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Pricing Supplement No. 2799B To underlying supplement No. 1 dated August 17, 2015, product supplement B dated July 31, 2015, prospectus supplement dated July 31, 2015 and prospectus dated April 27, 2016 |
Registration Statement No. 333-206013 Rule 424(b)(2) |
The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement, product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell nor do they seek an offer to buy the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion. Dated March 2, 2017
Deutsche Bank AG
$ Digital Return Notes Linked to the Lesser Performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index due March 19, 2018
General
| · | The notes are designed for investors who seek a return at maturity linked to the lesser performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index (each, an “Underlying”). If the Final Level of the lesser performing Underlying, which we refer to as the “Laggard Underlying,” is greater than or equal to its Trigger Level (equal to 85.00% of its Initial Level), for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, investors will receive at maturity a return on the notes equal to the Digital Return of between 9.00% and 9.50% (to be determined on the Trade Date). However, if the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, investors will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. The notes do not pay any coupons or dividends and investors should be willing to lose a significant portion or all of their investment if the Final Level of either Underlying is less than its Trigger Level. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit of the Issuer. |
| · | Senior unsecured obligations of Deutsche Bank AG due March 19, 2018 |
| · | Minimum purchase of $1,000. Minimum denominations of $1,000 (the “Face Amount”) and integral multiples thereof. |
| · | The notes are expected to price on or about March 3, 2017 (the “Trade Date”) and are expected to settle on or about March 10, 2017 (the “Settlement Date”). |
Key Terms
| Issuer: | Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch | |||
| Issue Price: | 100% of the Face Amount | |||
| Underlyings: | Underlying | Ticker Symbol | Initial Level† | Trigger Level† |
| Russell 2000® Index | RTY | |||
| S&P 500® Index | SPX
|
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† The Initial Level and Trigger Level for each Underlying will be set on the Trade Date.
| ||||
| Digital Return: | Between 9.00% and 9.50%. The actual Digital Return will be determined on the Trade Date and will be between 9.00% and 9.50%. Accordingly, the maximum Payment at Maturity will be between $1,090.00 and $1,095.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes. | |||
| Payment at Maturity: | · If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Trigger Level, you will receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of notes equal to the Face Amount plus the product of the Face Amount and the Digital Return, calculated as follows: | |||
| $1,000 + ($1,000 x Digital Return) | ||||
| · If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, you will receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of notes calculated as follows: | ||||
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$1,000 + ($1,000 x Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying) | ||||
| If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. In this circumstance, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment at maturity. Any payment at maturity is subject to the credit of the Issuer. | ||||
| (Key Terms continued on next page) | ||||
Investing in the notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of the accompanying product supplement, page PS-5 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and page 13 of the accompanying prospectus and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-9 of this pricing supplement.
The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date is approximately $961.00 to $981.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes, which is less than the Issue Price. Please see “Issuer’s Estimated Value of the Notes” on page PS-3 of this pricing supplement for additional information.
By acquiring the notes, you will be bound by and deemed irrevocably to consent to the imposition of any Resolution Measure (as defined below) by the competent resolution authority, which may include the write down of all, or a portion, of any payment on the notes or the conversion of the notes into ordinary shares or other instruments of ownership. If any Resolution Measure becomes applicable to us, you may lose some or all of your investment in the notes. Please see “Resolution Measures and Deemed Agreement” on page PS-4 of this pricing supplement for more information.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying underlying supplement, product supplement, prospectus supplement or prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Price to Public | Maximum Discounts and Commissions(1) | Minimum Proceeds to Us | |
| Per Note | $1,000.00 | $10.00 | $990.00 |
| Total | $ | $ | $ |
| (1) | For more detailed information about discounts and commissions, please see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in this pricing supplement. The notes will be sold with varying underwriting discounts and commissions in an amount not to exceed $10.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes. |
The agent for this offering is our affiliate. For more information, please see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in this pricing supplement.
The notes are not deposits or savings accounts and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other U.S. or foreign governmental agency or instrumentality.
