424B2 1 dp59263_424b2-str20.htm FORM 424B2

Pricing Supplement STR-20
(To the Prospectus dated May 4, 2015, the
Prospectus Supplement dated May 4, 2015, and
the Product Supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1
dated July 30, 2015)

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement Nos. 333-202913 and 333-180300-03

 


1,053,374 Units
$10 principal amount per unit
CUSIP No. 22547V204
Pricing Date
Settlement Date
Maturity Date
August 27, 2015
September 3, 2015
September 12, 2016

 
       

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the S&P 500® Index

§    Automatically callable if the closing level of the Index on any Observation Date, occurring approximately six, nine, and twelve months after the pricing date, is at or above the Starting Value

 

§    In the event of an automatic call, the amount payable per unit will be:

 

§ $10.54 if called on the first Observation Date

 

§ $10.81 if called on the second Observation Date

 

§ $11.08 if called on the final Observation Date

 

§    If not called on the first or second Observation Dates, a maturity of approximately one year and one week

 

§    If not called, 1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Index, with up to 100% of your principal at risk

 

§    All payments are subject to the credit risk of Credit Suisse AG

 

§    No periodic interest payments

 

§    Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing

 

§    The notes are senior unsecured debt securities and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction

 

 

 

The notes are being issued by Credit Suisse AG (“Credit Suisse”). There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks and certain additional costs. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-6 of this term sheet and beginning on page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1.

 

The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is $9.78 per unit, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-6 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-11 of this term sheet for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

________________________

 

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

________________________

 

  Per Unit Total
Public offering price $ 10.000 $ 10,533,740.00    
Underwriting discount $ 0.125 $     131,671.75    
Proceeds, before expenses, to Credit Suisse $ 9.875 $ 10,402,068.25    

 

 

The notes:

Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value

 

 

 

 

 

Merrill Lynch & Co. 

August 27, 2015

 

 

 
 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

Summary

 

The Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction and are not secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of Credit Suisse. The notes will be automatically called at the applicable Call Amount if the closing level of the Market Measure, which is the S&P 500® Index (the “Index”) on any Observation Date is equal to or greater than the Starting Value. If your notes are not called, you will lose all or a portion of the principal amount of your notes. Payments on the notes, including the amount you receive at maturity or upon an automatic call, will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index, subject to our credit risk. See “Terms of the Notes” below.

 

The economic terms of the notes (including the Call Amounts and Call Premiums) are based on the rate we are currently paying to borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes (our “internal funding rate”) and the economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements. Our internal funding rate for market-linked notes is typically lower than a rate reflecting the yield on our conventional debt securities of similar maturity in the secondary market (our “secondary market credit rate”). This difference in borrowing rate, as well as the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge described below, reduced the economic terms of the notes to you and the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date. These costs will be effectively borne by you as an investor in the notes, and will be retained by us and MLPF&S or any of our respective affiliates in connection with our structuring and offering of the notes. Due to these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the notes is greater than the initial estimated value of the notes.

 

On the cover page of this term sheet, we have provided the initial estimated value for the notes. This estimated value was determined based on our valuation of the theoretical components of the notes in accordance with our pricing models. These include a theoretical bond component valued using our internal funding rate, and theoretical individual option components valued using mid-market pricing. You will not have any interest in, or rights to, the theoretical components we used to determine the estimated value of the notes. The notes are subject to an automatic call, and the initial estimated value is based on an assumed tenor of the notes. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-11.

 

Terms of the Notes Payment Determination
Issuer: Credit Suisse AG (“Credit Suisse”), acting through its London branch.

Automatic Call Provision:

 

 

Redemption Amount Determination:

 

If the notes are not called, you will receive the Redemption Amount per unit on the maturity date, determined as follows:

 

 

Because the Threshold Value for the notes is equal to the Starting Value, you will lose all or a portion of your investment if the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value.

