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Pricing Supplement No. 2247AF
To underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012,
product supplement AF dated September 28, 2012,
prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012
and prospectus dated September 28, 2012
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Registration Statement No. 333-184193
Dated November 19, 2014; Rule 424(b)(2)
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Deutsche Bank AG
$7,888,000 Capped Buffered Underlying Securities (BUyS) Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index due May 23, 2019
General
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The Capped Buffered Underlying Securities (BUyS) Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index due May 23, 2019 (the “BUyS”) are designed for investors who seek a return at maturity of 159.355% of any increase in the level of the MSCI EAFE® Index (the “Underlying”), up to the Maximum Return of 79.678%. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount not greater than the Buffer Amount of 25.00%, investors will receive at maturity the Face Amount per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS. However, if the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount of 25.00%, for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, investors will lose 1.3333% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. The BUyS do not pay any coupons or dividends and investors should be willing to lose some or all of their initial investment if the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. Any payment on the BUyS is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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Senior unsecured obligations of Deutsche Bank AG due May 23, 2019†
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Minimum purchase of $10,000. Minimum denominations of $1,000 (the “Face Amount”) and integral multiples thereof.
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The BUyS priced on November 19, 2014 (the “Trade Date”) and are expected to settle on November 21, 2014 (the “Settlement Date”).
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Key Terms
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Issuer:
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Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
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Underlying:
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MSCI EAFE® Index (Ticker: MXEA)
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Issue Price:
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100% of the Face Amount
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Payment at Maturity:
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· If the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Initial Level, you will receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + ($1,000 x the lesser of (i) Underlying Return x Upside Leverage Factor and (ii) Maximum Return)
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· If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount not greater than the Buffer Amount, you will receive a cash payment at maturity equal to $1,000 per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS.
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· If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount, you will receive a cash payment at maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (Underlying Return + Buffer Amount) x Downside Participation Factor]
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If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount, for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, you will lose 1.3333% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. In this circumstance, you will lose some or all of your initial investment at maturity. Any payment at maturity is subject to the credit of the Issuer.
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Underlying Return:
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The Underlying Return, expressed as a percentage, will equal:
Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level
The Underlying Return may be positive, zero or negative.
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(Key Terms continued on next page)
Investing in the BUyS involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of the accompanying product supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.
The Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS on the Trade Date is $977.90 per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, which is less than the Issue Price. Please see “Issuer’s Estimated Value of the BUyS” on page PS-3 of this pricing supplement for additional information.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the BUyS 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.
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Price to
Public
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Discounts and
Commissions(1)
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Proceeds
to Us
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Per Security
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$1,000.00
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$0.00
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$1,000.00
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Total
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$7,888,000.00
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$0.00
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$7,888,000.00
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(1)
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For more detailed information about discounts and commissions, please see “Supplemental Underwriting Information (Conflicts of Interest)” in this pricing supplement. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”), acting as agent for Deutsche Bank AG, will not receive a selling concession in connection with the sale of the BUyS. Investors that purchase and hold the BUyS in fee-based accounts may be charged fees based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including the BUyS.
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The agent for this offering is our affiliate. For more information see “Supplemental Underwriting Information (Conflicts of Interest)” in this pricing supplement.
The BUyS are not bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities Offered
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Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
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Amount of Registration Fee
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Notes
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$7,888,000.00
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$916.59
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Deutsche Bank Securities
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November 19, 2014
(Key Terms continued from previous page)
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Initial Level:
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1,820.89, equal to the closing level of the Underlying on the Trade Date
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Final Level:
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The closing level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date
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Buffer Amount:
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25.00%
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Upside Leverage Factor:
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159.355%
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Downside Participation Factor:
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133.33%
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Maximum Return:
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79.678%
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Trade Date:
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November 19, 2014
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Settlement Date:
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November 21, 2014
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Final Valuation Date†:
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May 20, 2019
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Maturity Date†:
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May 23, 2019
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Listing:
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The BUyS will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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CUSIP:
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25152RSB0
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ISIN:
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US25152RSB05
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† Subject to adjustment as described under “Description of Securities — Adjustments to Valuation Dates and Payment Dates” in the accompanying product supplement.