Deutsche Bank Securities
March , 2017
| (Key Terms continued from previous page) | |
| Laggard Underlying: | 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. |
| Trigger Level: | For each Underlying, 85.00% of the Initial Level of such Underlying, as set forth in the table under “Underlyings” above |
| Underlying Return: | For each Underlying, the performance of such Underlying from its Initial Level to its Final Level, calculated as follows: |
| Final Level – Initial Level | |
Initial Level
| |
| The Underlying Return for each Underlying may be positive, zero or negative. | |
| Initial Level: | For each Underlying, the closing level of such Underlying on the Trade Date, as set forth in the table under “Underlyings” above |
| Final Level: | For each Underlying, the closing level of such Underlying on the Final Valuation Date |
| Trade Date2: | March 3, 2017 |
| Settlement Date2: | March 10, 2017 |
| Final Valuation Date:1, 2: | March 12, 2018 |
| Maturity Date1, 2: | March 19, 2018 |
| Listing: | The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 25155MAA9 / US25155MAA99 |
| 1 | Subject to adjustment as described under “Description of Securities — Adjustments to Valuation Dates and Payment Dates” in the accompanying product supplement. |
| 2 | In the event that we make any changes to the expected Trade Date or Settlement Date, the Final Valuation Date and Maturity Date may be changed so that the stated term of the notes remains the same. |
Issuer’s Estimated Value of the Notes
The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes is equal to the sum of our valuations of the following two components of the notes: (i) a bond and (ii) an embedded derivative(s). The value of the bond component of the notes is calculated based on the present value of the stream of cash payments associated with a conventional bond with a principal amount equal to the Face Amount of notes, discounted at an internal funding rate, which is determined primarily based on our market-based yield curve, adjusted to account for our funding needs and objectives for the period matching the term of the notes. The internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional debt securities on equivalent terms. This difference in funding rate, as well as the agent’s commissions, if any, and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes, reduces the economic terms of the notes to you and is expected to adversely affect the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market. The value of the embedded derivative(s) is calculated based on our internal pricing models using 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 internal pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect.
The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the notes. The difference between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date is due to the inclusion in the Issue Price of the agent’s commissions, if any, and the cost of hedging our obligations under the notes through one or more of our affiliates. Such hedging cost includes our or our affiliates’ expected cost of providing such hedge, as well as the profit we or our affiliates expect to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in providing such hedge.
The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date does not represent the price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market at any time. Assuming no changes in market conditions or our creditworthiness and other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, would generally be lower than both the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date. Our purchase price, if any, in secondary market transactions will be based on the estimated value of the notes determined by reference to (i) the then-prevailing internal funding rate (adjusted by a spread) or another appropriate measure of our cost of funds and (ii) our pricing models at that time, less a bid spread determined after taking into account the size of the repurchase, the nature of the assets underlying the notes and then-prevailing market conditions. The price we report to financial reporting services and to distributors of our notes for use on customer account statements would generally be determined on the same basis. However, during the period of approximately three months beginning from the Trade Date, we or our affiliates may, in our sole discretion, increase the purchase price determined as described above by an amount equal to the declining differential between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date, prorated over such period on a straight-line basis, for transactions that are individually and in the aggregate of the expected size for ordinary secondary market repurchases.
PS-3
Resolution Measures and Deemed Agreement
On May 15, 2014, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted a directive establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (commonly referred to as the “Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive”). The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive required 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 adopted the Recovery and Resolution Act (Sanierungs- und Abwicklungsgesetz, or the “Resolution Act”), which became effective on January 1, 2015. The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive and the Resolution Act provided national resolution authorities with a set of resolution powers to intervene in the event that a bank is failing or likely to fail and certain other conditions are met. From January 1, 2016, the power to initiate resolution measures applicable to significant banking groups (such as Deutsche Bank Group) in the European Banking Union has been transferred to the European Single Resolution Board which, based on the European Union regulation establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single Resolution Mechanism and a Single Resolution Fund (the “SRM Regulation”), works in close cooperation with the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the national resolution authorities. Pursuant to the SRM Regulation, the Resolution Act and other applicable rules and regulations, the notes may be subject to any Resolution Measure by the competent resolution authority 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. By acquiring the notes, you will be bound by and deemed irrevocably to consent to the provisions set forth in the accompanying prospectus, which we have summarized below.
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. Under the relevant resolution laws and regulations as applicable to us from time to time, the notes may be subject to the powers exercised by the competent resolution authority to: (i) write down, including to zero, any payment (or delivery obligations) on the notes; (ii) convert 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) apply 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. We refer to each of these measures as a “Resolution Measure.” A “group entity” refers to an entity that is included in the corporate group subject to a Resolution Measure. A “bridge bank” refers to a newly chartered German bank that would receive some or all of our assets, liabilities and material contracts, including those attributable to our branches and subsidiaries, in a resolution proceeding.