 

Principal Amount: $10.00 per unit
Term: Approximately one year and one week, if not called on the first or second Observation Dates.
Market Measure: The S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “SPX”), a price return index.
Starting Value: 1,987.66
Ending Value: The Observation Level of the Market Measure on the final Observation Date.
Observation Level: The closing level of the Market Measure on any Observation Date.
Observation Dates:

February 19, 2016, May 20, 2016, and September 2, 2016 (the final Observation Date).

 

The Observation Dates are subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described on page PS-19 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1.

 

Call Level: 1,987.66, or 100% of the Starting Value
Call Amounts (per Unit) and Call Premiums:

$10.54, representing a Call Premium of 5.40% of the principal amount, if called on the first Observation Date;

 

$10.81, representing a Call Premium of 8.10% of the principal amount, if called on the second Observation Date; and

 

$11.08, representing a Call Premium of 10.80% of the principal amount, if called on the final Observation Date.

 

Call Settlement Dates: Approximately the fifth business day following the applicable Observation Date, subject to postponement as described on page PS-19 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1; provided however, that the Call Settlement Date related to the final Observation Date will be the maturity date.
Threshold Value: 1,987.66, or 100% of the Starting Value
Fees and Charges: The underwriting discount of $0.125 per unit listed on the cover page and the hedging related charge of $0.05 per unit described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-11.
Joint Calculation Agents: Credit Suisse International and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), acting jointly.

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-2

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

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

 

§Product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1 dated July 30, 2015:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1053092/000095010315005968/dp58301_424b2-str1.htm

 

§Prospectus supplement and prospectus dated May 4, 2015:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1053092/000104746915004333/a2224570z424b2.htm

 

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

 

Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to Credit Suisse.

 

Investor Considerations

 

You may wish to consider an investment in the notes if: The notes may not be an appropriate investment for you if:

§   You anticipate that the closing level of the Index on any of the Observation Dates will be equal to or greater than the Starting Value and, in that case, you accept an early exit from your investment.

 

§   You accept that the return on the notes will be limited to the return represented by the applicable Call Premium even if the percentage change in the level of the Index is significantly greater than the applicable Call Premium.

 

§   If the notes are not called, you accept that your investment will result in a loss, which could be significant, if the Ending Value is below the Threshold Value.

 

§   You are willing to forgo the interest payments that are paid on traditional interest bearing debt securities.

 

§   You are willing to forgo dividends or other benefits of owning the stocks included in the Index.

 

§   You are willing to accept a limited or no market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, our internal funding rate and fees and charges on the notes.

 

§   You are willing to assume our credit risk, as issuer of the notes, for all payments under the notes, including the Call Amounts and the Redemption Amount.

§   You wish to make an investment that cannot be automatically called prior to maturity.

 

§   You believe that the level of the Index will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

§   You anticipate that the Observation Level will be less than the Call Level on each Observation Date.

 

§   You seek an uncapped return on your investment

 

§   You seek principal repayment or preservation of capital.

 

§   You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.

 

§   You want to receive dividends or other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Index.

 

§   You seek an investment for which there will be a liquid secondary market.

 

§   You are unwilling or are unable to take market risk on the notes or to take our credit risk as issuer of the notes.

 

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

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-3

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

Examples of Hypothetical Payments

 

The following examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes. The actual amount you receive and the resulting return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Call Level, Observation Levels, and the term of your investment. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes. These examples are based on:

 

1)a Starting Value of 100.00;

 

2)a Threshold Value of 100.00;

 

3)a Call Level of 100.00;

 

4)the term of the notes from September 3, 2015 to September 12, 2016 if the notes are not called on the first or second Observation Dates;

 

5)the Call Premium of 5.40% of the principal amount if the notes are called on the first Observation Date, 8.10% if called on the second Observation Date, and 10.80% if called on the final Observation Date; and

 

6)Observation Dates occurring on February 19, 2016, May 20, 2016, and September 2, 2016 (the final Observation Date).

