FWP 1 v344607_fwp.htm FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-180289
FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS
Dated May 10, 2013
(To Prospectus dated March 22, 2012,
Prospectus Supplement dated March 22, 2012,
and Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement dated March 22, 2012)

 

Structured
Investments
  HSBC USA Inc.
$
Autocallable Notes Linked to the Least Performing of Two Common Equity Securities, due February 13, 2015

 

General

·Terms used in this free writing prospectus are described or defined herein and in the accompanying Stock-linked Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. The Notes offered will have the terms described in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, as supplemented by this free writing prospectus. The Notes do not guarantee any return of principal, and you should be willing to forgo the potential to participate in the appreciation in any Reference Stock and be willing to lose up to 100% of your principal amount.
·The purchaser of a Note will acquire a security linked to the Reference Stocks listed below.
·Although the offering relates to the Reference Stocks, you should not construe that fact as a recommendation as to the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the Reference Stocks, or in any of the Reference Stocks, or as to the suitability of an investment in the Notes.
·The Notes are senior unsecured debt obligations of HSBC USA Inc. maturing on February 13, 2015.
·Minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
·If the terms of the Notes set forth below are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, the terms set forth below will supersede.
·All payments on the Notes are subject to the Issuer’s credit risk, and you have no claim against the issuers of the Reference Stocks. The Issuer has not undertaken any independent review of, or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to, the publicly available information provided herein regarding the Reference Stocks.

 

Key Terms

Issuer:   HSBC USA Inc.
Principal Amount:   $1,000 per Note.
Reference Stocks:   The common stock of Deere & Company (NYSE symbol: DE) (“DE”), and the common stock of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE symbol: DIS) (“DIS”) (each, a “Reference Stock” and together, the “Reference Stocks”).
Interest Rate:   1.75% per quarter (equivalent to 7.00% per annum).
Trigger Event:   A Trigger Event occurs if the Final Price of any Reference Stock is below its Trigger Price.
Trigger Price:   For each Reference Stock, 65% of its Initial Price. The Trigger Price of each of the Reference Stocks may be adjusted by the calculation agent as described under “Additional Note Terms — Antidilution and Reorganization Adjustments” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement
Pricing Date:   May 10, 2013
Trade Date:   May 10, 2013
Original Issue Date:   May 14, 2013
Final Valuation Date:   Feb 10, 2015, subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Note Terms — Valuation Dates” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.
Maturity Date:   3 business days after the Final Valuation Date, and expected to be February 13, 2015.  The Maturity Date is subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Note Terms — Coupon Payment Dates, Call Payment Dates and Maturity Date” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.

Observation Dates,   Observation Dates* Call Payment Dates and Coupon Payment Dates**      
Call Payment Dates   August 8, 2013 August 13, 2013  
and Coupon Payment       November 8, 2013 November 13, 2013  
Dates:   February 10, 2014 February 13, 2014  
    May 8, 2014 May 13, 2014  
    August 8, 2014 August 13, 2014    
    November 10, 2014 November 13, 2014  
    Feb 10, 2015 (the Final Valuation Date)       February 13, 2015 (the Maturity Date)  
   

* Subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Note Terms — Valuation Dates” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.

** Subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Note Terms — Coupon Payment Dates, Call Payment Dates and Maturity Date” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.

Call Feature:   If the Official Closing Price of each Reference Stock on an Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Initial Price, the Notes will be automatically called.  If the Notes are automatically called, you will receive on the corresponding Call Payment Date $1,000 plus any accrued and unpaid interest for each $1,000 principal amount Note.
Payment at Maturity:   If the Notes are not automatically called, on the Maturity Date, for each Note, we will pay you the Final Settlement Value plus any accrued and unpaid coupon payment.
Final Settlement Value:  

•     If a Trigger Event does not occur, the Final Settlement Value will equal 100% of the principal amount; or

•     If a Trigger Event occurs, the Final Settlement Value will equal (i) 100% of the principal amount multiplied by (ii) the sum of one plus the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock. In that case, you may lose up to 100% of your investment, regardless of the performance of the other two Reference Stocks.

