Preliminary Pricing Supplement SUN-118 (To Prospectus dated April 27, 2016,   Prospectus Supplement dated July 31, 2015 and Product Supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1   dated August 4, 2015)

Subject to Completion Preliminary Pricing Supplement dated February 26, 2018

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Statement No. 333-206013

Units $10 principal amount per unit CUSIP No.	Pricing Date* Settlement Date* Maturity Date*	March   , 2018 April   , 2018 March   , 2020
	*Subject to change based on the actual date the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the “pricing date”)

Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index   §  Maturity of approximately two years   §  If the Index is flat or increases up to the Step Up Value, a return of [9% to 15%]   §  If the Index increases above the Step Up Value, a return equal to the percentage increase in the Index   §  1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Index, with up to 100% of your principal at risk   §  All payments occur at maturity and are subject to the credit risk of Deutsche Bank AG   §  No periodic interest payments   §  In addition to the underwriting discount set forth below, the notes include a hedging-related charge of $0.075 per unit. See “Structuring the Notes”   §  Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing

 

The notes are being issued by Deutsche Bank AG (“Deutsche Bank”) through its London Branch. There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks and certain additional costs. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet, page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1, page PS-5 of the prospectus supplement and page 13 of the prospectus.

 

The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is expected to be between $9.554 and $9.754 per unit, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-14 of this term sheet for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

 

By acquiring the notes, you will be bound by and deemed irrevocably to consent to the imposition of any Resolution Measure by the competent resolution authority. See “Consent to Potential Imposition of Resolution Measures” on page TS-3 of this term sheet.

_________________________

 

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

_________________________

 

	Per Unit	Total
Public offering price(1)	$   10.00	$
Underwriting discount(1)	$    0.20	$
Proceeds, before expenses, to Deutsche Bank	$    9.80	$

 

(1)

For any purchase of 500,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor or in combined transactions with the investor’s household in this offering, the public offering price and the underwriting discount will be $9.95 per unit and $0.15 per unit, respectively. See “Supplement to the Plan of Distribution” below.

 

The notes:

 

Are Not FDIC Insured

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

May Lose Value

 

 

Merrill Lynch & Co.

March   , 2018

 

Summary

 

The Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P 500^® Index, due March , 2020 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured obligations. The notes are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally and pari passu with the claims of all our other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, subject to any statutory priority regime of the jurisdiction of our incorporation (or, in the case of notes issued by Deutsche Bank AG through a branch, of the law of the jurisdiction where the branch is established). Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of Deutsche Bank and to any Resolution Measure (as described herein) imposed by the competent resolution authority. The notes provide you with a Step Up Payment if the Ending Value of the Market Measure, which is the S&P 500^® Index (the “Index”), is equal to or greater than its Starting Value, but is not greater than the Step Up Value. If the Ending Value is greater than the Step Up Value, you will participate on a 1-for-1 basis in the increase in the level of the Index above the Starting Value. If the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value, you will lose all or a portion of the principal amount of your notes. Any payments on the notes will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index, subject to our credit risk. See “Terms of the Notes” below.

 

On the cover page of this term sheet, we have provided the initial estimated value range for the notes. Our initial estimated value of the notes was determined based on our valuation of two theoretical components of the notes: (i) a theoretical bond component and (ii) a theoretical derivative component. The value of the bond component of the notes is calculated based on an internal funding rate, which is determined primarily based on the rates at which our conventional debt securities of comparable maturity may trade, adjusted to account for our funding needs and objectives for the period matching the term of the notes. The value of the derivative component is calculated based on our internal pricing models using relevant parameter inputs.

 

The economic terms of the notes (including the Step Up Payment) are based on the internal funding rate and the economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements. 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 underwriting discount and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes (which includes the hedging related charge described below) will reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date. Due to these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the notes will be greater than the initial estimated value of the notes. The initial estimated value of the notes calculated on the pricing date will be set forth in the final term sheet made available to investors in the notes. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-14.