 

The hypothetical Starting Value of 100.00 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only. The actual Starting Value is 1,987.66, which was the closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date. For recent actual levels of the Market Measure, see “The Index” section below. The Index is a price return index and as such the Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends paid on the stocks included in the Index, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in those stocks directly. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-4

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

Notes Are Called on an Observation Date

 

The notes will be called at $10.00 plus the applicable Call Premium on one of the Observation Dates if the Observation Level is equal to or greater than the Call Level.

 

Example 1 – The Observation Level on the first Observation Date is 110.00. Therefore, the notes will be called at $10.00 plus the Call Premium of $0.54 = $10.54 per unit. After the notes are called, they will no longer remain outstanding and there will not be any further payments on the notes.

 

Example 2 – The Observation Level on the first Observation Date is below the Call Level, but the Observation Level on the second Observation Date is 105.00. Therefore, the notes will be called at $10.00 plus the Call Premium of $0.81 = $10.81 per unit. After the notes are called, they will no longer remain outstanding and there will not be any further payments on the notes.

 

Example 3 – The Observation Levels on the first and second Observation Dates are below the Call Level, but the Observation Level on the third and final Observation Date is 105.00. Therefore, the notes will be called at $10.00 plus the Call Premium of $1.08 = $11.08 per unit.

 

Notes Are Not Called on Any Observation Date

 

Example 4 – The notes are not called on any Observation Date and the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value. The Redemption Amount will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the principal amount. For example, if the Ending Value is 85.00, the Redemption Amount per unit will be:

 

 

Summary of the Hypothetical Examples  
  Notes Are Called on an Observation Date Notes Are Not Called on Any
Observation Date		  
  Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4
Starting Value 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Call Level 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Threshold Value 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Observation Level on the First Observation Date 110.00 90.00 90.00 88.00
Observation Level on the Second Observation Date N/A 105.00 83.00 78.00
Observation Level on the Final Observation Date N/A N/A 105.00 85.00
Return of the Index 10.00% 5.00% 5.00% -15.00%
Return of the Notes 5.40% 8.10% 10.80% -15.00%

Call Amount /

 

Redemption Amount per Unit

 

 $10.54 $10.81 $11.08 $8.50
             

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-5

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

Risk Factors

 

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

 

§If the notes are not called, your investment will result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal.

 

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

 

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

 

§Your investment return is limited to the return represented by the applicable Call Premium and may be less than a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index.

 

§The initial estimated value of the notes is an estimate only, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our proprietary pricing models. These pricing models consider certain factors, such as our internal funding rate on the pricing date, interest rates, volatility and time to maturity of the notes, and they rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. Because our pricing models may differ from other issuers’ valuation models, and because funding rates taken into account by other issuers may vary materially from the rates used by us (even among issuers with similar creditworthiness), our estimated value may not be comparable to estimated values of similar notes of other issuers.

 

§Our internal funding rate for market-linked notes is typically lower than our secondary market credit rates, as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-11. Because we use our internal funding rate to determine the value of the theoretical bond component, if on the pricing date our internal funding rate is lower than our secondary market credit rates, the initial estimated value of the notes will be greater than if we had used our secondary market credit rates in valuing the notes.

 

§The public offering price you pay for the notes exceeds the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other transaction costs, the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge, as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-11.

 

§Assuming no change in market conditions or other relevant factors after the pricing date, the market value of your notes may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge and the internal funding rate we used in pricing the notes, as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-11. These factors, together with customary bid ask spreads, other transaction costs and various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, including changes in the level of the Index, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways.

 

§A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. Neither we nor MLPF&S is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, MLPF&S or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. MLPF&S has advised us that any repurchases by them or their affiliates will be made at prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. If you sell your notes to a dealer other than MLPF&S in a secondary market transaction, the dealer may impose its own discount or commission. MLPF&S has also advised us that, at its discretion and for your benefit, assuming no changes in market conditions from the pricing date, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial estimated value of the notes for a short initial period after the issuance of the notes. That higher price reflects costs that were included in the public offering price of the notes, and that higher price may also be initially used for account statements or otherwise. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market.

