possible that could materially and adversely affect the timing and character of income or loss on your securities. Generally, if this treatment is respected, only a portion of each Coupon payment will be attributable to interest on the Deposit; the remainder will represent premium attributable to your grant of the Put Option (“Put Premium”). Interest on the Deposit will be taxed as ordinary interest income, while the Put Premium will not be taken into account prior to the taxable disposition of the securities (including at maturity). We will provide the annual yield on the Deposit in the pricing supplement for the securities.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The securities do not guarantee any return of your investment. The payment at maturity is linked to the performance of the Laggard Underlying. If the Final Level of either Underlying is less than its Knock-Out Level, a Knock-Out Event will have occurred. If a Knock-Out Event occurs, you will lose 1.17647% of your initial investment for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. In this circumstance, you will lose some or all of your initial investment at maturity. Any payment on the securities is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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YOUR RETURN ON THE SECURITIES IS LIMITED TO THE FACE AMOUNT PLUS COUPON PAYMENTS AND YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY INCREASE IN THE PRICE OR LEVEL, AS APPLICABLE, OF EITHER UNDERLYING — The securities will not pay more than the Face Amount, in addition to the Coupon payments, for each $1,000 Face Amount of securities. You will not participate in any increase in the price or level, as applicable, of either Underlying even if the Final Levels of both Underlyings are greater than their respective Initial Levels. The maximum payment at maturity will be $1,000 per $1,000 Face Amount of securities (excluding Coupon payments), regardless of any increase in the price or level, as applicable, of either Underlying, which may be significant.
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IF A KNOCK-OUT EVENT OCCURS, YOUR PAYMENT AT MATURITY WILL BE DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LAGGARD UNDERLYING — If a Knock-Out Event occurs, any payment at maturity will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying, without taking into consideration the performance of the other Underlying.
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THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CREDIT OF 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 or become subject to a Resolution Measure, 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 SECURITIES MAY BE WRITTEN DOWN, BE CONVERTED OR BECOME SUBJECT TO OTHER RESOLUTION MEASURES. YOU MAY LOSE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR INVESTMENT IF ANY SUCH MEASURE BECOMES APPLICABLE TO US — On May 15, 2014, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union published the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive for establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms. The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive requires each member state of the European Union to adopt and publish by December 31, 2014 the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive. Germany has adopted the Recovery and Resolution Act (or SAG), which went into effect on January 1, 2015. SAG may result in the securities being subject to the powers exercised by our competent resolution authority to impose a Resolution Measure on us, which may include: writing down, including to zero, any payment on the securities; converting the securities into ordinary shares or other instruments qualifying as core equity tier 1 capital; or applying any other resolution measure, including (but not limited to)
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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 INVESTING IN THE UNDERLYINGS OR THE SECURITIES COMPOSING THE UNDERLYINGS — The return on your securities may not reflect the return you would have realized if you had directly invested in the Underlyings or the securities composing the Underlyings. For instance, you will not participate in any potential increase in the price or level, as applicable, 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 PRICES OR LEVELS, AS APPLICABLE, OF THE UNDERLYINGS CHANGE, THE VALUE OF YOUR SECURITIES MAY NOT CHANGE IN THE SAME MANNER — Your securities may trade quite differently from the prices or levels, as applicable, of the Underlyings. Changes in the prices or levels, as applicable, 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 any voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of shares of the Fund or holders of securities composing the Underlyings would have.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IS EXPOSED TO A DECLINE IN THE PRICE OR LEVEL, AS APPLICABLE, OF EACH UNDERLYING — Your return on the securities is not linked to a basket consisting of the Underlyings.
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THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL-CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES — The stocks composing the 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 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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THE INDEX REFLECTS THE PRICE RETURN OF THE STOCKS COMPOSING THE INDEX, NOT A TOTAL RETURN — The Index reflects the changes in the market prices of the stocks composing the Index. The Index is not, however, linked to a “total return” index, which, in addition to reflecting those price returns, would also reflect all dividends and other distributions paid on the stocks composing the Index. The return on the securities will not include such a total return feature.
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THE ANTI-DILUTION PROTECTION IS LIMITED, AND THE CALCULATION AGENT MAY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN ADDITION TO, OR THAT DIFFER FROM, THOSE SET FORTH IN THE ACCOMPANYING PRODUCT SUPPLEMENT — The calculation agent will make adjustments to the Share Adjustment Factor, which will initially be set at 1.0, for certain events affecting the shares of the Fund. The calculation agent is not required, however, to make such adjustments in response to all events that could affect the shares of the Fund. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to make an adjustment, the value of the securities may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, you should be aware that the calculation agent may, at its sole discretion, make adjustments to the Share Adjustment Factor or any other terms of the securities that are in addition to, or that differ from, those described in the accompanying product supplement to reflect changes occurring in relation to the Fund in circumstances where the calculation agent determines that it is appropriate to reflect those changes to ensure an equitable result. Any alterations to the specified anti-dilution adjustments described in the accompanying product supplement may be materially adverse to investors in the securities. You should read “Description of Securities — Anti-Dilution Adjustments for Funds” in the accompanying product supplement in order to understand the adjustments that may be made to the securities.
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FLUCTUATION OF NAV — The net asset value (the “NAV”) of an exchange traded fund may fluctuate with changes in the market value of such exchange traded fund’s portfolio holdings. The price of the shares of the Fund may fluctuate in accordance with changes in its NAV and supply and demand on the applicable stock exchanges. In addition, the price of the shares of the Fund may differ from its NAV per share. The Fund may trade at, above or below its NAV per share.