Least Performing Reference Stock:   The Reference Stock with the lowest Reference Return.
Reference Return:   For each Reference Stock:

    Final Price – Initial Price
Initial Price
 

Initial Price:   $92.19 for DE and $66.67 for DIS, each of which was the Official Closing Price of the applicable Reference Stock on May 9, 2013.
Final Price:   For each Reference Stock, the Official Closing Price on the Final Valuation Date.
Official Closing Price:   With respect to each Reference Stock, the official closing price of the Reference Stock, as described under “Additional Notes Terms—Official Closing Price” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.  The official closing price of each of the Reference Stocks may be adjusted by the calculation agent as described under “Additional Note Terms — Antidilution and Reorganization Adjustments” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.
Calculation Agent:   HSBC USA Inc. or one of its affiliates
CUSIP/ISIN:   40432XFG1/US40432XFG1 6
Form of Notes:   Book-Entry
Listing:   The Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system.

 

Investment in the Notes involves certain risks. You should refer to “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page FWP-4 of this free writing prospectus and “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-1 of the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement and page S-3 of the prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Notes or determined that this free writing prospectus, or the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement or prospectus, is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. or another of our affiliates or agents may use the pricing supplement to which this free writing prospectus relates in market-making transactions in any Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, the pricing supplement to which this free writing prospectus relates will be used in a market-making transaction. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., an affiliate of ours, will purchase the Notes from us for distribution to the placement agent. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on the last page of this free writing prospectus.

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and certain of its registered broker-dealer affiliates are purchasing the Notes for resale.

 

  Price to Public Fees and Commissions Proceeds to Issuer
Per Note $1,000 $11 $989
Total $ $ $

 

JPMorgan

Placement Agent

May [·], 2013

 

 
 

 

Additional Terms Specific to the Notes

 

This free writing prospectus relates to a single note offering linked to the Reference Stocks identified on the cover page. The purchaser of a Note will acquire a senior unsecured debt security linked to the Reference Stocks. We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify this offering and to reject orders in whole or in part. Although the note offering relates only to the Reference Stocks identified on the cover page, you should not construe that fact as a recommendation as to the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the Reference Stocks, or in any of the Reference Stocks, or as to the suitability of an investment in the Notes.

 

You should read this document together with the prospectus dated March 22, 2012, the prospectus supplement dated March 22, 2012, the Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement dated March 22, 2012. If the terms of the Notes offered hereby are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement or prospectus, the terms described in this free writing prospectus shall control. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page FWP-4 of this free writing prospectus and “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-1 of the Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement and page S-3 of the prospectus supplement, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes. As used herein, references to the “Issuer”, “HSBC”, “we”, “us” and “our” are to HSBC USA Inc.

 

HSBC has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, a prospectus supplement, and a Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement) with the SEC for the offering to which this free writing prospectus relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus, prospectus supplement, and Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement in that registration statement and other documents HSBC has filed with the SEC for more complete information about HSBC and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, prospectus supplement, and Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement if you request them by calling toll-free 1-866-811-8049.

 

You may also obtain:

 

the Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement at http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000114420412016685/v306693_424b2.htm

 

the prospectus supplement at http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000104746912003151/a2208335z424b2.htm

 

the prospectus at http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000104746912003148/a2208395z424b2.htm

 

We are using this free writing prospectus to solicit from you an offer to purchase the Notes. You may revoke your offer to purchase the Notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept your offer by notifying HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the Notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any material changes to the terms of the Notes, we will notify you.

 

FWP-2
 

 

Selected Purchase Considerations

 

·QUARTERLY COUPON PAYMENTS — The Notes offer quarterly coupon payments at a rate of 1.75% per quarter (equivalent to 7.00% per annum). Interest will be payable quarterly in arrears on the applicable Coupon Payment Dates, commencing on August 13, 2013, to and including the Maturity Date, to the holders of record at the close of business on the 15th calendar day prior to the applicable Coupon Payment Date. However, if the Notes are automatically called, no interest will be paid for periods after the date on which the Notes are called. If a Coupon Payment Date is not a business day, payment will be made on the next business day immediately following that day, but no additional interest will accrue as a result of the delayed payment.