 

Terms of the Notes		Redemption Amount Determination
Issuer:	Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch	On the maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per unit determined as follows:
Principal Amount:	$10.00 per unit
Term:	Approximately two years
Market Measure:	The S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “SPX”), a price return index
Starting Value:	The closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date
Ending Value:	The closing level of the Market Measure on the calculation day. The scheduled calculation day is subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described beginning on page PS-22 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1.
Step Up Value:	[109% to 115%] of the Starting Value. The actual Step Up Value will be determined on the pricing date.
Step Up Payment:	[$0.90 to $1.50] per unit, which represents a return of [9% to 15%] over the principal amount. The actual Step Up Payment will be determined on the pricing date.
Threshold Value:	100% of the Starting Value.
Calculation Day:	Approximately the fifth scheduled Market Measure Business Day immediately preceding the maturity date.
Fees and Charges:	The underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit listed on the cover page and the hedging related charge of $0.075 per unit described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-14.
Calculation Agents:	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) and Deutsche Bank, acting jointly.

The terms and risks of the notes are contained in this term sheet and in the following:

 

§

Product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1 dated August 4, 2015: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1159508/000095010315006214/dp58457_424b2-sunequity.htm

 

§

Prospectus supplement dated July 31, 2015: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1159508/000095010315006048/crt-dp58161_424b2.pdf

 

§

Prospectus dated April 27, 2016: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1159508/000119312516559607/d181910d424b21.pdf

 

These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated above or obtained from MLPF&S by calling 1-800-294-1322.

 

Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Delaware Trust Company, which acquired the corporate trust business of Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, is the successor trustee of the notes. When you read the accompanying product supplement and prospectus supplement, please note that all references in such supplements to the prospectus dated July 31, 2015, or to any sections therein, should refer instead to the accompanying prospectus dated April 27, 2016 or to the corresponding sections of such prospectus, as applicable, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to Deutsche Bank.

 

Consent to Potential Imposition of Resolution Measures

 

Under the German Recovery and Resolution Act, which became effective on January 1, 2015, the notes may be subject to any Resolution Measure by the competent resolution authority under relevant German and/or European laws or regulations if we become, or are deemed by the competent supervisory authority to have become, “non-viable” (as defined under the then applicable law) and are unable to continue our regulated banking activities without a Resolution Measure becoming applicable to us. A “Resolution Measure” may include: (i) a write down, including to zero, of any payment (or delivery obligations) on the notes; (ii) a conversion of the notes into ordinary shares of (a) the Issuer, (b) any group entity, or (c) any bridge bank or other instruments of ownership of such entities qualifying as common equity tier 1 capital; and/or (iii) any other resolution measure, including, but not limited to, any transfer of the notes to another entity, the amendment, modification or variation of the terms and conditions of the notes or the cancellation of the notes. By acquiring the notes, you will be deemed irrevocably to agree:

 

·

to be bound by, to acknowledge and to accept any Resolution Measure and any amendment, modification or variation of the terms and conditions of the notes to give effect to any Resolution Measure;

 

·

that you would have no claim or other right against us arising out of any Resolution Measure; and

 

·

that the imposition of any Resolution Measure will not constitute a default or an event of default under the notes, under the senior indenture or for the purposes of, but only to the fullest extent permitted by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as set forth in the accompanying prospectus dated April 27, 2016.

 

Please read “Risk Factors” in this term sheet and see the accompanying prospectus, including the risk factors beginning on page 13 of such prospectus, for further information.

 

Investor Considerations

 

You may wish to consider an investment in the notes if:	The notes may not be an appropriate investment for you if:
§  You anticipate that the Index will not decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.   §  You are willing to risk a loss of principal and return if the Index decreases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.   §  You are willing to forgo the interest payments that are paid on conventional interest bearing debt securities.   §  You are willing to forgo dividends or other benefits of owning the stocks included in the Index.   §  You are willing to accept a limited or no market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, the internal funding rate and fees and charges on the notes.   §  You are willing to assume our credit risk, as issuer of the notes, for all payments under the notes, including the Redemption Amount.   §  You are willing to consent to be bound by any Resolution Measure imposed by the competent resolution authority.	§  You believe that the Index will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.   §  You seek principal repayment or preservation of capital.   §  You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.   §  You want to receive dividends or other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Index.   §  You seek an investment for which there will be a liquid secondary market.   §  You are unwilling or are unable to take market risk on the notes or to take our credit risk as issuer of the notes.   §  You are unwilling to consent to be bound by any Resolution Measure imposed by the competent resolution authority.

We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.

 

Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at Maturity

 

The graph below is based on hypothetical numbers and values.

