Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated October 13, 2010)
1,500,000 DEPOSITARY SHARES
EACH REPRESENTING A ONE-TENTH INTEREST IN A SHARE OF
FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES Q
We are offering 1,500,000 depositary shares, each representing a one-tenth interest in a share of our perpetual Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series Q, $1 par value, with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000
per depositary share) (the “Preferred Stock”). Each depositary share entitles the holder, through the depositary, to a proportional
fractional interest in all rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Stock represented by the depositary share.
We will pay dividends on the Preferred Stock, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of
our board, from the date of issuance to, but excluding, May 1, 2023 at a rate of 5.15% per annum, payable semi-annually, in arrears,
on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2013. From and including May 1, 2023, we will pay dividends
when, as, and if declared by our board or such committee at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 3.25% per
annum, payable quarterly, in arrears, on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2023.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock will not be cumulative. Upon the payment of any dividends on the Preferred Stock, holders of
depositary shares will receive a related proportionate payment.
We may redeem the Preferred Stock on any dividend payment date on or after May 1, 2023, in whole or from time to time in part, at
a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends,
without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. We may also redeem the Preferred Stock upon certain events involving capital
treatment as described in this prospectus supplement. If we redeem any Preferred Stock, the depositary will redeem the related
depositary shares.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 for a discussion of certain risks that you should
consider in connection with an investment in the depositary shares.
Neither the Preferred Stock nor the depositary shares are deposits or other obligations of a bank or are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the depositary
shares or Preferred Stock or determined that this prospectus supplement or the attached prospectus is accurate or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per
Depositary
Share Total
Public Offering Price(1) $1,000.00 $1,500,000,000
Underwriting Commissions $ 12.50 $ 18,750,000
Proceeds (before expenses)(1) $ 987.50 $1,481,250,000
(1) Plus accrued dividends, if any, from April 23, 2013 to the date of delivery.
We do not intend to list the depositary shares or the Preferred Stock on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public trading
market for the depositary shares or the Preferred Stock.
We expect to deliver the depositary shares to investors through the book-entry delivery system of The Depository Trust Company
and its direct participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme, on or about April 23, 2013.
Our affiliates, including J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, may use this prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus in connection
with offers and sales of the depositary shares in the secondary market. These affiliates may act as principal or agent in those
transactions. Secondary market sales will be made at prices related to market prices at the time of sale.
J.P. Morgan
April 16, 2013
In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus and any relevant free writing
prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If you receive any
information not authorized by us, you should not rely on it.
We are offering to sell the depositary shares only in places where sales are permitted.
You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement or the attached prospectus or any relevant free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date
other than its respective date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Prospectus Supplement
Summary ......................................................................... S-3
Risk Factors ....................................................................... S-6
JPMorgan Chase & Co. .............................................................. S-9
Where You Can Find More Information About JPMorgan Chase ............................... S-10
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend
Requirements .................................................................... S-11
Description of the Preferred Stock ...................................................... S-12
Description of the Depositary Shares .................................................... S-28
Registration and Settlement ........................................................... S-30
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations .................................... S-31
Certain ERISA Considerations ......................................................... S-36
Underwriting ...................................................................... S-38
Conflicts of Interest ...............................................................
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ........................................... S-40
Legal Opinions .................................................................... S-40
Page
Prospectus
Summary ......................................................................... 2
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements ........ 6
Where You Can Find More Information About JPMorgan Chase ............................... 7
Important Factors That May Affect Future Results .......................................... 8
Use of Proceeds .................................................................... 10
Description of Debt Securities ......................................................... 11
Description of Preferred Stock ......................................................... 20
Description of Common Stock ......................................................... 25
Description of Securities Warrants ...................................................... 26
Description of Currency Warrants ...................................................... 26
Description of Units ................................................................. 28
Book-Entry Issuance ................................................................ 29
Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) ................................................ 32
Experts .......................................................................... 33
Legal Opinions .................................................................... 33
S-2
SUMMARY
The following information about the depositary shares and the Preferred Stock summarizes, and should be read
in conjunction with, the information contained in this prospectus supplement and in the attached prospectus.
Securities Offered
We are offering 1,500,000 depositary shares, each of which represents a one-tenth interest in a share of our
Preferred Stock, with each share of Preferred Stock having a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (equivalent
to $1,000 per depositary share). Each depositary share entitles the holder to a proportional fractional interest in the
Preferred Stock represented by that depositary share, including dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights.
Dividends
Holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors or
any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, out of assets legally available for payment, non-
cumulative cash dividends based on the liquidation preference of $10,000 per share of the Preferred Stock
(equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share).
If declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, we will pay
dividends on the Preferred Stock (i) during the period from the issue date of the Preferred Stock to, but
excluding, May 1, 2023 (the “Fixed Rate Period”), semi-annually, in arrears, on May 1 and November 1 of each
year, beginning on November 1, 2013, and (ii) during the period from May 1, 2023 through the redemption date
of the Preferred Stock, if any (the “Floating Rate Period”), quarterly, in arrears, on February 1, May 1, August 1
and November 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2023 (each such day on which dividends are payable, a
“dividend payment date”). We refer to the period from and including any dividend payment date to but excluding
the next dividend payment date as a “dividend period,” provided that the initial dividend period will be the period
from and including the original issue date of the Preferred Stock to but excluding the next dividend payment
date.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock will accrue from the original issue date at a rate equal to (i) 5.15% per annum
for each semi-annual dividend period during the Fixed Rate Period and (ii) three-month LIBOR plus a spread of
3.25% per annum for each quarterly dividend period during the Floating Rate Period. Upon the payment of any
dividends on the Preferred Stock, holders of depositary shares will receive a related proportionate payment.
Dividends on shares of the Preferred Stock will be non-cumulative. To the extent that any dividends on shares of
the Preferred Stock with respect to any dividend period are not declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on the
dividend payment date for such dividend period, then such unpaid dividends will not cumulate and will cease to
accrue and be payable, and we will have no obligation to pay, and the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock
will have no right to receive, accrued and unpaid dividends for such dividend period on or after the dividend
payment date for such dividend period, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent dividend period
with respect to the Preferred Stock or for any future dividend period with respect to any other series of our
preferred stock or our common stock. In such a case, no dividends will be paid on the depositary shares.
We will not declare or pay or set aside for payment on any of our preferred stock ranking as to dividends on a
parity with or junior to the Preferred Stock for any period unless full dividends on the shares of the Preferred
Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid (or
have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for such payment). When
dividends are not paid in full on the Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as
to dividends with the Preferred Stock, all dividends declared and paid upon the shares of the Preferred Stock and
S-3
any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Preferred Stock will be declared
and paid pro rata.
So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock are outstanding, unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of
the Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for such
payment in respect of the most recently completed dividend period:
• no dividend (other than a dividend in common stock or in any other capital stock ranking junior to the
Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) will be declared or paid
or a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for such payment or other distribution declared or
made upon our common stock or upon any other capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, and
• no common stock, other capital stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up will be redeemed, purchased or otherwise
acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the
redemption of any shares of any such capital stock) by us,
subject to certain limited exceptions described under “Description of the Preferred Stock—Dividends”.
Rights upon Liquidation
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of the Preferred Stock
will be entitled to receive and to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders the
amount of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared
and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, before we make any payment or
distribution on our common stock or on any other capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock upon our
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. After the payment to the holders of the shares of the Preferred Stock of
the full preferential amounts to which they are entitled, the holders of the Preferred Stock as such will have no
right or claim to any of our remaining assets. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up, we fail to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to the Preferred Stock and any other shares of
our capital stock ranking as to any such distribution of our assets on a parity with the Preferred Stock, the holders
of the Preferred Stock and of such other shares will share ratably in any such distribution of our assets in
proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled. Neither the sale of all or substantially all
of our property or business, nor our merger or consolidation into or with any other entity or the merger or
consolidation of any other entity into or with us, will be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up,
voluntary or involuntary, of us.
Optional Redemption
The Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date. We may redeem, out of assets legally available
therefor, the Preferred Stock on any dividend payment date on or after May 1, 2023, in whole, or from time to
time in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus
any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends. In addition, at any time
within 90 days after a “capital treatment event,” as described herein, we may provide notice of our intent to
redeem the Preferred Stock and may subsequently redeem, out of assets legally available therefor, the Preferred
Stock, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per
depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends.
S-4
Redemption of the Preferred Stock is subject to our receipt of any required prior approvals from the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the “Federal Reserve Board,” or any other regulatory authority. Our
redemption of the Preferred Stock will cause the redemption of the corresponding depositary shares. Neither the
holders of the Preferred Stock nor the holders of the related depositary shares will have the right to require redemption.
See “Description of the Depositary Shares” and “Description of the Preferred Stock” for further information
about redemptions or repurchases of the depositary shares or shares of the Preferred Stock.
Voting Rights
The holders of the Preferred Stock and of the depositary shares will not have voting rights, except as specifically
required by applicable law and except as provided below under “Description of the Preferred Stock—Voting
Rights.” For more information about voting rights, see “Description of the Preferred Stock—Voting Rights” and
“Description of the Depositary Shares—Voting the Preferred Stock” in this prospectus supplement.
Ranking
The Preferred Stock will rank, as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up, on a parity with any series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred
Stock, including our Series I Preferred Stock, our Series J Preferred Stock, our Series O Preferred Stock and our
Series P Preferred Stock referred to below under “Description of the Preferred Stock—Other Preferred Stock”,
and senior to our common stock and to any series of preferred stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock.
Preemptive and Conversion Rights
The Preferred Stock is not subject to any preemptive rights and is not convertible into property or shares of any
other class or series of our capital stock. The holders of the depositary shares do not have any preemptive or
conversion rights.
Depositary, Transfer Agent, and Registrar
Computershare Shareowner Services LLC will serve as depositary, transfer agent and registrar for the Preferred
Stock and the depositary shares.
Calculation Agent
We will appoint a calculation agent for the Preferred Stock prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate
Period.
Risk Factors
See “Risk Factors” on page S-6 in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors you should consider
carefully before deciding to invest in the depositary shares.
S-5
RISK FACTORS
Your investment in the depositary shares will involve certain risks. You should carefully consider the following
discussion of risks and the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and all
subsequent filings under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, before
deciding whether an investment in the depositary shares is suitable for you.
You are making an investment decision about the depositary shares as well as our Preferred Stock.
As described in this prospectus supplement, we are offering depositary shares representing fractional interests in
shares of our Preferred Stock. The depositary will rely solely on the dividend payments on the Preferred Stock it
receives from us to fund all dividend payments on the depositary shares. You should review carefully the
information in this prospectus supplement and the attached prospectus regarding the depositary shares and our
Preferred Stock.
The Preferred Stock is an equity security and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness.
The shares of Preferred Stock are equity interests and do not constitute indebtedness. This means that the
Preferred Stock will rank junior to all of our indebtedness and to other non-equity claims on us and our assets
available to satisfy claims on us, including claims in our liquidation. Our existing and future indebtedness may
restrict payment of dividends on the Preferred Stock. In addition, holders of the depositary shares representing
the Preferred Stock may be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that we enter
into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding.
Additionally, unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest customarily are payable on specified due dates, in
the case of preferred stock like the Preferred Stock, (1) dividends are payable only if declared by our board of
directors or a duly authorized committee of the board and (2) as a corporation, we are subject to restrictions on
dividend payments and redemption payments out of lawfully available assets. Further, the Preferred Stock places
no restrictions on our business or operations or on our ability to incur indebtedness or engage in any transactions,
subject only to the limited voting rights referred to below under “—Holders of the Preferred Stock will have
limited voting rights.”
Our ability to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock may be limited by federal regulatory considerations.
We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. Our ability to
declare and pay dividends is primarily dependent on the receipt of dividends and other distributions from our
subsidiaries. Various legal limitations restrict the extent to which our subsidiaries may pay dividends or other
funds or otherwise engage in transactions with us or some of our other subsidiaries.
In addition, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”)
requires federal banking agencies to establish more stringent risk-based capital requirements and leverage limits
applicable to banks and bank holding companies, and especially those institutions, such as JPMorgan Chase, with
consolidated assets equal to or greater than $50 billion. In June 2012, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued three notices of
proposed rulemaking, including a joint notice of proposed rulemaking (the “June NPR”), addressing, among
other matters, Section 171 of the Dodd-Frank Act and the comprehensive set of capital and liquidity standards
finalized by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (“Basel III”). The June NPR sets forth the proposed
criteria for qualifying additional Tier 1 capital instruments consistent with Basel III, including the requirement
that any dividends on such instruments only be paid out of the banking organization’s net income and retained
S-6
earnings. If the June NPR is adopted as a final rule, we will likely be subject to many of its provisions, but until
final rules are issued we cannot predict the June NPR’s actual effect on us. These requirements, and any other
new regulations or capital distribution constraints, including those that may be imposed in accordance with Basel
III, could adversely affect our ability to pay dividends on the Preferred Stock and therefore your ability to receive
distributions on the depositary shares.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock are discretionary and non-cumulative.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock are discretionary and non-cumulative. Consequently, if our board of directors
or a duly authorized committee of our board does not authorize and declare a dividend for any dividend period
prior to the related dividend payment date, holders of the Preferred Stock would not be entitled to receive a
dividend for that dividend period, and the unpaid dividend will cease to accrue and be payable. We will have no
obligation to pay dividends accrued for a dividend period after the dividend payment date for that period if our
board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board has not declared a dividend before the related
dividend payment date, whether or not dividends on the Preferred Stock or any other series of our preferred stock
or our common stock are declared for any future dividend period.
We may be able to redeem the Preferred Stock prior to May 1, 2023.
By its terms, the Preferred Stock may be redeemed by us prior to May 1, 2023 upon the occurrence of certain
events involving the capital treatment of the Preferred Stock. In particular, upon our determination in good faith
that an event has occurred that would constitute a “capital treatment event,” we may, at our option, redeem in
whole, but not in part, the shares of Preferred Stock, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking
agency. See “Description of the Preferred Stock—Optional Redemption.”
It is possible that the Preferred Stock may not satisfy the proposed criteria for qualifying additional Tier 1 capital
instruments consistent with Basel III as set forth in the June NPR. As a result, in addition to other circumstances
that may constitute a capital treatment event, if the Federal Reserve Board revises and replaces its current capital
rules with the proposed risk-based and leverage capital requirements set forth in the June NPR, a “capital
treatment event” could occur whereby we would have the right, subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve
Board, to redeem the Preferred Stock in accordance with its terms prior to May 1, 2023 at a redemption price
equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends,
without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Investors should not expect us to redeem the Preferred Stock on the date it becomes redeemable or on any
particular date after it becomes redeemable.
The Preferred Stock is a perpetual equity security. This means that it has no maturity or mandatory redemption
date and is not redeemable at the option of investors, including the holders of the depositary shares offered by
this prospectus supplement. The Preferred Stock may be redeemed by us at our option, either in whole or in part,
on any dividend payment date on or after May 1, 2023 or, prior to that date, under certain circumstances after the
occurrence of a capital treatment event. Any decision we may make at any time to propose a redemption of the
Preferred Stock will depend upon, among other things, our evaluation of our capital position, the composition of
our stockholders’ equity, and general market conditions at that time.
Our right to redeem the Preferred Stock is subject to limitations. Under the Federal Reserve Board’s current risk-
based capital guidelines applicable to bank holding companies, any redemption of the Preferred Stock is subject
to prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. We cannot assure you that the Federal Reserve Board will
approve any redemption of the Preferred Stock that we may propose. There also can be no assurance that, if we
propose to redeem the Preferred Stock without replacing the Preferred Stock with Tier 1 capital that is not a
restricted core capital element, the Federal Reserve Board will authorize the redemption. We understand that the
S-7
factors that the Federal Reserve Board will consider in evaluating a proposed redemption, or a request that we be
permitted to redeem the Preferred Stock without replacing it with Tier 1 capital that is not a restricted core capital
element, include its evaluation of the overall level and quality of our capital components, considered in light of
our risk exposures, earnings and growth strategy, and other supervisory considerations, although the Federal
Reserve Board may change these factors at any time.
If the Preferred Stock is redeemed, the corresponding redemption of the depositary shares would be a taxable
event to you. In addition, you might not be able to reinvest the money you receive upon redemption of the
depositary shares in a similar security.
If we are deferring payments on our outstanding junior subordinated notes or are in default under the
indentures governing those securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions on or redeeming
the Preferred Stock.
The terms of our outstanding junior subordinated notes prohibit us from declaring or paying any dividends or
distributions on our preferred stock, including the Preferred Stock, or redeeming, purchasing, acquiring, or
making a liquidation payment on the Preferred Stock, if an event of default under the indentures governing those
junior subordinated notes has occurred and is continuing or at any time when we have deferred payment of
interest on those junior subordinated notes.