 

·CALL FEATURE — The Notes will be automatically called if the Official Closing Price of each Reference Stock on any quarterly Observation Date is at or above its Initial Price.  If the Notes are called, investors will receive, on the applicable Call Payment Date, a cash payment per $1,000 principal amount note equal to $1,000 plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

 

·THE NOTES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE RETURN OF YOUR PRINCIPAL — You will receive the principal amount at maturity so long as a Trigger Event does not occur. However, if a Trigger Event occurs, you will lose 1.00% of the principal amount for every 1.00% decline in the price of the Least Performing Reference Stock from its Initial Price. If a Trigger Event has occurred and the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock is -100.00%, you will lose your entire investment.

 

·TAX TREATMENT — There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities with terms that are substantially the same as those of the Notes. Under one approach, a Note should be treated as a put option written by you (the “Put Option”) that permits us to “cash settle” the Put Option, and a deposit with us of cash in an amount equal to the Principal Amount of the Note (the “Deposit”) to secure your potential obligation under the Put Option, as described in the prospectus supplement under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations – Certain Equity-Linked Notes – Certain Notes Treated as a Put Option and a Deposit.”

 

We intend to treat the securities consistent with this approach. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, you agree to treat the Notes under this approach for all U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

Subject to the limitations described therein, and based on certain factual representations received from us, in the opinion of our special U.S. tax counsel, Morrison & Foerster LLP, it is reasonable to treat each Note as a put option written by you (the “Put Option”) that permits us to “cash settle” the Put Option, and a deposit with us of cash in an amount equal to the Principal Amount of the Note (the “Deposit”) to secure your potential obligation under the Put Option, as described in the prospectus supplement under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations – Certain Equity-Linked Notes – Certain Notes Treated as a Put Option and a Deposit.” We intend to treat the Notes consistent with this approach and the balance of this summary so assumes. However, other reasonable approaches are possible. Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, you agree to treat each Note as consisting of the Deposit and the Put Option for all U.S. federal income tax purposes. We intend to treat the Deposits as non-contingent debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please see the discussion under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes—Payments of Interest” in the accompanying prospectus supplement for U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to non-contingent debt instruments.

 

As described in the prospectus supplement under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Certain Equity-Linked Notes — Certain Notes Treated as a Put Option and a Deposit,” for purposes of dividing the 7.00% Interest Rate on the Notes among interest on the Deposit and Put Premium, [   ]% (per annum) constitutes interest on the Deposit and [   ]% (per annum) constitutes Put Premium.

 

If the Notes are redeemed prior to maturity, you should recognize the total Put Premium received as short-term capital gain at that time.

 

Because there are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities with terms that are substantially the same as those of the Notes, other characterizations and treatments are possible and the timing and character of income in respect of the Notes might differ from the treatment described above. We do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the tax treatment of the Notes, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in this free writing prospectus.

 

We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the Reference Stock Issuers would be treated as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) or United States real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”), both as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If one or more of the Reference Stock Issuers were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply. You should refer to information filed with the SEC and other authorities by the Reference Stock Issuer, and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you if one or more of the Reference Stock Issuers is or becomes a PFIC or a USRPHC.

 

Withholding and reporting requirements under the legislation enacted on March 18, 2010 (as discussed beginning on page S-48 of the prospectus supplement) will generally apply to payments made after December 31, 2013. However, this withholding tax will not be imposed on payments pursuant to obligations outstanding on January 1, 2014. Additionally, withholding due to any payment being treated as a “dividend equivalent” (as discussed beginning on page S-47 of the prospectus supplement) will begin no earlier than January 1, 2014. Holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this recently enacted legislation on their investment in the Notes.

 

PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF NOTES.

 

FWP-3
 

Selected Risk Considerations

 

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in any of the Reference Stocks. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement and prospectus supplement.

 

·SUITABILITY OF THE NOTES FOR INVESTMENT — You should only reach a decision to invest in the Notes after carefully considering, with your advisors, the suitability of the Notes in light of your investment objectives and the information set out in this free writing prospectus. Neither HSBC nor any dealer participating in the offering makes any recommendation as to the suitability of the Notes for investment.

 

·YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The Notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If your Notes are not automatically called on any of the Observation Dates, then the Final Settlement Value will be based on whether a Trigger Event occurs. If a Trigger Event occurs, that is, the Final Price of any of the Reference Stocks is below its Trigger Price, you will receive at maturity a Final Settlement Value that is be less than the principal amount of each Note and may be zero. You may lose up to 100% of your principal amount.