Furthermore, by acquiring the notes, you:
| · | are deemed irrevocably to have agreed, and you will agree: (i) 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; (ii) that you will have no claim or other right against us arising out of any Resolution Measure; and (iii) that the imposition of any Resolution Measure will not constitute a default or an event of default under the notes, 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 purposes of, but only to the fullest extent permitted by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”); |
| · | 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, the issuing agent and the registrar (each, an “indenture agent”) for, agree not to initiate a suit against the trustee or the indenture agents in respect of, and agree that the trustee and the indenture agents will not be liable for, any action that the trustee or the indenture agents take, or abstain from taking, in either case in accordance with the imposition of a Resolution Measure by the competent resolution authority with respect to the notes; and |
| · | 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 notes; (ii) authorized, directed and requested The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which you hold such notes to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the imposition of any Resolution Measure with respect to the notes as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on your part or on the part of the trustee or the indenture agents; and (iii) acknowledged and accepted that the Resolution Measure provisions described herein and in the “Resolution Measures” section of the accompanying prospectus are exhaustive on the matters described herein and therein to the exclusion of any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between you and the Issuer relating to the terms and conditions of the notes. |
This is only a summary, for more information please see the accompanying prospectus dated April 27, 2016, including the risk factors beginning on page 13 of such prospectus.
PS-4
Additional Terms Specific to the Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with underlying supplement No. 1 dated August 17, 2015, product supplement B dated July 31, 2015, the prospectus supplement dated July 31, 2015 relating to our Series A global notes of which these notes are a part and the prospectus dated April 27, 2016. 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 underlying supplement, 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. You may access these documents on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at.www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
| · | Underlying supplement No. 1 dated August 17, 2015: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1159508/000095010315006546/crt_dp58829-424b2.pdf
| · | Product supplement B dated July 31, 2015: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1159508/000095010315006059/crt_dp58181-424b2.pdf
| · | Prospectus supplement dated July 31, 2015: |
http://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
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 0001159508. As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Deutsche Bank AG, including, as the context requires, acting through one of its branches.
This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed above, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in this pricing supplement and in “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before deciding to invest in the notes.
You may revoke your offer to purchase the notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the applicable agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the notes prior to their issuance. We will notify you in the event of any changes to the terms of the notes and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase of any notes. You may also choose to reject such changes, in which case we may reject your offer to purchase the notes.
PS-5
Hypothetical Examples
The following table illustrates a range of hypothetical payments at maturity on the notes. The table and the hypothetical examples below assume a Digital Return of 9.25% (the midpoint of the range between 9.00% and 9.50%) and reflect the Trigger Level for each Underlying equal to 85.00% of its Initial Level. The actual Initial Level and Trigger Level for each Underlying and the actual Digital Return will be determined on the Trade Date. The table and hypothetical examples set forth below are for illustrative purposes only. The actual return applicable to a purchaser of the notes will be based solely on the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying, which will be based on the performance of the Laggard Underlying as measured on the Final Valuation Date. The numbers appearing in the table and hypothetical examples below may have been rounded for ease of analysis. You should consider carefully whether the notes are suitable to your investment goals.
We make no representation or warranty as to which of the Underlyings will be the Laggard Underlying for purposes of calculating the Payment at Maturity.
| Hypothetical Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying (%) |
Hypothetical Payment at Maturity ($) |
Hypothetical Return on the Notes (%) |
| 100.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 90.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 80.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 70.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 60.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 50.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 40.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 30.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 20.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 10.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 5.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| 0.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| -5.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| -10.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| -15.00% | $1,092.50 | 9.25% |
| -16.00% | $840.00 | -16.00% |
| -20.00% | $800.00 | -20.00% |
| -30.00% | $700.00 | -30.00% |
| -40.00% | $600.00 | -40.00% |
| -50.00% | $500.00 | -50.00% |
| -60.00% | $400.00 | -60.00% |
| -70.00% | $300.00 | -70.00% |
| -80.00% | $200.00 | -80.00% |
| -90.00% | $100.00 | -90.00% |
| -100.00% | $0.00 | -100.00% |
Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity
The following hypothetical examples illustrate how the payments on the notes at maturity set forth in the table above are calculated.
Example 1: The Final Levels of both Underlyings are greater than their respective Initial Levels and the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying equals 40.00%. Because the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than its Trigger Level (equal to 85.00% of the its Initial Level), the investor receives a return on the notes equal to the Digital Return of 9.25% and a Payment at Maturity of $1,092.50 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Digital Return)
$1,000 + ($1,000 x 9.25%) = $1,092.50
PS-6
In this example, even though the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than its Initial Level by 40.00%, because the maximum gain on the notes is limited to the Digital Return of 9.25%, the investor will receive a return on the notes equal to the Digital Return.
Example 2: The Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level by 5.00%, resulting in an Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying of -5.00%, while the Final Level of the other Underlying is greater than its Initial Level by 40.00%. Because the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level but greater than its Trigger Level, the investor receives a return on the notes equal to the Digital Return of 9.25% and a Payment at Maturity of $1,092.50 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Digital Return)
$1,000 + ($1,000 x 9.25%) = $1,092.50
In this example, because the Payment at Maturity is determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying, the investor will receive a return on the notes equal to the Digital Return.