Holders of the Preferred Stock will have limited voting rights.
Holders of the Preferred Stock have no voting rights with respect to matters that generally require the approval of
voting stockholders. Holders of the Preferred Stock will have voting rights only as specifically required by
applicable law and as described below under “Description of the Preferred Stock—Voting Rights.” Holders of
depositary shares must act through the depositary to exercise any voting rights of the Preferred Stock.
Our ability to pay dividends depends upon the results of operations of our subsidiaries.
We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. As a result, our
ability to make dividend payments on the Preferred Stock will depend primarily upon the receipt of dividends
and other distributions from our subsidiaries. Various legal limitations restrict the extent to which our
subsidiaries may extend credit, pay dividends or other funds or otherwise engage in transactions with us or some
of our other subsidiaries.
In addition, our right to participate in any distribution of assets from any subsidiary, upon the subsidiary’s
liquidation or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that we
are recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. As a result, the Preferred Stock will be effectively subordinated to
all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. You should look only to the assets of JPMorgan Chase as the
source of payment for the Preferred Stock.
An active trading market for the Preferred Stock and the related depositary shares does not exist and may
not develop.
The Preferred Stock and the related depositary shares are new issues of securities with no established trading
market. We do not intend to list the Preferred Stock or the depositary shares on any securities exchange. We
cannot predict how the depositary shares will trade in the secondary market or whether that market will be liquid
or illiquid. The number of potential buyers of the depositary shares in any secondary market may be limited.
Although the underwriters may purchase and sell the depositary shares in the secondary market from time to
time, the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue making a market for the depositary
shares at any time without giving us notice. We cannot assure you that a secondary market for the depositary
shares will develop, or that if one develops, it will be maintained. If an active, liquid market does not develop for
the depositary shares, the market price and liquidity of the depositary shares may adversely be affected.
S-8
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
JPMorgan Chase & Co., which we refer to as “JPMorgan Chase,” “we” or “us,” is a leading global financial
services firm and one of the largest banking institutions in the United States, with operations worldwide.
JPMorgan Chase had $2.4 trillion in assets and $207.1 billion in total stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2013.
JPMorgan Chase is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses,
commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. Under the J.P.
Morgan and Chase brands, JPMorgan Chase serves millions of customers in the U.S. and many of the world’s
most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients.
JPMorgan Chase is a financial holding company and was incorporated under Delaware law on October 28, 1968.
JPMorgan Chase’s principal bank subsidiaries are JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national bank
with branches in 23 states, and Chase Bank USA, National Association, a national bank that is JPMorgan
Chase’s credit card issuing bank. JPMorgan Chase’s principal nonbank subsidiary is J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,
our U.S. investment banking firm. One of JPMorgan Chase’s principal operating subsidiaries in the United
Kingdom is J.P. Morgan Securities plc, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Principal Activities
JPMorgan Chase’s activities are organized, for management reporting purposes, into four business segments, as
well as Corporate/Private Equity. The Firm’s wholesale businesses comprise the Corporate & Investment Bank,
Commercial Banking and Asset Management segments. The Firm’s consumer business is the Consumer &
Community Banking segment.
The principal executive office of JPMorgan Chase is located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017-
2070, U.S.A., and its telephone number is (212) 270-6000.
S-9
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT JPMORGAN CHASE
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our SEC filings are available to the public on the website maintained by the
SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our filings can also be inspected and printed or copied, for a fee, at the SEC’s public
reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on their public reference room. Such documents, reports and information are also available on our
website: http://www.jpmorgan.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus
supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus the information in documents we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information
to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part
of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC
will automatically update and supersede this information.
We incorporate by reference (i) the documents listed below and (ii) any future filings we make with the SEC
after the date of this prospectus supplement under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 until our offering is completed, other than, in each case, those documents or the portions of those
documents which are furnished and not filed:
(a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012; and
(b) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2013, January 15, 2013, January 16, 2013 (three
filings), January 25, 2013, February 5, 2013, February 28, 2013, March 8, 2013, March 15, 2013,
April 9, 2013 and April 12, 2013 (two filings).
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:
Office of the Secretary
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
212-270-4040
S-10
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED
STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
The table below sets forth JPMorgan Chase’s consolidated ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividend requirements for the periods indicated.
Three Months
Ended March 31, Year Ended December 31,
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividend Requirements:
Excluding Interest on Deposits ..................... 4.79 3.83 3.60 3.51 2.47 1.17
Including Interest on Deposits ...................... 4.07 3.23 2.89 2.87 2.02 1.10
For purposes of computing the above ratios, earnings represent net income from continuing operations plus total
taxes based on income and fixed charges. Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, include interest expense
(other than on deposits), one-third (the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor) of rents, net of
income from subleases, and capitalized interest. Fixed charges, including interest on deposits, include all interest
expense, one-third (the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor) of rents, net of income from
subleases, and capitalized interest.
S-11
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK
The terms of the Preferred Stock are set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Powers, Preferences and Rights
of the Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”). We have summarized below certain terms of the
Certificate of Designation. This summary supplements the general description of preferred stock under
“Description of Preferred Stock” in the accompanying prospectus. If any information regarding the Preferred
Stock contained in the Certificate of Designation is inconsistent with the information in this prospectus
supplement and the prospectus, the information in the Certificate of Designation will apply and will supersede
information in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus. This summary is not complete. You should refer to
the Certificate of Designation which will be filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
General
The Preferred Stock represents a single series of our authorized preferred stock. We are offering 1,500,000
depositary shares, representing 150,000 shares of the Preferred Stock in the aggregate, by this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Upon issuance against full payment of the purchase price for the
depositary shares, the shares of the Preferred Stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The depositary will be
the sole holder of the shares of the Preferred Stock. The holders of depositary shares will be required to exercise
their proportional rights in the Preferred Stock through the depositary, as described in “Description of the
Depositary Shares” in this prospectus supplement.
The Preferred Stock will rank senior to our common stock and to any of our other capital stock that states that it
is made junior to our preferred stock as to payment of dividends and distribution of our assets upon our
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. The Preferred Stock will rank on a parity with our Series I Preferred
Stock, our Series J Preferred Stock, our Series O Preferred Stock and our Series P Preferred Stock. See “— Other
Preferred Stock.” The Preferred Stock will be subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness.
The Preferred Stock will not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series of our
capital stock or other securities and will not be subject to any sinking fund or other obligation to redeem or
repurchase the Preferred Stock.
Dividends
Holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors or
any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, out of assets legally available for payment,
non-cumulative cash dividends based on the liquidation preference of $10,000 per share of the Preferred Stock
(equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share).
If declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, we will pay
dividends on the Preferred Stock (i) during the Fixed Rate Period, semi-annually, in arrears, on May 1 and
November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2013, and (ii) during the Floating Rate Period, quarterly, in
arrears, on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2023.
Dividends on the Preferred Stock will accrue from the original issue date at a rate equal to (i) 5.15% per annum
for each semi-annual dividend period during the Fixed Rate Period and (ii) three-month LIBOR plus a spread of
3.25% per annum for each quarterly dividend period during the Floating Rate Period. We will calculate dividends
on the Preferred Stock for the Fixed Rate Period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. We will
calculate dividends on the Preferred Stock for the Floating Rate Period on the basis of the actual number of days
in a dividend period and a 360-day year. Dollar amounts resulting from those calculations will be rounded to the
nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
S-12
The dividend rate for each dividend period during the Floating Rate Period will be determined by the calculation
agent using three-month LIBOR as in effect on the second London banking day prior to the beginning of the
dividend period, which date is the “dividend determination date” for the dividend period. The calculation agent
then will add three-month LIBOR as determined on the dividend determination date and the applicable spread.
Absent manifest error, the calculation agent’s determination of the dividend rate for a dividend period for the
Preferred Stock will be binding and conclusive on you, the transfer agent and us. As used in this prospectus
supplement, a “London banking day” means any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted
in the London interbank market. The term “three-month LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for
deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three months in amounts of at least $1,000,000, as that rate
appears on Reuters screen page “LIBOR01” at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the relevant dividend
determination date.
If no offered rate appears on Reuters screen page “LIBOR01” on the relevant dividend determination date at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, then the calculation agent, after consultation with us, will select four
major banks in the London interbank market and will request each of their principal London offices to provide a
quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in U.S. dollars in amounts of at least $1,000,000 are offered
by it to prime banks in the London interbank market, on that date and at that time, that is representative of single
transactions at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic
average of the quotations provided. Otherwise, the calculation agent will select three major banks in New York
City and will request each of them to provide a quotation of the rate offered by it at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on the dividend determination date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks
having an index maturity of three months for the applicable dividend period in an amount of at least $1,000,000
that is representative of single transactions at that time. If three quotations are provided, three-month LIBOR will
be the arithmetic average of the quotations provided. Otherwise, three-month LIBOR for the next dividend period
will be equal to three-month LIBOR in effect for the then-current dividend period.
We will pay dividends to the holders of record of shares of the Preferred Stock as they appear on our stock
register on such record date, not more than 30 days before the applicable payment date, as will be fixed by our
board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board. In the event that any dividend payment date
during the Fixed Rate Period falls on a day that is not a business day, the dividend payment due on that date will
be postponed to the next day that is a business day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that
postponement. In the event that any dividend payment date during the Floating Rate Period would otherwise fall
on a day that is not a business day, the dividend payment date will be postponed to the next day that is a business
day and dividends will accrue to but excluding the date dividends are paid. However, if the postponement would
cause the day to fall in the next calendar month during the Floating Rate Period, the dividend payment date will
instead be brought forward to the immediately preceding business day. As used in this prospectus supplement, a
“business day” means any weekday that is not a legal holiday in New York, New York and is not a day on which
banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law or regulation to be closed.
If we call the Preferred Stock for redemption, dividends on shares of the Preferred Stock will cease to accrue on
the applicable redemption date as described below under “—Optional Redemption.”
Dividends on shares of the Preferred Stock will be non-cumulative. To the extent that any dividends on shares of
the Preferred Stock with respect to any dividend period are not declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on the
dividend payment date for such dividend period, then such unpaid dividends will not cumulate and will cease to
accrue and be payable, and we will have no obligation to pay, and the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock
will have no right to receive, accrued and unpaid dividends for such dividend period on or after the dividend
S-13
payment date for such dividend period, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent dividend period
with respect to the Preferred Stock or for any future dividend period with respect to any other series of our
preferred stock or our common stock. We will not pay interest or any sum of money instead of interest in respect
of any dividend that is not declared, or if declared is not paid, on the Preferred Stock.
We will not declare or pay or set aside for payment on any of our preferred stock ranking as to dividends on a
parity with or junior to the Preferred Stock for any period unless full dividends on the shares of the Preferred
Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid (or
have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for such payment). When
dividends are not paid in full on the Preferred Stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as
to dividends with the Preferred Stock, all dividends declared and paid upon the shares of the Preferred Stock and
any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Preferred Stock will be declared
and paid pro rata. For purposes of calculating the pro rata allocation of partial dividend payments, we will
allocate dividend payments based on the ratio between the then-current dividends due on shares of Preferred
Stock and (i) in the case of any series of non-cumulative preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with
the Preferred Stock, the aggregate of the current and unpaid dividends due on such series of preferred stock and
(ii) in the case of any series of cumulative preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Preferred
Stock, the aggregate of the current and accumulated and unpaid dividends due on such series of preferred stock.
So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock are outstanding, unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of
the Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for such
payment in respect of the most recently completed dividend period:
• no dividend (other than a dividend in common stock or in any other capital stock ranking junior to the
Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) will be declared or paid
or a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for such payment or other distribution declared or
made upon our common stock or upon any other capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, and
• no common stock, other capital stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up will be redeemed, purchased or otherwise
acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the
redemption of any shares of any such capital stock) by us, except
(1) by conversion into or exchange for capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock;
(2) as a result of reclassification into capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock;
(3) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of shares of capital
stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock or, in the case of capital stock ranking on a parity with the
Preferred Stock, through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares
of capital stock on a parity with the Preferred Stock;
(4) in the case of capital stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock, pursuant to pro rata
offers to purchase all or a pro rata portion of the shares of Preferred Stock and such capital stock ranking
on a parity with the Preferred Stock;
(5) in connection with the satisfaction of our obligations pursuant to any contract entered into in
the ordinary course prior to the beginning of the most recently completed dividend period; or
S-14
(6) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred
Stock pursuant to any of our or our subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit
plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted
before or after the issuance of the Preferred Stock).
However, the foregoing will not restrict the ability of us or any of our affiliates to engage in underwriting,
stabilization, market-making or similar transactions in our capital stock in the ordinary course of business.
Subject to the conditions described above, and not otherwise, dividends (payable in cash, capital stock, or
otherwise), as may be determined by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board, may be
declared and paid on our common stock and any other capital stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the
Preferred Stock from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the holders of the
Preferred Stock will not be entitled to participate in those dividends.
As used in this prospectus supplement, “junior to the Preferred Stock” and like terms refer to our common stock
and any other class or series of our capital stock over which the Preferred Stock has preference or priority, either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or both, as the context may require; “parity
preferred stock” and “on a parity with the Preferred Stock” and like terms refer to any class or series of our
capital stock that ranks on a parity with the shares of the Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or both, as the context may require; and “senior to the Preferred Stock”
and like terms refer to any class or series of our capital stock that ranks senior to the Preferred Stock, either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or both, as the context may require.
Rights upon Liquidation
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of the Preferred Stock
will be entitled to receive and to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders the
amount of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared
and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, before we make any payment or
distribution on our common stock or on any other capital stock ranking junior to the Preferred Stock upon our
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. After the payment to the holders of the shares of the Preferred Stock of
the full preferential amounts to which they are entitled, the holders of the Preferred Stock as such will have no
right or claim to any of our remaining assets.
If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, we fail to pay in full the amounts
payable with respect to the Preferred Stock and any other shares of our capital stock ranking as to any such
distribution of our assets on a parity with the Preferred Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock and of such
other shares will share ratably in any such distribution of our assets in proportion to the full respective
distributions to which they are entitled.
Neither the sale of all or substantially all of our property or business, nor our merger or consolidation into or with
any other entity or the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with us, will be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, voluntary or involuntary, of us.
Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors and our stockholders, including the
holders of the Preferred Stock, to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon that subsidiary’s
liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or recapitalization may be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s
creditors, except to the extent that we are a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.
S-15
Optional Redemption
At the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, we may
redeem, out of assets legally available therefor, the Preferred Stock on any dividend payment date on or after
May 1, 2023, in whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent
to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock called
for redemption up to the redemption date. Subject to irrevocably setting aside or depositing funds necessary for
redemption, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares on the redemption date, without accumulation of
undeclared dividends.
At any time within 90 days after a capital treatment event, and at the option of our board of directors or any duly
authorized committee of our board of directors, we may provide notice of our intent to redeem the Preferred
Stock in accordance with the procedures described below, and we may subsequently redeem, out of assets legally
available therefor, the Preferred Stock in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share
(equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends on the shares of the Preferred
Stock called for redemption up to the redemption date. Subject to irrevocably setting aside or depositing funds
necessary for redemption, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares on the redemption date, without
accumulation of undeclared dividends.
For purposes of the above, “capital treatment event” means the good faith determination by us that, as a result of
any:
• amendment to, or change or any announced prospective change in, the laws or regulations of the
United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective
after the initial issuance of any shares of the Preferred Stock;
• proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial
issuance of any shares of the Preferred Stock; or
• official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official
pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes
effective after the initial issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that we will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the full liquidation
amount of all shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the
capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and
applicable, for as long as any share of Preferred Stock is outstanding.
Redemption of the Preferred Stock is subject to our receipt of any required prior approvals from the Federal
Reserve Board or any other regulatory authority.
If we elect to redeem shares of the Preferred Stock, we will provide notice by first class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed. Such mailing will be at least 30 days and not
more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice so mailed will be conclusively presumed to
have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure to duly give such notice by mail,
or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of the Preferred Stock designated
for redemption will not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of the
Preferred Stock. Each notice of redemption will state:
• the redemption date;
• the number of shares of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by
such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder;
• the redemption price;
S-16
• the place or places where the certificates representing such shares are to be surrendered for payment
of the redemption price; and
• that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through The Depository Trust
Company, or “DTC”, we may give such notice in any manner permitted or required by DTC. Neither the holders
of the Preferred Stock nor the holders of the related depositary shares have the right to require redemption of the
Preferred Stock.
In the case of any redemption of only part of the shares of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares
of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed will be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of the Preferred
Stock in proportion to the number of Preferred Stock held by such holders or by lot or in such other manner as
our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors may determine to be fair and
equitable.
Voting Rights
The Preferred Stock will have no voting rights, except as provided below or as otherwise specifically required by
law.