 

·YOUR RETURN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED — If the Notes are not automatically called on any Observation Date, and if the Final Price of each Reference Stock is not below its Trigger Price, for each $1,000 principal amount Note, you will receive $1,000 at maturity plus any accrued and unpaid interest, regardless of any appreciation in the price of the Reference Stocks, which may be significant. Additionally, if the Notes are automatically called, you will not receive any coupon payments for periods after which the Notes are called. Accordingly, the return on the Notes may be significantly less than the return on a direct investment in the Reference Stocks during the term of the Notes.

 

·THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CREDIT RISK OF HSBC USA INC. — The Notes are senior unsecured debt obligations of the Issuer, HSBC, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. As further described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, the Notes will rank on par with all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of HSBC, except such obligations as may be preferred by operation of law. Any payment to be made on the Notes, including any return of principal at maturity, depends on the ability of HSBC to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of HSBC may affect the market value of the Notes and, in the event HSBC were to default on its obligations, you may not receive the amount owed to you under the terms of the Notes.

 

·If a Trigger Event occurs, your return will be based on the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock — The performance of any Reference Stock may cause a Trigger Event to occur. If a Trigger Event does occur, your return will be based on the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock, without regard to the performance of the other Reference Stocks. As a result, you could lose all or some of your principal amount if the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock is negative, even if there is an increase in the price of the other Reference Stocks. This could be the case even if the other Reference Stocks increase by an amount that is enough to offset the decrease in the Least Performing Reference Stock.

 

·Since the Notes are linked to the performance of each Reference Stock, you will be fully exposed to the risk of fluctuations in the PRICE of each Reference Stock — The Notes will be linked to the individual performance of each Reference Stock. Because the Notes are not linked to a weighted basket, in which the risk is mitigated and diversified among all of the components of a basket, you will be exposed to the risk of fluctuations in the price of the Reference Stocks to the same degree for each Reference Stock. For example, in the case of notes linked to a weighted basket, the return would depend on the weighted aggregate performance of the basket components as reflected by the basket return. Thus, the depreciation of any basket component could be mitigated by the appreciation of the other basket components, to the extent of the weightings of those components in the basket. However, in the case of the Notes, the individual performances of each of the Reference Stocks would not be combined to calculate your return and the depreciation of any Reference Stock would not be mitigated by the appreciation of the other Reference Stocks. Instead, your return on the Notes will depend on the price of the Least Performing Reference Stock.

 

·POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the Notes. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes. We will not have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the Notes in taking any corporate action that might affect the price of the Reference Stocks and the value of the Notes.

 

·Potentially Inconsistent Research, Opinions or Recommendations by HSBC and JPMorgan — HSBC, JPMorgan, or their respective affiliates may publish research, express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with investing in or holding the Notes and which may be revised at any time. Any such research, opinions or recommendations could affect the prices of the Reference Stocks, and therefore, the market value of the Notes.

 

·CERTAIN BUILT-IN COSTS ARE LIKELY TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES PRIOR TO MATURITY — While the Payment at Maturity described in this free writing prospectus is based on the full principal amount of your Notes, the original issue price of the Notes includes the placement agent’s commission and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes through one or more of our affiliates. As a result, the price, if any, at which HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. will be willing to purchase Notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the original issue price, and any sale of Notes by you prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.

 

·Reinvestment Risk — If your Notes are automatically called early, the holding period over which you would receive the coupon payments could be as little as three months. There is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the Notes at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the Notes are automatically called prior to the Maturity Date.

 

FWP-4
 

 

·Single Stock Risk — The price of the Reference Stock can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to that Reference Stock and its issuer, such as stock price volatility, earnings, financial conditions, corporate, industry and regulatory developments, management changes and decisions and other events, as well as general market factors, such as general stock market volatility and levels, interest rates and economic and political conditions.

 

·NO DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the Reference Stocks would have. In addition, the issuers of these securities will not have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the Notes in taking any corporate action that might affect the prices of the Reference Stocks and the Notes.

 

·NO AFFILIATION WITH THE ISSUERS OF THE REFERENCE STOCKS — We are not affiliated with the issuers of the Reference Stocks. We have not made any independent investigation regarding the adequacy or completeness of the information about these companies contained in this free writing prospectus. You should make your own investigation into these companies and their common stock. We are not responsible for the public disclosure of information by these companies, whether contained in SEC filings or otherwise.