 

Market-Linked Step Up Notes

This graph reflects the returns on the notes, based on the Threshold Value of 100% of the Starting Value, a Step Up Payment of $1.20 per unit (the midpoint of the Step Up Payment range of [$0.90 to $1.50] per unit) and a Step Up Value of 112% of the Starting Value (the midpoint of the Step Up Value range of [109% to 115%]). The green line reflects the returns on the notes, while the dotted gray line reflects the returns of a direct investment in the stocks included in the Index, excluding dividends.   This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only.

The following table and examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes. They illustrate the calculation of the Redemption Amount and total rate of return based on a hypothetical Starting Value of 100, a hypothetical Threshold Value of 100, a hypothetical Step Up Value of 112, a hypothetical Step Up Payment of $1.20 per unit and a range of hypothetical Ending Values. The actual amount you receive and the resulting total rate of return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Ending Value, Step Up Value, Step Up Payment, and whether you hold the notes to maturity. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes.

 

For recent actual levels of the Market Measure, see “The Index” section below. The Index is a price return index and as such the Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends paid on the stocks included in the Index, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in those stocks directly. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.

 

Ending Value	Percentage Change from the Starting Value to the Ending Value	Redemption Amount per Unit	Total Rate of Return on the Notes
0.00	-100.00%	$0.00	-100.00%
50.00	-50.00%	$5.00	-50.00%
60.00	-40.00%	$6.00	-40.00%
70.00	-30.00%	$7.00	-30.00%
80.00	-20.00%	$8.00	-20.00%
90.00	-10.00%	$9.00	-10.00%
95.00	-5.00%	$9.50	-5.00%
100.00(1)(2)	0.00%	$11.20(3)	12.00%
102.00	2.00%	$11.20	12.00%
105.00	5.00%	$11.20	12.00%
110.00	10.00%	$11.20	12.00%
112.00(4)	12.00%	$11.20	12.00%
120.00	20.00%	$12.00	20.00%
130.00	30.00%	$13.00	30.00%
140.00	40.00%	$14.00	40.00%
150.00	50.00%	$15.00	50.00%
160.00	60.00%	$16.00	60.00%

 

(1)

This is the hypothetical Threshold Value.

 

(2)

The hypothetical Starting Value of 100 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent a likely actual Starting Value for the Market Measure.

 

(3)

This amount represents the sum of the principal amount and the hypothetical Step Up Payment of $1.20.

 

(4)

This is the hypothetical Step Up Value.

 

Redemption Amount Calculation Examples

 

Example 1
The Ending Value is 50.00, or 50.00% of the Starting Value:
Starting Value:	100.00
Threshold Value:	100.00
Ending Value:	50.00
	Redemption Amount per unit

 

 

Example 2
The Ending Value is 110.00, or 110.00% of the Starting Value:
Starting Value:	100.00
Step Up Value:	112.00
Ending Value:	110.00
	Redemption Amount per unit, the principal amount plus the Step Up Payment, since the Ending Value is equal to or greater than the Starting Value, but less than the Step Up Value.

 

 

Example 3
The Ending Value is 140.00, or 140.00% of the Starting Value:
Starting Value:	100.00
Step Up Value:	112.00
Ending Value:	140.00
	Redemption Amount per unit

 

Risk Factors

 

There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security. An investment in the notes involves significant risks, including those listed below. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1, page PS-5 of the prospectus supplement and page 13 of the prospectus identified above. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.

 

§

Depending on the performance of the Index as measured shortly before the maturity date, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal.

 

§

Your return on the notes may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity.

 

§

Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. If we become insolvent or are unable to pay our obligations, you may lose your entire investment.

 

§

The notes may be written down to zero, be converted into ordinary shares or other instruments of ownership or become subject to other Resolution Measures. You may lose some or all of your investment if any such measure becomes applicable to us. In a German insolvency proceeding or in the event of the imposition of Resolution Measures with respect to the Issuer, the Structured Debt Securities (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) are expected to be among the unsecured unsubordinated obligations that would bear losses after the Non-Structured Debt Securities (as defined in the accompanying prospectus). We expect and intend the notes offered herein to be classified as Structured Debt Securities, but the competent resolution authority or court may classify the notes differently. The imposition of any Resolution Measure does not constitute a default or an event of default under the notes, the senior indenture or for the purposes of, but only to the fullest extent permitted by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or give you any other right to accelerate or terminate the notes. You may have limited or circumscribed rights to challenge any decision of the competent resolution authority to impose any Resolution Measure. Please see “Consent to Potential Imposition of Resolution Measures” in this term sheet and the risk factors beginning on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus for more information.