Whenever, at any time or times, dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate
of three or more semi-annual or six or more quarterly dividend periods, as applicable, whether or not
consecutive, the authorized number of our directors will automatically be increased by two and the holders of the
Preferred Stock will have the right, with holders of shares of any other class or series of parity preferred stock
outstanding at the time upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, which we refer to
as “voting parity stock,” voting together as a class, to elect two directors, which we refer to as “preferred
directors,” to fill such newly created directorships at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each
subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until full dividends have been paid on the Preferred Stock for at least
two semi-annual or four quarterly consecutive dividend periods, as applicable. At that time such right will
terminate, except as expressly provided in the Certificate of Designation or by law, subject to subsequent
revesting.
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock and voting parity stock as a class to
vote for directors as provided above, the preferred directors will cease to be qualified as directors, the term of
office of all preferred directors then in office will terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors
will be reduced by the number of preferred directors elected. Any preferred director may be removed at any time,
with cause as provided by law or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock
voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of voting parity stock, to the extent the voting
rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. Any vacancy created by removal with or without
cause may be filled only as described in the preceding paragraph. If the office of any preferred director becomes
vacant for any reason other than removal, the remaining preferred director may choose a successor who will hold
office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the Preferred Stock and any voting parity stock, voting together as
a class, authorize, create or issue any capital stock ranking senior to the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or reclassify any authorized capital stock into any such shares of such
capital stock or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such
shares of capital stock. So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the Preferred Stock, amend, alter or repeal
S-17
any provision of the Certificate of Designation or our certificate of incorporation, including by merger,
consolidation or otherwise, so as to adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred
Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following will be deemed to adversely affect the powers, preferences
or special rights of the Preferred Stock:
• any increase in the amount of authorized common stock or authorized preferred stock, or any increase
or decrease in the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, or the authorization, creation and
issuance of other classes or series of capital stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the
Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;
• a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity in which the shares of the Preferred Stock
remain outstanding; and
• a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity in which the shares of the Preferred Stock
are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving entity or any entity, directly or
indirectly, controlling such surviving entity and such new preference securities have powers,
preferences and special rights that are not materially less favorable than the Preferred Stock.
In exercising the voting rights described above or when otherwise granted voting rights by operation of law or by
us, each share of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote (equivalent to one-tenth of a vote per depositary
share).
If we redeem or call for redemption all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock and irrevocably deposit in trust
sufficient funds to effect such redemption, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote
would otherwise be required or upon which the holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote will be
effected, the voting provisions described above will not apply.
Our board of directors may also from time to time, without notice to or consent of holders of the Preferred Stock,
issue additional shares of the Preferred Stock. Delaware law provides that the holders of preferred stock will have
the right to vote separately as a class on any amendment to our certificate of incorporation (including any
certificate of designation) that would increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of such
class, increase or decrease the par value of such class or adversely affect the powers, preferences and special
rights of the shares of preferred stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as permitted by law, our certificate of
incorporation provides that any increase or decrease in our authorized capital stock may be adopted by the
affirmative vote of holders of capital stock representing not less than a majority of the voting power represented
by the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote. If any proposed amendment would alter or change
the powers, preferences or special rights of one or more series of preferred stock so as to affect them adversely,
but would not so affect the entire class of preferred stock, only the shares of the series so affected will be
considered a separate class for purposes of this vote on the amendment. This right is in addition to any voting
rights that may be provided for in our certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designation).
Preemptive and Conversion Rights
The holders of the Preferred Stock do not have any preemptive or conversion rights.
Depositary, Transfer Agent, and Registrar
Computershare Shareowner Services LLC will be the depositary, transfer agent and registrar for the Preferred
Stock and the depositary shares.
Calculation Agent
We will appoint a calculation agent for the Preferred Stock prior to the commencement of the Floating Rate
Period.
S-18
Other Preferred Stock
Under our certificate of incorporation, we have authority to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1
par value per share. We may issue preferred stock in one or more series, each with the preferences, designations,
limitations, conversion rights, and other rights as our board of directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof)
may determine, subject to the limitations set forth in our certificate of incorporation.
As of the date of this prospectus supplement, and as described further below, we have three outstanding series of
preferred stock.
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series I
On April 23, 2008, we issued 600,000 shares of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series
I, $1 par value, with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (the “Series I Preferred Stock”). Shares of the
Series I Preferred Stock are represented by depositary shares, each representing a one-tenth interest in a share of
preferred stock of the series.
Ranking. The Series I Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock, as well as any of our other stock that
states it is expressly made junior to the Series I Preferred Stock, as to payment of dividends and distribution of
assets upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up. The Series I Preferred Stock ranks on parity with the
Series J Preferred Stock, the Series O Preferred Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock, and the Preferred Stock
offered hereby (the “Series Q Preferred Stock”) will rank on parity with the Series I Preferred Stock, the Series J
Preferred Stock, the Series O Preferred Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock.
Dividends. Dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock are payable when, as, and if declared by our board of
directors or a duly authorized committee of our board, from the date of issuance to, but excluding, April 30, 2018
at a rate of 7.90% per annum, payable semi-annually, in arrears, on April 30 and October 30 of each year,
beginning on October 30, 2008. From and including April 30, 2018, dividends will be paid when, as, and if
declared by our board of directors or such committee thereof at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus
a spread of 3.47% per annum, payable quarterly, in arrears, on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of
each year. Dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock are neither mandatory nor cumulative.
We may not declare or pay or set apart for payment full dividends on any series of preferred stock ranking, as to
dividends, equally with or junior to the Series I Preferred Stock unless we have previously declared and paid or
set apart for payment, or we contemporaneously declare and pay or set apart for payment, full dividends on the
Series I Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period. When dividends are not paid in full on
the Series I Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends, all dividends upon
the Series I Preferred Stock and such equally ranking series will be declared and paid pro rata.
Unless we have paid or declared and set aside for payment full dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock for the
most recently completed dividend period, we will not:
• declare or make any dividend payment or distribution on any junior ranking stock, other than a
dividend paid in junior ranking stock, or
• redeem, purchase, otherwise acquire or set apart money for a sinking fund for the redemption of any
junior or equally ranking stock, except by conversion into or exchange for junior ranking stock.
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business and affairs, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of the Series I Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive liquidating
distributions of $10,000 per share (equivalent of $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid
dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, before we make any distribution of assets to the
S-19
holders of our common stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Series I Preferred Stock.
If we fail to pay in full all amounts payable with respect to the Series I Preferred Stock and any stock having the
same rank as the Series I Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock and of that other stock will
share in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are
entitled. After the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock and any stock having the same rank as the Series I
Preferred Stock are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither the sale
of all or substantially all of our property or business nor a merger or consolidation by us with any other entity
will be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of our business or affairs.
Redemption. The Series I Preferred Stock may be redeemed on any dividend payment date on or after April 30,
2018, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary
share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends.
Voting Rights. The Series I Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as provided below or as otherwise
required by law.
Whenever dividends payable on the shares of Series I Preferred Stock have not been paid for three or more semi-
annual or six or more quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of our
directors will automatically be increased by two. The holders of the Series I Preferred Stock will have the right,
with holders of any other equally ranked series of preferred stock that have similar voting rights and on which
dividends likewise have not been paid, voting together as a class, to elect two directors to fill such newly created
directorships at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each of our subsequent annual meetings until full
dividends have been paid on the Series I Preferred Stock for at least two semi-annual or four quarterly
consecutive dividend periods, as applicable. At that point the right to elect directors terminates, and the terms of
office of the two directors so elected will terminate immediately.
Holders of Series I Preferred Stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock entitled to elect preferred
directors, voting together as a class, may remove and replace either of the directors they elected. If the office of
either such director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal, the remaining director may choose a
successor who will hold office for the unexpired term of the vacant office.
We will not, without the vote of the holders of at least 66
2
⁄
3
% in voting power of the Series I Preferred Stock
together with any preferred stock entitled to vote thereon voting as a class,
• authorize, create or issue any of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, senior to the Series I Preferred Stock, or reclassify any of our authorized
capital stock into any such shares of such capital stock, or issue any obligation or security convertible
into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or
• amend, alter or repeal the certificate of designations for the Series I Preferred Stock, or our certificate
of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, in a way that adversely affects the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series I Preferred Stock.
Any
• increase in the amount of authorized common or preferred stock; or
• increase or decrease in the number of shares of any series of preferred stock; or
• authorization, creation and issuance of other classes or series of stock;
in each case ranking equally with or junior to the Series I Preferred Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect
such powers, preferences or special rights.
S-20
Each share of Series I Preferred Stock has one vote (equivalent to 1/10th of a vote per depositary share)
whenever it is entitled to voting rights.
8.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series J
On August 14, 2008, we issued 180,000 shares of 8.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series J, $1 par
value, with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (the “Series J Preferred Stock”). Shares of the Series J
Preferred Stock are represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/400th interest in a share of preferred
stock of the series.
Ranking. The Series J Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock, as well as any of our other stock that
states it is expressly made junior to the Series J Preferred Stock, as to payment of dividends and distribution of
assets upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up. The Series J Preferred Stock ranks on parity with the
Series I Preferred Stock, the Series O Preferred Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock, and the Series Q
Preferred Stock will rank on parity with the Series I Preferred Stock, the Series J Preferred Stock, the Series O
Preferred Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock.
Dividends. Dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock are payable when, as, and if declared by our board of
directors or a duly authorized committee of our board, at a rate of 8.625% per annum, payable quarterly, in
arrears, on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2008.
Dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock are neither mandatory nor cumulative.
We may not declare or pay or set apart for payment full dividends on any series of preferred stock ranking, as to
dividends, equally with or junior to the Series J Preferred Stock unless we have previously declared and paid or
set apart for payment, or we contemporaneously declare and pay or set apart for payment, full dividends on the
Series J Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period. When dividends are not paid in full on
the Series J Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends, all dividends upon
the Series J Preferred Stock and such equally ranking series will be declared and paid pro rata.
Unless we have paid or declared and set aside for payment full dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock for the
most recently completed dividend period, we will not:
• declare or make any dividend payment or distribution on any junior ranking stock, other than a
dividend paid in junior ranking stock, or
• redeem, purchase, otherwise acquire or set apart money for a sinking fund for the redemption of any
junior or equally ranking stock, except by conversion into or exchange for junior ranking stock.
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business and affairs, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of the Series J Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive liquidating
distributions of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid
dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, before we make any distribution of assets to the
holders of our common stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Series J Preferred Stock.
If we fail to pay in full all amounts payable with respect to the Series J Preferred Stock and any stock having the
same rank as the Series J Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series J Preferred Stock and of that other stock will
share in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are
entitled. After the holders of the Series J Preferred Stock and any stock having the same rank as the Series J
Preferred Stock are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither the sale
of all or substantially all of our property or business nor a merger or consolidation by us with any other entity
will be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of our business or affairs.
S-21
Redemption. The Series J Preferred Stock may be redeemed on any dividend payment date on or after
September 1, 2013, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per
depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends.
Voting Rights. The Series J Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as provided below or as otherwise
required by law.
Whenever dividends payable on the shares of Series J Preferred Stock have not been paid for six or more
quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of our directors will
automatically be increased by two. The holders of the Series J Preferred Stock will have the right, with holders
of any other equally ranked series of preferred stock that have similar voting rights and on which dividends
likewise have not been paid, voting together as a class, to elect two directors to fill such newly created
directorships at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each of our subsequent annual meetings until
full dividends have been paid on the Series J Preferred Stock for at least four quarterly consecutive dividend
periods. At that point the right to elect directors terminates, and the terms of office of the two directors so
elected will terminate immediately.
Holders of Series J Preferred Stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock entitled to elect preferred
directors, voting together as a class, may remove and replace either of the directors they elected. If the office of
either such director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal, the remaining director may choose a
successor who will hold office for the unexpired term of the vacant office.
We will not, without the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the Series J Preferred Stock
together with any preferred stock entitled to vote thereon voting as a class,
• authorize, create or issue any of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, senior to the Series J Preferred Stock, or reclassify any of our authorized
capital stock into any such shares of such capital stock, or issue any obligation or security convertible
into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or
• amend, alter or repeal the certificate of designations for the Series I Preferred Stock, or our certificate
of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, in a way that adversely affects the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series J Preferred Stock.
Any
• increase in the amount of authorized common or preferred stock; or
• increase or decrease in the number of shares of any series of preferred stock; or
• authorization, creation and issuance of other classes or series of stock;
in each case ranking equally with or junior to the Series J Preferred Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect
such powers, preferences or special rights.
Each share of Series J Preferred Stock has one vote (equivalent to 1/400th of a vote per depositary share)
whenever it is entitled to voting rights.
5.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series O
On August 27, 2012, we issued 125,750 shares of 5.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series O, $1 par value, with
a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (the “Series O Preferred Stock”). Shares of the Series O Preferred Stock
are represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/400th interest in a share of preferred stock of the series.
S-22
Ranking. The Series O Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock, as well as any of our other stock that
states it is expressly made junior to the Series O Preferred Stock, as to payment of dividends and distribution of
assets upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up. The Series O Preferred Stock ranks on parity with the
Series I Preferred Stock, the Series J Preferred Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock, and the Series Q Preferred
Stock will rank on parity with the Series I Preferred Stock, the Series J Preferred Stock, the Series O Preferred
Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock.
Dividends. Dividends on the Series O Preferred Stock are payable when, as, and if declared by our board of
directors or a duly authorized committee of our board, at a rate of 5.50% per annum, payable quarterly, in arrears,
on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2012. Dividends on
the Series O Preferred Stock are neither mandatory nor cumulative.
We may not declare or pay or set apart for payment full dividends on any series of preferred stock ranking, as to
dividends, equally with or junior to the Series O Preferred Stock unless we have previously declared and paid or
set apart for payment, or we contemporaneously declare and pay or set apart for payment, full dividends on the
Series O Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period. When dividends are not paid in full on
the Series O Preferred Stock and any series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends, all dividends upon
the Series O Preferred Stock and such equally ranking series will be declared and paid pro rata.
Unless we have paid or declared and set aside for payment full dividends on the Series O Preferred Stock for the
most recently completed dividend period, we will not:
• declare or make any dividend payment or distribution on any junior ranking stock, other than a
dividend paid in junior ranking stock, or
• redeem, purchase, otherwise acquire or set apart money for a sinking fund for the redemption of any
junior or equally ranking stock, except by conversion into or exchange for junior ranking stock.
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business and affairs, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of the Series O Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive liquidating
distributions of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid
dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, before we make any distribution of assets to the
holders of our common stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Series O Preferred Stock.
If we fail to pay in full all amounts payable with respect to the Series O Preferred Stock and any stock having the
same rank as the Series O Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series O Preferred Stock and of that other stock will
share in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are
entitled. After the holders of the Series O Preferred Stock and any stock having the same rank as the Series O
Preferred Stock are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither the sale
of all or substantially all of our property or business nor a merger or consolidation by us with any other entity
will be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of our business or affairs.
Redemption. The Series O Preferred Stock may be redeemed on any dividend payment date on or after
September 1, 2017, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per
depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends.
We may also redeem the Series O Preferred Stock in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price equal to
$10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, following the
occurrence of a capital treatment event. For these purposes, “capital treatment event” means the good faith
determination by JPMorgan Chase that, as a result of any:
• amendment to, or change or any announced prospective change in, the laws or regulations of the
United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective
after the initial issuance of any shares of Series O Preferred Stock;
S-23
• proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial
issuance of any shares of the Series O Preferred Stock; or
• official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official
pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes
effective after the initial issuance of any shares of Series O Preferred Stock,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that JPMorgan Chase will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the
full liquidation amount of all shares of Series O Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 capital” (or its
equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking
agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series O Preferred Stock is outstanding.
Voting Rights. The Series O Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as provided below or as otherwise
required by law.
Whenever dividends payable on the shares of Series O Preferred Stock have not been paid for six or more
quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of our directors will automatically
be increased by two. The holders of the Series O Preferred Stock will have the right, with holders of any other
equally ranked series of preferred stock that have similar voting rights and on which dividends likewise have not
been paid, voting together as a class, to elect two directors to fill such newly created directorships at our next
annual meeting of stockholders and at each of our subsequent annual meetings until full dividends have been paid
on the Series O Preferred Stock for at least four quarterly consecutive dividend periods. At that point the right to
elect directors terminates, and the terms of office of the two directors so elected will terminate immediately.
Holders of Series O Preferred Stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock entitled to elect preferred
directors, voting together as a class, may remove and replace either of the directors they elected. If the office of
either such director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal, the remaining director may choose a
successor who will hold office for the unexpired term of the vacant office.
We will not, without the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the Series O Preferred Stock
together with any preferred stock entitled to vote thereon voting as a class,
• authorize, create or issue any of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, senior to the Series O Preferred Stock, or reclassify any of our authorized
capital stock into any such shares of such capital stock, or issue any obligation or security convertible
into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or
• amend, alter or repeal the certificate of designations for the Series O Preferred Stock, or our certificate
of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, in a way that adversely affects the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series O Preferred Stock.