 

·THE NOTES LACK LIQUIDITY — The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. may offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market. However, it is not required to do so and may cease making such offers at any time, if at all. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the Notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your Notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is willing to buy the Notes. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the Notes easily.

 

·The Notes are Not Insured OR GUARANTEED by any Governmental Agency of the United States or any Other Jurisdiction — The Notes are not deposit liabilities or other obligations of a bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or program of the United States or any other jurisdiction. An investment in the Notes is subject to the credit risk of HSBC, and in the event that HSBC is unable to pay its obligations as they become due, you may not receive the full Payment at Maturity of the Notes.

 

·Hedging and trading in the Reference stocks — While the Notes are outstanding, we or any of our affiliates may carry out hedging activities related to the Notes, including the Reference Stocks or instruments related to one or more of the Reference Stocks. We or our affiliates may also trade in the Reference Stocks or instruments related to one or more of the Reference Stocks from time to time. Any of these hedging or trading activities as of the Pricing Date and during the term of the Notes could adversely affect the prices of the Reference Stocks and, consequently, the payments on the Notes.

 

·There is Limited Anti-dilution Protection The calculation agent will adjust the official closing price of the applicable Reference Stock, which will affect the determination of whether the Notes should be automatically called and the Payment at Maturity, for certain events affecting a Reference Stock, such as stock splits and corporate actions. The calculation agent is not required to make an adjustment for every corporate action which affects a Reference Stock. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the prices of a Reference Stock, the market value of the Notes may be materially and adversely affected. See “Additional Note Terms — Antidilution and Reorganization Adjustments” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.

 

·In some circumstances, the payment you receive on the Notes may be partially based on the EQUITY SECURITies of a company other than THE REFERENCE STOCKS — Following certain corporate events relating to one or more of the Reference Stocks where that Reference Stock is not the surviving entity, your payments on the Notes may be based on the equity security of a successor to the issuer of the Reference Stock or any cash or any other assets distributed to holders of shares of the Reference Stock in such corporate event. The occurrence of these corporate events and the consequent adjustments may materially and adversely affect the value of the Notes. For more information, see “Additional Note Terms Merger Event and Tender Offer” and “— Share Delisting, Nationalization, Insolvency” in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.

 

·MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL IMPACT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — In addition to the prices of the Reference Stocks on any day, the value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:

 

·the actual and expected volatility of each Reference Stock;

 

·the time to maturity of the Notes;

 

·the dividend rate on each of the Reference Stocks;

 

·interest and yield rates in the market generally;

 

·a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events that affect the Reference Stocks and the stock markets generally; and

 

·our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.

 

FWP-5
 

 

What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity Assuming a Range of Performances for the Least Performing Reference Stock?

 

The following table illustrates the hypothetical total return at maturity on the Notes, assuming that the Notes are not called prior to maturity. The “total return” as used in this free writing prospectus is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the total payments on the Notes per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below reflect the Interest Rate of 1.75% per quarter and the Trigger Price of 65% of the Initial Price for each Reference Stock. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only, and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.

 

  Trigger Event Does Not Occur1 Trigger Event Occurs2
Least
Performing
Reference
Stock’s
Reference
Return
Hypothetical
Total Coupon
Paid Over
the Term of
the Notes3
Hypothetical
Final
Settlement
Value
Hypothetical
Total
Payment on
the Notes
Paid Over
the Term of
the Notes3
Hypothetical
Total Return
on the Notes
Paid Over
the Term of
the Notes3
Hypothetical
Total Coupon
Paid Over the
Term of the
Notes3
Hypothetical
Final
Settlement
Value
Hypothetical
Total
Payment on
the Notes
Paid Over
the Term of
the Notes3
Hypothetical
Total Return
on Notes
Paid Over
the Term of
the Notes3
100.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
90.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
80.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
70.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
60.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
50.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
40.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
30.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
20.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
10.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
0.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
-10.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
-20.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
-30.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
-35.00% $122.50 $1,000.00 $1,122.50 12.25% N/A N/A N/A N/A
-40.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $600.00 $722.50 -27.75%
-50.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $500.00 $622.50 -37.75%
-60.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $400.00 $522.50 -47.75%
-70.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $300.00 $422.50 -57.75%
-80.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $200.00 $322.50 -67.75%
-90.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $100.00 $222.50 -77.75%
-100.00% N/A N/A N/A N/A $122.50 $0.00 $122.50 -87.75%

1 The Final Price of each Reference Stock is not below its respective Trigger Price.

2 The Final Price of at least one of the Reference Stocks is below its respective Trigger Price.

3 Assuming the Notes have been held to maturity, the total amount of the coupons paid on the Notes as of the Maturity Date will equal $122.50, with coupon payments of $17.50 made on each Coupon Payment Date.