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ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FUND OR TO THE TRACKED INDEX COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE SECURITIES — Blackrock Fund Advisors (“BFA”) is the investment advisor to the Fund, which seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities on the Tracked Index. The stocks included in the Tracked Index are selected by MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”). The Tracked Index is calculated and published by MSCI. MSCI can add, delete or substitute the stocks composing the Tracked Index, which could change the value of the Tracked Index. Pursuant to its investment strategy or otherwise, BFA may add, delete or substitute the component securities held by the Fund. Any of these actions could cause or contribute to large movements in the prices of the component securities held by the Fund, which could cause the price of the shares of the Fund to decline.
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THE FUND AND ITS TRACKED INDEX ARE DIFFERENT — The performance of the Fund may not exactly replicate the performance of the Tracked Index because the Fund will reflect transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of the Tracked Index. It is also possible that the Fund may not fully replicate or may in certain circumstances diverge significantly from the performance of the Tracked Index due to the temporary unavailability of certain securities in the secondary market, the performance of any derivative instruments contained in the Fund or due to other circumstances. BFA may invest up to 10% of the Fund’s assets in other securities, including securities not included in the Tracked Index, but which BFA believes will help the Fund track the Tracked Index, and other investments, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, other types of options, and swaps related to the Tracked Index, as well as cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by BFA or its affiliates. Finally, because the shares of the Fund are traded on NYSE Arca and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market value of one share of the Fund may differ from the net asset value per share of the Fund. For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the Fund may not correlate with the performance of the Tracked Index.
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THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK — Because the Fund invests in stocks denominated in foreign currencies but its shares are denominated in U.S. dollars, changes in currency exchange rates may negatively impact the Fund’s return. Of particular importance to currency exchange rate risk are:
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existing and expected rates of inflation;
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existing and expected interest rate levels;
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political, civil or military unrest;
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the balance of payments between countries represented in the Fund and the United States; and
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the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in the countries represented in the Fund and the United States.
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All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of the countries represented in the Fund, the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance. An investor’s net exposure to currency exchange rate risk will depend on the extent to which the currencies represented in the Fund strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each currency represented in the overall Fund. If, taking into account such weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against the component currencies as a whole, the price of the Fund will be adversely affected and the value of the securities may be reduced. Additionally, the volatility and/or the correlation (including the direction and the extent of such correlation) of the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies represented in the Fund could adversely affect the value of the securities.
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THERE ARE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES LINKED TO THE VALUES OF EQUITY SECURITIES ISSUED BY NON-U.S. COMPANIES — The Fund holds component stocks that are issued by companies incorporated outside of the U.S. Because the component stocks also trade outside the U.S., the securities 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 price of the Fund and the value of your securities. Furthermore, there are risks associated with investments in securities 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.
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THERE IS NO AFFILIATION BETWEEN THE FUND AND US, AND WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DISCLOSURE BY THE FUND OR BY ISSUERS OF THE STOCKS HELD BY THE FUND — We are not affiliated with the Fund or the issuers of the component securities held by the Fund or underlying the Tracked Index (such stocks, “Underlying Stocks”; the issuers of Underlying Stocks, “Underlying Stock Issuers”). However, we and our affiliates may currently or from time to time in the future engage in business with many of the Underlying Stock Issuers. In the course of this business, we or our affiliates may acquire non-public information about the Underlying Stock Issuers, and we will not disclose any such information to you. Nevertheless, neither we nor our affiliates have participated in the preparation of, or verified, any of the information about the Underlying Stocks or any of the Underlying Stock Issuers. You, as an investor in the securities, should make your own investigation into the Underlying Stocks and the Underlying Stock Issuers. Neither the Fund nor any of the Underlying Stock Issuers is involved in this offering in any way and none of them has any obligation of any sort with respect to your securities. Neither the Fund nor any of the Underlying Stock Issuers has any obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including when taking any corporate actions that might adversely affect the value of your securities.
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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 or prices, as applicable, 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 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 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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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
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MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE SECURITIES — While we expect that, generally, the levels and prices, as applicable, of the Underlyings will affect the value of the securities more than any other single factor, the value of the securities prior to maturity 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 time remaining to maturity of the securities;
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the market prices and dividend rates of the shares of the Fund and the securities composing the Underlyings;
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the occurrence of certain events affecting the Fund that may or may not require an anti-dilution adjustment;
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the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the non-U.S. currencies that the stocks held by the Fund are traded in;
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interest rates and yields in the market generally and in the markets of the shares of the Fund and the securities composing the Underlyings;
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geopolitical conditions and a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the Underlyings, the Tracked Index or markets generally;
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the composition of the Underlyings;
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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 level or price, as applicable, 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. Furthermore, because DBSI or one of its affiliates is expected to conduct trading and hedging activities for us in connection with the securities, DBSI or such affiliate may profit in connection with such trading and hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to any compensation that DBSI receives for the sale of the securities to you. You should be aware that the potential to earn a profit in connection with hedging activities may create an incentive for DBSI to sell the securities to you in addition to any compensation they would receive for the sale of the securities.
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WE OR OUR 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 PRICES OR LEVELS, AS APPLICABLE, OF THE UNDERLYINGS OR THE VALUE OF THE SECURITIES — We or our affiliates may publish research from time to time on financial markets and other
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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 also has some discretion about certain adjustments to the Share Adjustment Factor and will 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 securities.
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THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES — 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 Put Options secured by Deposits. 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. While it is not clear whether the securities would be viewed as similar to the typical prepaid forward contract described in the notice, 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. 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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