Issuer’s Estimated Value of the BUyS
The Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS is equal to the sum of our valuations of the following two components of the BUyS: (i) a bond and (ii) an embedded derivative(s). The value of the bond component of the BUyS 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 BUyS, 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 BUyS. 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 BUyS, reduces the economic terms of the BUyS to you and is expected to adversely affect the price at which you may be able to sell the BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the BUyS. The difference between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS on the Trade Date does not represent the price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS on the Trade Date. Our purchase price, if any, in secondary market transactions will be based on the estimated value of the BUyS 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 BUyS and then-prevailing market conditions. The price we report to financial reporting services and to distributors of our BUyS 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 BUyS 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
Additional Terms Specific to the BUyS
You should read this pricing supplement together with underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012, product supplement AF dated September 28, 2012, the prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012 relating to our Series A global notes of which these BUyS are a part and the prospectus dated September 28, 2012. 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):
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Underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012:
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Product supplement AF dated September 28, 2012:
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Prospectus supplement dated September 28, 2012:
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Prospectus dated September 28, 2012:
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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.
The trustee has appointed Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as its authenticating agent with respect to our Series A global notes.
This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed above, contains the terms of the BUyS 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, as the BUyS 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 BUyS.
Deutsche Bank AG has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the offering to which this pricing supplement relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents relating to this offering that Deutsche Bank AG has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Deutsche Bank AG and this offering. You may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at.www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Deutsche Bank AG, any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, prospectus supplement, product supplement, underlying supplement and this pricing supplement if you so request by calling toll-free 1-800-311-4409.
You may revoke your offer to purchase the BUyS 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 BUyS prior to their issuance. We will notify you in the event of any changes to the terms of the BUyS, and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase of any BUyS. You may also choose to reject such changes, in which case we may reject your offer to purchase the BUyS.
PS-4
What Are the Possible Payments on the BUyS, Assuming a Range of Hypothetical Performances for the Underlying?
The table below illustrates the Payment at Maturity per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS for a hypothetical range of performances for the Underlying from -100.00% to +100.00%. The table below reflects the Upside Leverage Factor of 159.355%, the Maximum Return of 79.678%, the Buffer Amount of 25.00% and the Downside Participation Factor of 133.33%. The actual Initial Level is set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement. The following results are based solely on the hypothetical examples cited. You should consider carefully whether the BUyS are suitable to your investment goals. The numbers appearing in the table and examples below may have been rounded for ease of analysis.
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Underlying Return (%)
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Payment at Maturity ($)
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Return on BUyS (%)
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100.00%
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$1,796.78
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79.68%
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75.00%
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$1,796.78
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79.68%
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50.00%
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$1,796.78
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79.68%
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25.00%
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$1,398.39
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39.84%
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15.00%
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$1,239.03
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23.90%
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10.00%
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$1,159.36
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15.94%
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5.00%
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$1,079.68
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7.97%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-5.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-10.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-20.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-25.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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-30.00%
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$933.33
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-6.67%
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-50.00%
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$666.67
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-33.33%
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-75.00%
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$333.33
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-66.67%
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-100.00%
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$0.00
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-100.00%
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Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity
The following hypothetical examples illustrate how the payments on the BUyS at maturity set forth in the table above are calculated.
Example 1: The Final Level is greater than the Initial Level, resulting in an Underlying Return of 75.00%. Because the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level and the Underlying Return of 75.00% multiplied by the Upside Leverage Factor is greater than the Maximum Return, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $1,796.78 per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, the maximum payment on the BUyS, calculated as follows:
$1,000+ ($1,000 x the lesser of (i) Underlying Return x Upside Leverage Factor and (ii) Maximum Return)
$1,000 + ($1,000 x 79.678%) = $1,796.78
Example 2: The Final Level is greater than the Initial Level, resulting in an Underlying Return of 25.00%. Because the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level and the Underlying Return of 25.00% multiplied by the Upside Leverage Factor is less than the Maximum Return, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $1,398.39 per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, calculated as follows:
$1,000+ ($1,000 x the lesser of (i) Underlying Return x Upside Leverage Factor and (ii) Maximum Return)
$1,000 + ($1,000 x 25.00% x 159.355%) = $1,398.39
Example 3: The Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount not greater than the Buffer Amount, resulting in an Underlying Return of -5.00%. Although the Final Level is less than the Initial Level, because the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount not greater than the Buffer Amount, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $1,000.00 per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS.
