Prospectus Supplement
To Prospectus dated August 20, 2018,
as may be amended
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Registration Statement No.
333-226421
Dated August 20, 2018;
Rule 424(b)(2)
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Warrants
We, Deutsche Bank AG,
may offer and sell our warrants (the “
warrants
”) at one or more times. The specific terms of any warrants that
we offer and sell will be included in a term sheet, pricing supplement, underlying supplement and/or product supplement, as the
case may be. We refer to such term sheets, pricing supplements, underlying supplements and product supplements generally as “pricing
supplements.”
Investing in the
warrants involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional securities. You could lose your entire investment. See
“Risk Factors” on page PS-3.
Neither the Securities
and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the warrants or passed upon the accuracy
or the adequacy of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any related pricing supplement. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The warrants are unsecured
and unsubordinated obligations of Deutsche Bank AG, ranking in priority to its senior non-preferred obligations.
The warrants are not
deposits or savings accounts and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other U.S. or foreign governmental
agency or instrumentality.
Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc. (“
DBSI
”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“
DBTCA
”), which are our affiliates,
have agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase these warrants as our selling agents to the extent either or
both is named in the applicable pricing supplement. DBSI may also act on a firm commitment basis, but only if so specified in the
applicable pricing supplement. Certain other selling agents to be named in the applicable pricing supplement may also be used to
solicit such offers on either a reasonable efforts or firm commitment basis. The agents may also purchase these warrants as principal
at prices to be agreed upon at the time of sale. The agents may resell any warrants they purchase as principal at prevailing market
prices, or at other prices, as the agents determine.
Because DBSI is both
our affiliate and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“
FINRA
”), each offering of
warrants by DBSI must be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. For more information, see the
“Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” section of this prospectus supplement.
The warrants offered
through DBSI will be available only to investors with options-approved brokerage accounts.
The agents may use
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with any pricing supplements, in connection with offers and
sales of the warrants in market-making transactions.
The date of this prospectus supplement is
August 20, 2018.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Risk Factors
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PS-3
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Description of Warrants
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PS-5
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United States Federal Income Taxation
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PS-11
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Taxation by Germany of Non-Resident Holders
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PS-14
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Benefit Plan Investor Considerations
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PS-16
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Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
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PS-18
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Legal Matters
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PS-20
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RISK FACTORS
For a discussion
of the risk factors relating to Deutsche Bank AG and its business, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 3 of our
most recent annual report on Form 20-F and our other current and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
In addition,
your investment in the warrants entails risks not associated with an investment in conventional securities. You should consider
carefully the following discussion of risks, together with the section “Risk Factors” beginning on page 19 in the accompanying
prospectus and the risk information contained in the relevant pricing supplement, before you decide that an investment in the warrants
is suitable for you.
The warrants are a risky investment and
may expire worthless.
Warrants are highly
speculative and highly leveraged and do not guarantee any return of your initial investment. The warrants could expire worthless
and you could lose the entire amount of your initial investment. Warrants are not suitable for any investors who cannot sustain
a total loss of their investment. You should be willing and able to sustain a total loss of your investment in the warrants.
The warrants are suitable only for investors
with options-approved accounts.
You will not be able
to purchase the warrants unless you have an options-approved brokerage account. The warrants involve a high degree of risk and
are not appropriate for every investor. You must be able to understand and bear the risk of an investment in the warrants, and
you should be experienced with respect to options and option transactions.
The warrants are subject to the credit
of Deutsche Bank AG.
The warrants are unsecured
contractual obligations of Deutsche Bank AG and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment
or delivery to be made on the warrants depends on the ability of Deutsche Bank AG to satisfy its obligations as they come due.
An actual or anticipated downgrade in Deutsche Bank AG’s credit rating or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market
for taking the credit risk of Deutsche Bank AG will likely have an adverse effect on the value of the warrants, and in the event
Deutsche Bank AG were to default on its payment or delivery obligations or become subject to a Resolution Measure (as described
in the accompanying prospectus), you might not receive any amount owed to you under the terms of the warrants and you could lose
your entire investment.
The warrants will be automatically exercised
on the expiration date.
Unless otherwise specified
in the relevant pricing supplement, the warrants will be automatically exercised on the expiration date and neither you nor we
can exercise the warrants at any time prior to the expiration date. Accordingly, unless you sell the warrants prior to the expiration
date, you will not benefit from any change in the value of the warrant property as measured at any point in time prior to the expiration
date. Further, unless otherwise specified in the relevant pricing supplement, you will not have a choice as to whether the warrants
will be automatically exercised on the expiration date, and you will not have the option to cancel your investment or otherwise
seek a return of the purchase price.
Unless otherwise specified in the relevant
pricing supplement, the warrants will not be listed and there will likely be limited or no liquidity.
Unless otherwise specified
in the relevant pricing supplement, the warrants will not be listed on any securities exchange. There may be little or no secondary
market for the warrants. We or our affiliates intend to act as market makers for the warrants 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 warrants 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 warrants, the price at which you may be able to sell the warrants is likely to depend on the
price, if any, at which we or our affiliates are willing to buy the warrants. 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 warrants. If you have to sell the warrants
prior to expiration, you may not be able to do so or you may have to sell them at a substantial loss.
We
may, without consent of the holders, designate another office of ours as the issuing office.
If specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we may, without consent of the holders
designate our head office or another
branch of ours (in this paragraph, we refer to each of our head office or any of our branches as “
office
”) as
substitute for the office through which we have acted to issue such series with the same effect as if such substitute office had
been originally named as the office through which we had acted to issue such series for all purposes under the Indenture and such
series.
