Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-180289
September 3, 2014
FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS
(To Prospectus dated March 22, 2012,
Prospectus Supplement dated March 22, 2012 and
Equity Index Underlying Supplement dated March 22, 2012)
HSBC USA Inc.
Contingent Income Barrier Notes
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
| } | Contingent Income Barrier Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index |
| } | Quarterly contingent coupon payments at a rate of between 1.500% and 1.625% (equivalent to between 6.00% and 6.50% per annum) (to be determined on the Pricing Date) payable if the closing price of the reference asset on the applicable coupon determination date is greater than 70% of the initial price |
| } | Maturity of six years |
| } | Full exposure to declines in the reference asset if the return is less than -30% |
| } | Repayment of principal at maturity if the return of the reference asset is not below -30% |
| } | All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of HSBC USA Inc. |
The Contingent Income Barrier Notes (each a “note” and collectively the “notes") offered hereunder will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this document, the accompanying prospectus, prospectus supplement or Equity Index Underlying Supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. We have appointed HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., an affiliate of ours, as the agent for the sale of the notes. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. will purchase the notes from us for distribution to other registered broker-dealers or will offer the notes directly to investors. 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 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 is being used in a market-making transaction. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page FWP-14 of this free writing prospectus.
Investment in the notes involves certain risks. You should refer to “Risk Factors” beginning on page FWP-8 of this document, page S-3 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and page S-1 of the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement.
The Estimated Initial Value of the notes on the Pricing Date is expected to be between $900 and $950 per note, which will be less than the price to public. The market value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy. See “Estimated Initial Value” on page FWP-5 and “Risk Factors” beginning on page FWP-8 of this document for additional information.
| Price to Public | Underwriting Discount1 | Proceeds to Issuer | |
| Per note | $1,000 | ||
| Total |
1 HSBC USA Inc. or one of our affiliates may pay varying underwriting discounts of up to 3.25% per $1,000 Principal Amount of Notes in connection with the distribution of the notes to other registered broker-dealers. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page FWP-14 of this free writing prospectus.
The notes:
| Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not Bank Guaranteed | May Lose Value |
HSBC USA Inc.
Contingent Income Barrier Notes
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
Indicative Terms*
| Principal Amount | $1,000 per note |
| Reference Asset | The Russell 2000® Index (“RTY”) (Ticker: RTY) |
| Contingent Coupon Rate | Between 1.500% and 1.625% per quarter (equivalent to between 6.00% and 6.50% per annum). The actual Contingent Coupon Rate will be determined on the Pricing Date. |
| Contingent Coupon |
If the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset is greater than the Coupon Trigger on any Coupon Determination Date: we will pay you the Contingent Coupon.
If the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset is equal to or less than the Coupon Trigger on any Coupon Determination Date: the Contingent Coupon applicable to such Coupon Determination Date will not be payable and we will not make any payment to you on the relevant Coupon Payment Date. |
| Coupon Trigger | 70% of the Initial Level. |
| Barrier Level | -30% |
| Payment at Maturity per note |
If the Reference Return is less than zero but greater than or equal to the Barrier Level: $1,000 (zero return).
If the Reference Return is less than the Barrier Level: $1,000 + ($1,000 × Reference Return). If the Reference Return is less than the Barrier Level, you will lose a significant portion, and could lose all, of your Principal Amount. |
| Reference Return |
Final Level – Initial Level Initial Level |
| Initial Level | See page FWP-4 |
| Final Level | See page FWP-4 |
| Pricing Date | September 19, 2014 |
| Trade Date | September 19, 2014 |
| Original Issue Date | September 26, 2014 |
| Final Valuation Date† | September 23, 2020 |
| Maturity Date† | September 28, 2020 |
| CUSIP/ISIN | 40433BNF1/40433BNF12 |
* As more fully described on page FWP-4.
†Subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Terms of the Notes” in the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement.
The Notes
These Contingent Income Barrier Notes may be suitable for investors who believe that the Reference Asset will not depreciate significantly over the term of the notes. So long as the Official Closing Level on each Coupon Determination Date is greater than the Coupon Trigger, you will receive the quarterly Contingent Coupon on the applicable Coupon Payment Date.