 

§Our business, hedging and trading activities, and those of MLPF&S and our respective affiliates (including trading in shares of companies included in the Index), and any hedging and trading activities we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you.

 

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

 

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

 

§While we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in the Index, except to the extent that the common stock of Bank of America Corporation (the parent company of MLPF&S) is included in the Index, we, MLPF&S and our respective affiliates do not control any company included in the Index, and are not responsible for any disclosure made by any other company.

 

§There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-6

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

§As a Swiss bank, Credit Suisse is subject to regulation by governmental agencies, supervisory authorities and self-regulatory organizations in Switzerland. Such regulation is increasingly more extensive and complex and subjects Credit Suisse to risks. For example, pursuant to Swiss banking laws, FINMA has broad powers and discretion in the case of resolution proceedings, which include the power to convert debt instruments and other liabilities of Credit Suisse into equity and/or cancel such liabilities in whole or in part.

 

§The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” below and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” beginning on page PS-28 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-7

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

The Index

 

All disclosures contained in this term sheet regarding the Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index sponsor”). The Index sponsor, which licenses the copyright and all other rights to the Index, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Index. The consequences of the Index sponsor discontinuing publication of the Index are discussed in the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Discontinuance of an Index” beginning on page PS-21 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1. None of us, the calculation agent, or MLPF&S accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Index or any successor index.

 

The Index is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of the Index is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943.

 

The Index sponsor chooses companies for inclusion in the Index with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings that approximates the distribution of these groupings in the common stock population of its Stock Guide Database of over 10,000 companies, which the Index sponsor uses as an assumed model for the composition of the total market. Relevant criteria employed by the Index sponsor include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company’s common stock generally is responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry, and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company. Ten main groups of companies constitute the Index, with the approximate percentage of the market capitalization of the Index included in each group as of July 31, 2015 indicated in parentheses: Consumer Discretionary (12.9%); Consumer Staples (9.6%); Energy (7.1%); Financials (16.8%); Health Care (15.6%); Industrials (9.9%); Information Technology (19.8%); Materials (2.9%); Telecommunication Services (2.4%); and Utilities (2.9%). The Index sponsor from time to time, in its sole discretion, may add companies to, or delete companies from, the Index to achieve the objectives stated above.

 

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

 

Computation of the Index

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

On September 21, 2012, all share-holdings with a position greater than 5% of a stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,” were removed from the float for purposes of calculating the Index. Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and directors, private equity, venture capital and special equity firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs, employee and family trusts, foundations associated with the company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock or government entities at all levels (other than government retirement/pension funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake in a company as reported in regulatory filings. Holdings by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual funds and ETF providers, 401(k) plans of the company, government retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies, asset managers and investment funds, independent foundations and savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of the float.

 

Treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to allow investors in countries outside the country of domicile (e.g., ADRs, CDIs and Canadian exchangeable shares) are normally part of the float unless those shares form a control block. If a company has more than one class of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded class are treated as a control block.

 

For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing (i) the available float shares by (ii) the total shares outstanding. As of September 21, 2012, available float shares are defined as total shares outstanding less shares held by control holders. For companies with multiple classes of stock, the Index sponsor calculates the weighted average IWF for each stock using the proportion of the total company market capitalization of each share class as weights.

 

The Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the Index reflects the total market value of all 500 component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. An indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the level easier to work with and track over time. The actual total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed level of 10. This is often indicated by the notation

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-8

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

1941-43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the Index, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the Index. The index divisor keeps the Index comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the Index, which is index maintenance.