This means that,
with effect from the substitution date, such substitute office
will assume all of the obligations of the originally-named office as principal obligor under such series of warrants
.
If such series includes an “office substitution” right, as described below and in the Warrant Agreement t
he
applicable pricing supplement may include disclosure about the possible tax consequences of such substitution.
If applicable,
you should review such disclosure carefully and consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of such substitution,
as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following description
of the terms of the warrants supplements the description of the general terms of the warrants set forth under the heading “Description
of Warrants” in the accompanying prospectus. A separate pricing supplement will describe the terms that apply specifically
to the warrants, including any changes to the terms specified below.
References in this
prospectus supplement to the “
Bank
,” “
we
,” “
our
” or “
us
”
refer to Deutsche Bank AG, including, as the context may require, acting through one of its branches. As context may require, references
to “
you
” or “
holders
” mean either (a) those who invest in the warrants being offered,
whether they are the direct holders or owners of beneficial interests in those warrants or (b) those who own warrants registered
in their own names, on the books that we or the warrant agent maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests
in warrants issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or another depositary or in warrants registered in street
name. Owners of beneficial interests in the warrants should read the section entitled “Description of Warrants—Form
and Legal Ownership.”
General
We may from time to
time offer and sell warrants (the “
warrants
”) linked to (i) securities issued by us or by an entity affiliated
or not affiliated with us, (ii) one or more currencies, (iii) one or more commodities, (iv) one or more interest rates,
(v) any other financial, economic or other measures or instruments, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any events
or circumstances or (vi) one or more baskets or indices of the items described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) or
any combination of the above (we refer to the property described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) as
the “
warrant property
”).
The warrants are our
unsecured contractual obligations and will rank equally and
pari passu
with our other unsecured contractual obligations
and with our unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations, subject to any statutory priority regime of the jurisdiction of our
incorporation (or, in the case of warrants issued by Deutsche Bank AG acting through a branch, of the jurisdiction where the branch
is established) that provides certain claims will be satisfied first in a resolution or German insolvency proceeding with respect
to us.
If specified in the
applicable pricing supplement, we may, without the consent of the holders, designate our head office or another branch of ours
(in this paragraph, we refer to each of our head office or any of our branches as an “
office
”) as substitute
for the office through which we have acted to issue such series with the same effect as if such substitute office had been originally
named as the office through which we had acted to issue such series for all purposes under the Warrant Agreement and such series.
In order to give effect to such a substitution, we will give notice of the substitution to the holders of such series of warrants.
With effect from the substitution date, such substitute office will, without any amendment of such series of warrants or the Warrant
Agreement, assume all of the obligations of the originally-named office as principal obligor under such series of warrants. The
applicable pricing supplement will include a reference to office substitution if included as a term of a series of warrants.
Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable pricing supplement, holders of warrants issued on or after January 1, 2015 will be bound by and will
be deemed to consent to the imposition of any Resolution Measure (as described in the accompanying prospectus) by the competent
resolution authority, which may include the write down of all, or a portion, of any payment (or delivery of any property) on the
warrants or the conversion of the warrants into ordinary shares or other instruments of ownership. Please see the section “Risk
Factors” beginning on page 19 in the accompanying prospectus and the section “Resolution Measures” beginning
on page 76 in the accompanying prospectus for more information.
The specific terms
of the warrants will be described in the relevant pricing supplement. The terms described in that document supplement those described
herein and in the accompanying prospectus. If the terms described in the relevant pricing supplement are inconsistent with those
described herein or in the accompanying prospectus, the terms described in the relevant pricing supplement will control. The relevant
pricing supplement generally will specify, among other things, the following, to the extent applicable:
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the money payable or receivable or the specific property purchasable or salable upon exercise of
the warrants and the amount thereof (or the method for determining the same);
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information relating to the warrant property;
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the price at which the warrants will be issued and, if other than U.S. dollars, the coin or currency
or composite currency in which such issue price will be payable;
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whether the warrants are warrants to purchase (including warrants that may be settled by means
of net cash settlement or cashless exercise) (“
call warrants
”) or warrants to sell (including warrants that
may be settled by means of net cash settlement or cashless exercise) (“
put warrants
”) the warrant property;
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the price at which and, if other than U.S. dollars, the coin or currency or composite currency
with which the warrant property may be purchased or sold upon exercise of the warrants (or the method for determining the same);
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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon
which the warrants may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option, and the manner in which any election by us to redeem the
warrants will be evidenced;
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whether the exercise price for the warrants may be paid in cash or by the exchange of the warrants
or any other security or other property, or any combination thereof, and the method of exercise of the warrants;
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whether the exercise of the warrants is to be settled in cash or by delivery of the warrant property
or both, or otherwise;
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the terms by which (A) in the case of call warrants that provide for the delivery of warrant
property by us upon exercise, all funds in payment for the exercise of warrants will be delivered to the Bank and the Bank will
deliver the warrant property or (B) in the case of put warrants that provide for the delivery of warrant property by you upon
exercise, the warrant property shall be delivered to the Bank in exchange for the funds delivered by the Bank;
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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date (the “
expiration
date
”) on which such right shall expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable throughout such period,
the specific date or dates on which they will be exercisable;
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whether the warrant certificates evidencing any registered warrants will be issued in global form
(“
global warrant certificates
”) or definitive form (“
definitive warrant certificates
”), and
whether and on what terms (if different from those set forth herein) warrant certificates in one form may be converted into or
exchanged for warrant certificates in the other form;
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whether the warrants will be issued separately or together as a unit (a “
unit
”)
with one or more other securities of the Bank or any other person and, if the warrants are to be issued as components of units,
whether and on what terms the warrants may be separated from the other components of such units prior to the expiration date of
such warrants; and
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any other terms of the warrants.