If the Reference Return is greater than or equal to the Barrier Level, you will receive your principal amount. If the Reference Asset declines by more than 30%, we will pay you less than the Principal Amount, if anything, resulting in a loss of principal that is proportionate to the negative Reference Return.
| The offering period for the notes is through September 19, 2014 |
| FWP-2 |
Information about the Reference Asset
| Russell 2000® Index | ||
|
The RTY is designed to track the performance of the small-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. It consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index, which is composed of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies as determined by market capitalization.
The top 5 industry groups by market capitalization as of July 31, 2014 were: Financial Services, Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Producer Durables and Health Care. |
 |
The graph above illustrates the daily performance of the Reference Asset from January 1, 2008 through August 26, 2014. The closing levels in the graph above were obtained from the Bloomberg Professional® service. Past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. For further information on the Reference Asset please see “The Russell 2000® Index” on page FWP-13 and in the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. We have derived all disclosure regarding the Reference Asset from publicly available information. Neither HSBC USA Inc. nor any of its affiliates have undertaken any independent review of, or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to, the publicly available information about the Reference Asset.
| FWP-3 |
|
HSBC USA Inc. Contingent Income Barrier Notes – Linked to the Russell 2000® Index |
|
This free writing prospectus relates to a single offering of Contingent Income Barrier Notes. The notes will have the terms described in this free writing prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, prospectus and Equity Index Underlying Supplement. If the terms of the notes offered hereby are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying prospectus supplement, prospectus or Equity Index Underlying Supplement, the terms described in this free writing prospectus shall control. You should be willing to forgo guaranteed interest payments, and all dividend payments, during the term of the notes and, if the Reference Return is less than -30%, lose up to 100% of your principal. In addition, the payment at maturity will not exceed the sum of the Principal Amount and the final coupon payment, if payable.
This free writing prospectus relates to an offering of notes linked to the performance of the Russell 2000® Index (the “Reference Asset”). The purchaser of a note will acquire a senior unsecured debt security of HSBC USA Inc. linked to the Reference Asset as described below. The following key terms relate to the offering of notes:
| Issuer: | HSBC USA Inc. |
| Principal Amount: | $1,000 per note |
| Reference Asset: | The Russell 2000® Index (Ticker: RTY) |
| Trade Date: | September 19, 2014 |
| Pricing Date: | September 19, 2014 |
| Original Issue Date: | September 26, 2014 |
| Final Valuation Date: | September 23, 2020, subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Terms of the Notes—Valuation Dates” in the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. |
| Maturity Date: | 3 business days after the Final Valuation Date, and expected to be September 28, 2020. The Maturity Date is subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Terms of the Notes—Coupon Payment Dates, Call Payment Dates and Maturity Date” in the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. |
| Contingent Coupon Rate: | Between 1.500% and 1.625% per quarter (up to between 6.00% and 6.50 % per annum). The actual Contingent Coupon Rate will be determined on the Pricing Date. |
| Contingent Coupon: |
If the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset is greater than the Coupon Trigger on any Coupon Determination Date, you will receive the Contingent Coupon of between $15.00 and $16.50 per $1,000 in Principal Amount on the applicable Coupon Payment Date. The actual Contingent Coupon will be determined on the Pricing Date.
If the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset is equal to or less than the Coupon Trigger on any Coupon Determination Date, the Contingent Coupon applicable to such Coupon Determination Date will not be payable and we will not make any payment to you on the relevant Coupon Payment Date. |
| Coupon Trigger: | 70% of the Initial Level |
| Coupon Payment Dates: | The 26th calendar day of each March, June, September, and December, starting on December 26, 2014 and ending on the Maturity Date. Coupon Payment Dates are subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Terms of the Notes—Coupon Payment Dates, Call Payment Dates and Maturity Date” in the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. |
| Coupon Determination Dates: |
The third business day before the applicable Coupon Payment Date. Coupon Determination Dates are subject to adjustment as described under “Additional Terms of the Notes—Valuation Dates” in the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. |
| Payment at Maturity: | On the Maturity Date, for each note, we will pay you the Final Settlement Value. |
| Final Settlement Value: |
If the Reference Return is greater than or equal to the Barrier Level, you will receive $1,000 per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes (zero return).