Example 4: The Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount, resulting in an Underlying Return of -50.00%. Because the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount, the investor receives a Payment at Maturity of $666.67 per $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (Underlying Return + Buffer Amount) x Downside Participation Factor]
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (-50.00% + 25.00%) x 133.33%] = $666.67
PS-5
Selected Purchase Considerations
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THE APPRECIATION POTENTIAL OF THE BUYS IS LIMITED — The BUyS provide leveraged upside exposure to any increase in the level of the Underlying up to the Maximum Return of 79.678%. Consequently, the maximum Payment at Maturity will be $1,796.78 for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS you hold. Any payment on the BUyS is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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LIMITED PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS — Payment at maturity of the Face Amount of BUyS is protected against a percentage decline in the Final Level, as compared to the Initial Level, of up to the Buffer Amount. If such percentage decline is greater than the Buffer Amount of 25.00%, for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, you will lose 1.3333% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. In this circumstance, you will lose some or all of your investment in the BUyS.
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RETURN LINKED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MSCI EAFE® INDEX — The return on the BUyS, which may be positive, zero or negative, is linked to the performance of the MSCI EAFE® Index as described herein. The MSCI EAFE® Index is calculated, maintained and published daily by MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”), through numerous data vendors, on the MSCI website and every 60 seconds during market trading hours on Bloomberg Financial Markets and Reuters Limited. The MSCI EAFE® Index is intended to provide performance benchmarks for 21 developed equity markets in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, namely those of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This is only a summary of the MSCI EAFE® Index. For more information on the MSCI EAFE® Index, including information concerning its composition, calculation methodology and adjustment policy, please see the section entitled “The MSCI Indices — The MSCI EAFE® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement No. 1 dated October 1, 2012.
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TAX CONSEQUENCES — In the opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, which is based on prevailing market conditions, it is more likely than not that the BUyS will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. Generally, if this treatment is respected, (i) you should not recognize taxable income or loss prior to the taxable disposition of your BUyS (including at maturity) and (ii) the gain or loss on your BUyS should be capital gain or loss and should be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the BUyS 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 BUyS could be materially and adversely affected.
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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 BUyS, possibly with retroactive effect.
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 BUyS.
Under current law, the United Kingdom will not impose withholding tax on payments made with respect to the BUyS.
For a discussion of certain German tax considerations relating to the BUyS, 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 BUyS (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-6
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the BUyS involves significant risks. Investing in the BUyS is not equivalent to investing directly in the stocks composing the Underlying. In addition to these selected risk considerations, you should review the “Risk Factors” section of the accompanying product supplement.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE BUYS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The BUyS do not pay any coupons or dividends and do not guarantee any return of your investment. The return on the BUyS at maturity is linked to the performance of the Underlying and will depend on whether, and the extent to which, the Underlying Return is positive, zero or negative. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount, for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, you will lose 1.3333% of the Face Amount for every 1.00% by which the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by an amount greater than the Buffer Amount. In this circumstance, you will lose some or all of your investment in the BUyS. Any payment on the BUyS is subject to our ability to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
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THE RETURN ON YOUR BUYS IS LIMITED BY THE MAXIMUM RETURN — If the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Initial Level, for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS, you will receive at maturity $1,000 plus an amount equal to $1,000 multiplied by the lesser of (i) the Underlying Return times the Upside Leverage Factor of 159.355% and (ii) the Maximum Return of 79.678%. Consequently, the maximum Payment at Maturity will be $1,796.78 for each $1,000 Face Amount of BUyS you hold, regardless of any further increase in the level of the Underlying, which may be significant.