 

§

Your investment return may be less than a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index.

 

§

The initial estimated value of the notes is an estimate only, determined as of a particular point in time 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 of comparable maturity. As a result of this difference, the initial estimated value of the notes would likely be lower if it were based on the rate we would pay when we issue conventional debt securities of comparable maturity. This difference in funding rate, as well as the underwriting discount and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes (which includes the hedging related charge described below), reduces the economic terms of the notes to you.

 

§

Our internal pricing models consider relevant parameter inputs such as expected interest and dividend rates and mid-market levels of price and volatility of the assets underlying the notes or any futures, options or swaps related to such underlying assets. Our pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. Because our pricing models may differ from other financial institutions’ valuation models, and because funding rates taken into account by other financial institutions (including those with similar creditworthiness) may vary materially from the internal funding rate used by us, our initial estimated value of the notes may not be comparable to the initial estimated values of similar notes of other financial institutions.

 

§

The public offering price you pay for the notes will exceed the initial estimated value. The difference is due to the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes (which includes the hedging related charge described below), all as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-14. These factors are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, including changes in the level of the Index, will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways.

 

§

The initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date does not represent the price at which we, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market at any time. Assuming no changes in market conditions or our creditworthiness and other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which we, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, would generally be lower than both the public offering price and the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date. MLPF&S has advised us that any repurchases by them or their affiliates will be made at prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion. These prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups and may differ materially from the initial estimated value of the notes determined by reference to our internal funding rate and pricing models.

 

§

A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. None of us, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market.

 

§

Our business, hedging and trading activities, and those of MLPF&S and our respective affiliates (including trading in securities of companies included in the Index), and any hedging and trading activities we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you. Our economic interests in determining the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date and the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes.

 

§

The Index sponsor may adjust the Index in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests.

 

§

You will have no rights of a holder of the securities included in the Index, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities.

 

§

While we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in the Index, other than the common stock of Bank of America Corporation (the parent company of MLPF&S), which is included in the Index, we, MLPF&S and our respective affiliates do not control any company included in the Index, and have not verified any disclosure made by any company.

 

§

There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agents, one of which is us and one of which is MLPF&S. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agents.

 

§

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to you. See “Summary Tax Consequences” below and “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page PS-30 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1.

 

The Index

 

We have derived all information contained in this term sheet regarding the Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information. We have not participated in the preparation of, or verified, such publicly available information. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index sponsor”). The Index was developed by the Index sponsor and is calculated, maintained and published by the Index sponsor. The Index sponsor has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Index. The consequences of the Index sponsor discontinuing publication of the Index are discussed in the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Discontinuance of an Index” beginning on page PS-23 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1. None of us, the calculation agents or MLPF&S accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Index or any successor index.

 

The Index is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of the Index is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. Beginning April 3, 2014, the Index sponsor started including, on a case by case basis, multiple share class lines in the Index. As a result, although the Index contains 500 component companies, at any one time it may contain more than 500 component shares because some companies may be represented by multiple share class lines. Effective with the September 2015 rebalancing, the Index includes all publicly listed multiple share class lines separately in its float market cap (“FMC”) weighted indices subject to liquidity and float criteria currently in place. Index membership eligibility for a company with multiple share class lines is based on the total market capitalization of the company. The decision to include each publicly listed share class is evaluated line by line; the weight of each line will reflect its own float, not the combined float of all company lines.

 

The Index sponsor chooses companies for inclusion in the Index with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings that approximates the distribution of these groupings in the common stock population of its Stock Guide Database of over 10,000 companies, which the Index sponsor uses as an assumed model for the composition of the total market. Relevant criteria employed by the Index sponsor include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company’s common stock generally is responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company.

 

The Index sponsor calculates the Index by reference to the prices of the constituent stocks of the Index without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those stocks. As a result, the return on the notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Index constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.

 

Computation of the Index

 

While the Index sponsor currently employs the following methodology to calculate the Index, no assurance can be given that the Index sponsor will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the Redemption Amount.