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Significant Provisions of the Warrant
Agreement
The warrants will
be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement, dated as of November 15, 2007, between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,
as warrant agent, as supplemented by the first amendment to the warrant agreement, dated as of January 1, 2015, the second amendment
to the warrant agreement, dated as of January 1, 2016, and the third amendment to the warrant agreement, dated as of July 21, 2018,
and as may be further amended and supplemented from time to time (the “
Warrant Agreement
”). The following summaries
of significant provisions of the Warrant Agreement and the warrants are not intended to be comprehensive, and holders of warrants
should review the detailed provisions of the Warrant Agreement for a full description and for other information regarding the warrants.
The Warrant Agreement will be available from the warrant agent by contacting its office (the “
Warrant Agent’s Office
”),
which is currently located at the address indicated below under the heading “Warrant Agent,” during the warrant agent’s
normal business hours.
Modifications without
Consent of Warrantholders.
We and the warrant agent may amend the terms of the warrants and the warrant certificates without
the consent of the holders to:
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cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision;
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establish the form or terms of warrant certificates or warrants of any series as permitted by the
Warrant Agreement;
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evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment and administration of the Warrant Agreement
by a successor or additional warrant agent;
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amend the terms in any other manner that we may deem necessary or desirable and that will not materially
and adversely affect the interests of the affected holders; or
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give effect to any variation to the terms of the warrants as a result of the imposition of any
Resolution Measure.
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Modifications with
Consent of Warrantholders.
We and the warrant agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number
of the then-outstanding unexercised warrants affected, may modify or amend the Warrant Agreement. However, we and the warrant agent
may not, without the consent of each affected warrantholder:
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change the exercise price of the warrants;
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reduce the amount receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration of the warrants other than
in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions or other similar adjustment provisions included in the terms of the warrants;
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shorten the period of time during which the warrants may be exercised;
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materially and adversely affect the rights of the affected holders of the warrants; or
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reduce the percentage of outstanding warrants the consent of whose owners is required for the modification
of the Warrant Agreement.
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Merger, Consolidation,
Sale or Other Disposition.
If at any time there is a merger or consolidation by us or a transfer of substantially all of our
assets, the successor or assuming corporation will succeed to and assume all of our obligations under the Warrant Agreement and
the warrants. We will then be relieved of any further obligation under the Warrant Agreement and the warrants issued under the
Warrant Agreement.
Enforceability of
Rights of Warrantholders.
The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume
any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrant certificates or beneficial owners of warrants.
Any holder of warrant certificates and any beneficial owner of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by
appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise the warrants evidenced by the warrant certificates in the manner
provided for in the warrants or pursuant to the Warrant Agreement. No holder of any warrant certificate or beneficial owner of
any warrants will be entitled to any of the rights of a holder of any warrant property that may be purchased upon exercise of the
warrants, including, without limitation, the right to receive any payments on such warrant property or to enforce any of the covenants
or rights related to such warrant property.
Registration and
Transfer of Warrants.
Subject to the terms of the Warrant Agreement, definitive warrant certificates may be presented for exchange
and for registration of transfer, at the Warrant Agent’s Office, or at any other office indicated in the relevant pricing
supplement, without service charge. However, the holder will be required to pay any taxes and other governmental charges as described
in the Warrant Agreement. The transfer or exchange will be effected only if the warrant agent is satisfied with the documents of
title and identity of the person making the request.
Listing
The warrants will not
be listed on any securities exchange, unless otherwise specified in the relevant pricing supplement.
Form and Legal Ownership
Form.
We will issue warrants in fully registered, global (
i.e.
, book-entry) form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable
pricing supplement. Warrants in book-entry form will be represented by a global
warrant certificate
registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, which will be the sole registered owner and the holder of all the warrants
represented by the global warrant certificate. An investor therefore will not be a holder of the warrant, but will own only beneficial
interests in a global warrant certificate, which are held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution
that in turn has an account as a “participant” in the Depositary or with another institution that does. The Depositary
maintains a computerized, book-entry system that will reflect the interests in the global warrant certificates held by participants
in its book-entry system. An investor’s beneficial interest in the global warrant certificates will, in turn, be reflected
only in the records of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants though an account maintained by the investor with
such participant.
Except as set forth
in the accompanying prospectus under “Forms of Securities—Global Securities,” you may not exchange registered
global warrant certificates or interests in registered global warrant certificates for a certificate issued to you in definitive
form. A further description of the Depositary’s procedures for global warrant certificates representing book-entry warrant
certificates is set forth below under “The Depositary” and in the accompanying prospectus under “Forms of Securities—Global
Securities.”
Legal Ownership.
The person or entity in whose name the warrant certificates are registered will be considered the holder and legal owner of the
warrant certificates. Our obligations under the warrant agreement, as well as the obligations of the any third parties employed
by us, run only to the registered holders of the warrants. We do not have obligations to investors who own beneficial interests
in global warrant certificates, in street name or by any other indirect means. For example, once we make a payment or give a notice
to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements
with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders (
e.g.
, owners of beneficial
interests), but does not do so. Similarly, if we need to ask the holders of the warrants to vote on a proposed amendment to the
warrants, we would seek approval only from the registered holders, and not the indirect holders, of the warrants.
Special Considerations
for Indirect Holders.
If you hold warrants through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry
form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
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how it handles securities payments and notices;
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whether it imposes fees or charges;
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how it would handle voting if it were ever required;
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whether and how you can instruct it to send you warrants registered in your own name so you can
be a direct holder, if that is permitted; and
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how it would pursue rights under the warrants if there were a default or other event triggering
the need for holders to act to protect their interests.