If the Reference Return less than the Barrier Level, you will receive a cash payment on the Maturity Date, per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × Reference Return).
Under these circumstances, you will lose 1% of the Principal Amount of your notes for each percentage point that the Reference Return declines beyond 0%. If the Reference Return is less than the Barrier Level, you will lose a significant portion, and could lose all, of your investment. |
| FWP-4 |
| Reference Return: | The quotient, expressed as a percentage, calculated as follows: |
|
Final Level – Initial Level Initial Level | |
| Barrier Level: | -30% |
| Initial Level: | The Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date. |
| Final Level: | The Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Final Valuation Date. |
| Official Closing Level: | The closing level of the Reference Asset on any scheduled trading day as determined by the calculation agent based upon the level displayed on Bloomberg Professional® service page “RTY <INDEX>”, or on any successor page on the Bloomberg Professional® service or any successor service, as applicable. |
| Form of Notes: | Book-Entry |
| Listing: | The notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system. |
| CUSIP/ISIN: | 40433BNF1/40433BNF12 |
| Estimated Initial Value: | The Estimated Initial Value of the notes will be less than the price you pay to purchase the notes. The Estimated Initial Value does not represent a minimum price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market, if any, at any time. The Estimated Initial Value will be calculated on the Pricing Date and will be set forth in the pricing supplement to which this free writing prospectus relates. See “Risk Factors — The Estimated Initial Value of the notes, which will be determined by us on the Pricing Date, will be less than the price to public and may differ from the market value of the notes in the secondary market, if any.” |
| The Trade Date, the Pricing Date, the Coupon Determination Dates, the Coupon Payment Dates, and the other dates set forth above are subject to change, and will be set forth in the final pricing supplement relating to the notes. |
| FWP-5 |
GENERAL
This free writing prospectus relates to an offering of notes linked to the Reference Asset. The purchaser of a note will acquire a senior unsecured debt security of HSBC USA Inc. We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering and to reject orders in whole or in part. Although the offering of notes relates to the Reference Asset, you should not construe that fact as a recommendation as to the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the Reference Asset or any component security included in the Reference Asset 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, and the Equity Index Underlying Supplement dated March 22, 2012. If the terms of the notes offered hereby are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying prospectus supplement, prospectus or Equity Index Underlying Supplement, the terms described in this free writing prospectus shall control. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” beginning on page FWP-8 of this free writing prospectus, page S-3 of the prospectus supplement and page S-1 of the Equity Index Underlying 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, prospectus supplement and Equity Index 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 Equity Index 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 Equity Index Underlying Supplement if you request them by calling toll-free 1-866-811-8049.
You may also obtain:
| } | The Equity Index Underlying Supplement at: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/83246/000114420412016693/v306691_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.
PAYMENT AT MATURITY
On the Maturity Date, for each note you hold, we will pay you the Final Settlement Value, which is an amount in cash, as described below:
If the Reference Return is greater than the Barrier Level, you will receive $1,000 per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes (zero return).
If the Reference Return is equal to or less than the Barrier Level, you will receive a cash payment on the Maturity Date, per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × Reference Return).
Under these circumstances, you will lose 1% of the Principal Amount of your notes for each percentage point that the Reference Return declines beyond 0%. You should be aware that if the Reference Return is less than the Barrier Level, you will lose some or all of your investment.
Contingent Coupon
We will pay a quarterly Contingent Coupon payment on a Coupon Payment Date if the Official Closing Price of the Reference Asset on the applicable Coupon Determination Date is equal to or greater than the Coupon Trigger. Otherwise, no coupon will be paid on such Coupon Payment Date. For information regarding the record dates applicable to the Coupons paid on the notes, please see the section entitled “Recipients of Interest Payments” on page S-11 in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The Contingent Coupon Rate will be between 6.00% and 6.50% per annum (if payable, between $15.00 and $16.50 per $1,000 of Principal Amount paid quarterly on the applicable Coupon Payment Date). The actual Contingent Coupon Rate will be determined on the Pricing Date.
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.
Calculation Agent
We or one of our affiliates will act as calculation agent with respect to the notes.