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THE BUYS DO NOT PAY ANY COUPONS — Unlike ordinary debt securities, the BUyS do not pay any coupons and do not guarantee any return of the initial investment at maturity.
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THE BUYS ARE SUBJECT TO THE CREDIT OF THE ISSUER — The BUyS are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer, Deutsche Bank AG, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment(s) to be made on the BUyS depends on the ability of Deutsche Bank AG to satisfy its obligations as they come due. An actual or anticipated downgrade in Deutsche Bank AG’s credit rating or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking the credit risk of the Issuer will likely have an adverse effect on the value of the BUyS. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Deutsche Bank AG will affect the value of the BUyS and in the event Deutsche Bank AG were to default on its obligations, you might not receive any amount(s) owed to you under the terms of the BUyS and you could lose your entire investment.
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THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE BUYS ON THE TRADE DATE WILL BE LESS THAN THE ISSUE PRICE OF THE BUYS — The Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the BUyS. The difference between the Issue Price and the Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS, reduces the economic terms of the BUyS to you and is expected to adversely affect the price at which you may be able to sell the BUyS 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 BUyS or otherwise value your BUyS, that price or value may differ materially from the estimated value of the BUyS 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 BUyS in the secondary market.
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INVESTING IN THE BUYS IS NOT THE SAME AS INVESTING IN THE STOCKS COMPOSING THE UNDERLYING — The return on your BUyS may not reflect the return you would have realized if you had directly invested in the stocks composing the Underlying.
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IF THE LEVEL OF THE UNDERLYING CHANGES, THE VALUE OF YOUR BUYS MAY NOT CHANGE IN THE SAME MANNER — Your BUyS may trade quite differently from the level of the Underlying. Changes in the level of the Underlying may not result in comparable changes in the value of your BUyS.
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PS-7
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NO DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the BUyS, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the stocks composing the Underlying would have.
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THE UNDERLYING REFLECTS THE PRICE RETURN OF THE STOCKS COMPOSING THE UNDERLYING, NOT A TOTAL RETURN — The return on the BUyS is based on the performance of the Underlying, which reflects the changes in the market prices of the stocks composing the Underlying. It is not, however, linked to a “total return” version of the Underlying, which, in addition to reflecting those price returns, would also reflect all dividends and other distributions paid on the stocks composing the Underlying. The return on the BUyS will not include such a total return feature.
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THE BUYS ARE SUBJECT TO CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK — Because the Underlying consists of securities denominated in foreign currencies that are converted into U.S. dollars for purposes of calculating the level of the Underlying, holders of the BUyS will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies represented in the Underlying. Of particular importance to currency exchange rate risk are:
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existing and expected rates of inflation;
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existing and expected interest rate levels;
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political, civil or military unrest;
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the balance of payments between the countries represented in the Underlying and the United States; and
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the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in the countries represented in the Underlying and the United States.
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All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of the countries represented in the Underlying, the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance. An investor’s net exposure to currency exchange rate risk will depend on the extent to which the currencies represented in the Underlying strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each currency represented in the overall Underlying. If, taking into account such weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against the component currencies as a whole, the level of the Underlying will be adversely affected and the value of the BUyS may be reduced. Additionally, the volatility and/or the correlation (including the direction and the extent of such correlation) of the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies represented in the Underlying could affect the value of the BUyS.