Example 3: The Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level by 50.00%, resulting in an Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying of -50.00%, while the Final Level of the other Underlying is greater than its Initial Level by 20.00%. Because the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $500.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying)
$1,000 + ($1,000 x -50.00%) = $500.00
In this example, even though the Final Level of the other Underlying is greater than its Initial Level by 20.00%, because the Payment at Maturity is determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying, the investor will lose 50.00% of its investment, reflecting a 1.00% loss of its initial investment for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level.
Example 4: The Final Levels of both Underlyings are less than their respective Initial Levels and the Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying equals -60.00%. Because the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, the investor will receive a Payment at Maturity of $400.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 x Underlying Return of the Laggard Underlying)
$1,000 + ($1,000 x -60.00%) = $400.00
Selected Purchase Considerations
| · | POTENTIAL POSITIVE RETURN ON THE NOTES IS FIXED AND LIMITED — If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Trigger Level, your return on the notes will be limited to the Digital Return of between 9.00% and 9.50% (to be determined on the Trade Date), resulting in a maximum Payment at Maturity of between $1,090.00 and $1,095.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes, regardless of any increase in the levels of the Underlyings, which could be significant. Any payment on the notes is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due. |
| · | LIMITED PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS — If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level but greater than or equal to its Trigger Level, you will receive a return on the notes reflecting the Digital Return. However, if the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. In this circumstance, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the notes. |
| · | RETURN LINKED TO THE LESSER PERFORMING OF THE TWO UNDERLYINGS — The return on the notes, which may be positive, zero or negative, is linked to the lesser performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index as described herein. The Payment at Maturity you receive, if any, will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying. |
Russell 2000® Index
The Russell 2000® Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The Russell 2000® Index measures the composite price performance of stocks of approximately
PS-7
2,000 companies domiciled in the U.S. and its territories and consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 2000® Index represents approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. This is only a summary of the Russell 2000® Index. For more information on the Russell 2000® Index, including information concerning its composition, calculation methodology and adjustment policy, please see the section entitled “The Russell Indices — The Russell 2000® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated August 17, 2015.
S&P 500® Index
The S&P 500® Index is intended to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. The calculation of the level of the S&P 500® Index is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the shares of 500 companies as of a particular time as compared to the aggregate average market value of the shares of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. This is only a summary of the S&P 500® Index. For more information on the S&P 500® Index, including information concerning its composition, calculation methodology and adjustment policy, please see the section entitled “The S&P Dow Jones Indices — The S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated August 17, 2015.
| · | 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the section of the accompanying product supplement entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” under a recent IRS notice, withholding under FATCA will not apply to payments of gross proceeds (other than any amount treated as interest) of a taxable disposition, including redemption at maturity, of the notes. You should consult your tax adviser 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, the applicable regulations exclude from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued in 2017 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 adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the notes.
PS-8
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 adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes (including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by the 2007 notice), as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
PS-9
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the stocks composing the Underlyings. In addition to these selected risk considerations, you should review the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus.
| · | YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The notes do not guarantee any return of your investment. The return on the notes at maturity is linked to the performance of the Laggard Underlying and will depend on whether the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level. If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Trigger Level, your investment will be fully exposed to any decline in the level of the Laggard Underlying as measured on the Final Valuation Date and, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will lose 1.00% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is less than its Initial Level. In this circumstance, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment at maturity. Any payment on the notes is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due. |
| · | YOUR MAXIMUM GAIN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED TO THE DIGITAL RETURN — If the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Trigger Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes, you will receive a cash payment at maturity equal to the Face Amount plus the product of the Face Amount and the Digital Return of between 9.00% and 9.50% (to be determined on the Trade Date), regardless of any increase in the levels of the Underlyings, which could be significant. Accordingly, the maximum Payment at Maturity will be between $1,090.00 and $1,095.00 for each $1,000 Face Amount of notes. You will receive a return on the notes reflecting the Digital Return only if the Final Level of the Laggard Underlying is greater than or equal to its Trigger Level. The levels of each Underlying at various times during the term of the notes could be higher than the Final Level of such Underlying. Because the Digital Return is a fixed amount, the return on the notes may be less than the return you would have realized if you had invested directly in the stocks composing the Underlyings. |