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Special Requirements
for Exchange of Global Warrant Certificates.
The Depositary’s nominee will be the holder of the global warrant certificates
and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to exchange or other elective rights. In order to ensure that the
Depositary’s nominee will timely exercise such elective rights, the beneficial owner of the warrants must instruct the broker
or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in the warrants to notify the Depositary of its desire
to exercise its rights. Different firms have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers. Each beneficial
owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in a warrant in order
to ascertain the deadline for ensuring that timely notice of elective rights will be delivered to the Depositary.
Book-Entry Only Issuance—The Depository
Trust Company
The Depository Trust
Company will act as depositary for the warrants (the “
Depositary
”). The warrants will be issued only as fully-registered
warrants registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the Depositary’s nominee). One or more fully-registered global warrant
certificates, representing the aggregate number or notional amount of the warrants, will be issued and will be deposited with the
Depositary.
What Is the Depositary?
The Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization”
within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within
the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions
of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Depositary holds and provides asset servicing for securities
deposited with it by its direct
participants. The Depositary
also facilitates the post-trade settlement of transactions among its direct participants in those securities through electronic
computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
The Depositary’s direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, including the agents,
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations, some of whom and/or their representatives own the Depositary.
Access to the Depositary’s book-entry system is also available to others, including both U.S. and non-U.S. brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either
directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the Depositary and its participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Beneficial Ownership
Interests and the Depositary’s Book-Entry System.
Purchases of the warrants under the Depositary’s system must
be made by or through its direct participants, which will receive a credit for the warrants on the Depositary’s records.
The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each warrant (the “
beneficial owner
”) is in turn to be recorded
on the records of direct and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from the Depositary
of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as
well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered
into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the warrants are to be made by entries on the books of direct and indirect
participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership
interests in warrants, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the warrants is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent
transfers, all warrants deposited with the Depositary are registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as
may be requested by the Depositary. The deposit of warrants with the Depositary and their registration in the name of Cede &
Co. or such other nominee of the Depositary do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. The Depositary has no knowledge of
the actual beneficial owners of the warrants; the Depositary’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants
to whose accounts the warrants are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible
for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Notices and Communications.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants
and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject
to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Voting.
Neither
the Depositary nor Cede & Co. (nor such other nominee of the Depositary) will consent or vote with respect to the warrants
unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, the
Depositary mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede &
Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy to whose
accounts the warrants are credited on the record date.
Payments.
Redemption
proceeds, distributions and other payments on the warrants will be made to Cede & Co. or such other nominee as may be
requested by the Depositary. The Depositary’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon the Depositary’s
receipt of funds or other property and corresponding detail information from us or any agent of ours, on the date payable in accordance
with their respective holdings shown on the Depositary’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed
by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of the Depositary or
its nominee, the trustee, any agent of ours, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from
time to time. Payments of redemption proceeds, distributions and other payments to Cede & Co. or such other nominee as
may be requested by the Depositary are our responsibility or the responsibility of any paying agent of ours, disbursement of such
payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of the Depositary, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial
owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Discontinuance
of the Depositary.
The Depositary may discontinue providing its services as depositary with respect to the warrants at
any time by giving reasonable notice to us or our agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is
not obtained by us within 90 days, security certificates are required to be printed and delivered. See “Forms of Securities—Global
Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
We may decide to discontinue
use of the system of book-entry transfers through the Depositary or any successor depositary. In that event, security certificates
will be printed and delivered. See “Forms of Securities—Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
According to the
Depositary, the foregoing information relating to the Depositary has been provided to the financial community for informational
purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind. The information
in this section concerning the Depositary and its book-entry system has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, but
we have not independently verified the accuracy thereof. The Depositary may change or discontinue the foregoing procedures at any
time.
Warrant Agent
DBTCA or one of its
affiliates will act as warrant agent for the warrants. Payment of amounts due on the warrants will be payable and the transfer
of the warrants will be registrable at the Warrant Agent’s Office, which is currently located at 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor,
New York, NY 10005, Attention: ICSS-Corporates Deal Manager.
Registration of transfers
of the warrants will be effected without charge by or on behalf of DBTCA, but upon payment (with the giving of such indemnity as
DBTCA may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it.
Governing Law
The
warrants will be and the Warrant Agreement is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,
excluding choice of law provisions.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
The following is a discussion
of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the warrants. It applies to you only if you
hold your warrants as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “
Code
”).
It does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances,
including alternative minimum tax and “Medicare contribution tax” consequences, and different consequences that may
apply if you are an investor subject to special rules, such as a financial institution, a regulated investment company, a tax-exempt
entity (including an “individual retirement account” or a “Roth IRA”), a dealer in securities, a trader
in securities that elects to apply a mark-to-market method of tax accounting, an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, or a person holding a warrant as a part of a “straddle.”
If you are a partnership
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of
the partner and your activities. If you are a partnership holding the warrants or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult
your tax adviser as to your particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of the warrants.
We will not attempt to
ascertain whether any entity the stock of which constitutes or is included in the relevant warrant property would be treated as
a “passive foreign investment company” (a “
PFIC
”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the
Code or as a “United States real property holding corporation” (a “
USRPHC
”) within the meaning of
Section 897 of the Code. If any such entity were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply,
to a U.S. holder in the case of a PFIC, or to a non-U.S. holder in the case of a USRPHC, upon the taxable disposition (including
cash settlement) of the relevant warrant. You should refer to information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
an equivalent governmental authority by such entities and consult your tax adviser regarding the possible consequences to you if
any such entity is or becomes a PFIC or a USRPHC.