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THERE ARE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES LINKED TO THE VALUES OF EQUITY SECURITIES ISSUED BY NON-U.S. COMPANIES — The Underlying includes component stocks that are issued by companies incorporated outside of the U.S. Because the component stocks also trade outside the U.S., the BUyS are subject to the risks associated with non-U.S. securities markets. Generally, non-U.S. securities markets may be more volatile than U.S. securities markets, and market developments may affect non-U.S. securities markets differently than U.S. securities markets, which may adversely affect the level of the Underlying and the value of your BUyS. Furthermore, there are risks associated with investments in securities linked to the values of equity securities issued by non-U.S. companies. There is generally less publicly available information about non-U.S. companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC, and non-U.S. companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. In addition, the prices of equity securities issued by non-U.S. companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, financial and social factors that may be unique to the particular countries in which the non-U.S. companies are incorporated. These factors include the possibility of recent or future changes in a non-U.S. government’s economic and fiscal policies (including any direct or indirect intervention to stabilize the economy and/or securities market of the country of such non-U.S. government), the presence, and extent, of cross shareholdings in non-U.S. companies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other non-U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to non-U.S. companies or investments in non-U.S. securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies. Moreover, certain aspects of a particular non-U.S. economy may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important respects, such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.
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PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE UNDERLYING IS NO GUIDE TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE — The actual performance of the Underlying over the term of the BUyS, as well as any amount payable on the BUyS, may bear little relation to the historical closing levels of the Underlying and may bear little relation to the
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PS-8
hypothetical return examples set forth elsewhere in this pricing supplement. We cannot predict the future performance of the Underlying or whether the performance of the Underlying will result in the return of any of your investment.
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ASSUMING NO CHANGES IN MARKET CONDITIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS, THE PRICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FOR YOUR BUYS IN SECONDARY MARKET TRANSACTIONS WOULD GENERALLY BE LOWER THAN BOTH THE ISSUE PRICE AND THE ISSUER’S ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE BUYS ON THE TRADE DATE — While the payment(s) on the BUyS described in this pricing supplement is based on the full Face Amount of your BUyS, the Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS on the Trade Date (as disclosed on the cover of this pricing supplement) is less than the Issue Price of the BUyS. The Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS on the Trade Date does not represent the price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS on the Trade Date. Our purchase price, if any, in secondary market transactions would be based on the estimated value of the BUyS 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 BUyS and then-prevailing market conditions. The price we report to financial reporting services and to distributors of our BUyS 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 BUyS on the Trade Date, prorated over such period on a straight-line basis, for transactions that are individually and in the aggregate of the expected size for ordinary secondary market repurchases.
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In addition to the factors discussed above, the value of the BUyS 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 BUyS, including the price you may receive in any secondary market transactions. Any sale prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. The BUyS are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your BUyS to maturity.
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THE BUYS WILL NOT BE LISTED AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE LIMITED LIQUIDITY — The BUyS will not be listed on any securities exchange. There may be little or no secondary market for the BUyS. We or our affiliates intend to act as market makers for the BUyS 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 BUyS 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 BUyS, the price at which you may be able to sell your BUyS is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates are willing to buy the BUyS. 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 BUyS. If you have to sell your BUyS 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 level of the Underlying has increased since the Trade Date.
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MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE BUYS — While we expect that, generally, the level of the Underlying will affect the value of the BUyS more than any other single factor, the value of the BUyS will also be affected by a number of other factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:
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the expected volatility of the Underlying;
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the composition of the Underlying;
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the time remaining to the maturity of the BUyS;
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the market prices and dividend rates of the stocks composing the Underlying and changes that affect those stocks and their issuers;
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interest rates and yields in the market generally;
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the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the non-U.S. currencies that the stocks composing the Underlying are traded in;
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PS-9
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geopolitical conditions and a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the Underlying or markets generally;
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supply and demand for the BUyS; and
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our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.
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TRADING AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS BY US OR OUR AFFILIATES IN THE EQUITY AND EQUITY DERIVATIVE MARKETS MAY IMPAIR THE VALUE OF THE BUYS — We or one or more of our affiliates expect to hedge our exposure from the BUyS 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 related to the Underlying on a regular basis as part of our general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for customers, including block transactions. Such trading and hedging activities may affect the Underlying and make it less likely that you will receive a positive return on your investment in the BUyS. It is possible that we or our affiliates could receive substantial returns from these hedging and trading activities while the value of the BUyS declines. We or our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns related to the Underlying. Introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner could adversely affect the value of the BUyS. 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 BUyS. Furthermore, because DBSI or one of its affiliates is expected to conduct trading and hedging activities for us in connection with the BUyS, DBSI or such affiliate will likely profit in connection with such trading and hedging activities. You should be aware that the potential to earn a profit in connection with hedging activities may create an incentive for DBSI to sell the BUyS to you.