 

FWP-6
 

 

Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity or on a Call Payment Date

 

The following examples illustrate the hypothetical returns on the Notes. The hypothetical returns reflect the Interest Rate of 1.75% per quarter, the Trigger Price of 65% of the Initial Price for each Reference Stock, the Initial Price of $92.19 for DE and $66.67 for DIS. The hypothetical returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual return applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis.

 

Example 1: The Notes are not automatically called and a Trigger Event occurs.

 

Reference Stock   Initial Price   Final Price
on Final Valuation Date
DE   $92.19   $82.97 (90% of the Initial Price)
DIS   $66.67   $33.34 (50% of the Initial Price)

 

Since the Final Price of DIS is below its Trigger Price, a Trigger Event occurs. DIS is also the Least Performing Reference Stock.

 

Therefore, the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock =

 

    Final Price – Initial Price    
Initial Price

 

= (33.34 – 66.67) / 66.67 = -50.00%

 

Final Settlement Value = Principal Amount of the Notes × (1 + Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock)

 

= $1,000 × (1 – 50%) = $500.00

 

Therefore, with the total coupon payment of $122.50 over the term of the Notes, the total payment on the Notes is $622.50, representing a return of -37.75%.

 

Example 2: The Notes are not automatically called and a Trigger Event does not occur. However, the Reference Return of the Least Performing Reference Stock is less than zero.

 

Reference Stock   Initial Price   Final Price
on Final Valuation Date
DE   $92.19   $101.41 (110% of the Initial Price)
DIS   $66.67   $60.00 (90% of the Initial Price)

 

Since the Final Price of each Reference Stock is not below its respective Trigger Price, a Trigger Event does not occur.

 

Therefore, the Final Settlement Value equals $1,000.

 

Additionally, with the total coupon payment of $122.50 over the term of the Notes, the total payment on the Notes is $1,122.50, representing a return of 12.25%.

 

FWP-7
 

 

Example 3: The Notes are automatically called at maturity.

 

Reference Stock   Initial Price   Final Price
on Final Valuation Date
DE   $92.19   $101.41 (110% of the Initial Price)
DIS   $66.67   $70.00 (105% of the Initial Price)

 

Since the Final Price of each Reference Stock is at or above its Initial Price, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive your $1,000 principal amount of the Notes.

 

Additionally, with the total coupon payment of $122.50 over the term of the Notes, the total payment on the Notes is $1,122.50, representing a return of 12.25%.

 

Example 4: The Notes are automatically called and the corresponding Coupon Payment Date is August 13, 2013.

 

Reference Stock   Initial Price   Official Closing Price
on August 8, 2013
DE   $92.19   $101.41 (110% of the Initial Price)
DIS   $66.67   $70.00 (105% of the Initial Price)

 

Since the Official Closing Price of each Reference Stock is at or above its Initial Price, the Notes are automatically called and you are no longer entitled to receive any Final Settlement Value. Therefore, on the corresponding Coupon Payment Date, you will receive your $1,000 principal amount of the Notes plus the coupon payment of $17.50 owed to you on that date. As a result, on the corresponding Coupon Payment Date, you would be entitled to receive a total payment of $1,017.50, representing a return of 1.75%.

 

FWP-8
 

 

Description of the Reference Stocks

 

This free writing prospectus is not an offer to sell and it is not an offer to buy interests in any Reference Stock. All disclosure contained in this free writing prospectus regarding the Reference Stocks, including the performance and description of the Reference Stocks, where applicable, is derived from publicly available information. None of HSBC, the placement agent, or any of their respective affiliates has made any independent investigation as to the information about the Reference Stocks that is contained in this free writing prospectus. You should make your own investigation into each Reference Stock.