| · | A HIGHER DIGITAL RETURN OR A LOWER TRIGGER LEVEL FOR EACH UNDERLYING MAY REFLECT A GREATER EXPECTED VOLATILITY OF ONE OR BOTH OF THE UNDERLYINGS, WHICH IS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A GREATER RISK OF LOSS — Volatility is a measure of the degree of variation in the trading prices of an asset over a period of time. The greater the expected volatility at the time the terms of the notes are set on the Trade Date, the greater the expectation is at that time that at least one of the Underlyings may close below its Trigger Level on the Final Valuation Date (resulting in a loss of a significant portion or all of your initial investment). In addition, the economic terms of the notes, including the Trigger Levels, are based, in part, on the expected volatility of the Underlyings at the time the terms of the notes are set on the Trade Date, where higher expected volatility will generally lead to a higher Digital Return or a lower Trigger Level for each Underlying. Accordingly, a higher Digital Return as compared with the coupon on our conventional fixed income securities with a similar maturity or the coupon on our other similarly structured securities will generally indicate a greater risk of loss, while a lower Trigger Level for each Underlying as compared with otherwise comparable securities does not necessarily indicate that the notes have a greater likelihood of returning your investment at maturity. You should be willing to accept the downside market risk of each Underlying and the potential loss of a significant portion or all of your initial investment at maturity. |
| · | THE NOTES DO NOT PAY ANY COUPONS — Unlike ordinary debt securities, the notes do not pay any coupons and do not guarantee any return of your investment at maturity. |
| · | THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CREDIT OF DEUTSCHE BANK AG — The notes 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 notes depends on the ability of Deutsche Bank AG to satisfy its obligations as they become 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 Deutsche Bank AG’s credit risk will likely have an adverse effect on the value of the notes. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Deutsche Bank AG will affect the value of the notes and, in the event Deutsche Bank AG were to default on its obligations or become subject to a Resolution Measure, you might not receive any amount(s) owed to you under the terms of the notes and you could lose your entire investment. |
| · | THE NOTES MAY BE WRITTEN DOWN, 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 — Pursuant to the SRM Regulation, the Resolution Act and other applicable rules and regulations described above under “Resolution Measures and Deemed Agreement,” the notes are subject to the powers exercised by the competent resolution authority to impose Resolution Measures on us, which may include: writing down, including |
PS-10
to zero, any claim for payment on the notes; converting the notes into ordinary shares of (i) the Issuer, (ii) any group entity or (iii) any bridge bank or other instruments of ownership of such entities qualifying as common equity tier 1 capital; or applying any other resolution measure including, but not limited to, transferring the notes to another entity, amending, modifying or varying the terms and conditions of the notes or cancelling the notes. The competent resolution authority may apply Resolution Measures individually or in any combination.
The German law on the mechanism for the resolution of banks of November 2, 2015 (Abwicklungsmechanismusgesetz, or the “Resolution Mechanism Act”) provides that, in a German insolvency proceeding of the Issuer, certain specifically defined senior unsecured debt instruments would rank junior to, without constituting subordinated debt, all other outstanding unsecured unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer and be satisfied only if all such other senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer have been paid in full. This prioritization would also be given effect if Resolution Measures are imposed on the Issuer, so that obligations under debt instruments that rank junior in insolvency as described above would be written down or converted into common equity tier 1 instruments before any other senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer are written down or converted. A large portion of our liabilities consist of senior unsecured obligations that either fall outside the statutory definition of debt instruments that rank junior to other senior unsecured obligations according to the Resolution Mechanism Act or are expressly exempted from such definition.
Among those unsecured unsubordinated obligations that are expressly exempted are money market instruments and senior unsecured debt instruments whose terms provide that (i) the repayment or the amount of the repayment depends on the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event which is uncertain at the point in time when the senior unsecured debt instruments are issued or is settled in a way other than by monetary payment, or (ii) the payment of interest or the amount of the interest payments depends on the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event which is uncertain at the point in time when the senior unsecured debt instruments are issued unless the payment of interest or the amount of the interest payments solely depends on a fixed or floating reference interest rate and is settled by monetary payment. This order of priority introduced by the Resolution Mechanism Act would apply in German insolvency proceedings instituted, or when Resolution Measures are imposed, on or after January 1, 2017 with effect for debt instruments of the Issuer outstanding at that time. In a German insolvency proceeding or in the event of the imposition of Resolution Measures with respect to the Issuer, the competent regulatory authority or court would determine which of our senior debt securities issued under the prospectus have the terms described in clauses (i) or (ii) above, referred to herein as the “Structured Debt Securities,” and which do not, referred to herein as the “Non-Structured Debt Securities.” We expect the notes offered herein to be classified as Structured Debt Securities, but the competent regulatory authority or court may classify the notes differently. In a German insolvency proceeding or in the event of the imposition of Resolution Measures with respect to the Issuer, the Structured Debt Securities are expected to be among the unsecured unsubordinated obligations that would bear losses after the Non-Structured Debt Securities as described above. Nevertheless, you may lose some or all of your investment in the notes if a Resolution Measure becomes applicable to us. Imposition of a Resolution Measure would likely occur 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. The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive and the Resolution Act are intended to eliminate the need for public support of troubled banks, and you should be aware that public support, if any, would only potentially be used by the competent supervisory authority as a last resort after having assessed and exploited, to the maximum extent practicable, the resolution tools, including the bail-in tool.