 

Historically, the market value of any component stock of the Index was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the number of then outstanding shares of such component stock. In March 2005, the Index sponsor began shifting the Index halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the Index to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. The Index sponsor’s criteria for selecting stocks for the Index did not change with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the Index.

 

Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the Index reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. Float adjustment excludes shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly traded companies or government agencies.

 

In September 2012, all shareholdings representing more than 5% of a stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,” were removed from the float for purposes of calculating the Index. Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and directors, private equity, venture capital and special equity firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs, employee and family trusts, foundations associated with the company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock, government entities at all levels (other than government retirement/pension funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake in a company as reported in regulatory filings. However, holdings by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual funds and ETF providers, 401(k) plans of the company, government retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies, asset managers and investment funds, independent foundations and savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of the float.

 

Treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are generally not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to allow investors in countries outside the country of domicile, such as depositary shares and Canadian exchangeable shares are normally part of the float unless those shares form a control block. If a company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded class are treated as a control block.

 

For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares by the total shares outstanding. As of September 21, 2012, available float shares are defined as the total shares outstanding less shares held by control holders. This calculation is subject to a 5% minimum threshold for control blocks. For example, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares, and no other control group holds 5% of the company’s shares, the Index sponsor would assign that company an

 

IWF of 1.00, as no control group meets the 5% threshold. However, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares and another control group holds 20% of the company’s shares, the Index sponsor would assign an IWF of 0.77, reflecting the fact that 23% of the company’s outstanding shares are considered to be held for control. For companies with multiple classes of stock, the Index sponsor calculates the weighted average IWF for each stock using the proportion of the total company market capitalization of each share class as weights.

 

The Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the Index reflects the total market value of all 500 component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. An indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the level easier to work with and track over time. The actual total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed level of 10. This is often indicated by the notation 1941 - 43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the Index, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the Index. The index divisor keeps the Index comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the Index, which is index maintenance.

 

Index Maintenance

 

Index maintenance includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for company additions and deletions, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructuring or spinoffs. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the Index, and do not require index divisor adjustments.

 

To prevent the level of the Index from changing due to corporate actions, corporate actions which affect the total market value of the Index require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in market value, the level of the Index remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the Index. Index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the Index closing level.

 

Changes in a company’s shares outstanding due to mergers or acquisitions of another public company, or changes in a company's shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due to public offerings, are made as soon as reasonably possible.. All other changes of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, tender offers, Dutch auctions, voluntary exchange offers, company stock repurchases, private placements, acquisitions of private companies or non-index companies that do not trade on a major exchange, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participation units, at-the-market offerings, or other recapitalizations) are made weekly and are announced on Fridays for implementation after the close of trading on the following Friday. Changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December.

 

If a change in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more causes a company’s IWF to change by five percentage points or more, the IWF is updated at the same time as the share change. IWF changes resulting from partial tender offers are considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

The following graph shows the daily historical performance of the Index in the period from January 1, 2008 through February 21, 2018. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. On February 21, 2018, the closing level of the Index was 2,701.33.

 

Historical Performance of the Index

 

This historical data on the Index is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Index during any period set forth above is not an indication that the level of the Index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the notes.

 

Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available sources for the levels of the Index.

 

License Agreement

 

S&P^® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones^® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). These trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. “Standard & Poor’s^®,” “S&P 500^®” and “S&P^®” are trademarks of S&P. These trademarks have been sublicensed for certain purposes by us. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by us.

 

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the notes particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to us with respect to the Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to us, MLPF&S, or the notes. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take our needs or the needs of holders of the notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the notes are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security or futures contract within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security or futures contract, nor is it considered to be investment advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the notes currently being issued by us, but which may be similar to and competitive with the notes. In addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the Index. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the notes.

 

S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US,

 

MLPF&S, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND US, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.

 

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

 

Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.

 

We may deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than two business days following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement of the notes occurs more than two business days from the pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than two business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

 

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units. If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account.

 

MLPF&S has advised us that they or their affiliates may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however, it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions. At MLPF&S’s discretion, for a short, undetermined initial period after the issuance of the notes, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the estimated value of the notes at the time of repurchase. Any price offered by MLPF&S for the notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Index, the remaining term of the notes, and our creditworthiness. However, none of us, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates will purchase your notes at a price that equals or exceeds the estimated value of the notes at the time of repurchase.