 

We urge you to read the section “Information Regarding the Reference Stocks and the Reference Stock Issuers” on page S-11 in the accompanying Stock-Linked Underlying Supplement.

 

Deere & Company

 

Deere & Company along with its subsidiaries operates in three segments: agriculture and turf, construction and forestry and financial services. The John Deere agriculture and turf segment manufactures and distributes a line of agricultural and turf equipment and related service parts. John Deere construction, earthmoving, material handling and forestry equipment includes a broad range of backhoe loaders, crawler dozers and loaders, four-wheel-drive loaders, excavators, motor graders, articulated dump trucks, landscape loaders, skid-steer loaders, log skidders, log feller bunchers, log loaders, log forwarders, log harvesters and a range of attachments. The financial services segment primarily finances sales and leases by John Deere dealers of new and used agriculture and turf equipment and construction and forestry equipment. Information provided to or filed with the SEC by Deere & Company under the Exchange Act can be located by reference to its SEC file number: 001-04121 or its CIK Code: 0000315189. The common stock of Deere & Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol “DE”.

 

Historical Performance of DE

 

The following table sets forth (to the extent available) the quarterly high and low intraday prices, as well as end-of-quarter official closing prices on the relevant exchange, of DE for each quarter in the period from April 1, 2008 through May 8, 2013. We obtained the data in these tables from the Bloomberg Professional® service, without independent verification by us. All historical prices are denominated in US dollars and rounded to the nearest one cent. Historical prices of DE should not be taken as an indication of its future performance.

 

QUARTER ENDING QUARTER
HIGH
QUARTER
LOW
QUARTER
CLOSE
  QUARTER ENDING QUARTER
HIGH
QUARTER
LOW
QUARTER
CLOSE
June 30, 2008 $94.88 $70.18 $72.13   March 31, 2011 $97.25 $81.80 $96.89
September 30, 2008 $73.84 $46.18 $49.50   June 30, 2011 $99.80 $77.83 $82.45
December 31, 2008 $49.00 $28.55 $38.32   September 30, 2011 $87.12 $64.56 $64.57
March 31, 2009 $46.73 $24.52 $32.87   December 30, 2011 $79.70 $59.92 $77.35
June 30, 2009 $47.98 $31.88 $39.95   March 30, 2012 $89.69 $78.69 $80.90
September 30, 2009 $47.03 $34.91 $42.92   June 29, 2012 $83.91 $69.51 $80.87
December 31, 2009 $56.87 $40.29 $54.09   September 28, 2012 $83.44 $72.86 $82.49
March 31, 2010 $62.08 $48.34 $59.46   December 31, 2013 $87.50 $79.75 $86.42
June 30, 2010 $63.67 $52.77 $55.68   March 28, 2013 $95.60 $85.16 $85.98
September 30, 2010 $73.70 $53.69 $69.78   May 8, 2013* $92.63 $81.59 $92.35
December 31, 2010 $84.85 $67.67 $83.05          

 

* As of the date of this free writing prospectus available information for the second calendar quarter of 2013 includes data for the period from April 1, 2013 through May 8, 2013. Accordingly, the “Quarterly High,” “Quarterly Low” and “Quarterly Close” data indicated are for this shortened period only and do not reflect complete data for the second calendar quarter of 2013.

 

The graph below illustrates the performance of DE from May 8, 2008 through May 8, 2013, based on information from the Bloomberg Professional® service. The official closing price of DE on May 8, 2012 was $92.35. Past performance of DE is not indicative of its future performance.

 

 

FWP-9
 

 

The Walt Disney Company

 

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company. The company operates in five business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products and Interactive. Information provided to or filed with the SEC by DIS under the Exchange Act can be located by reference to its SEC file number: 001-11605 or its CIK Code: 0001001039. The common stock of DIS is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol “DIS”.

 

Historical Performance of DIS

 

The following table sets forth (to the extent available) the quarterly high and low intraday prices, as well as end-of-quarter official closing prices on the relevant exchange, of DIS for each quarter in the period from April 1, 2008 through May 8, 2013. We obtained the data in these tables from the Bloomberg Professional® service, without independent verification by us. All historical prices are denominated in US dollars and rounded to the nearest one cent. Historical prices of DIS should not be taken as an indication of its future performance.