By acquiring the notes, you would have no claim or other right against us arising out of any Resolution Measure and we would have no obligation to make payments under the notes following the imposition of a Resolution Measure. In particular, the imposition of any Resolution Measure will not constitute a default or an event of default under the notes, under the Indenture or for the purposes of, but only to the fullest extent permitted by, the Trust Indenture Act. Furthermore, because the notes are subject to any Resolution Measure, secondary market trading in the notes may not follow the trading behavior associated with similar types of securities issued by other financial institutions which may be or have been subject to a Resolution Measure.
In addition, by your acquisition of the notes, you waive, to the fullest extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act and applicable law, any and all claims against the trustee and the indenture agents for, agree not to initiate a suit against the trustee or the indenture agents in respect of, and agree that the trustee and the indenture agents will not be liable for, any action that the trustee or the indenture agents take, or abstain from taking, in either case in accordance with the imposition of a Resolution Measure by the competent resolution authority with respect to the notes. Accordingly, you may have limited or circumscribed rights to challenge any decision of the competent resolution authority to impose any Resolution Measure.
PS-11
| · | THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES ON THE TRADE DATE WILL BE LESS THAN THE ISSUE PRICE OF THE NOTES — The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the notes. The difference between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date is due to the inclusion in the Issue Price of the agent’s commissions, if any, and the cost of hedging our obligations under the notes through one or more of our affiliates. Such hedging cost includes our or our affiliates’ expected cost of providing such hedge, as well as the profit we or our affiliates expect to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in providing such hedge. The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to an internal funding rate and our pricing models. The internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional debt securities on equivalent terms. This difference in funding rate, as well as the agent’s commissions, if any, and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes, reduces the economic terms of the notes to you and is expected to adversely affect the price at which you may be able to sell the notes 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 notes or otherwise value your notes, that price or value may differ materially from the estimated value of the notes 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 notes in the secondary market. |
| · | INVESTING IN THE NOTES IS NOT THE SAME AS INVESTING IN THE STOCKS COMPOSING THE UNDERLYINGS — The return on the notes may not reflect the return you would have realized if you had directly invested in the stocks composing the Underlyings. For instance, your Payment at Maturity on the notes is solely dependent upon the performance of the Laggard Underlying, and your return on the notes is limited to the Digital Return, regardless of any increase in the levels of the Underlyings, which could be significant. |
| · | IF THE LEVELS OF THE UNDERLYINGS CHANGE, THE VALUE OF YOUR NOTES MAY NOT CHANGE IN THE SAME MANNER — Your notes may trade quite differently from the levels of the Underlyings. Changes in the levels of the Underlyings may not result in comparable changes in the value of your notes. |
| · | NO DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the notes, you will not have any voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the stocks composing the Underlyings would have. |
| · | YOUR INVESTMENT IS EXPOSED TO A DECLINE IN THE LEVEL OF EACH UNDERLYING — Your return on the notes, if any, is not linked to a basket consisting of the Underlyings. Rather, any payment on the notes will be determined solely by reference to the performance of the Laggard Underlying without taking into consideration the performance of the other Underlying. Unlike an instrument with a return linked to a basket, in which risk is mitigated and diversified among all of the basket components, you will be exposed equally to the risks related to each of the Underlyings and your return will be based solely on the performance of the Laggard Underlying as measured on the Final Valuation Date. A negative performance by either Underlying over the term of the notes may adversely affect your return on the notes and will not be offset or mitigated by a positive performance by the other Underlying. |
| · | BECAUSE THE NOTES ARE LINKED TO THE LESSER PERFORMING OF THE TWO UNDERLYINGS, YOU ARE EXPOSED TO A GREATER RISK OF LOSING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OR ALL OF YOUR INVESTMENT THAN IF THE NOTES WERE LINKED TO JUST ONE UNDERLYING — The risk that you will lose a significant portion or all of your initial investment in the notes is greater than in substantially similar securities that are linked to the performance of just one of the Underlyings. With two Underlyings, it is more likely that the Final Level of at least one Underlying will be less than its Trigger Level than if the notes were linked to only one Underlying, and therefore, it is more likely that you will receive a Payment at Maturity that is significantly less than your initial investment. In addition, the performance of the Underlyings may not be correlated. If the performance of the Underlyings is not correlated, or is negatively correlated, the potential for the level of at least one Underlying to be less than its Trigger Level on the Final Valuation Date is even greater. Although the correlation of the Underlyings’ performance may change over the term of the notes, the Digital Return and the Trigger Level are determined, in part, based on the correlation of the Underlyings’ performance at the time when the terms of the notes are finalized. A higher Digital Return or a lower Trigger Level is generally associated with a lower correlation of the Underlyings, which reflects a greater potential for loss on your investment at maturity. |
| · | BOTH UNDERLYINGS REFLECT THE PRICE RETURN OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPONENT STOCKS, NOT THEIR TOTAL RETURN INCLUDING ALL DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS — Both Underlyings reflect the changes in the market prices of their respective component stocks. Neither Underlying is, however, a “total return” index, which, in addition to reflecting the price returns of the stocks composing such |
PS-12
Underlying, would also reflect the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions paid on such component stocks.