Reference Sponsor
The Russell Investment Group is the reference sponsor.
| FWP-6 |
INVESTOR SUITABILITY
| The notes may be suitable for you if: | The notes may not be suitable for you if: | |
|
} You seek a contingent quarterly Coupon, based on the performance of the Reference Asset, that will be equal to the Contingent Coupon Rate if the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset is greater than the Coupon Barrier on the applicable Coupon Determination Date.
} You do not seek an investment that provides an opportunity to participate in the appreciation of the Reference Asset.
} You are willing to make an investment that is exposed to the negative Reference Return on a 1-to-1 basis if the Reference Return is less than -30%.
} You are willing to accept the risk and return profile of the notes versus a conventional debt security with a comparable maturity issued by HSBC or another issuer with a similar credit rating.
} You are willing to forgo guaranteed interest payments on the notes, and dividends or other distributions paid to holders of the stocks comprising the Reference Asset.
} You do not seek an investment for which there is an active secondary market.
} You are willing to hold the notes to maturity.
} You are comfortable with the creditworthiness of HSBC, as Issuer of the notes. |
} You believe the Reference Return will be negative or that the Contingent Coupon will not provide you with your desired return.
} You are unwilling to make an investment that is exposed to the negative Reference Return on a 1-to-1 basis if the Reference Return is less than -30%.
} You seek an investment that provides an opportunity to participate in the appreciation of the Reference Asset.
} You seek an investment that provides full return of principal.
} You prefer the lower risk, and therefore accept the potentially lower returns, of conventional debt securities with comparable maturities issued by HSBC or another issuer with a similar credit rating.
} You prefer to receive guaranteed periodic interest payments on the notes, or the dividends or other distributions paid on the stocks comprising the Reference Asset.
} You seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.
} You are unable or unwilling to hold the notes to maturity.
} You are not willing or are unable to assume the credit risk associated with HSBC, as Issuer of the notes. |
| FWP-7 |
RISK FACTORS
We urge you to read the section “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 in the accompanying prospectus supplement and on page S-1 of the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in any of the stocks comprising the Reference Asset. You should understand the risks of investing in the notes and should reach an investment decision only after careful consideration, with your advisors, of the suitability of the notes in light of your particular financial circumstances and the information set forth in this free writing prospectus and the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus.
In addition to the risks discussed below, you should review “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and Equity Index Underlying Supplement including the explanation of risks relating to the notes described in the following sections:
| } | “— Risks Relating to All Note Issuances” in the prospectus supplement; and |
| } | “— General risks related to Indices” in the Equity Index Underlying Supplement. |
You will be subject to significant risks not associated with conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt securities.
Your investment in the notes may result in a loss.
You will be fully exposed to the decline
in the Final Level from the Initial Level if the Reference Return is beyond the Barrier Level of
-30%. Accordingly, if the Reference Return is less than -30%, your Payment at Maturity will be significantly less than the Principal
Amount of your notes. You may lose up to 100% of your investment at maturity if the Reference Return is negative and less than
the Barrier Level.
You may not receive any Contingent Coupons.
We will not necessarily make periodic coupon payments on the notes. If the Official Closing Price of the Reference Asset on a Coupon Determination Date is less than the Coupon Trigger, we will not pay you the Contingent Coupon applicable to such Coupon Determination Date. If the Official Closing Price of the Reference Asset is less than the Coupon Trigger on each of the Coupon Determination Dates, we will not pay you any Contingent Coupons during the term of, and you will not receive a positive return on, your notes. Generally, this non-payment of the Contingent Coupon coincides with a period of greater risk of principal loss on your notes.
Your return on the notes is limited to the principal amount plus the Contingent Coupons, if any, regardless of any appreciation in the value of the Reference Asset.
For each $1,000 principal amount note, you will receive $1,000 at maturity plus the Contingent Coupon if the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Barrier Level (and Coupon Trigger), regardless of any appreciation in the value of the Reference Asset, which may be significant. Accordingly, the return on the notes may be significantly less than the return on a direct investment in the Reference Asset during the term of the notes.
The amount payable on the notes is not linked to the level of the Reference Asset at any time other than the Coupon Determination Dates and the Final Valuation Date.