Any
• increase in the amount of authorized common or preferred stock; or
• increase or decrease in the number of shares of any series of preferred stock; or
• authorization, creation and issuance of other classes or series of stock;
in each case ranking equally with or junior to the Series O Preferred Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect
such powers, preferences or special rights. Each share of Series O Preferred Stock has one vote (equivalent to
1/400th of a vote per depositary share) whenever it is entitled to voting rights.
S-24
5.45% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series P
On February 5, 2013, we issued 90,000 shares of 5.45% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series P, $1 par value,
with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share (the “Series P Preferred Stock”). Shares of the Series P
Preferred Stock are represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/400th interest in a share of preferred
stock of the series.
Ranking. The Series P Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock, as well as any of our other stock that
states it is expressly made junior to the Series P Preferred Stock, as to payment of dividends and distribution of
assets upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up. The Series P Preferred Stock ranks on parity with the
Series I Preferred Stock, the Series J Preferred Stock and the Series O Preferred Stock, and the Series Q Preferred
Stock will rank on parity with the Series I Preferred Stock, the Series J Preferred Stock, the Series O Preferred
Stock and the Series P Preferred Stock.
Dividends. Dividends on the Series P Preferred Stock are payable when, as, and if declared by our board of
directors or a duly authorized committee of our board, at a rate of 5.45% per annum, payable quarterly, in arrears,
on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2013. Dividends on the
Series P Preferred Stock are neither mandatory nor cumulative.
We may not declare or pay or set apart for payment full dividends on any Series of preferred stock ranking, as to
dividends, equally with or junior to the Series P Preferred Stock unless we have previously declared and paid or
set apart for payment, or we contemporaneously declare and pay or set apart for payment, full dividends on the
Series P Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period. When dividends are not paid in full on
the Series P Preferred Stock and any Series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends, all dividends upon
the Series P Preferred Stock and such equally ranking series will be declared and paid pro rata.
Unless we have paid or declared and set aside for payment full dividends on the Series P Preferred Stock for the
most recently completed dividend period, we will not:
• declare or make any dividend payment or distribution on any junior ranking stock, other than a
dividend paid in junior ranking stock, or
• redeem, purchase, otherwise acquire or set apart money for a sinking fund for the redemption of any
junior ranking stock or stock having the same rank as the Series P Preferred Stock, except
(1) by conversion into or exchange for junior ranking stock;
(2) as a result of reclassification into junior ranking stock;
(3) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of shares of junior
ranking stock or, in the case of equally ranking stock, through the use of the proceeds of a
substantially contemporaneous sale of other equally ranking stock;
(4) in the case of equally ranking stock, pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all or a pro rata
portion of the shares of Series P Preferred Stock and such equally ranking stock;
(5) in connection with the satisfaction of our obligations pursuant to any contract entered into in
the ordinary course prior to the beginning of the most recently completed dividend period; or
(6) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of junior ranking stock pursuant to any of our
or our subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or
arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted
before or after the issuance of the Series P Preferred Stock).
S-25
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business and affairs, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of the Series P Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive liquidating
distributions of $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid
dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, before we make any distribution of assets to the
holders of our common stock or any other class or Series of shares ranking junior to the Series P Preferred Stock.
If we fail to pay in full all amounts payable with respect to the Series P Preferred Stock and any stock having the
same rank as the Series P Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series P Preferred Stock and of that other stock will
share in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are
entitled. After the holders of the Series P Preferred Stock and any stock having the same rank as the Series P
Preferred Stock are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither the sale
of all or substantially all of our property or business nor a merger or consolidation by us with any other entity
will be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of our business or affairs.
Redemption. The Series P Preferred Stock may be redeemed on any dividend payment date on or after March 1,
2018, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to $10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary
share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends.
We may also redeem the Series P Preferred Stock in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price equal to
$10,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, following the
occurrence of a capital treatment event. For these purposes, “capital treatment event” means the good faith
determination by JPMorgan Chase that, as a result of any:
• amendment to, or change or any announced prospective change in, the laws or regulations of the
United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective
after the initial issuance of any shares of Series P Preferred Stock;
• proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial
issuance of any shares of the Series P Preferred Stock; or
• official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official
pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes
effective after the initial issuance of any shares of Series P Preferred Stock,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that JPMorgan Chase will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the
full liquidation amount of all shares of Series P Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 capital” (or its
equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking
agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series P Preferred Stock is outstanding.
Voting Rights. The Series P Preferred Stock has no voting rights except as provided below or as otherwise
required by law.
Whenever dividends payable on the shares of Series P Preferred Stock have not been paid for six or more
quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of our directors will automatically
be increased by two. The holders of the Series P Preferred Stock will have the right, with holders of any other
equally ranked Series of preferred stock that have similar voting rights and on which dividends likewise have not
been paid, voting together as a class, to elect two directors to fill such newly created directorships at our next
annual meeting of stockholders and at each of our subsequent annual meetings until full dividends have been paid
on the Series P Preferred Stock for at least four quarterly consecutive dividend periods. At that point the right to
elect directors terminates, and the terms of office of the two directors so elected will terminate immediately.
S-26
Holders of Series P Preferred Stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock entitled to elect preferred
directors, voting together as a class, may remove and replace either of the directors they elected. If the office of
either such director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal, the remaining director may choose a
successor who will hold office for the unexpired term of the vacant office.
We will not, without the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the Series P Preferred Stock
together with any preferred stock entitled to vote thereon voting as a class,
• authorize, create or issue any of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, senior to the Series P Preferred Stock, or reclassify any of our authorized
capital stock into any such shares of such capital stock, or issue any obligation or security convertible
into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or
• amend, alter or repeal the certificate of designations for the Series P Preferred Stock, or our certificate
of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, in a way that adversely affects the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series P Preferred Stock.
In addition, we will not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of the
Series P Preferred Stock, amend, alter or repeal any provision of the certificate of designations for the Series P
Preferred Stock or our certificate of incorporation, including by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series P Preferred Stock.
Any
• increase in the amount of authorized common or preferred stock; or
• increase or decrease in the number of shares of any Series of preferred stock; or
• authorization, creation and issuance of other classes or Series of stock;
in each case ranking equally with or junior to the Series P Preferred Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect
such powers, preferences or special rights. Each share of Series P Preferred Stock has one vote (equivalent to
1/400th of a vote per depositary share) whenever it is entitled to voting rights.
S-27
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
We have summarized below certain terms of the depositary shares governed by the deposit agreement among us,
the depositary and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts. This summary supplements the
general description of the depositary shares under “Description of Preferred Stock—Depositary Shares” in the
accompanying prospectus. Any information regarding the depositary shares and the depositary receipts
contained in the deposit agreement that is inconsistent with the information in this prospectus supplement and
the prospectus will apply and will supersede information in this prospectus supplement and the prospectus. This
summary is not complete. You should refer to the deposit agreement, including the form of the depositary receipts
contained in the deposit agreement, which will be filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
General
We are offering depositary shares representing proportional fractional interests in shares of the Preferred Stock.
Each depositary share represents a one-tenth interest in a share of the Preferred Stock, and will be evidenced by
depositary receipts, as described under “Registration and Settlement—Book-Entry System.” We will deposit the
underlying shares of the Preferred Stock with a depositary pursuant to a deposit agreement among us,
Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, acting as depositary, and the holders from time to time of the depositary
receipts. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary shares will be entitled to all the powers,
preferences and special rights of the Preferred Stock, as applicable, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a
share of Preferred Stock those depositary shares represent.
In this prospectus supplement, references to “holders” of depositary shares mean those who have depositary
receipts registered in their own names on the books maintained by the depositary and not indirect holders who
own beneficial interests in depositary receipts registered in the street name of, or issued in book-entry form
through, The Depository Trust Company, or “DTC.” You should review the special considerations that apply to
indirect holders described in “Registration and Settlement—Book-Entry System.”
Dividends and Other Distributions
Each dividend payable on a depositary share will be in an amount equal to one-tenth of the dividend declared and
payable on the related share of the Preferred Stock.
The depositary will distribute all dividends and other cash distributions received on the Preferred Stock to the
holders of record of the depositary receipts in proportion to the number of depositary shares held by each holder.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the
holders of record of the depositary receipts as nearly as practicable in proportion to the number of depositary
shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that this distribution is not feasible, in which case
the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale
of the property and distribution of the net proceeds of that sale to the holders of the depositary receipts.
Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the depositary shares will be the same as
the corresponding record dates for the related shares of Preferred Stock.
The amount paid as dividends or otherwise distributable by the depositary with respect to the depositary shares or
the underlying Preferred Stock will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by us or the depositary on
account of taxes or other governmental charges. The depositary may refuse to make any payment or distribution,
or any transfer, exchange, or withdrawal of any depositary shares or the shares of the Preferred Stock until such
taxes or other governmental charges are paid.
S-28
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If we redeem the Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, as described above under “Description of the Preferred
Stock—Optional Redemption,” depositary shares also will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the
depositary from the redemption of the Preferred Stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary
share will be one-tenth of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the Preferred Stock, plus any
declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends.
If we redeem shares of the Preferred Stock held by the depositary, the deposit ary will redeem, as of the same
redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing those shares of the Preferred Stock so redeemed. If
we redeem less than all of the outstanding depositary shares, the depositary will select pro rata, by lot or in such
other manner as may be determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable, those depositary shares to be
redeemed. The depositary will mail notice of redemption to record holders of the depositary receipts not less than
30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of the Preferred Stock and the related
depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Because each depositary share represents a one-tenth interest in a share of the Preferred Stock, holders of
depositary receipts will be entitled to one-tenth of a vote per depositary share under those limited circumstances in
which holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to a vote, as described above in “Description of the Preferred
Stock—Voting Rights.”
When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to vote,
the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares
relating to the Preferred Stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date, which will be the
same date as the record date for the Preferred Stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the
Preferred Stock represented by the holder’s depositary shares. To the extent practicable, the depositary will vote
the amount of the Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives.
We will agree to take all actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the deposit ary to vote as
instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any depositary shares
representing the Preferred Stock, it will abstain from voting with respect to such shares.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Underlying shares of Preferred Stock may be withdrawn from the depositary arrangement upon surrender of
depositary receipts at the depositary’s office and upon payment of the taxes, charges and fees provided for in the
deposit agreement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the holder of depositary receipts will receive the
appropriate number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by such depositary shares. Only whole shares of
Preferred Stock may be withdrawn; if a holder holds an amount other than a whole multiple of 400 depositary
shares, the depositary will deliver along with the withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock a new depositary receipt
evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of withdrawn shares of Preferred Stock will not be
entitled to redeposit such shares or to receive depositary shares.
Form and Notices
The Preferred Stock will be issued in registered form to the depositary, and the depositary shares will be issued in
book-entry only form through DTC, as described below in “Registration and Settlement—Book-Entry System”
and in “Book-Entry Issuance” in the attached prospectus. The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary
shares all reports, notices, and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are
required to furnish to the holders of the Preferred Stock.
S-29
REGISTRATION AND SETTLEMENT
Book-Entry System
The depositary shares will be issued in book-entry only form through the facilities of DTC. This means that
actual depositary receipts will not be issued to each holder of depositary shares, except in limited circumstances.
Instead, the depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with and held in
the name of DTC, or its nominee. In order to own a beneficial interest in a depositary receipt, you must be an
organization that participates in DTC or have an account with an organization that participates in DTC, including
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), and Clearstream Banking, société
anonyme (“Clearstream”).
Except as described in the attached prospectus, owners of beneficial interests in the global depositary receipt will
not be entitled to have depositary receipts registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of the depositary receipts in definitive form, and will not be considered the owners or holders
of depositary shares under our certificate of incorporation or the deposit agreement, including for purposes of
receiving any reports or notices delivered by us. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in the
depositary receipts must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures
of the participant through which that person owns its beneficial interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder
of depositary shares.
If we discontinue the book-entry only form system of registration, we will replace the global depositary receipt
with depositary receipts in certificated form registered in the names of the beneficial owners.
Same Day Settlement
As long as the depositary shares are represented by a global depositary receipt registered in the name of DTC, or
its nominee, the depositary shares will trade in the DTC Same-Day Funds Settlement System. DTC requires
secondary market trading activity in the depositary shares to settle in immediately available funds. This
requirement may affect trading activity in the depositary shares.
Payment of Dividends
We will pay dividends, if any, on the Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares in book-entry form to the
depositary. In turn, the depositary will deliver the dividends to DTC in accordance with the arrangements then in
place between the depositary and DTC. Generally, DTC will be responsible for crediting the dividend payments
it receives from the depositary to the accounts of DTC participants, and each participant will be responsible for
disbursing the dividend payment for which it is credited to the holders that it represents. As long as the
depositary shares are represented by a global depositary receipt, we will make all dividend payments in
immediately available funds.
In the event depositary receipts are issued in certificated form, dividends generally will be paid by check mailed
to the holders of the depositary receipts on the applicable record date at the address appearing on the security
register.
Notices
Any notices required to be delivered to you will be given by the depositary to DTC for communication to its
participants.
If the depositary receipts are issued in certificated form, notices to you also will be given by mail to the addresses
of the holders as they appear on the security register.
S-30
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain United States federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of depositary shares representing a one-tenth interest in a share of our Preferred Stock as of the date
hereof. For United States federal income tax purposes, holders of depositary shares will generally be treated as if
they own an interest in the underlying Preferred Stock. Except where noted, this summary deals only with
depositary shares purchased in this offering and held as capital assets. This summary does not represent a
detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to
special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws, including if you are:
• a dealer in securities or currencies;
• a financial institution;
• a regulated investment company;
• a real estate investment trust;
• an insurance company;
• a tax-exempt organization;
• a person holding depositary shares as part of a hedging, integrated or conversion transaction, a
constructive sale or a straddle;
• a trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities;
• a person liable for alternative minimum tax;
• a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes; or
• a U.S. Holder whose “functional currency” is not the United States dollar.
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of depositary shares that is for United States
federal income tax purposes:
• an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
• a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes)
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia;
• an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its
source; or
• a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or
more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a
valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United
States person.
The term “non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of depositary shares (other than a partnership) that is not a
U.S. Holder.
The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities
may be replaced, revoked or modified, possibly with retroactive effect, so as to result in United States federal tax
consequences different from those discussed below.
S-31
If a partnership holds depositary shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the
partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding depositary shares, you
should consult your tax advisors.
This summary does not contain a detailed description of all the United States federal tax consequences to you in
light of your particular circumstances and does not address the recently enacted Medicare tax on net investment
income or the effects of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. If you are considering the purchase,
ownership or disposition of depositary shares, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the
United States federal tax consequences to you in light of your particular situation as well as any
consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
U.S. Holders
Taxation of Dividends
If you are a U.S. Holder, the gross amount of dividends on depositary shares will be taxable as dividends to the
extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal
income tax principles. Such income will be includable in your gross income as ordinary income on the day
actually or constructively received by you. Although we expect that our current and accumulated earnings and
profits will be such that all dividends paid with respect to the depositary shares will qualify as dividends for
United States federal income tax purposes, we cannot guarantee that result. Our accumulated earnings and profits
and our current earnings and profits in future years will depend in significant part on our future profits or losses,
which we cannot accurately predict. Non-corporate U.S. Holders will generally be eligible for reduced rates of
taxation on any dividends received from us with respect to the depositary shares, provided that certain holding
period and other requirements are satisfied.
To the extent that the amount of any distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits for a
taxable year, as determined under United States federal income tax principles, the distribution will first be treated
as a tax-free return of capital, causing a reduction in the adjusted basis of a depositary share (thereby increasing
the amount of gain, or decreasing the amount of loss, to be recognized by you on a subsequent disposition of the
depositary share), and the balance in excess of adjusted basis will be taxed as capital gain recognized on a sale or
exchange.
If you are a corporation, dividends that are received by you will generally be eligible for a 70% dividends-
received deduction under the Code. To be eligible for this dividends-received deduction, a corporation must hold
depositary shares for more than 45 days during the 91-day period that begins 45 days before the depositary shares
become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend and must meet certain other requirements. Corporate U.S.
Holders should consider the effect of section 246A of the Code, which reduces the dividends-received deduction
allowed to a corporate shareholder that has incurred indebtedness that is “directly attributable” to an investment
in portfolio stock such as preferred stock. Corporate U.S. Holders should also consider the effect of section 1059
of the Code, which, under certain circumstances, requires you to reduce the basis of stock for purposes of
calculating gain or loss in a subsequent disposition by the portion of any “extraordinary dividend” that is eligible
for the dividends-received deduction.