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WE, OUR AFFILIATES OR OUR AGENTS MAY PUBLISH RESEARCH, EXPRESS OPINIONS OR PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH INVESTING IN OR HOLDING THE BUYS. ANY SUCH RESEARCH, OPINIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LEVEL OF THE UNDERLYING TO WHICH THE BUYS ARE LINKED OR THE VALUE OF THE BUYS — We, our affiliates or our agents may publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that could adversely affect the value of the BUyS, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the BUyS. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by us, our affiliates or our agents 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 BUyS and the Underlying to which the BUyS are linked.
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POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the BUyS, including acting as calculation agent, hedging our obligations under the BUyS and determining the Issuer’s estimated value of the BUyS on the Trade Date and the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to purchase the BUyS 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 BUyS. The calculation agent will determine, among other things, all values, prices and levels required to be determined for the purposes of the BUyS 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 BUyS.
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THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE BUYS ARE UNCERTAIN — There is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of the BUyS, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS. Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the BUyS are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the BUyS as prepaid financial contracts that are not debt. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the BUyS, the tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the BUyS 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 BUyS, 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 BUyS (including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by the 2007 notice), as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
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PS-10
The BUyS may be suitable for you if:
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You seek an investment with a return linked to the performance of the Underlying as described herein;
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You are willing to invest in the BUyS based on the Upside Leverage Factor, the Maximum Return, the Downside Participation Factor and the Buffer Amount;
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You are willing to lose up to 100.00% of your initial investment;
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You are willing and able to hold the BUyS to maturity;
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You are willing to accept our credit risk;
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You do not seek current income from this investment; and
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You do not seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.
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The BUyS may not be suitable for you if:
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You do not seek an investment with a return linked to the performance of the Underlying as described herein;
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You are unwilling to invest in the BUyS based on the Upside Leverage Factor, the Maximum Return, the Downside Participation Factor and the Buffer Amount;
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You seek an investment that is protected against the loss of your initial investment;
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You seek an investment with uncapped upside returns;
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You are unwilling or unable to hold the BUyS to maturity;
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You are unwilling to be exposed to our credit risk;
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You seek current income from your investments; or
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You seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.
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PS-11
Historical Information
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Underlying based on the daily closing levels of the Underlying from November 19, 2009 through November 19, 2014. The closing level of the MSCI EAFE® Index on November 19, 2014 was 1,820.89. The graph below shows a hypothetical closing level that would result in a percentage decline from the closing level of 1,820.89 on November 19, 2014 that is equal to the Buffer Amount of 25.00%. We obtained the historical closing levels of the Underlying below from Bloomberg, and we have not participated in the preparation of, or verified, such information. The historical closing levels of the Underlying should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the closing level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Underlying will result in the return of any of your initial investment.
Supplemental Underwriting Information (Conflicts of Interest)
DBSI, acting as agent for Deutsche Bank AG, will not receive a selling concession in connection with the sale of the BUyS.
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 BUyS to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement.
PS-12
Settlement
We expect to deliver the BUyS against payment for the BUyS 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 BUyS more than three business days prior to the Settlement Date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
Validity of the BUyS
In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as special United States products counsel to the Issuer, when the BUyS offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by the Issuer and authenticated by the authenticating agent, acting on behalf of the trustee, pursuant to the senior indenture, and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such BUyS will be valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as this opinion involves matters governed by German law, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has relied, without independent investigation, on the opinion of Group Legal Services of Deutsche Bank AG, dated as of September 28, 2012, filed as an exhibit to the letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, and this opinion is subject to the same assumptions, qualifications and limitations with respect to such matters as are contained in such opinion of Group Legal Services of Deutsche Bank AG. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the senior indenture and the authentication of the BUyS by the authenticating agent and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the senior indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP dated September 28, 2012, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement referred to above.
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