| · | THE Sponsor OF AN Underlying may adjust the relevant Underlying in ways that affect the level of SUCH Underlying and has NO obligation to consider your interests — The sponsor of an Underlying (each, an “Index Sponsor”) is responsible for calculating and maintaining the relevant Underlying. The Index Sponsor can add, delete or substitute the components of the relevant Underlying or make other methodological changes that could change the level of such Underlying. You should realize that the changing of such Underlying components may affect such Underlying, as a newly added component may perform significantly better or worse than the component it replaces. Additionally, the Index Sponsor may alter, discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the relevant Underlying. Any of these actions could adversely affect the level of such Underlying and, thus, the value of, and your return on, the notes. The Index Sponsors have no obligation to consider your interests in calculating or revising the relevant Underlyings. |
| · | THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL-CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES — The stocks composing the Russell 2000® Index are issued by companies with relatively small market capitalization. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and, therefore, the level of the Russell 2000® Index may be more volatile than the levels of indices that consist of large-capitalization stocks. Stock prices of small-capitalization companies are also generally more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded. In addition, small-capitalization companies are typically less well-established and less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Such small-capitalization companies tend to have lower revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products. These companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products or services. |
| · | PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE UNDERLYINGS IS NO GUIDE TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE — The actual performance of the Underlyings over the term of the notes may bear little relation to the historical closing levels of the Underlyings and/or the hypothetical examples set forth elsewhere in this pricing supplement. We cannot predict the future performance of the Underlyings or whether the performance of the Underlyings will result in the return of any of your investment. |
| · | ASSUMING NO CHANGES IN MARKET CONDITIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS, THE PRICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FOR YOUR NOTES IN SECONDARY MARKET TRANSACTIONS WOULD GENERALLY BE LOWER THAN BOTH THE ISSUE PRICE AND THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES ON THE TRADE DATE — While the payment(s) on the notes described in this pricing supplement is based on the full Face Amount of notes, the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the notes. The Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date does not represent the price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market at any time. Assuming no changes in market conditions or our creditworthiness and other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, would generally be lower than both the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date. Our purchase price, if any, in secondary market transactions would be based on the estimated value of the notes determined by reference to (i) the then-prevailing internal funding rate (adjusted by a spread) or another appropriate measure of our cost of funds and (ii) our pricing models at that time, less a bid spread determined after taking into account the size of the repurchase, the nature of the assets underlying the notes and then-prevailing market conditions. The price we report to financial reporting services and to distributors of our notes for use on customer account statements would generally be determined on the same basis. However, during the period of approximately three months beginning from the Trade Date, we or our affiliates may, in our sole discretion, increase the purchase price determined as described above by an amount equal to the declining differential between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date, prorated over such period on a straight-line basis, for transactions that are individually and in the aggregate of the expected size for ordinary secondary market repurchases. |
In addition to the factors discussed above, the value of the notes and our purchase price in secondary market transactions after the Trade Date, if any, will vary based on many economic and market factors, including our creditworthiness, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. These changes may adversely affect the value of your notes, including the price you may receive in any secondary market transactions. Any sale prior to the Maturity
PS-13
Date could result in a substantial loss to you. The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity.
| · | THE NOTES WILL NOT BE LISTED AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE LIMITED LIQUIDITY — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. There may be little or no secondary market for the notes. We or our affiliates intend to act as market makers for the notes but are not required to do so and may cease such market making activities at any time. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to sell the notes when you wish to do so or at a price advantageous to you. Because we do not expect other dealers to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to sell your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates are willing to buy the notes. If, at any time, we or our affiliates do not act as market makers, it is likely that there would be little or no secondary market in the notes. If you have to sell your notes prior to maturity, you may not be able to do so or you may have to sell them at a substantial loss, even in cases where the levels of the Underlyings have increased since the Trade Date. |
| · | MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — While we expect that, generally, the levels of the Underlyings will affect the value of the notes more than any other single factor, the value of the notes prior to maturity will also be affected by a number of other factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including: |
| · | the expected volatility of the Underlyings; |
| · | the time remaining to the maturity of the notes; |
| · | the market prices and dividend rates of the stocks composing the Underlyings; |
| · | the composition of the Underlyings; |
| · | interest rates and yields in the markets generally; |
| · | geopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect either of the Underlyings or the markets generally; |
| · | supply and demand for the notes; and |
| · | our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings. |
During the term of the notes, it is possible that their value may decline significantly due to the factors described above even if the levels of the Underlyings remain unchanged from their respective Initial Levels, and any sale prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. You must hold the notes to maturity to receive the stated payout from the Issuer.