Taxation of Capital Gains
If you are a U.S. Holder, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other disposition of
depositary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized for the depositary shares and
your adjusted tax basis in such depositary shares. Generally, your adjusted tax basis in the depositary shares will
S-32
be equal to the cost of your depositary shares. Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Capital
gains of individual U.S. Holders derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for
reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Redemption
A redemption of depositary shares for cash will be treated as a distribution taxable as a dividend unless an
applicable exception applies, in which case it will be treated as a sale or exchange of the redeemed shares taxable
as described under the caption “—Taxation of Capital Gains” above.
The redemption will be treated as a sale or exchange if it (1) results in a “complete termination” of a U.S.
Holder’s interest in our stock (2) is not “essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to a U.S. Holder, or
(3) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a U.S. Holder, all within the meaning of section 302(b) of
the Code. In determining whether any of these tests have been met, stock considered to be owned by a U.S.
Holder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules, as well as shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder,
must generally be taken into account. If a particular U.S. Holder of depositary shares does not own (actually or
constructively) any additional stock, or owns only an insubstantial percentage of our outstanding stock, and does
not participate in our control or management, a pro rata redemption of the depositary shares of such U.S. Holder
will generally qualify for sale or exchange treatment. However, because the determination as to whether any of
the alternative tests of section 302(b) of the Code will be satisfied with respect to any particular U.S. Holder of
depositary shares depends upon the facts and circumstances at the time that the determination must be made,
prospective U.S. Holders of depositary shares are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax
treatment of a redemption. If a redemption of depositary shares is treated as a distribution, the entire amount
received will be treated as a distribution and will be taxable as described under the caption “—Taxation of
Dividends” above.
Non-U.S. Holders
The following discussion is a summary of certain United States federal tax consequences that will apply to you if
you are a non-U.S. Holder of depositary shares. Special rules may apply to certain non-U.S. Holders, such as
“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and certain expatriates, among others,
that are subject to special treatment under the Code. Such non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors to
determine the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.
Taxation of Dividends
If you are a non-U.S. Holder of depositary shares, dividends paid to you generally will be subject to withholding
of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income
tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by a
non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a
United States permanent establishment) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided certain certification and
disclosure requirements (generally on an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8ECI) are satisfied. Instead,
such dividends are subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the
non-U.S. Holder were a United States person as defined under the Code. Any such effectively connected
dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or
such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
A non-U.S. Holder of depositary shares who wishes to claim the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty and
avoid backup withholding, as discussed below, for dividends will be required (a) to complete IRS Form W-8BEN
(or other applicable form) and certify under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as
S-33
defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits or (b) if depositary shares are held through certain
foreign intermediaries, to satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury
regulations. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-U.S. Holders that are pass-through
entities rather than corporations or individuals.
A non-U.S. Holder of depositary shares eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax pursuant to
an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for
refund with the IRS.
Taxation of Capital Gains
If you are a non-U.S. Holder, any gain realized on the disposition of depositary shares generally will not be
subject to United States federal income tax unless:
• the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the non-U.S. Holder in the United States
(and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent
establishment of the non-U.S. Holder);
• the non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the
taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or
• we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for United States federal
income tax purposes.
An individual non-U.S. Holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will be subject to tax on the
net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates. An individual
non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the
gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though the
individual is not considered a resident of the United States. If a non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation falls
under the first bullet point immediately above, it will be subject to tax on its net gain in the same manner as if it
were a United States person as defined under the Code and, in addition, may be subject to the branch profits tax
equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be specified by an
applicable income tax treaty.
We believe we are not and do not anticipate becoming a “United States real property holding corporation” for
United States federal income tax purposes.
Federal Estate Tax
Depositary shares owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as defined for
United States federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at the time of his or her death will be included in
the individual’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes (unless an applicable treaty provides
otherwise) and therefore may be subject to United States federal estate tax.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
U.S. Holders
In general, information reporting will apply to dividends in respect of depositary shares and the proceeds from the sale,
exchange or redemption of depositary shares that are paid to you within the United States (and in certain cases, outside
the United States), unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation. A backup withholding tax (currently at a
28% rate) may apply to such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number (generally on an IRS
Form W-9) or certification of other exempt status or fail to report in full dividend and interest income.
S-34
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or as a credit against your
United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. Holder the amount of dividends paid to such holder and
the tax withheld with respect to such dividends. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and
withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. Holder resides
under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.
A non-U.S. Holder will be subject to backup withholding (currently at a 28% rate) for dividends paid to such
holder unless such holder certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. Holder (and the payor does not
have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person as defined under the Code),
or such holder otherwise establishes an exemption (such as its corporate status). Dividends subject to withholding
of U.S. federal income tax as described under the caption “Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Dividends” above
will not be subject to backup withholding.
Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a
sale of depositary shares within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial
intermediaries, unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalty of perjury that it is a non-U.S. Holder (and the
payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a United States person as
defined under the Code), or such owner otherwise establishes an exemption (such as its corporate status).
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or as a credit against a
non-U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the
IRS.
You should consult your tax advisor regarding the application of the information reporting and backup
withholding rules to you.
Additional Withholding Requirements
Under legislation enacted in 2010 and administrative guidance, a 30% United States federal withholding tax may
apply to dividend income paid after December 31, 2013, and the gross proceeds from a disposition of a
depositary share occurring after December 31, 2016, in each case paid to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as
specifically defined in the legislation), whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an
intermediary, unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States
“account” holders (as specifically defined in the legislation) and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii)
a non-financial foreign entity, whether such non-financial foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an
intermediary, unless such entity provides a certification that the beneficial owner of the payment does not have
any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each
such substantial United States owner and certain other specified requirements are met. In certain cases, the
relevant foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity may qualify for an exemption from, or be
deemed to be in compliance with, these rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding this legislation
and whether it may be relevant to your ownership and disposition of depositary shares.
S-35
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of the depositary shares by
employee benefit plans to which Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, which we refer to as ERISA, applies; plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements to
which Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or
regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code, which we collectively refer to as Similar
Laws, apply; and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan,
account or arrangement (each of which we call a Plan).
Each fiduciary of a Plan should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA or any applicable Similar Laws in the
context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the depositary shares.
Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the
prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA or any applicable Similar Laws and would be consistent
with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Plans subject to such provisions, which we call
ERISA Plans, from engaging in certain transactions involving “plan assets” with persons that are “parties in
interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code with respect to the ERISA Plans. A violation of
these “prohibited transaction” rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or
Section 4975 of the Code for those persons unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable class,
individual, statutory or administrative exemption. Certain employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as
defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and non-U.S.
plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code, but may be subject to Similar Laws.
Prohibited transactions within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code could arise if
the depositary shares were acquired by an ERISA Plan with respect to which we or any of our affiliates are a
party in interest or a disqualified person. For example, if we are a party in interest or disqualified person with
respect to an investing ERISA Plan (either directly or by reason of our ownership of our subsidiaries), an
extension of credit prohibited by Section 406(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(B) of the Code between
the investing ERISA Plan and us may be deemed to occur, unless exemptive relief were available under an
applicable exemption. In this regard, the United States Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction
class exemptions, or PTCEs, that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions
resulting from the purchase, holding or disposition of the depositary shares. Those class exemptions include:
• PTCE 96-23—for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers;
• PTCE 95-60—for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts;
• PTCE 91-38—for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds;
• PTCE 90-1—for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; and
• PTCE 84-14—for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset
managers.
In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Code Section 4975(d)(20) provide a limited exemption for the
purchase and sale of securities and related lending transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities
nor any of its affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice
S-36
with respect to the assets of any ERISA Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the ERISA
Plan pays no more than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider
exemption”).
No assurance can be made that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied.
Because of the possibility that direct or indirect prohibited transactions or similar violations of Similar Laws
could occur as a result of the purchase of the depositary shares by a Plan, the depositary shares may not be
purchased by any Plan, or any person investing the assets of any Plan, unless its purchase and holding of the
depositary shares will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code or
similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws. Any purchaser or holder of the depositary shares or any interest
in the depositary shares will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding of the depositary shares
that either:
• it is not a Plan and is not purchasing the depositary shares or interest in the depositary shares on
behalf of or with the assets of any Plan; or
• its purchase and holding of the depositary shares or interest in the depositary shares will not constitute
or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code or a similar violation of any
applicable Similar Laws.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited
transactions, it is important that any person considering the purchase of depositary shares on behalf of or with the
assets of any Plan consult with its counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA, the Code and any
applicable Similar Laws of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of depositary shares, whether any
exemption would be applicable, and whether all conditions of such exemption have been satisfied such that the
acquisition and holding of the depositary shares by the Plan are entitled to full exemptive relief thereunder.
Nothing herein shall be construed as, and the sale of depositary shares to a Plan is in no respect, a representation
by us or the underwriters that any investment in the depositary shares would meet any or all of the relevant legal
requirements with respect to investment by, or is appropriate for, Plans generally or any particular Plan.
S-37
UNDERWRITING
JPMorgan Chase and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement relating to the
offer and sale of the depositary shares. In the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter,
and each underwriter has agreed to purchase from us, the number of depositary shares set forth opposite its name
below:
Name
Number of
Depositary
Shares
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC ..................................................... 1,335,000
Banca IMI S.p.A. ............................................. .................. 16,875
Commerz Markets LLC ........................................ .................. 16,875
Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. ............................. .................. 16,875
Lloyds TSB Bank plc. .......................................... .................. 16,875
Mizuho Securities USA Inc. ..................................... .................. 16,875
RBS Securities Inc. ............................................ .................. 16,875
SG Americas Securities, LLC ...................................................... 16,875
Standard Chartered Bank ........................................ ................. 16,875
Loop Capital Markets LLC ...................................... .................. 7,500
Mischler Financial Group, Inc. ................................... .................. 7,500
Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. ......................................................... 7,500
The Williams Capital Group, L.P. ................................. ................. 7,500
Total .................................................................. 1,500,000
The obligations of the underwriters under the underwriting agreement, including their agreement to purchase the
depositary shares from us, are several and not joint. Those obligations are also subject to the satisfaction of
certain conditions in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the depositary
shares if any are purchased.
The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the depositary shares to the public at the public
offering price that appears on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. After the initial public offering, the
underwriters may change the public offering price and any other selling terms.
We will pay our expenses related to this offering, which we estimate will be $150,000.
In addition, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).
Each underwriter has represented to us and agreed with us that it has not made and will not make an offer of the
depositary shares to the public in any member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the
Prospectus Directive (a “Relevant Member State”) from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive
is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”). However, an underwriter
may make an offer of the depositary shares to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time on or after
the Relevant Implementation Date to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus
Directive, or in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that, in
each case, no such offer of the depositary shares shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus
pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. For the purposes of the foregoing, the expression an “offer of
the depositary shares to the public” in relation to any depositary shares in any Relevant Member State means the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the
depositary shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the depositary
shares, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus
S-38
Directive in that Relevant Member State; and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC
(and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member
State) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.
JPMorgan Chase’s affiliates, including J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, may use this prospectus supplement and the
attached prospectus in connection with offers and sales of the depositary shares in the secondary market. These
affiliates may act as principal or agent in those transactions. Secondary market sales will be made at prices
related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, our principal U.S. broker-dealer subsidiary, is a member of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and may participate in distributions of the offered securities. Accordingly,
offerings of offered securities in which J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, or any other U.S. broker-dealer subsidiary
participates will conform to the requirements set forth in Rule 5121 of the FINRA regulations. Under Rule 5121,
none of the named underwriters is permitted to sell depositary shares in this offering to an account over which it
exercises discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer to which the account relates.
In connection with this offering, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing
transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a
short position for the underwriters. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the depositary shares in the
open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the depositary shares. Syndicate
covering transactions involve purchases of the depositary shares in the open market after the distribution has
been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the managing underwriter to
reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the depositary shares originally sold by that
syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the depositary
shares to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. If J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
engages in stabilizing, syndicate covering transactions or penalty bids it may discontinue them at any time.
Certain of the underwriters engage in transactions with and perform services for us and our affiliates in the
ordinary course of business.
We will deliver the depositary shares to the underwriters at the closing of this offering when the underwriters pay
us the purchase price of the depositary shares.
The underwriting agreement provides that the closing will occur on April 23, 2013, which is five business days
after the date of this prospectus supplement. Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 generally
requires that securities trades in the secondary market settle in three business days, unless the parties to a trade
expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade depositary shares on any date prior to the
third business day before delivery will be required, by virtue of the fact that the depositary shares will settle in
five business days, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed
settlement. Such purchasers should also consult their own advisors in this regard.
S-39
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated
in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of JPMorgan Chase for the year
ended December 31, 2012 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, will deliver an opinion for us regarding the validity of
the Preferred Stock and the related depositary shares. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York, will
provide a similar opinion for the underwriters. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has represented and continues to
represent us and our subsidiaries in a substantial number of matters on a regular basis.
S-40
Prospectus
JPM
ORGAN
C
HASE
&C
O
.
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Common Stock
Warrants
Units
These securities may be offered from time to time, in amounts, on terms and at prices that will be
determined at the time they are offered for sale. These terms and prices will be described in more detail in one or
more supplements to this prospectus, which will be distributed at the time the securities are offered.
You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.
This prospectus may not be used to sell any of the securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus
supplement.
The securities may be sold to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents, directly to purchasers or
through a combination of these methods. If an offering of securities involves any underwriters, dealers or agents,
then the applicable prospectus supplement will name the underwriters, dealers or agents and will provide
information regarding any fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or
agents.
These securities are not deposits or other obligations of a bank and are not insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
These securities have not been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state
securities commission, nor have these organizations determined that this prospectus is accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus is dated October 13, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY ............................ 2
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS
TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED
STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS .... 6
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT JPMORGAN
CHASE .............................. 7
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT MAY
AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS ........... 8
USE OF PROCEEDS ..................... 10
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES ..... 11
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK .... 20
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK ...... 25
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
WARRANTS .......................... 26
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENCY
WARRANTS .......................... 26
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS ................ 28
BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE ............... 29
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (Conflicts
of Interest) ........................... 32
EXPERTS .............................. 33
LEGAL OPINIONS ...................... 33
1
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this document and may not contain all of the
information that is important to you. To understand the terms of our securities, you should carefully read:
• this prospectus, which explains the general terms of the securities we may offer;
• the attached prospectus supplement, which gives the specific terms of the particular securities we are
offering and may change or update information in this prospectus; and
• the documents we have referred you to in “Where You Can Find More Information About JPMorgan
Chase” on page 7 for information about our company and our financial statements.
Certain capitalized terms used in this summary are defined elsewhere in this prospectus.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co., which we refer to as “JPMorgan Chase,” “we” or “us,” is a financial holding
company incorporated under Delaware law in 1968. We are a leading global financial services firm and one of
the largest banking institutions in the United States, with approximately $2.0 trillion in assets, approximately
$171.1 billion in total stockholders’ equity and operations in more than 60 countries as of June 30, 2010. To find
out how to obtain more information about us, see “Where You Can Find More Information About JPMorgan
Chase” on page 7 of this prospectus.
Our principal executive offices are located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and our
telephone number is (212) 270-6000.
The Securities We May Offer
This prospectus is part of a registration statement (the “registration statement”) that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process,
we may offer from time to time an indeterminate amount of any of the following securities:
• debt;
• preferred stock;
• depositary shares;
• common stock;
• warrants; and
• units.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer
securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of
the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained
in this prospectus. References to this prospectus or the prospectus supplement also means the information
contained in other documents we have filed with the SEC and have referred you to in this prospectus. If this
prospectus is inconsistent with the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. You
should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the additional information that we refer
you to, as discussed under “Where You Can Find More Information About JPMorgan Chase” on page 7 of this
prospectus.
2
Debt Securities
We may use this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to offer our unsecured general debt
obligations, which may be senior or subordinated. The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of our
other unsecured, unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be entitled to payment only after
payment on our “Senior Indebtedness,” which includes the senior debt securities. In addition, under certain
circumstances relating to our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or insolvency, the subordinated
debt securities will be entitled to payment only after the payment of claims relating to “Additional Senior
Obligations.” For the definitions of Senior Indebtedness and Additional Senior Obligations, see “Description of
Debt Securities—Subordinated Debt Securities—Subordination” beginning on page 16 below.
New series of senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas, as trustee. New series of subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture
between us and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee. We have summarized below certain general
features of the debt securities from the indentures. We encourage you to read the indentures, which are exhibits
to the registration statement.
We are a holding company that conducts substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. As a result,
claims of the holders of the debt securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our
subsidiaries, except to the extent that JPMorgan Chase may be recognized, and receives payment, as a creditor of
those subsidiaries. Claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors other than JPMorgan Chase include substantial amounts
of long-term debt, deposit liabilities, federal funds purchased, securities loaned or sold under repurchase
agreements, commercial paper and other borrowed funds.