The payments on the notes will be based on the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Coupon Determination Dates, including the Final Valuation Date, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events. Even if the level of the Reference Asset is greater than the Coupon Trigger during the term of the notes other than on a Coupon Determination Date but then drops on a Coupon Determination Date to a level that is equal to or less than the Coupon Trigger, no Contingent Coupon will be payable on the applicable Coupon Payment Date. Further, Even if the level of the Reference Asset is greater than the Barrier Level during the term of the notes other than on the Final Valuation Date but then drops on the Final Valuation Date to a level that is less than the Barrier Level, the Payment at Maturity will be significantly less, than it would have been had the Payment at Maturity been linked to the level of the Reference Asset prior to such decrease. Although the actual level of the Reference Asset on the Maturity Date or at other times during the term of the notes may be higher than the Final Level, the Payment at Maturity will be based solely on the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on the Final Valuation Date.
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 amounts owed to you under the terms of the notes.
Changes that affect the Reference Asset will affect the market value of the notes and the amount you will receive at maturity.
The policies of the reference sponsor concerning additions, deletions and substitutions of the constituents comprising the Reference Asset and the manner in which the reference sponsor takes account of certain changes affecting those constituents may affect the level of the Reference Asset. The policies of the reference sponsor with respect to the calculation of the Reference Asset could also affect the level of the Reference Asset. The reference sponsor may discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the Reference Asset. Any such actions could affect the value of the notes.
| FWP-8 |
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.
The Estimated Initial Value of the notes, which will be determined by us on the Pricing Date, will be less than the price to public and may differ from the market value of the notes in the secondary market, if any.
The Estimated Initial Value of the notes will be calculated by us on the Pricing Date and will be less than the price to public. The Estimated Initial Value will reflect our internal funding rate, which is the borrowing rate we use to issue market-linked securities, as well as the mid-market value of the embedded derivatives in the notes. The internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would use when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities. As a result of the difference between our internal funding rate and the rate we would use when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities, the Estimated Initial Value of the notes may be lower if it were based on the levels at which our fixed or floating rate debt securities trade in the secondary market. In addition, if we were to use the rate we use for our conventional fixed or floating rate debt issuances, we would expect the economic terms of the notes to be more favorable to you. We will determine the value of the embedded derivatives in the notes by reference to our or our affiliates’ internal pricing models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and variables, which can include volatility and interest rates. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the notes that are different from our Estimated Initial Value. These pricing models rely in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. The Estimated Initial Value does not represent a minimum price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time.
The price of your notes in the secondary market, if any, immediately after the Pricing Date will be less than the price to public.
The price to public takes into account certain costs. These costs, which will be used or retained by us or one of our affiliates, include the underwriting discount, our affiliates’ projected hedging profits (which may or may not be realized) for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the costs associated with structuring and hedging our obligations under the notes. If you were to sell your notes in the secondary market, if any, the price you would receive for your notes may be less than the price you paid for them because secondary market prices will not take into account these costs. The price of your notes in the secondary market, if any, at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors, including the level of the Reference Asset and changes in market conditions, and cannot be predicted with accuracy. The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments, and you should, therefore, be able and willing to hold the notes to maturity. Any sale of the notes prior to maturity could result in a loss to you.
If we were to repurchase your notes immediately after the Original Issue Date, the price you receive may be higher than the Estimated Initial Value of the notes.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Original Issue Date, the price at which HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. may initially buy or sell the notes in the secondary market, if any, and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements, if we provide any customer account statements at all, may exceed the Estimated Initial Value on the Pricing Date for a temporary period expected to be approximately 14 months after the Original Issue Date. This temporary price difference may exist because, in our discretion, we may elect to effectively reimburse to investors a portion of the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes and other costs in connection with the notes that we will no longer expect to incur over the term of the notes. We will make such discretionary election and determine this temporary reimbursement period on the basis of a number of factors, including the tenor of the notes and any agreement we may have with the distributors of the notes. The amount of our estimated costs which we effectively reimburse to investors in this way may not be allocated ratably throughout the reimbursement period, and we may discontinue such reimbursement at any time or revise the duration of the reimbursement period after the Original Issue Date of the notes based on changes in market conditions and other factors that cannot be predicted.
The notes lack liquidity.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is not required to offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market, if any exists. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. 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.
Potential conflicts.