 

Index Maintenance

 

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

 

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

 

Changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due to mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, tender offers, Dutch auctions, or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, company stock repurchases, private placements, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participation units, at-the-market offerings, or other recapitalizations) are made weekly and are announced on Wednesdays for implementation after the close of trading on the following Wednesday. Changes of less than 5.00% due to a company’s acquisition of another company in the Index are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, and are usually announced two to five days prior. Changes in IWFs of more than five percentage points caused by corporate actions (such as merger and acquisition activity, restructurings, or spinoffs) will be made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes in IWFs will be made annually when IWFs are reviewed.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-9

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

The following graph shows the monthly historical performance of the Index in the period from January 1, 2008 through August 27, 2015. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. On August 27, 2015, the closing level of the Index was 1,987.66.

 

Historical Performance of the Index

 

 

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

 

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

 

License Agreement

 

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

 

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

 

S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO.  S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN.  S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO.  WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.  THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND US, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-10

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

MLPF&S has advised us as follows: They or their affiliates may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however, it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions. MLPF&S has informed us that at MLPF&S’s discretion and for your benefit, assuming no changes in market conditions from the pricing date, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial estimated value of the notes for a short initial period after the issuance of the notes. Any price offered by MLPF&S for the notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Index and the remaining term of the notes. However, none of us, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates will purchase your notes at a price that equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the notes.

 

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

 

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

 

Structuring the Notes

 

The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Index. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, the internal funding rate we use in pricing market-linked notes is typically lower than a rate reflecting the yield on our conventional debt securities of similar maturity in the secondary market. Because we use our internal funding rate to determine the value of the theoretical bond component, if on the pricing date our internal funding rate is lower than our secondary market credit rates, the initial estimated value of the notes will be higher than if the initial estimated value was based our secondary market credit rates.

 

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

 

MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.05 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by MLPF&S or any third party hedge providers.

 

For further information, see “Risk Factors—General Risks Relating to the Notes” beginning on page PS-7 and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on page PS-17 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-11

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the S&P 500® Index, due September 12, 2016

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The following discussion is a brief summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to an investment in the notes. The following summary is not complete and is qualified and supplemented by, or in some cases supplements, the discussion under the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” beginning on page PS-28 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES STR-1, which you should carefully review prior to investing in the notes.

 

There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings, or judicial decisions addressing the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the notes or securities with terms that are substantially the same as those of the notes. Thus, the characterization of the notes is not certain. In the absence of an administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary and pursuant to the terms of the notes, you agree with us to treat the notes, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as prepaid financial contracts, with respect to the Market Measure, that are eligible for open transaction treatment. The balance of this discussion assumes that the notes will be treated as prepaid financial contracts. You should be aware that such characterization of the notes is not certain, nor is it binding on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or the courts. Thus, it is possible that the IRS would seek to characterize your notes in a manner that results in tax consequences to you that are different from those described below or in the accompanying product supplement. We are not responsible for any adverse consequences that you may experience as a result of any alternative characterization of the notes for U.S. federal income tax or other tax purposes. You should consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of such characterization and any possible alternative characterizations of the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

If the notes are treated as prepaid financial contracts, a U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) should generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange or maturity of its notes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized at such time and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its notes (generally the amount paid for the notes). Such gain or loss generally should be long-term capital gain or loss if the notes have been held for more than one year. For notes with a term of one year or less, such gain or loss will be short-term capital gain or loss.

 

However, even if the agreed-upon tax characterization of the notes were upheld, it is possible that the IRS could assert that a reconstitution or rebalancing (together, a “Rebalancing”) of the Market Measure is a significant modification of the notes due to an exercise of discretion with respect to the Rebalancing and, therefore, a taxable event to you. If the IRS were to prevail in treating any Rebalancing of the Market Measure as a taxable event, you would recognize capital gain or, possibly, loss on the notes on the date of such Rebalancing to the extent of the difference between the fair market value of the notes and your adjusted basis in the notes at that time. Such gain or loss generally would be short-term capital gain or loss.

 

You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in the notes in your particular circumstances, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

We have filed a registration statement (including a product supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC, for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we, any agent, or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you these documents if you so request by calling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-800-294-1322.

 

“Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®” is a registered service mark of Bank of America Corporation, the parent company of MLPF&S.

 

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities ®TS-12