General Indenture Provisions that Apply to the Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt
Securities
• Each indenture allows us to issue different types of debt securities, including indexed securities.
• Neither of the indentures limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue or provides you with
any protection should there be a highly leveraged transaction, recapitalization or restructuring
involving JPMorgan Chase.
• The indentures allow us to consolidate or merge with another corporation, or to convey, transfer or
lease all or substantially all of our assets to another corporation. If one of these events occurs, the other
corporation will be required to assume our responsibilities relating to the debt securities, and, except in
the case of a lease, we will be released from all liabilities and obligations.
• The indentures provide that holders of a majority of the total principal amount of outstanding debt
securities of any series may vote to change certain of our obligations or certain of your rights
concerning the debt securities of that series. However, to change the amount or timing of principal,
interest or other payments under the debt securities of a series, every holder in the series affected by the
change must consent.
• If an event of default (as described below) occurs with respect to any series of debt securities, the
trustee or holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of that series may declare the principal
amount of the series immediately payable. However, holders of a majority of the principal amount may
rescind this action.
General Indenture Provisions that Apply Only to Senior Debt Securities
We have agreed in the indenture applicable to the senior debt securities, which we refer to as the “senior
indenture,” that we and our subsidiaries will not sell, assign, transfer, grant a security interest in or otherwise
dispose of the voting stock of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, which we refer to as the “Bank,” and
3
that the Bank will not issue its voting stock, unless the sale or issuance is for fair market value and we and our
subsidiaries would own at least 80% of the voting stock of the Bank following the sale or issuance. This covenant
would not prevent us from completing a merger, consolidation or sale of substantially all of our assets. In
addition, this covenant would not prevent the merger or consolidation of the Bank into another domestic bank if
JPMorgan Chase and its subsidiaries would own at least 80% of the voting stock of the successor entity after the
merger or consolidation.
If we satisfy certain conditions in the senior indenture, we may discharge that indenture at any time by
depositing with the trustee sufficient funds or government obligations to pay the senior debt securities when due.
Events of Default. The senior indenture provides that the following are events of default with respect to any
series of senior debt securities:
• default in the payment of interest on any senior debt securities of that series and continuance of that
default for 30 days;
• default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, any senior debt securities of that series at
maturity;
• default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment on that series of senior debt securities and
continuance of that default for five days;
• failure by us for 90 days after notice by the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series to perform any of the other covenants or
warranties in the senior indenture applicable to that series;
• specified events of bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency of JPMorgan Chase or the Bank; and
• any other event of default specified with respect to senior debt securities of that series.
Each series of senior debt securities issued prior to November 1, 2007 (A) includes additional events of
default applicable in the event that (i) we default in the payment of principal when due on JPMorgan Chase debt
in excess of a specified amount or (ii) the maturity of more than a specified amount of our debt is accelerated and
the acceleration is not rescinded and (B) provides a shorter grace period for a covenant breach than provided
above. Certain series of debt securities that we assumed in connection with our merger with The Bear Stearns
Companies LLC (formerly known as The Bear Stearns Companies Inc.), which we refer to as “Bear Stearns,”
include additional events of default as well. Accordingly, the senior debt securities offered by use of this
prospectus will not have the benefit of the additional events of default and shorter covenant breach grace period
applicable to some of our senior debt.
General Indenture Provisions that Apply Only to Subordinated Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to all “Senior Indebtedness,” which includes all
indebtedness for money borrowed by us, except indebtedness that is stated not to be senior to, or that is stated to
have the same rank as, the subordinated debt securities or other securities having the same rank as or that are
subordinated to the subordinated debt securities.
Upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or insolvency, creditors holding “Additional
Senior Obligations” would also be entitled to full payment before we could distribute any amounts to holders of
the subordinated debt securities. Additional Senior Obligations include indebtedness for claims under derivative
products, including interest and foreign exchange and commodity contracts, but exclude claims in respect of
Senior Indebtedness or claims in respect of subordinated obligations.
At June 30, 2010, approximately $191.4 billion of Senior Indebtedness and Additional Senior Obligations
were outstanding.
4
Events of Default. The indenture for the subordinated debt securities, which we refer to as the “subordinated
indenture,” provides that the following are events of default with respect to any series of subordinated debt
securities:
• specified events of bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency of JPMorgan Chase; and
• any other event specified with respect to subordinated debt securities of that series.
Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares
We may use this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to offer our preferred stock, par value
$1 per share, in one or more series. We will determine the dividend, voting, conversion and other rights of the
series being offered, and the terms and conditions relating to the offering and sale of the series, at the time of the
offer and sale. We may also issue fractional shares of preferred stock that will be represented by depositary
shares and depositary receipts.
Common Stock
We may use this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to offer our common stock, par value
$1 per share. Subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to
receive dividends when declared by our board of directors (which may also refer to a board committee). Each
holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of common stock have no preemptive
rights or cumulative voting rights.
Warrants
We may use this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to offer warrants for the purchase of
debt securities, preferred stock or common stock, which we refer to as “securities warrants.” We may also offer
warrants for the cash value in U.S. dollars of the right to purchase or sell foreign or composite currencies, which
we refer to as “currency warrants.” We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities.
Units
We may use this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to offer any combination of debt
securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock and warrants issued by us, debt obligations or other
securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property together as units. In the applicable
prospectus supplement, we will describe the particular combination of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary
shares, common stock and warrants issued by us, or debt obligations or other securities of an entity affiliated or
not affiliated with us or other property constituting any units, and any other specific terms of the units.
Conflicts of Interest
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and, as such, is deemed to have a
“conflict of interest” in any offering pursuant to this prospectus within the meaning of NASD Rule 2720 (“Rule
2720”). Consequently, any offer or sale of offered securities will be conducted in compliance with the provisions
of Rule 2720. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is not permitted to sell securities pursuant to this prospectus to an
account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account
holder.
5
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
Our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges and our consolidated ratios of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements are as follows:
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2010
Year Ended December 31,
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Excluding Interest on Deposits ...................... 3.48 2.47 1.17 1.95 1.93 1.75
Including Interest on Deposits ...................... 2.82 2.02 1.10 1.50 1.52 1.46
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividend Requirements:
Excluding Interest on Deposits ...................... 3.17 1.88 1.12 1.95 1.93 1.74
Including Interest on Deposits ...................... 2.63 1.66 1.07 1.50 1.52 1.46
For purposes of computing the above ratios, earnings represent net income from continuing operations plus
total taxes based on income and fixed charges. Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, include interest
expense (other than on deposits), one-third (the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor) of rents,
net of income from subleases, and capitalized interest. Fixed charges, including interest on deposits, include all
interest expense, one-third (the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor) of rents, net of income
from subleases, and capitalized interest.
6
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT JPMORGAN CHASE
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our
SEC filings are available to the public on the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our filings
can also be inspected and printed or copied, for a fee, at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, or you can contact that office by phone: (800) SEC-0330. Please call the SEC at 1-800-
SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Such documents, reports and information are
also available on our website: http://www.jpmorgan.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of
this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in documents we file
with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and later information that we
file with the SEC will update and supersede this information.
We incorporate by reference (i) the documents listed below and (ii) any future filings we make with the SEC
after the date of this prospectus under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
until our offering is completed, other than, in each case, those documents or the portions of those documents
which are furnished and not filed:
(a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009;
(b) Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010;
(c) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2010, January 25, 2010, April 1, 2010,
April 14, 2010, May 20, 2010, May 26, 2010, June 24, 2010 (two filings), July 15, 2010 and July 22, 2010;
and
(d) The descriptions of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement filed under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating that description, and any other Registration Statement on Form 8-A relating to any securities
offered by this prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:
Office of the Secretary
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
212-270-4040
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or
any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information.
We are not making an offer of securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not
assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any document
incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the applicable
document.
7
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
From time to time, we have made and will make forward-looking statements. These statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements
often use words such as “anticipate,” “target,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “believe,” or other
words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations or forecasts of future
events, circumstances, results or aspirations. Our disclosures in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and
any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We also may make forward-looking statements
in other documents filed or furnished with the SEC. In addition, our senior management may make forward-
looking statements orally to analysts, investors, representatives of the media and others.
All forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond our control. JPMorgan Chase’s actual future results may differ materially from those set forth in our
forward-looking statements. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is
complete, below are certain factors which could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking
statements:
• local, regional and international business, economic and political conditions and geopolitical events;
• changes in financial services regulation;
• changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws;
• securities and capital markets behavior, including changes in market liquidity and volatility;
• changes in investor sentiment or consumer spending or savings behavior;
• our ability to manage our liquidity effectively;
• credit ratings assigned to us or our subsidiaries;
• our reputation;
• our ability to deal effectively with an economic slowdown or other economic or market difficulty;
• technology changes instituted by us, our counterparties or competitors;
• mergers and acquisitions, including our ability to integrate acquisitions;
• our ability to develop new products and services, and the extent to which products or services
previously sold by us require us to incur liabilities or absorb losses not contemplated at their initiation
or origination;
• acceptance of our new and existing products and services by the marketplace and our ability to increase
market share;
• our ability to attract and retain employees;
• our ability to control expense;
• competitive pressures;
• changes in the credit quality of our customers and counterparties;
• adequacy of our risk management framework;
• changes in laws and regulatory requirements;
• adverse judicial proceedings;
• changes in applicable accounting policies;
8
• our ability to determine accurate values of certain assets and liabilities; and
• occurrence of natural or man-made disasters or calamities or conflicts, including any effect of any such
disasters, calamities or conflicts on our power generation facilities and our other commodity-related
activities.
Additional factors that may cause future results to differ materially from forward-looking statements can be
found in portions of our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. These factors include, for example, those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most
recent annual and quarterly reports, to which reference is hereby made.
Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of us in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus
supplement or in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus speak only as of the date of this
prospectus, the prospectus supplement or the document incorporated by reference, as the case may be. We do not
undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after
the date the forward-looking statement was made.
9
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds we
receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement for
general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include the repayment of debt, investments in or
extensions of credit to our subsidiaries, redemption of our securities or the financing of possible acquisitions or
business expansion. We may invest the net proceeds temporarily or apply them to repay debt until we are ready
to use them for their stated purpose.
10
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
General
We have described below some general terms that may apply to the debt securities we may offer by use of
this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. We will describe the particular terms of any debt
securities we offer to you in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.
The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We will issue the
senior debt securities under a senior indenture between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as
trustee. We will issue the subordinated debt securities under a subordinated indenture between us and U.S. Bank
Trust National Association, as trustee.
The following summary is not complete. You should refer to the indentures, copies of which are exhibits to
the registration statement.
The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. Each of the indentures provides
that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount we authorize from time to time. The senior debt
securities will be unsecured and will have the same rank as all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.
The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinated and junior to all Senior Indebtedness
as defined below under “— Subordinated Debt Securities — Subordination.” In addition, under certain
circumstances relating to our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or insolvency, the subordinated
debt securities will be junior to all Additional Senior Obligations, as defined and to the extent set forth below
under “— Subordinated Debt Securities — Subordination.”
We are a holding company that conducts substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. As a result,
claims of the holders of the debt securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our
subsidiaries, except to the extent that JPMorgan Chase is recognized, and receives payment, as a creditor of those
subsidiaries. Claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors other than JPMorgan Chase include substantial amounts of
long-term debt, deposit liabilities, federal funds purchased, securities sold or loaned under repurchase
agreements, commercial paper and other borrowed funds.
We may issue the debt securities in one or more separate series of senior debt securities and/or subordinated
debt securities. We will specify in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities
being offered the particular amounts, prices and terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:
• the title and type of the debt securities;
• any limit on the aggregate principal amount or aggregate initial offering price of the debt securities;
• the purchase price of the debt securities;
• the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable and the amount payable upon
acceleration;
• the interest rates of the debt securities, including the interest rates, if any, applicable to overdue
payments, or the method for determining those rates, and the interest payment dates for the debt
securities;
• the places where payments may be made on the debt securities;
• any mandatory or optional redemption provisions applicable to the debt securities;
• any sinking fund or similar provisions applicable to the debt securities;
• the authorized denominations of the debt securities, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000;
11
• if denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies, including composite
currencies, in which payments on the debt securities will be payable (which currencies may be different
for principal, premium and interest payments);
• any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to the debt securities;
• any addition to, deletion from or change in the events of default applicable to the debt securities;
• any addition to, deletion from or change in the covenants applicable to the debt securities; and
• any other specific terms of the debt securities.
We may issue some of the debt securities as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount
debt securities will bear no interest or will bear interest at a below-market rate and will be sold at a discount
below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement will contain any special tax, accounting or other
information relating to original issue discount debt securities. If we offer other kinds of debt securities, including
debt securities linked to an index or payable in currencies other than U.S. dollars, the prospectus supplement
relating to those debt securities will also contain any special tax, accounting or other information relating to those
debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities only in registered form without coupons. The indentures permit us to issue
debt securities of a series in certificated form or in permanent global form. You will not be required to pay a
service charge for any transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require payment of any taxes or other
governmental charges.
We will pay principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities at the corporate
trust office of our paying agent, The Bank of New York Mellon, in New York City. You may also make transfers
or exchanges of debt securities at that location. We also have the right to pay interest on any debt securities by
check mailed to the registered holders of the debt securities at their registered addresses. In connection with any
payment on a debt security, we may require the holder to certify information to JPMorgan Chase. In the absence
of that certification, we may rely on any legal presumption to enable us to determine our responsibilities, if any,
to deduct or withhold taxes, assessments or governmental charges from the payment.
The indentures do not limit our ability to enter into a highly leveraged transaction or provide you with any
special protection in the event of such a transaction. In addition, neither of the indentures provides special
protection in the event of a sudden and dramatic decline in our credit quality resulting from a takeover,
recapitalization or similar restructuring of JPMorgan Chase.
We may issue debt securities upon the exercise of securities warrants or upon exchange or conversion of
exchangeable or convertible debt securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any of
those securities warrants or exchangeable or convertible securities. It will also describe the specific terms of the
debt securities or other securities issuable upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of those securities. See
“Description of Securities Warrants” below.
Each of the indentures contains a provision that, if made applicable to any series of senior or subordinated
debt securities, respectively, permits us to elect:
• defeasance, which would discharge us from all of our obligations (subject to limited exceptions) with
respect to any debt securities of that series then outstanding, and/or
• covenant defeasance, which would release us from our obligations under specified covenants,
including, with respect to any series of senior securities, the covenant described under “Senior Debt
Securities—Limitation on Disposition of Stock of the Bank”, and the consequences of the occurrence
of an event of default resulting from a breach of those covenants.
12
To make either of the above elections, we must deposit in trust with the respective trustee money and/or
U.S. government obligations (as defined below) which, through the payment of principal and interest in
accordance with their terms, will provide sufficient money, without reinvestment, to repay in full those senior or
subordinated debt securities, as the case may be. As used in the indentures, “U.S. government obligations” are:
(1) direct obligations of the United States or of an agency or instrumentality of the United States, in either case
that are, or are guaranteed as, full faith and credit obligations of the United States and that are not redeemable by
the issuer; and (2) certain depositary receipts with respect to an obligation referred to in clause (1).
As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel
that the holders of the senior or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, will not recognize income, gain,
or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to
federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. That opinion, in the case of defeasance but not covenant
defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a ruling received by us from the Internal Revenue Service or
published as a revenue ruling or be based upon a change in applicable federal income tax law.
If we exercise our covenant defeasance option with respect to a particular series of debt securities, then even
if there were a default under the defeased covenant, payment of those debt securities could not be accelerated.
We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to a particular series of debt securities even if we previously
had exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our defeasance option, payment of those debt
securities may not be accelerated because of any event of default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option
and an acceleration were to occur, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and U.S. government
obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on those debt securities.
This is because the required deposit of money and/or U.S. government obligations in the defeasance trust is based
upon scheduled cash flows rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other
factors.
We and the trustees may modify either indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority
in principal amount of each series of outstanding debt securities affected by the modification. However, without
the consent of each affected holder, no such modification may:
• change the stated maturity of any debt security;
• reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, on, any debt security;
• change the rate or method of computation of the interest on any debt security;
• reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount debt security that would be due and
payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
• reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous
obligation;
• change the currency or currencies in which any debt security is payable;
• impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on a debt security on or after the
stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date);
• reduce the percentage of holders of outstanding debt securities of any series required to consent to any
modification, amendment or any waiver under the applicable indenture; or
• change the provisions in the applicable indenture that relate to its modification or amendment.