HSBC and its 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 action that might affect the value of your notes.
Uncertain tax treatment.
For a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the notes, please see the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” herein and the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
| FWP-9 |
Small-capitalization risk.
The RTY tracks companies that may be considered small-capitalization companies. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and therefore the respective index level may be more volatile than an investment in stocks issued by larger companies. Stock prices of small-capitalization companies may also be more vulnerable than those of larger companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded, making it difficult for the RTY to track them. In addition, small-capitalization companies are often less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Small-capitalization companies are often subject to less analyst coverage and may be in early, and less predictable, periods of their corporate existences. These companies tend to have smaller revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies, and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products.
| FWP-10 |
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
The following examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and are hypothetical. They do not purport to be representative of every possible scenario concerning increases or decreases in the level of the Reference Asset relative to its Initial Level. We cannot predict the Final Level. The assumptions we have made in connection with the illustrations set forth below may not reflect actual events, and the hypothetical Initial Level used in the table and examples below is not expected to be the actual Initial Level. You should not take this illustration or these examples as an indication or assurance of the expected performance of the Reference Asset or the return on your notes. The payments on the notes may be less than the amount that you would have received from a conventional debt security with the same stated maturity, including those issued by HSBC. The numbers appearing in the table below and following examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.
The following examples indicate how the Contingent Coupon and Final Settlement Value would be calculated with respect to a hypothetical $1,000 investment in the notes. The following results are based solely on the assumptions outlined below. The “Hypothetical Return on the Note” as used below is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the Final Settlement Value per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes to $1,000. The potential returns described here assume that your notes are held to maturity. You should consider carefully whether the notes are suitable to your investment goals. The following examples assume the following:
| } | Principal Amount: | $1,000 |
| } | Hypothetical Initial Level*: | 1,000.00 |
| } | Barrier Level | -30% |
| } | Hypothetical Contingent Coupon Rate*: |
6.00% per annum (1.500% for each quarter in which it is payable). Using this hypothetical Contingent Coupon Rate, if the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset on every Coupon Determination Date is greater than the Coupon Trigger, the Contingent Coupon paid over the term of the notes would total $360 per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes. |
*The actual Initial level and Contingent Coupon Rate will be determined on the Pricing Date.
Example 1: The level of the Reference Asset increases from the Initial Level of 1,000.00 to a Final Level of 1,100.00.
| Number of Coupon Determination Dates on which the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset was greater than the Coupon Trigger: | 20 |
| Reference Return: | 10.00% |
| Final Settlement Value: | $1,000.00 |
Because the Reference Return is greater than the Barrier Level, the Final Settlement Value would be $1,000.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes. When added to the Contingent Coupon payment of $15.00 received in respect of each of the prior Coupon Determination Dates on which the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset was greater than the Coupon Trigger, we will have paid you a total of $1,300.00 per note for a 30.00% total return on the notes.
Example 2: The level of the Reference Asset decreases from the Initial Level of 1,000.00 to a Final Level of 900.00.
| Number of Coupon Determination Dates on which the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset was greater than the Coupon Trigger: | 15 |
| Reference Return: | -10.00% |
| Final Settlement Value: | $1,000.00 |
Although the Final Level is less than the Initial Level, because the Reference Return is greater than the Barrier Level, the Final Settlement Value would be $1,000.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes. When added to the Contingent Coupon payment of $15.00 received in respect of each of the prior Coupon Determination Dates on which the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset was greater than the Coupon Trigger, we will have paid you a total of $1,225.00 per note for a 22.50% total return on the notes.
| FWP-11 |
Example 3: The level of the Reference Asset decreases from the Initial Level of 1,000.00 to a Final Level of 400.00.
| Number of Coupon Determination Dates on which the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset was greater than the Coupon Trigger: | 10 |
| Reference Return: | -60.00% |
| Final Settlement Value: | $400.00 |
Because the Reference Return is less than the Barrier Level of -30%, the Final Settlement Value would be $400.00 per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × Reference Return)
= $1,000 + ($1,000 × -60.00%)
= $400.00
When added to the Contingent Coupon payment of $15.00 received in respect of each of the prior Coupon Determination Dates on which the Official Closing Level of the Reference Asset was greater than the Coupon Trigger, we will have paid you a total of $550.00 per note for a total loss on the notes of 45.00%.