If a particular series
of warrants includes an “Office Substitution” right, as described in the Warrant Agreement, the relevant pricing supplement
may include disclosure about the possible tax consequences of such a substitution.
Tax Treatment of the Warrants
We generally expect that
the warrants will be treated as options for U.S. federal income tax purposes, with the consequences described below. The following
discussion assumes that this treatment is respected and that the warrants are cash-settleable only and are not listed or traded
on any securities, options, commodities or other exchange.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
You are a “U.S.
holder” if, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you are a beneficial owner of a warrant and are: (i) a citizen or
resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any State
therein or the District of Columbia; or (iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source.
You should not recognize
taxable income or loss with respect to a warrant prior to its exercise or lapse, other than pursuant to a taxable disposition.
Upon the cash settlement, lapse or earlier taxable disposition of a warrant, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount you realize and your basis in the warrant. Your basis in the warrant should equal the amount you paid to acquire
it. Subject to the following discussion, your gain or loss generally should be capital gain or loss and should be long-term capital
gain or loss if you have held the warrant for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
If a warrant is linked
solely to a foreign currency or a basket or index of foreign currencies, your gain or loss on the warrant will be treated as ordinary
income or loss pursuant to certain rules relating to foreign currency instruments under Section 988 of the Code unless, before
the close of the day on which you acquire the warrant, you make a valid election to treat such gain or loss as capital gain or
loss pursuant to the applicable Treasury regulations.
To make this election,
you must, in accordance with the detailed procedures set forth in the regulations under Section 988, either (a) clearly identify
the warrant on your books and records on the day you acquire it as being subject to such an election and file the relevant statement
verifying such election with your federal income
tax return or (b) obtain
“independent verification” of the election. You should consult your tax adviser regarding these procedures. Assuming
that you make a valid election, your gain or loss on the warrant should be capital gain or loss and should be long-term capital
gain or loss if you hold the warrant for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. If
you do not make a valid election under Section 988, special reporting rules could apply if your ordinary losses under Section 988
exceed a specified threshold. The application of these rules and procedures to a warrant linked in part but not solely to a foreign
currency or a basket or index of foreign currencies will be discussed in the relevant pricing supplement.
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
You generally are a “non-U.S.
holder” if, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you are a beneficial owner of a warrant and are: (i) a nonresident alien
individual; (ii) an entity treated as a foreign corporation; or (iii) a foreign estate or trust.
This discussion does
not describe considerations applicable to a beneficial owner of a warrant who is (i) an individual present in the United States
for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition of the warrant or (ii) a former citizen or resident of the United States,
if certain conditions apply. If you are a potential investor to whom such considerations might be relevant, you should consult
your tax adviser.
Subject to the discussion
below under “—Additional Withholding Tax Considerations” and “—‘FATCA’ Legislation,”
any gain from the exercise of a warrant or its prior taxable disposition generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding
or income tax unless the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
If you are engaged in
a trade or business in the United States, and income or gain from a warrant is effectively connected with your conduct of that
trade or business (and, if an applicable treaty so requires, is attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States),
you generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. holder. If this paragraph applies to you, you should consult your tax
adviser with respect to other U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the warrant, including the possible imposition
of a 30% branch profits tax if you are a corporation.
Additional Withholding
Tax Considerations
Regulations under Section
871(m) of the Code impose a 30% withholding tax on certain “
dividend equivalents
” paid or deemed paid with respect
to derivatives linked to U.S. stocks or indices that include U.S. stocks under certain circumstances, even in cases where the derivatives
do not provide for payments explicitly linked to dividends. In general, this withholding regime applies to derivatives that substantially
replicate the economic performance of one or more underlying U.S. stocks, as determined on the derivatives’ issue date, based
on one of two tests set forth in the regulations. The regulations provide certain exceptions to the withholding requirements, for
example for derivatives linked to certain broad-based indices. Additionally, an IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m)
instruments issued prior to January 1, 2019 that do not have a “delta” of one with respect to underlying securities
that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We will disclose further
information regarding the application of Section 871(m) in the relevant terms supplement. Our determination as to whether Section
871(m) applies to a series of warrants is not binding on the IRS. The Section 871(m) regulations require complex calculations to
be made with respect to derivatives linked to U.S. stocks, and their application to a specific series of warrants may be uncertain.
Accordingly, even if we determine that Section 871(m) does not apply to a series of warrants, the IRS could challenge our determination
and assert that withholding is required in respect of those warrants. Additionally, the application of Section 871(m) may be affected
by your particular circumstances (for example, where you enter into two or more transactions that refer to the same underlying
security and the transactions were entered into in connection with each other). You should consult your tax adviser regarding the
potential application of Section 871(m) to a series of warrants. We will not pay additional amounts on account of any withholding
tax.
In addition, legislation
commonly referred to as ‘‘FATCA’’ and regulations promulgated thereunder generally impose a withholding
tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments,
unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between
the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. This regime generally would apply
to any instrument executed more than six months after the date (if any) on which instruments such as the warrants were first treated
as giving rise
to “dividend equivalents,”
as described above.
Withholding under these
rules (if applicable) would apply to dividend equivalents and, with respect to dispositions after December 31, 2018, including
settlement at maturity, payments of gross proceeds from the taxable disposition of the relevant warrant. You should consult your
tax adviser regarding the potential application of FATCA, including the availability of certain refunds or credits. We will not
pay additional amounts on account of any withholding tax.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
You may be subject to
information reporting. You may also be subject to backup withholding on payments in respect of your warrants at the rate specified
in the Code unless you provide certain identifying information (such as a correct taxpayer identification number, if you are a
U.S. holder) and otherwise satisfy the requirements of the backup withholding rules. If you are a non-U.S. holder and you provide
a properly completed Form W-8 appropriate to your circumstances, you will generally establish an exemption from backup withholding.
Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not additional taxes and may be refunded or credited against your U.S.
federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
The U.S. federal income
tax discussion set forth above does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light
of your particular circumstances. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the application of U.S. federal tax laws in your
particular circumstances, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
TAXATION BY GERMANY OF NON-RESIDENT HOLDERS
The following is a
general discussion of certain German income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the warrants to an
original purchaser of the warrants that is not a resident of Germany for tax purposes. This summary is based on the laws currently
in force and as applied in practice on the date of this document, which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
This discussion does not purport to be a complete, exhaustive or final summary of the tax law and practice currently applicable
in the Federal Republic of Germany. Investors or other interested parties should obtain individual tax advice in connection with
the acquisition and holding, as well as the sale or repayment, of warrants.
Income from Warrants.
Income received upon the exercise, sale or other disposition of the warrants by individuals who are not tax residents of the Federal
Republic of Germany (
i.e.
, persons who have neither their residence nor their customary place of abode in the Federal Republic
of Germany) or by corporations that do not maintain their statutory seat or principal place of management in the Federal Republic
of Germany is generally not subject to taxation in the Federal Republic of Germany, unless the warrants form part of the business
property of a permanent establishment, including a permanent representative, or a fixed base maintained in Germany by the holder
of the warrants.
German Withholding
Tax.
If cash proceeds from the exercise, sale or other disposition of a warrant that is kept or administered in a German
securities deposit account by a German bank or a German financial services institution (which term includes a German branch of
a foreign bank or a foreign financial services institution but excludes a foreign branch of a German bank or a German financial
services institution), a German securities trading enterprise or a German securities trading bank are received by a person who
is not a resident of the Federal Republic of Germany but who (i) is taxable in the Federal Republic of Germany with respect
to certain German source income, and if, according to German tax law, such cash proceeds fall into a category of taxable income
from German sources that is subject to a limited income tax liability (
e.g.
, income effectively connected with a German
trade or business) or (ii) does not provide evidence of the fact that he is not subject to taxation in Germany, such cash
proceeds are subject to a withholding tax of 25% (plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge (
Solidaritätszuschlag
) thereon,
so that the effective rate of withholding is 26.375%). However, if the warrants are business assets of a German business establishment
and the holder files a corresponding declaration with the financial institution acting as a paying agent, cash proceeds from the
exercise, sale or other disposition of the warrants will not be subject to the withholding tax.
Other Taxes.
No estate, inheritance or gift taxes with respect to any warrant will arise under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany if,
in the case of estate and inheritance taxes, both the decedent and the beneficiary, and, in the case of gift taxes, both the donor
and the donee, are non-residents of the Federal Republic of Germany and such warrant is not attributable to a permanent establishment
in the Federal Republic of Germany. A non-resident is considered a German resident for German gift and inheritance taxation purposes
if he is a German citizen and has not spent more than five consecutive years outside Germany without maintaining a residence in
Germany. No stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes or duties will be payable in the Federal Republic of Germany in connection
with the issuance, delivery or execution of the warrants. The European Commission has published a proposal for a Directive for
a common financial transaction tax. Such proposal remains the subject of negotiations between participating member states of the
European Union, including Germany, and may, if implemented, apply to certain dealings in the warrants. Investors are advised to
seek their own professional advice in relation to the financial transaction tax.
U
.
S
.-
Germany
Intergovernmental Agreement
. Germany signed an intergovernmental agreement with the United States (the “
U
.
S
.–
Germany
IGA
”) regarding the implementation of FATCA, under which certain disclosure requirements will be imposed in respect
of certain investors in the warrants who are, or are entities that are controlled by one or more individuals who are, residents
or citizens of the United States, unless an exemption applies. Certain due diligence obligations will also be imposed. Where applicable,
information that will need to be disclosed will include certain information about investors in the warrants, the ultimate beneficial
owners and/or controllers, and their investment in and return from the warrants. Under the terms of the U.S.–Germany IGA,
German resident financial institutions that comply with the due diligence and reporting requirements of Germany’s domestic
legislation will be treated as compliant with FATCA and, as a result, should not be subject to FATCA withholding on payments they
receive and should not be required to withhold under FATCA on payments they make.
Common Reporting
Standard
. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development released the Common Reporting Standard (“
CRS
”)
designed to create a global standard for the automatic exchange of
financial account information,
similar to the information to be reported under FATCA. On October 29, 2014, 51 jurisdictions signed the Multilateral Competent
Authority Agreement (the “
Multilateral Agreement
”) that activates this automatic exchange of FATCA-like information
in line with the CRS. Since then, further jurisdictions have signed the multilateral Agreement and in total over 100 jurisdictions
have committed to adopting the CRS. Further, new mandatory automatic exchange of financial account information are implemented
under Council Directive 2011/16/EU on Administrative Cooperation in the Field of Taxation (as amended) (the “
DAC
”).
Under the CRS and legislation enacted in Germany to implement the CRS and DAC, certain disclosure requirements will be imposed
in respect of certain investors in the warrants who are, or are entities that are controlled by one or more individuals who are,
residents of any of the jurisdictions that have adopted the CRS, unless a relevant exemption applies. Where applicable, information
that would need to be disclosed will include certain information about investors in the warrants, the ultimate beneficial owners
and/or controllers, and their investment in and returns from the warrants.
All prospective
investors should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implication of FATCA
,
CRS
,
DAC and other
similar legislation and
/
or regulations on their investment in the warrants
.
BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS
A fiduciary of a pension,
profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“
ERISA
”),
including entities such as collective investment funds, partnerships and separate accounts whose underlying assets include the
assets of such plans (collectively, “
ERISA Plans
”) should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context
of the ERISA Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the warrants. Among other factors, the fiduciary
should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent
with the documents and instruments governing the ERISA Plan.
In addition to ERISA’s
general fiduciary standards, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans, as well as plans
(including individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans) subject to Section 4975 of the Code (together with ERISA Plans,
“
Plans
”), from engaging in certain transactions involving the “plan assets” of such Plans with persons
who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under Section 4975 of the Code
(in either case, “
Parties in Interest
”) with respect to such Plans unless exemptive relief is available under
a statutory or administrative exemption. Such Parties in Interest could include, without limitation, us, the warrant agent, the
Depositary or any of our or their respective affiliates. Parties in Interest that engage in a nonexempt prohibited transaction
may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Thus, a plan
fiduciary considering an investment in the warrants should also consider whether such investment might constitute or give rise
to a prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. For example, the warrants might be
deemed to represent a direct or indirect sale of property, extension of credit or furnishing of services between a Party in Interest
and an investing Plan which would be prohibited unless exemptive relief were available under an applicable exemption.
Certain prohibited
transaction class exemptions (“
PTCEs
”) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor may provide exemptive relief for
direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the warrants. Those class exemptions are PTCE
96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance
company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain
transactions involving insurance company separate accounts) and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent
qualified professional asset managers). In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code
may provide a limited exemption for the purchase and sale of the warrants and the related lending transactions, provided that neither
the Party in Interest nor any of its affiliates has or exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders any investment
advice with respect to the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction, and provided further that the Plan pays no more, and
receives no less, than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction (the so-called “
service provider exemption
”).
There can be no assurance that any of these statutory or class exemptions will be available with respect to transactions involving
the warrants.
Accordingly, unless
otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement, the warrants may not be purchased or held by any Plan, any entity whose
underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “
Plan Asset
Entity
”) or any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchaser or holder is eligible for
exemptive relief, including relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or the service provider exemption.
The fiduciary investment
considerations summarized above generally do not apply to governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain
church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) (collectively,
“
Non-ERISA Arrangements
”). However, these Non-ERISA Arrangements may be subject to similar provisions under
applicable federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other regulations, rules or laws (“
Similar Laws
”). The fiduciaries
of plans subject to Similar Laws should also consider the foregoing issues in general terms as well as any further issues arising
under any applicable Similar Laws.
Each purchaser or holder
of the warrants or any interest therein shall be deemed to have represented and warranted, on each day such purchaser or holder
holds such warrants, that either (a) it is not a Plan or a Non-ERISA Arrangement and it is not purchasing or holding such
warrants on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement or (b) its purchase, holding
and disposition of such warrants will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of
ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code or a violation of any Similar Law.
Due to the complexity
of the applicable rules, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the warrants on
behalf of any Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement consult with their counsel prior to purchasing the warrants.
The warrants are
contractual financial instruments. The financial exposure provided by the warrants is not a substitute or proxy for, and is not
intended as a substitute or proxy for, individualized investment management or advice for the benefit of any purchaser or holder
of the warrants. The warrants have not been designed and will not be administered in a manner intended to reflect the individualized
needs and objectives of any purchaser or holder of the warrants.
Each purchaser or
holder of any warrants acknowledges and agrees that:
|
(i)
|
the purchaser or holder or its fiduciary has made and shall make all investment decisions for
the purchaser or holder and the purchaser or holder has not relied and shall not rely in any way upon us or any of our affiliates
to act as a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder with respect to (A) the design and terms of the warrants, (B) the
purchaser or holder’s investment in the warrants, (C) the holding of the warrants, or (D) the exercise of or failure
to exercise any rights we or our affiliate have under or with respect to the warrants;
|
|
(ii)
|
we and our affiliates have acted and will act solely for our own account in connection with
our obligations under the warrants;
|
|
(iii)
|
any and all assets and positions relating to hedging transactions by us or any of our affiliates
are assets and positions of those entities and are not assets and positions held for the benefit of the purchaser or holder;
|
|
(iv)
|
our interests and the interests of our affiliates are adverse to the interests of the purchaser
or holder; and
|
|
(v)
|
neither we nor any of our affiliates is a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder in
connection with any such assets, positions or transactions, and any information that we or any of our affiliates may provide is
not intended to be impartial investment advice.
|
Each purchaser and
holder of the warrants has exclusive responsibility for ensuring that its purchase, holding and disposition of the warrants do
not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Laws.
The sale of any warrants to any Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates
or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by Plans or Non-ERISA
Arrangements generally or any particular Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement, or that such an investment is appropriate for Plans or
Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement. The above discussion may be modified or supplemented
with respect to a particular offering of warrants, including the addition of further ERISA restrictions on purchase and transfer.
Please consult the applicable pricing supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
We are offering the
warrants on a continuing basis through DBSI and DBTCA (to the extent either or both of them is named in the applicable pricing
supplement), which we refer to individually as an “agent” and together as the “agents.” In addition, we
may offer the warrants through certain other agents to be named in the applicable pricing supplement. Any offering through DBSI
and DBTCA will be conducted separately pursuant to separate distribution agreements. DBSI and DBTCA will not join together in any
syndicate or group for the purpose of selling the warrants to investors, and will not grant or receive any selling concessions,
discounts or other allowances to or from each other with respect to the distribution of the warrants. DBTCA is not a member of
FINRA and, accordingly, is not subject to FINRA’s rules or supervisory authority. DBSI is a FINRA member and is subject to
FINRA’s rules and supervision.