 

QUARTER ENDING QUARTER
HIGH
QUARTER
LOW
QUARTER
CLOSE
  QUARTER ENDING QUARTER
HIGH
QUARTER
LOW
QUARTER
CLOSE
June 30, 2008 $35.02 $29.58 $31.20   March 31, 2011 $44.34 $37.63 $43.09
September 30, 2008 $34.85 $28.55 $30.69   June 30, 2011 $44.12 $37.19 $39.04
December 31, 2008 $31.06 $18.60 $22.69   September 30, 2011 $40.97 $29.05 $30.16
March 31, 2009 $24.83 $15.14 $18.16   December 30, 2011 $37.80 $28.20 $37.50
June 30, 2009 $26.29 $17.84 $23.33   March 30, 2012 $44.50 $37.94 $43.78
September 30, 2009 $28.68 $22.05 $27.46   June 29, 2012 $48.95 $40.88 $48.50
December 31, 2009 $32.75 $26.84 $32.25   September 28, 2012 $53.40 $46.85 $52.28
March 31, 2010 $35.60 $28.72 $34.91   December 31, 2013 $53.15 $46.55 $49.79
June 30, 2010 $37.98 $31.00 $31.50   March 28, 2013 $57.81 $50.18 $56.80
September 30, 2010 $35.40 $30.72 $33.11   May 8, 2013* $66.09 $56.16 $65.99
December 31, 2010 $38.00 $33.08 $37.51          

 

* As of the date of this free writing prospectus available information for the second calendar quarter of 2013 includes data for the period from April 1, 2013 through May 8, 2013. Accordingly, the “Quarterly High,” “Quarterly Low” and “Quarterly Close” data indicated are for this shortened period only and do not reflect complete data for the second calendar quarter of 2013.

 

The graph below illustrates the performance of DIS from May 8, 2008 through May 8, 2013, based on information from the Bloomberg Professional® service. The official closing price of DIS on May 8, 2012 was $65.99. Past performance of DIS is not indicative of its future performance.

 

 

FWP-10
 

 

Events of Default and Acceleration

 

If the Notes have become immediately due and payable following an event of default (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) with respect to the Notes, the calculation agent will determine (i) the accelerated Payment at Maturity due and payable in the same general manner as described in “Payment at Maturity” in this free writing prospectus and (ii) any accrued but unpaid interest payable based upon the Interest Rate calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In such a case, the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the date of acceleration will be used as the Final Valuation Date for purposes of determining the Final Price. If a Market Disruption Event exists with respect to a Reference Stock on that scheduled trading day, then the accelerated Final Valuation Date will be postponed for up to five scheduled trading days (in the same manner used for postponing the originally scheduled Final Valuation Date). The accelerated Maturity Date will be the third business day following such accelerated postponed Final Valuation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if no Market Disruption Event exists with respect to a Reference Stock on the scheduled trading day preceding the date of acceleration, the determination of such Reference Stock’s Final Price will be made on that date, irrespective of the existence of a Market Disruption Event with respect to one or more of the other Reference Stocks occurring on that date.

 

If the Notes have become immediately due and payable following an event of default, you will not be entitled to any additional payments with respect to the Notes. For more information, see “Description of Debt Securities — Senior Debt Securities — Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Additional Terms of the Notes

 

Business Day

 

A “business day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in the City of New York.

 

Payment When Offices or Settlement Systems are Closed

 

If any payment is due on the Notes on a day that would otherwise be a “business day” but is a day on which the office of a paying agent or a settlement system is closed, we will make the payment on the next business day when that paying agent or system is open. Any such payment will be deemed to have been made on the original due date, and no additional payment will be made on account of the delay.

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)

 

Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., an affiliate of HSBC, will purchase the Notes from HSBC for distribution to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and certain of its registered broker-dealer affiliates, acting as placement agent, at the price indicated on the cover of the pricing supplement, the document that will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) containing the final pricing terms of the Notes. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and certain of its registered broker dealer affiliates will act as placement agents for the Notes will receive a fee that will not exceed $11.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes.

 

In addition, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. or another of its affiliates or agents may use the pricing supplement to which this free writing prospectus relates in market-making transactions after the initial sale of the Notes, but is under no obligation to make a market in the Notes and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice.

 

See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page S-49 in the prospectus supplement.

 

FWP-11