Example 3 shows that you are fully exposed on a 1-to-1 basis to declines in the level of the Reference Asset if the Reference Return is beyond the Barrier Level of -30%. YOU MAY LOSE UP TO 100% OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF YOUR NOTES.
| FWP-12 |
| THE RUSSELL 2000® INDEX |
|
Description of the RTY
The RTY is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the United States equity market. All 2,000 stocks are traded on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ, and the RTY consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000® Index is composed of the 3,000 largest United States companies as determined by market capitalization and represents approximately 98% of the United States equity market.
The top 5 industry groups by market capitalization as of July 31, 2014 were: Financial Services, Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Producer Durables and Health Care.
For more information about the RTY, see “The Russell 2000Ò Index” beginning on page S-21 of the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement. |
Historical Performance of the RTY
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the RTY based on the daily historical closing levels from August 26, 2008 through August 26, 2014. The closing level for the RTY on August 26, 2014 was 1,175.170. We obtained the closing levels below from the Bloomberg Professional® service. We have not undertaken any independent review of, or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to, the information obtained from the Bloomberg Professional® service.
|
| The historical levels of the RTY should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Official Closing Level of the RTY on the Final Valuation Date. |
| FWP-13 |
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 the accelerated payment due and payable in the same general manner as described in “Payment at Maturity” in this free writing prospectus. In that case, the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the date of acceleration will be used as the Final Valuation Date for purposes of determining the Reference Return and whether the final coupon payment is payable, and the accelerated Maturity Date will be five business days after the accelerated Final Valuation Date. If a Market Disruption Event exists with respect to the Reference Asset on that scheduled trading day, then the accelerated Final Valuation Date for the Reference Asset 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 also be postponed by an equal number of business days.
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.
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
We have appointed HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., an affiliate of HSBC, as the agent for the sale of the notes. Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. will purchase the notes from HSBC at the price to public less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of the pricing supplement to which this free writing prospectus relates, for distribution to other registered broker-dealers or will offer the notes directly to investors. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. proposes to offer the notes at the price to public set forth on the cover page of this free writing prospectus. HSBC USA Inc. or one of our affiliates may pay varying underwriting discounts of up to 3.25% per $1,000 Principal Amount of notes in connection with the distribution of the notes to other registered broker-dealers.
An affiliate of HSBC has paid or may pay in the future an amount to broker-dealers in connection with the costs of the continuing implementation of systems to support the 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 do so 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.
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment for the notes on or about the Original Issue Date set forth on the inside cover page of this document, which is more than three business days following the Trade Date. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to that 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 an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement, and should consult their own advisors.
| FWP-14 |
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
There is no direct legal authority as to the proper tax treatment of the notes, and therefore significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain as to both the timing and character of any inclusion in income in respect of the notes. Under one approach, a note should be treated as a contingent income-bearing pre-paid executory contract with respect to the Reference Asset. We intend to treat the notes 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. 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 a note as a contingent income-bearing pre-paid executory contract with respect to the Reference Asset. 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 herein. For example, the notes could be treated as debt instruments that are “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes subject to the treatment described 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 — Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the entities whose stock is included in, or owned by, the Reference Asset, as the case may be, 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 entities whose stock is included in, or owned by, the Reference Asset, as the case may be, 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 entities whose stock is included in, or owned by, the Reference Asset, as the case may be, and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you if one or more of the entities whose stock is included in, or owned by, the Reference Asset, as the case may be, is or becomes a PFIC or a USRPHC.