The agents will act
on either a reasonable efforts or firm commitment basis to solicit offers to purchase the warrants. Unless otherwise indicated
in the applicable pricing supplement, the agents will act on a reasonable efforts basis. We will have the sole right to accept
offers to purchase the warrants and may reject any offer in whole or in part. Each agent may reject, in whole or in part, any offer
it solicited to purchase warrants. We will pay an agent, in connection with sales of the warrants resulting from a solicitation
that such agent made or an offer to purchase that such agent received, a commission set forth in the applicable pricing supplement.
We may also sell the
warrants to an agent (other than DBTCA) as principal for its own account at discounts to be agreed upon at the time of sale within
the range of the commissions as disclosed in the applicable pricing supplement. That agent may resell the warrants to investors
and other purchasers at a fixed offering price or at prevailing market prices, or prices related thereto at the time of resale
or otherwise, as that agent determines and as we will specify in the applicable pricing supplement.
An agent may offer
the warrants it has purchased as principal to other dealers. That agent may sell the warrants to any dealer at a discount and,
unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the discount allowed to any dealer will not be in excess of the
discount that agent will receive from us. After the initial public offering of warrants that an agent is to resell on a fixed public
offering price basis, the agent may change the public offering price, concession and discount.
Each of the agents
may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities
Act
”). We and the agents have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments made in respect of those liabilities. We have also agreed to reimburse the agents
for specified expenses.
To the extent the total
number of warrants offered pursuant to a pricing supplement is not purchased by investors, one or more of our affiliates may agree
to purchase for investment the unsold portion. As a result, upon completion of an offering, our affiliates may own up to approximately
10% of the warrants offered in that offering.
Unless otherwise provided
in the applicable pricing supplement, we do not intend to apply for the listing of these warrants on a national securities exchange,
but have been advised by DBSI that it may make a market in the warrants, as applicable laws and regulations permit. DBSI is not
obligated to do so, however, and it may discontinue making a market at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to
the liquidity of any trading market for the warrants.
Conflicts of Interest.
DBSI and DBTCA are wholly owned indirect subsidiaries of the Bank. Because DBSI is both our affiliate and a member of FINRA,
any distribution of the warrants offered hereby by DBSI must be made in compliance with the applicable provisions of FINRA Rule
5121 regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. Among
other things, FINRA Rule 5121 may require that a “qualified independent underwriter” participate in the preparation
of the relevant pricing supplement and exercise the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect thereto. The qualified
independent underwriter participating in any particular offering will be named in the applicable pricing supplement. In addition,
DBSI may not make sales in offerings of the warrants to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of
the customer.
Following the initial
distribution of the warrants, each agent may offer and sell the warrants in the course of its business as a broker-dealer. An agent
(other than DBTCA, which would only act as an agent) may act as principal or agent in those transactions and will make any sales
at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale or otherwise. The agents may use this prospectus supplement
in connection with any of
those transactions.
No agent is obligated to make a market in any of the warrants and any agent that does make a market may discontinue doing so at
any time without notice.
In order to facilitate
the offering of the warrants, the agents may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the
warrants or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on the warrants. Specifically, the agents
may sell more warrants than they are obligated to purchase in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their
own accounts. A short sale is covered if the short position is no greater than the number or amount of warrants available for purchase
by the agents under any overallotment option. The agents can close out a covered short sale by exercising the overallotment option
or purchasing the warrants in the open market. In determining the source of warrants to close out a covered short sale, the agents
will consider, among other things, the open market price of the warrants compared to the price available under the overallotment
option. The agents may also sell the warrants or any other warrants in excess of the overallotment option, creating a naked short
position. The agents must close out any naked short position by purchasing warrants in the open market. A naked short position
is more likely to be created if the agents are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the warrants in the
open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means of facilitating
the offering, the agents may bid for, and purchase, the warrants or any other securities in the open market to stabilize the price
of the warrants or of any other securities. Finally, in any offering of the warrants, the underwriting syndicate or lead underwriter
may also reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the warrants in the offering, if the
syndicate or lead underwriter repurchases previously distributed warrants to cover syndicate short positions or to stabilize the
price of the warrants. Any of these activities may raise or maintain the market price of the warrants above independent market
levels or prevent or slow a decline in the market price of the warrants. The agents are not required to engage in these activities,
and may end any of these activities at any time.
Concurrently with the
offering of any warrants through the agents, we may issue other warrants under the warrant agreement referred to in this prospectus
supplement.
PRIIPs
Regulation/Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors
The warrants are not
intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any
retail investor in the European Economic Area. For these purposes, (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of:
(i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “
MiFID II
”);
(ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as
defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Directive 2003/71/EC; and
(b) the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the
terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the warrants.
Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “
PRIIPs Regulation
”)
for offering or selling the warrants or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the European Economic Area has been
prepared and therefore offering or selling the warrants or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the European
Economic Area may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters
with respect to United States and New York law with respect to the validity of certain of the warrants will be passed upon for
the Bank by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. Certain legal matters with respect to German law will be passed upon
for the Bank by Group Legal Services of the Bank. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP will pass upon certain legal matters with
respect to United States and New York law with respect to the validity of certain of the warrants for any underwriters, dealers
or selling agents. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP have in the past represented
the Bank and its affiliates and continue to represent the Bank and its affiliates on a regular basis and in a variety of matters.
No
person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference
in this prospectus supplement, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized. This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any warrants
other than the warrants described herein or in the accompanying pricing supplement or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy such warrants in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying pricing supplement, nor any sale made hereunder and thereunder shall, under any circumstances, create
any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Deutsche Bank AG since the date hereof or that the information
contained or incorporated by reference herein or therein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.
Warrants
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