PS-14
| · | TRADING AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS BY US OR OUR AFFILIATES IN THE EQUITY AND EQUITY DERIVATIVE MARKETS MAY IMPAIR THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — We or our affiliates expect to hedge our exposure from the notes 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 adversely affect the levels of one or both of the Underlyings and, therefore, make it less likely that you will receive a positive return on your investment in the notes. It is possible that we or our affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging and trading activities while the value of the notes 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. To the extent that we or our affiliates serve as issuer, agent or underwriter for such securities or financial or derivative instruments, our or our affiliates’ interests with respect to such products may be adverse to those of the holders of the notes. Introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner could adversely affect the levels of one or both of the Underlyings and the value of the notes. 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 notes. Furthermore, because Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”) or one of its affiliates is expected to conduct trading and hedging activities for us in connection with the notes, 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 notes to you. You should be aware that the potential to earn a profit in connection with hedging activities may create a further incentive for DBSI to sell the notes to you in addition to any compensation they would receive for the sale of the notes. |
| · | WE OR OUR AFFILIATES MAY PUBLISH RESEARCH, EXPRESS OPINIONS OR PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH INVESTING IN OR HOLDING THE NOTES. ANY SUCH RESEARCH, OPINIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LEVELS OF THE UNDERLYINGS AND THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — We or our affiliates may publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that could adversely affect the levels of the Underlyings and the value of the notes, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the notes. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by us or our affiliates may not be consistent with each other and may be modified from time to time without notice. You should make your own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the notes and the Underlyings. |
| · | POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent, hedging our obligations under the notes and determining the Issuer’s estimated value of the notes on the Trade Date and the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions. In performing these roles, our economic interests and those of our affiliates are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. The calculation agent will determine, among other things, all values, prices and levels required to be determined for the purposes of the notes on any relevant date or time. The calculation agent will also be responsible for determining whether a market disruption event has occurred. Any determination by the calculation agent could adversely affect the return on the notes. |
| · | THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES ARE UNCERTAIN — There is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS. Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the notes as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the notes, the tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, as described above under “Tax Consequences,” in 2007 the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on various issues regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. Any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should review carefully the section of the accompanying product supplement entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” and consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes (including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by the 2007 notice), as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction. |
PS-15
Historical Information
The following graphs set forth the historical performances of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index based on their daily closing levels from March 1, 2012 through March 1, 2017. The closing level of the Russell 2000® Index on March 1, 2017 was 1,413.635. The closing level of the S&P 500® Index on March 1, 2017 was 2,395.96. The graphs below also indicate by a broken line a hypothetical Trigger Level equal to 85.00% of, (i) with respect to the Russell 2000® Index, 1,413.635, which was the closing level of the Russell 2000® Index on March 1, 2017, and (ii) with respect to the S&P 500® Index, 2,395.96, which was the closing level of the S&P 500® Index on March 1, 2017. The actual Initial Level and Trigger Level for each Underlying will be determined on the Trade Date. We obtained the historical closing levels of the Underlyings below from Bloomberg L.P. and we have not participated in the preparation of, or verified, such information.
The historical closing levels of the Underlyings should not be taken as an indication of future performance and no assurance can be given as to the closing levels of the Underlyings on the Final Valuation Date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Underlyings will result in the return of any of your initial investment.
PS-16
Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
DBSI, acting as agent for Deutsche Bank AG, will not receive a selling concession in connection with the sale of the notes. DBSI will pay custodial fees to other broker-dealers of up to 1.00% or $10.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of notes. Deutsche Bank AG will reimburse DBSI for such custodial fees.
DBSI, the agent for this offering, is our affiliate. Because DBSI is both our affiliate and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the underwriting arrangement for this offering must comply with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, DBSI may not make sales in offerings of the notes to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement.
Settlement
We expect to deliver the notes against payment for the notes on the Settlement Date indicated above, which may be a date that is greater than three business days following the Trade Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to a trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the Settlement Date is more than three business days after the Trade Date, purchasers who wish to transact in the notes more than three business days prior to the Settlement Date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
PS-17