U.S. Holders. Please see the discussion under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Certain Equity-Linked Notes — Certain Notes Treated as Forward Contracts or Executory Contracts” in the accompanying prospectus supplement for further discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. holders (as defined in the accompanying prospectus supplement). Pursuant to the approach discussed above, we intend to treat any gain or loss upon maturity or an earlier sale, exchange or call as capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount you receive at such time (other than with respect to a Contingent Coupon) and your tax basis in the note. Any such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the note for more than one year at such time for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Your tax basis in a note generally will equal your cost of the note. In addition, the tax treatment of the Contingent Coupons is unclear. Although the tax treatment of the Contingent Coupons is unclear, we intend to treat any Contingent Coupon, including on the Maturity Date, as ordinary income includible in income by you at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with your normal method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Non-U.S. Holders. Please see the discussion under the heading “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Treatment of Non-U.S. Holders” in the accompanying prospectus supplement for further discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to non-U.S. holders (as defined in the accompanying prospectus supplement). Because the U.S. federal income tax treatment (including the applicability of withholding) of the Contingent Coupons is uncertain, the entire amount of the Contingent Coupons will be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty). We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. 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 June 30, 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, 2016. However, the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have announced that they intend to limit this withholding to equity-linked instruments issued on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of publication in the U.S. Federal Register of final regulations addressing dividend equivalent withholding. 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.
For a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in a note, please see the discussion under “U.S Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
| FWP-15 |
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
You should only rely on the information contained in this free writing prospectus, the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information or to make any representation to you that is not contained in this free writing prospectus, the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This free writing prospectus, the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these notes, and these documents are not soliciting an offer to buy these notes, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not, under any circumstances, assume that the information in this free writing prospectus, the accompanying Equity Index Underlying Supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus is correct on any date after their respective dates.
HSBC USA Inc.
$ Contingent Income Barrier Notes linked to the Russell 2000® Index
September 3, 2014
FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS
| ||
| Free Writing Prospectus | |||
| General | FWP-6 | ||
| Payment at Maturity | FWP-6 | ||
| Investor Suitability | FWP-7 | ||
| Risk Factors | FWP-8 | ||
| Illustrative Examples | FWP-11 | ||
| The Russell 2000® Index | FWP-13 | ||
| Events of Default and Acceleration | FWP-14 | ||
| Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) | FWP-14 | ||
| U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations | FWP-15 | ||
| Equity Index Underlying Supplement | |||
| Risk Factors | S-1 | ||
| The S&P 500® Index | S-6 | ||
| The S&P 100® Index | S-10 | ||
| The S&P MidCap 400® Index | S-14 | ||
| The S&P 500 Low Volatility Index | S-18 | ||
| The Russell 2000® Index | S-21 | ||
| The Dow Jones Industrial AverageSM | S-25 | ||
| The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index® | S-27 | ||
| The Hang Seng® Index | S-30 | ||
| The Korea Stock Price Index 200 | S-33 | ||
| MSCI Indices | S-36 | ||
| The EURO STOXX 50® Index | S-40 | ||
| The PHLX Housing SectorSM Index | S-42 | ||
| The TOPIX® Index | S-46 | ||
| The NASDAQ-100 Index® | S-49 | ||
| S&P BRIC 40 Index | S-53 | ||
| The Nikkei 225 Index | S-56 | ||
| The FTSE™ 100 Index | S-58 | ||
| Other Components | S-60 | ||
| Additional Terms of the Notes | S-60 | ||
| Prospectus Supplement | |||
| Risk Factors | S-3 | ||
| Risks Relating to Our Business | S-3 | ||
| Risks Relating to All Note Issuances | S-3 | ||
| Pricing Supplement | S-7 | ||
| Description of Notes | S-8 | ||
| Use of Proceeds and Hedging | S-30 | ||
| Certain ERISA Considerations | S-30 | ||
| U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations | S-32 | ||
| Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) | S-49 | ||
| Prospectus | |||
| About this Prospectus | 1 | ||
| Risk Factors | 1 | ||
| Where You Can Find More Information | 1 | ||
| Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | 2 | ||
| HSBC USA Inc. | 3 | ||
| Use of Proceeds | 3 | ||
| Description of Debt Securities | 3 | ||
| Description of Preferred Stock | 15 | ||
| Description of Warrants | 21 | ||
| Description of Purchase Contracts | 25 | ||
| Description of Units | 28 | ||
| Book-Entry Procedures | 30 | ||
| Limitations on Issuances in Bearer Form | 35 | ||
| U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations Relating to Debt Securities | 35 | ||
| Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) | 51 | ||
| Notice to Canadian Investors | 53 | ||
| Notice to EEA Investors | 58 | ||
| Certain ERISA Matters | 59 | ||
| Legal Opinions | 60 | ||
| Experts | 60 |