 

MLPF&S has also advised us that, if you hold your notes in a MLPF&S account, the value of the notes shown on your account statement will be based on MLPF&S’s estimate of the value of the notes if MLPF&S or another of its affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated to do. That estimate will be based upon the price that MLPF&S may pay for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, as mentioned above, and will include transaction costs. This price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value of the notes.

 

The distribution of the Note Prospectus in connection with these offers or sales will be solely for the purpose of providing investors with the description of the terms of the notes that was made available to investors in connection with their initial offering. Secondary market investors should not, and will not be authorized to, rely on the Note Prospectus for information regarding Deutsche Bank or for any purpose other than that described in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

An investor’s household, as referenced on the cover of this term sheet, will generally include accounts held by any of the following, as determined by MLPF&S in its discretion and acting in good faith based upon information then available to MLPF&S:

 

·

the investor’s spouse (including a domestic partner), siblings, parents, grandparents, spouse’s parents, children and grandchildren, but excluding accounts held by aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews or any other family relationship not directly above or below the individual investor;

 

·

a family investment vehicle, including foundations, limited partnerships and personal holding companies, but only if the beneficial owners of the vehicle consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; and

 

·

a trust where the grantors and/or beneficiaries of the trust consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; provided that, purchases of the notes by a trust generally cannot be aggregated together with any purchases made by a trustee’s personal account.

 

Purchases in retirement accounts will not be considered part of the same household as an individual investor’s personal or other non-retirement account, except for individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), simplified employee pension plans (“SEPs”), savings incentive match plan for employees (“SIMPLEs”), and single-participant or owners only accounts (i.e., retirement accounts held by self-employed individuals, business owners or partners with no employees other than their spouses).

 

Please contact your Merrill Lynch financial advisor if you have any questions about the application of these provisions to your specific circumstances or think you are eligible.

 

Structuring the Notes

 

The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Index. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. The internal funding rate we use in pricing the market-linked note is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional debt securities of comparable maturity. This generally relatively lower internal funding rate, which is reflected in the economic terms of the notes, along with the fees and charges associated with market-linked notes, typically results in the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date being less than their public offering price.

 

At maturity, we are required to pay the Redemption Amount to holders of the notes, which will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index. In order to meet these payment obligations, at the time we issue the notes, we expect to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with MLPF&S or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, which may include us, MLPF&S and one of our respective affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Index, the tenor of the notes and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.

 

MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by us, MLPF&S or any other hedge providers.

 

For further information, see “Risk Factors—General Risks Relating to the Notes” beginning on page PS-7 and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on page PS-18 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1.

 

Summary Tax Consequences

 

In the opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, which is based on prevailing market conditions, it is more likely than not that the notes will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. Generally, if this treatment is respected, (i) you should not recognize taxable income or loss prior to the maturity or other taxable disposition of your notes and (ii) the gain or loss on your notes should be capital gain or loss and should be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the notes for more than one year. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or a court might not agree with this treatment, however, in which case the timing and character of income or loss on your notes could be materially and adversely affected.

 

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 notes, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

Withholding under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” might (if the notes were recharacterized as debt instruments) apply to amounts treated as interest paid with respect to the notes, as well as to payments of gross proceeds of a taxable disposition, including at maturity, of a note. However, under a recent IRS notice, this regime will not apply to payments of gross proceeds (other than any amount treated as interest) with respect to dispositions occurring before January 1, 2019. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of FATCA to the notes.

 

Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax (unless an income tax treaty applies) on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to non-U.S. holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. Section 871(m) provides certain exceptions to this withholding regime, including for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices that meet requirements set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (such an index, a “Qualified Index”). Additionally, a recent IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued prior to January 1, 2019 that do not have a delta of one with respect to underlying securities that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each, an “Underlying Security”). Based on certain determinations made by us, we expect that Section 871(m) will not apply to the notes with regard to non-U.S. holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If necessary, further information regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) will be provided in the pricing supplement for the notes. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the notes.

 

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 notes.

 

Under current law, the United Kingdom will not impose withholding tax on payments made with respect to the notes.

 

For a discussion of certain German tax considerations relating to the notes, you should refer to the section in the accompanying prospectus supplement entitled “Taxation by Germany of Non-Resident Holders.”

 

You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes (including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by the 2007 notice), as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.