13
In addition, we and the trustees may amend either indenture without the consent of the holders of debt
securities of any series for any of the following purposes:
• to evidence the succession of another company to us;
• to add to our covenants or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us;
• to add any additional events of default;
• to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form, certificated form or global form;
• to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture in respect of all or any
series of debt securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination will neither (i) apply to
any debt security issued prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to the benefit of such
provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the holders of any such debt securities with respect to such
provision;
• to conform the text of the applicable indenture or any debt securities to any provision of the
“Description of Debt Securities” in this prospectus or a similarly captioned section in any applicable
prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities;
• to provide security for or a guarantee of any series of debt securities;
• to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities;
• to provide for successor trustees or the appointment of more than one trustee; or
• to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of the applicable indenture which may be
inconsistent with any other provision thereof, or to make any other provisions as we may deem
necessary or desirable, provided such amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the holders
of any series of debt securities in any material respect.
We may, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, consolidate or merge with any other
person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to another person or permit another
corporation to merge into JPMorgan Chase, provided that:
(1) the successor is a corporation organized under U.S. laws;
(2) the successor, if not us, assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indentures;
(3) after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of
time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(4) other specified conditions are met.
Senior Debt Securities
The senior debt securities will be direct, unsecured general obligations of JPMorgan Chase and will
constitute Senior Indebtedness of JPMorgan Chase. For a definition of “Senior Indebtedness,” see
“— Subordinated Debt Securities — Subordination” below.
Limitation on Disposition of Stock of the Bank. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement
relating to a particular series of debt securities, the senior indenture contains a covenant by us that, so long as any of
the senior debt securities are outstanding, neither we nor any Intermediate Subsidiary (as defined below) will sell,
assign, grant a security interest in or otherwise dispose of any shares of voting stock of the Bank, or any securities
convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to purchase shares of voting stock of the Bank, except to JPMorgan
Chase or an Intermediate Subsidiary. In addition, the covenant provides that neither we nor any Intermediate
Subsidiary will permit the Bank to issue any shares of its voting stock, or securities convertible into, or options,
warrants or rights to purchase shares of its voting stock, nor will we permit any Intermediate Subsidiary that owns
any shares of voting stock of the Bank, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to purchase
shares of the Bank’s voting stock, to cease to be an Intermediate Subsidiary.
14
The above covenant is subject to our rights in connection with a consolidation or merger of JPMorgan Chase
with another person or a conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets to another person.
The covenant also will not apply if both:
(1) the disposition in question is made for fair market value, as determined by the board of directors of
JPMorgan Chase or the Intermediate Subsidiary; and
(2) after giving effect to the disposition, we and any one or more of our Intermediate Subsidiaries will
collectively own at least 80% of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Bank or any successor to the
Bank, free and clear of any security interest.
The above covenant also does not restrict the Bank from being consolidated with or merged into another
domestic banking institution if, after the merger or consolidation, (A) JPMorgan Chase, or its successor, and any
one or more Intermediate Subsidiaries own at least 80% of the voting stock of the resulting bank and (B) treating
for purposes of the indenture the resulting bank as the Bank, no event of default, and no event which, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have happened and be continuing.
The senior indenture defines an “Intermediate Subsidiary” as a subsidiary (1) that is organized under the
laws of any domestic jurisdiction and (2) of which all the shares of capital stock, and all securities convertible
into, and options, warrants and rights to purchase shares of capital stock, are owned directly by JPMorgan Chase,
free and clear of any security interest. As used above, “voting stock” means a class of stock having general
voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or
trustees irrespective of the happening of a contingency.
Defaults and Waivers. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series
of debt securities, the senior indenture defines an event of default with respect to any series of senior debt
securities as any one of the following events:
(1) default in the payment of interest on any senior debt securities of that series and continuance of that
default for 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, any senior debt securities of that
series at maturity;
(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment on that series of senior debt securities and
continuance of that default for five days;
(4) failure by us for 90 days after notice by the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series to perform any of the other covenants or
warranties in the senior indenture applicable to that series;
(5) specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of JPMorgan Chase or the Bank; and
(6) any other event of default specified with respect to senior debt securities of that series.
Each series of our senior debt securities created prior to November 1, 2007 (A) includes additional events of
default applicable in the event that (i) we default in the payment of principal when due on JPMorgan Chase debt
in excess of a specified amount or (ii) the maturity of more than a specified amount of our debt is accelerated and
the acceleration is not rescinded and (B) provides a shorter grace period for a covenant breach than provided
above. Certain series of debt securities that we assumed in connection with our merger with Bear Stearns include
additional events of default as well. Accordingly, new series of senior debt securities offered by use of this
prospectus will not have the benefit of the additional events of default and shorter covenant breach grace period
applicable to some of our senior debt securities.
If any event of default with respect to senior debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, either the
trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that
15
series may declare the principal amount (or, if the senior debt securities of that series are original issue discount
senior debt securities, a specified portion of the principal amount) of all senior debt securities of that series to be
due and payable immediately. No such declaration is required upon certain specified events of bankruptcy,
reorganization or insolvency. Subject to the conditions set forth in the indenture, the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series may annul the declaration and waive past
defaults, except uncured payment defaults and other specified defaults.
We will describe in the prospectus supplement any particular provisions relating to the acceleration of the
maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount senior debt securities upon an event of
default.
The senior indenture requires the trustee, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default known to it with
respect to any outstanding series of senior debt securities, to give the holders of that series notice of the default if
uncured or not waived. The trustee may withhold the notice if it determines in good faith that the withholding of
the notice is in the interest of those holders. However, the trustee may not withhold the notice in the case of a
default in the payment of principal, interest or any sinking or purchase fund installment. The trustee may not give
the above notice until at least 60 days after the occurrence of a default in the performance of a covenant in the
senior indenture, other than a covenant to make payment. The term “default” for the purpose of this provision
means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to
senior debt securities of that series.
Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during a default, the trustee is not obligated to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the senior indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of
senior debt securities, unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. The senior
indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding senior debt securities of any
series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
trustee for that series, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee. However, the trustee may
decline to act if the direction is contrary to law or the senior indenture and the trustee may take any other action
deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
The senior indenture includes a covenant requiring us to file annually with the trustee a certificate of no
default, or specifying any default that exists.
Subordinated Debt Securities
The subordinated debt securities will be direct, unsecured general obligations of JPMorgan Chase. The
subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness and, in
certain circumstances described below relating to our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or
insolvency, to all Additional Senior Obligations. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of debt,
including Senior Indebtedness or Additional Senior Obligations, we may incur. As of June 30, 2010, Senior
Indebtedness and Additional Senior Obligations totaled approximately $191.4 billion.
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of subordinated debt
securities, holders of the subordinated debt securities may not accelerate the maturity of the subordinated debt
securities, except in the event of our bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency, and may not accelerate the
subordinated debt securities if we fail to pay interest or fail to perform any other agreement in the subordinated
debt securities or the subordinated indenture. See “— Defaults and Waivers” below.
Subordination. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness and, under certain circumstances described below, to all Additional Senior Obligations.
The subordinated indenture defines “Senior Indebtedness” to mean the principal of, and premium, if any,
and interest on all indebtedness for money borrowed by us, whether outstanding on the date the subordinated
16
indenture became effective or created, assumed or incurred after that date, including all indebtedness for money
borrowed by another person that we guarantee. However, Senior Indebtedness does not include indebtedness that
is stated not to be senior to or to have the same rank as the subordinated debt securities or other securities having
the same rank as or that are subordinated to the subordinated debt securities. In particular, Senior Indebtedness
does not include (A) outstanding subordinated indebtedness that we assumed in connection with our merger with
Bear Stearns or with other entities, (B) the subordinated notes under the amended and restated indenture, dated as
of December 15, 1992, as amended, between us and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, and (C)
other debt of JPMorgan Chase that is expressly stated to have the same rank as or not to rank superior to the
subordinated debt securities or other securities having the same rank as or that are subordinated to the
subordinated debt securities.
The subordinated indenture defines “Additional Senior Obligations” to mean all indebtedness of JPMorgan
Chase, whether outstanding on the date the subordinated indenture became effective or created, assumed or
incurred after that date, for claims in respect of derivative products, such as interest and foreign exchange rate
contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements, except claims in respect of Senior Indebtedness and
except claims in respect of obligations that are expressly stated to have the same rank as or not to rank senior to
the subordinated debt securities. For purposes of this definition, “claim” shall have the meaning assigned in
Section 101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code and in effect on the date of execution of the subordinated
indenture.
Under the subordinated indenture, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities in the
event:
• we have failed to make full payment of all amounts of principal, and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, due on all Senior Indebtedness; or
• there shall exist any event of default on any Senior Indebtedness permitting the holders thereof to
accelerate the maturity thereof or any event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become
such an event of default.
In addition, upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or insolvency:
• we must pay to the holders of Senior Indebtedness the full amounts of principal of, and premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on the Senior Indebtedness before any payment or distribution is made on the
subordinated debt securities, and
• if, after we have made those payments on the Senior Indebtedness, there are amounts available for
payment on the subordinated debt securities and creditors in respect of Additional Senior Obligations
have not received their full payments, then we will first use such amounts to pay in full all Additional
Senior Obligations before we may make any payment on the subordinated debt securities.
No series of our subordinated debt securities described above (other than our junior subordinated
indebtedness and our Capital Efficient Notes issued in connection with the issuance of securities by our capital
trust subsidiaries) is subordinated to any other series of subordinated debt securities or to any other subordinated
indebtedness of JPMorgan Chase referred to above. However, due to the subordination provisions of the various
series of subordinated indebtedness issued by us and our predecessor institutions, and, in particular the fact that
some, but not all, of our outstanding subordinated indebtedness is subordinated in some circumstances to
Additional Senior Obligations (or to our derivative obligations or general obligations, as defined in the relevant
indentures governing such subordinated indebtedness issued by us or our predecessor institutions), in the event of
a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or insolvency, holders of the subordinated debt securities
that may be offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement may recover less, ratably,
than holders of some of our other series of outstanding subordinated indebtedness and more, ratably, than holders
of other series of our outstanding subordinated indebtedness.
No Limitation on Disposition of Voting Stock of the Bank. The subordinated indenture does not contain a
covenant prohibiting us from selling or otherwise disposing of any shares of voting stock of the Bank, or
17
securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to purchase shares of voting stock of the Bank. The
subordinated indenture also does not prohibit the Bank from issuing any shares of its voting stock or securities
convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to purchase shares of its voting stock.
Defaults and Waivers. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series
of debt securities, the subordinated indenture defines an event of default with respect to any series of
subordinated debt securities as follows:
• specified events of bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency of JPMorgan Chase;
• any other event specified with respect to subordinated debt securities of that series.
If any event of default with respect to subordinated debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing,
either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt
securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the subordinated debt securities of that series are
original issue discount subordinated debt securities, a specified portion of the principal amount) of all
subordinated debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. No such declaration is required
upon certain specified events of bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency . Subject to the conditions set forth in
the subordinated indenture, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt
securities of that series may annul the declaration and waive past defaults, except uncured payment defaults.
We will describe in the prospectus supplement any particular provisions relating to the acceleration of the
maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount subordinated debt securities upon an
event of default. In the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or insolvency of JPMorgan Chase,
any right to enforce that payment in cash would be subject to the broad equity powers of a federal bankruptcy
court and to its determination of the nature and status of the payment claims of the holders of the subordinated
debt securities.
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of subordinated debt
securities, there will be no right of acceleration of the payment of principal of the subordinated debt securities of
that series upon a default in the payment of principal or interest or a default in the performance of any covenant
or agreement in the subordinated debt securities or the subordinated indenture. In the event of a default in the
payment of principal, interest or a default in the performance of any covenant or agreement in the subordinated
debt securities or the subordinated indenture, the trustee may, subject to specified limitations and conditions, seek
to enforce that payment or the performance of that covenant or agreement.
The subordinated indenture requires the trustee, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default known to it
with respect to any outstanding series of subordinated debt securities, to give the holders of that series notice of
the default if uncured or not waived. The trustee may withhold the notice if it determines in good faith that the
withholding of the notice is in the interest of those holders. However, the trustee may not withhold the notice in
the case of a payment default. The term “default” for the purpose of this provision means any event that is, or
after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to subordinated debt
securities of that series.
Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during a default, the trustee is not obligated to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the subordinated indenture at the request or direction of any of the
holders of subordinated debt securities, unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or
indemnity. The subordinated indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding
subordinated debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the trustee for that series, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee.
However, the trustee may decline to act if the direction is contrary to law or the subordinated indenture and the
trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
18
The subordinated indenture includes a covenant requiring us to file annually with the trustee a certificate of
no default, or specifying any default that exists.
Information Concerning The Trustees
We and our subsidiaries may maintain deposits or conduct other banking transactions with the trustees
under the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture in the ordinary course of business. Deutsche Bank
Trust Company Americas is a trustee under certain of our existing indentures pursuant to which we have issued
and outstanding series of senior debt securities. U.S. Bank Trust National Association is a trustee under certain of
our existing indentures pursuant to which we have issued and outstanding series of subordinated debt securities.
19
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
General
Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized, without further stockholder
action, to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1 par value per share, in one or more series, and to
determine the voting powers and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each series. We may amend our certificate of
incorporation to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of preferred stock in a manner permitted by
our certificate of incorporation and the Delaware General Corporation Law. As of the date of this prospectus, we
have the following issued and outstanding series of preferred stock:
• Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series I; and
• 8.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series J.
We will describe the particular terms of any series of preferred stock being offered in the prospectus
supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:
• the number of shares being offered;
• the title and liquidation preference per share;
• the purchase price;
• the dividend rate or method for determining that rate;
• the dates on which dividends will be paid;
• whether dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which
dividends will begin to accumulate;
• any applicable redemption or sinking fund provisions;
• any applicable conversion provisions;
• whether we have elected to offer depositary shares with respect to that series of preferred stock; and
• any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights and restrictions
applicable to that series of preferred stock.
If the terms of any series of preferred stock being offered differ from the terms set forth below, we will also
disclose those different terms in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The
following summary is not complete. You should also refer to our certificate of incorporation and to the certificate
of designations relating to the series of the preferred stock being offered for the complete terms of that series of
preferred stock. A form of certificate of designations is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. We will
file the certificate of designations with respect to the particular series of preferred stock being offered with the
SEC promptly after the offering of that series of preferred stock.
The preferred stock will, when issued against full payment of the purchase price relating to a series of
preferred stock, be fully paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, in the
event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business, each series of preferred stock being offered will have the
same rank as to dividends and distributions as our currently outstanding preferred stock and each other series of
preferred stock we may offer in the future by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.
The preferred stock will have no preemptive rights.
Dividend Rights
Holders of the preferred stock offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement
will be entitled to receive, if, as and when declared by our board of directors, cash dividends at the rates and on
20
the dates set forth in the prospectus supplement. Dividend rates may be fixed or variable or both. Different series
of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different dividend rates or based upon different methods of
determination. We will pay each dividend to the holders of record as they appear on our stock register (or, if
applicable, the records of the depositary referred to below under “— Depositary Shares”) on record dates
determined by our board of directors. Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or
noncumulative, as specified in the prospectus supplement. If our board of directors fails to declare a dividend on
any series of preferred stock for which dividends are noncumulative, then your right to receive that dividend will
be lost, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend for that dividend period, whether or not we declare
dividends for any future dividend period.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock that we
offer by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement will provide that we may not declare or
pay or set aside for payment full dividends on any series of preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, equally with
or junior to the series of preferred stock we are offering unless we have previously declared and paid or set aside
for payment, or we contemporaneously declare and pay or set aside for payment, full dividends (including
cumulative dividends still owing, if any) on the series of preferred stock we are offering for, in the case of a
series of noncumulative preferred stock, the most recently completed dividend period, or, in the case of a series
of cumulative preferred stock, all past dividend periods. If we fail to pay dividends in full as stated above, we
may only declare dividends on equally ranking series pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share
on the series of preferred stock we are offering and the equally ranking series bear to each other the same ratio
that accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the series being offered and the other series bear to each
other. We will not pay interest or any sum of money instead of interest on any dividend payment that may be in
arrears on any series of preferred stock we are offering.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock we offer by use of
this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement will also provide that, unless we have paid or declared
and set aside for payment, in the case of a series of noncumulative preferred stock, full dividends in respect of the
most recently completed dividend period, or, in the case of a series of cumulative preferred stock, full dividends,
including cumulative dividends, if any, owing on that preferred stock for all past dividend periods, we will not:
• declare or make any dividend payment or distribution on any junior or equally ranking stock, other than
a dividend paid in junior or equally ranking stock or as provided in the preceding paragraph, or
• redeem, purchase, otherwise acquire or set aside money for a sinking fund for the redemption of any
junior or equally ranking stock, except by conversion into or exchange for junior ranking stock.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will compute the amount of
dividends payable by annualizing the applicable dividend rate and dividing by the number of dividend periods in
a year, except that the amount of dividends payable for any period greater or less than a full dividend period,
other than the initial dividend period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months and, for any period less than a full month, the actual number of days elapsed in the period. Dollar
amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded
upward.
Rights Upon Liquidation
In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up, either voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of each series of
preferred stock that we offer by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement will be entitled to
receive liquidating distributions in the amount set forth in the prospectus supplement plus, in the case of a series
of noncumulative preferred stock, unpaid dividends, without accumulation of undeclared dividends, if any, from
the day following the immediately preceding dividend payment date, to, but not including, the date of the
liquidating distribution, but without accumulation of any unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods, or, in the
21
case of a series of cumulative preferred stock, accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, before
we make any distribution of assets to the holders of our common stock. If we fail to pay in full all amounts
payable with respect to preferred stock offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus
supplement, and any stock having the same rank as that series of preferred stock, the holders of the preferred
stock and of that other stock will share in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective liquidating
distributions to which they are entitled. After the holders of each series of preferred stock and any stock having
the same rank as their preferred stock are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining
assets. For any series of preferred stock offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus
supplement, neither the sale of all or substantially all of our property or business nor a merger or consolidation by
us with or into any other entity will be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.
Redemption
The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate whether the series of preferred stock offered by use of
this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, whether at
our option or mandatorily and whether or not pursuant to a sinking fund. The redemption provisions that may
apply to a series of preferred stock offered, including the redemption dates, the redemption prices for that series
and whether those redemption prices will be paid in cash, stock or a combination of cash and stock, will be set
forth in the prospectus supplement. If the redemption price is to be paid only from the proceeds of the sale of our
capital stock, the terms of the series of preferred stock may also provide that, if our capital stock is not sold or if
the amount of cash received is insufficient to pay in full the redemption price then due, the series of preferred
stock will automatically be converted into shares of the applicable capital stock pursuant to conversion
provisions specified in the prospectus supplement.
If we are redeeming fewer than all the outstanding shares of preferred stock of any series, whether by
mandatory or optional redemption, our board of directors will determine the method for selecting the shares to be
redeemed, which may be by lot or pro rata or by any other method the board of directors determines to be
equitable. From and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accumulate on the shares of preferred
stock called for redemption and all rights of the holders of those shares, except the right to receive the
redemption price, will cease.
In the event that we fail to pay full dividends, including accumulated but unpaid dividends, if any, on any
series of preferred stock offered, we may not redeem that series in part and we may not purchase or acquire any
shares of that series of preferred stock, except by a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all
holders of that series of preferred stock.
Conversion Rights
The prospectus supplement will state the terms, if any, on which shares of the series of preferred stock
offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement are convertible into shares of our
common stock or other securities. As described under “— Redemption” above, under certain circumstances,
preferred stock may be mandatorily convertible into our common stock or another series of our preferred stock.
Voting Rights
Except as indicated below or in the applicable prospectus supplement, or except as expressly required by
applicable law, the holders of the preferred stock offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus
supplement will not be entitled to vote. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, each share of
preferred stock of each series will be entitled to one vote on matters on which holders of that series of preferred
stock are entitled to vote. However, as more fully described below under “— Depositary Shares,” if we use this
prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to offer depositary shares representing a fraction of a share
of a series of preferred stock, each depositary share, in effect, will be entitled to that fraction of a vote, rather
22
than a full vote. If (unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement) each full share of any series of
preferred stock offered is entitled to one vote, the voting power of that series will depend on the number of shares
in that series, and not on the aggregate liquidation preference or initial offering price of the shares of that series
of preferred stock.
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, if, at any time or times, the equivalent of six
quarterly dividends, whether or not consecutive, payable on any series of preferred stock being offered has not
been paid, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be automatically increased by two and
the holders of each outstanding series of preferred stock with such voting rights, together with holders of such
other preferred stock ranking on a parity with such series of preferred stock entitled to elect preferred directors,
voting together as a class, will be entitled to elect those additional two directors at that annual meeting and at
each subsequent annual meeting until full dividends have been paid for at least four quarterly consecutive
dividend periods. At that point, the right to elect directors will terminate, and the terms of office of the two
directors so elected will terminate immediately. The holders of shares of each such outstanding series of
preferred stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock ranking on a parity with such series of
preferred stock entitled to elect preferred directors, voting together as a class, may remove and replace either of
the directors they elected. If the office of either such preferred director becomes vacant for any reason other than
removal, the remaining preferred director may choose a successor who will hold office for the unexpired term of
the vacant office.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of each series of preferred
stock being offered will state that the approval of at least two-thirds of each such outstanding series of preferred
stock, together with holders of such other preferred stock ranking on a parity with such series of preferred stock
entitled to vote, voting together as a class, will be required to:
• authorize, create or issue any class or series of stock having a preference over such outstanding series
of preferred stock other than a series which does not have any right to object to such authorization,
creation or issuance; or
• amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the certificate of designations for such series of preferred stock
or our certificate of incorporation in a manner, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, that
would adversely affect the voting powers or other rights or preferences of the holders of such series of
preferred stock;
provided that if the amendment would adversely affect such series but not any other series of outstanding
preferred stock, then the amendment will only need to be approved by holders of at least two-thirds of the shares
of the series of preferred stock adversely affected.
Under regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve Board, if the holders of any series of our preferred stock
become entitled to vote for the election of directors because dividends on that series are in arrears, that series
may then be deemed a “class of voting securities.” In such a case, a holder of 25% or more of the series, or a
holder of 5% or more if that holder would also be considered to exercise a “controlling influence” over
JPMorgan Chase, may then be subject to regulation as a bank holding company in accordance with the Bank
Holding Company Act. In addition, (1) any other bank holding company may be required to obtain the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve Board to acquire or retain 5% or more of that series, and (2) any person other
than a bank holding company may be required to provide notice to the Federal Reserve Board prior to acquiring
or retaining 10% or more of that series.
Depositary Shares
General. We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of
preferred stock. If we do, we will arrange the issuance by a depositary of receipts for depositary shares, and each
of those depositary shares will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. We will
specify that fraction in the applicable prospectus supplement.
23
The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares offered by use of this prospectus
and an applicable prospectus supplement will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a
depositary selected by us. The depositary will be a bank or trust company and will have its principal office in the
United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. Subject to the terms of the deposit
agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in
the share of preferred stock underlying that depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred
stock underlying that depositary share, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of the preferred stock
which those depositary shares represent. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and
liquidation rights.
The depositary shares offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement will be
evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. The depositary will issue depositary
receipts to those persons who purchase the fractional interests in the preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares, in accordance with the terms of the offering. The following summary of the deposit agreement, the
depositary shares and the depositary receipts is not complete. You should refer to the forms of the deposit
agreement and depositary receipts that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement.
Dividends and Other Distributions. The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of related depositary receipts in
proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders.
If we make a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the
record holders of depositary receipts that are entitled to receive the distribution as nearly as practicable in
proportion to the number of depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not
feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of
distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of the property and distribution of the net proceeds from
the sale to the applicable holders of the depositary receipts.
Redemption of Depositary Shares. Upon redemption, in whole or in part, of shares of any series of preferred
stock that are held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of
depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. The redemption price per depositary
share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to that series
of the preferred stock.
Depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding after the applicable redemption date,
and all rights of the holders of those depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive any money,
securities, or other property upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing those
depositary shares.
Voting the Preferred Stock. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock
are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record
holders of the depositary shares representing that preferred stock. Each record holder of those depositary shares
on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, will be entitled to
instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of the preferred stock
underlying that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, to the extent practicable, to vote the number
of shares of preferred stock underlying those depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will
agree to take all action that the depositary deems necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The
depositary will not vote the shares of preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from
the holders of depositary shares representing the preferred stock.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement. We and the depositary may amend the form of
depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time
24
regarding any depositary shares offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.
However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares or
would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to holders of the underlying preferred
stock pursuant to our certificate of incorporation will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved
by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be
terminated by us or by the depositary only if:
• all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
• there has been a final distribution of the underlying preferred stock in connection with our liquidation,
dissolution or winding up and the preferred stock has been distributed to the holders of depositary
receipts.
Charges of Depositary. We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely
from the existence of the depositary arrangements regarding any depositary shares offered by use of this
prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. We will also pay charges of the depositary in connection
with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary
receipts will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and other charges with respect to their
depositary receipts as expressly provided in the deposit agreement.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary. The depositary for the depositary shares offered by use of this
prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement may resign at any time by delivering a notice to us of its
election to do so. We may remove the depositary at any time. Any such resignation or removal will take effect
upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of its appointment. We must appoint a
successor depositary within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. The successor
depositary must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.
Miscellaneous. The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications
from us that we deliver to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.
Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any
circumstance beyond our control in performing our respective obligations under the deposit agreement. Our
obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performing in good faith our respective duties under the
deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding
relating to any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the
depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons
presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons we believe to be competent,
and on documents we believe to be genuine.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue up to 9,000,000,000 shares of common stock.
As of June 30, 2010, we had 3,975,811,062 shares of common stock issued (excluding 129,122,833 shares held
in treasury).
The following summary is not complete. You should refer to the applicable provisions of our certificate of
incorporation and to the Delaware General Corporation Law for a complete statement of the terms and rights of
our common stock.
Dividends. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when declared by our board
of directors out of funds legally available for payment, subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock.
25
Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Subject to the rights, if any, of the
holders of any series of preferred stock under its applicable certificate of designations and applicable law, all voting
rights are vested in the holders of shares of our common stock. Holders of shares of our common stock have
noncumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
directors can elect 100% of the directors and the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors.
Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up,
the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share equally in any of our assets available for distribution
after we have paid in full all of our debts and after the holders of all series of our outstanding preferred stock
have received their liquidation preferences in full.
Miscellaneous. The issued and outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
Holders of shares of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights. Our common stock is not
convertible into shares of any other class of our capital stock. Mellon Investor Services LLC is the transfer agent,
registrar and dividend disbursement agent for our common stock.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS
We may issue securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. We
may issue securities warrants independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or
other securities, other property or any combination of those securities in the form of units. Each series of
securities warrants will be issued under a separate securities warrant agreement to be entered into between us and
a bank or trust company (which may be the Bank), as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our
agent under the applicable securities warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation to, or relationship of
agency or trust for or with, any registered holders or beneficial owners of securities warrants. This summary of
certain provisions of the securities warrants and the securities warrant agreement is not complete. You should
refer to the securities warrant agreement relating to the specific securities warrants being offered, including the
forms of securities warrant certificates representing those securities warrants, for the complete terms of the
securities warrant agreement and the securities warrants. Forms of those documents are filed as exhibits to the
registration statement.
Each securities warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the
number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth
in, the applicable prospectus supplement. The exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain events, as set forth in the prospectus supplement. We will also specify in the prospectus supplement the
place or places where, and the manner in which, securities warrants may be exercised. After the close of business
on the expiration date of the securities warrants, unexercised securities warrants will become void.
Prior to the exercise of any securities warrants, holders of the securities warrants will not have any of the
rights of holders of the debt securities, preferred stock or common stock, as the case may be, that may be
purchased upon exercise of those securities warrants, including, (1) in the case of securities warrants for the
purchase of debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on those debt securities or to enforce covenants in the senior indenture or subordinated indenture, as the case may
be, or (2) in the case of securities warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock, the right to
receive payments of dividends, if any, on that preferred stock or common stock or to exercise any applicable
right to vote.
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENCY WARRANTS
We have described below certain general terms and provisions of the currency warrants that we may offer.
We will describe the particular terms of the currency warrants and the extent, if any, to which the general
provisions described below do not apply to the currency warrants offered in the applicable prospectus
26
supplement. The following summary is not complete. You should refer to the currency warrants and the currency
warrant agreement relating to the specific currency warrants being offered for the complete terms of those
currency warrants. Forms of those documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement.
We will issue each issue of currency warrants under a currency warrant agreement to be entered into
between us and a bank or trust company (which may be the Bank), as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act
solely as our agent under the applicable currency warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation to, or
relationship of agency or trust for or with, any holders of currency warrants.
We may issue currency warrants either in the form of:
• currency put warrants, which entitle the holders to receive from us the cash settlement value in U.S.
dollars of the right to sell a specified amount of a specified foreign currency or composite currency (the
“designated currency”) for a specified amount of U.S. dollars; or
• currency call warrants, which entitle the holders to receive from us the cash settlement value in U.S. dollars
of the right to purchase a specified amount of a designated currency for a specified amount of U.S. dollars.
As a prospective purchaser of currency warrants, you should be aware of special United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to instruments such as the currency warrants. The prospectus supplement
relating to each issue of currency warrants will describe those tax considerations.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the currency warrants in
the form of global currency warrant certificates, registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee. See
“Book-Entry Issuance” below.
Each issue of currency warrants will be listed on a national securities exchange, subject only to official
notice of issuance, as a condition of sale of that issue of currency warrants. In the event that the currency
warrants are delisted from, or permanently suspended from trading on, the applicable national securities
exchange, the expiration date for those currency warrants will be the date the delisting or trading suspension
becomes effective, and currency warrants not previously exercised will be deemed automatically exercised on
that expiration date. The applicable currency warrant agreement will contain a covenant from us that we will not
seek to delist the currency warrants or suspend their trading on the applicable national securities exchange unless
we have concurrently arranged for listing on another national securities exchange.
Currency warrants involve a high degree of risk, including risks arising from fluctuations in the price of the
underlying currency, foreign exchange risks and the risk that the currency warrants will expire worthless.
Further, the cash settlement value of currency warrants at any time prior to exercise or expiration may be less
than the trading value of the currency warrants. The trading value of the currency warrants will fluctuate because
that value is dependent, at any time, on a number of factors, including the time remaining to exercise the
currency warrants, the relationship between the exercise price of the currency warrants and the price of the
designated currency, and the exchange rate associated with the designated currency. Because currency warrants
are unsecured obligations of JPMorgan Chase, changes in our perceived creditworthiness may also be expected
to affect the trading prices of currency warrants. Finally, the amount of actual cash settlement of a currency
warrant may vary as a result of fluctuations in the price of the designated currency between the time you give
instructions to exercise the currency warrant and the time the exercise is actually effected.
As a prospective purchaser of currency warrants you should be prepared to sustain a loss of some or all of
the purchase price of your currency warrants. You should also be experienced with respect to options and option
transactions and should reach an investment decision only after careful consideration with your advisers of the
suitability of the currency warrants in light of your particular financial circumstances. You should also consider
the information set forth under “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of
currency warrants being offered and to the other information regarding the currency warrants and the designated
currency set forth in the prospectus supplement.
27
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units that will consist of any combination of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock
and warrants issued by us, depositary shares representing preferred stock issued by us, debt obligations or other
securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property. We may issue units in one or more
series, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of units will be issued under
a separate unit agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company (which may be the Bank), as
unit agent. The below summary of certain provisions of the units and unit agreements is not complete. You
should refer to the unit agreement for the complete terms of the unit agreement and the units. Forms of those
documents will be filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each unit will be issued so that the
holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the
rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may
provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any
time before a specified date. We will describe the particular terms of any series of units being offered in the
prospectus supplement relating to that series of units. Those terms may include:
• the designation and the terms of the units and any combination of debt securities, preferred stock,
common stock and warrants issued by us, depositary shares representing preferred stock issued by us,
debt obligations or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property
constituting the units, including and whether and under what circumstances the debt securities,
preferred stock, common stock and warrants issued by us, depositary shares representing preferred
stock issued by us, debt obligations or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or
other securities may be traded separately;
• any additional terms of the governing unit agreement;
• any additional provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of
the debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and warrants issued by us, depositary shares
representing preferred stock issued by us, debt obligations or other securities of an entity affiliated or
not affiliated with us or other property constituting the units; and
• any applicable U.S. federal income tax consequences.
The terms and conditions described under “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Preferred
Stock,” “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Securities Warrants” and “Description of Currency
Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or warrants issued by
us, depositary shares representing preferred stock issued by us, debt obligations or other securities of an entity
affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property included in each unit, unless otherwise specified in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
An investment in units may involve special risks, including risks associated with indexed securities and
currency-related risks if the securities comprising the units are linked to an index or are payable in or otherwise
linked to a non-U.S. dollar currency.
28
BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
We may issue series of any securities as global securities and deposit them with a depositary with respect to
that series. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following is a summary of the
depositary arrangements applicable to securities issued in permanent global form and for which The Depository
Trust Company (“DTC”) will act as depositary (the “global securities”).
Each global security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, as depositary, or its nominee and
registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Except under the limited circumstances described below, global
securities will not be exchangeable for certificated securities.
Only institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee (“DTC participants”) or persons that may hold
interests through DTC participants may own beneficial interests in a global security. DTC will maintain records
evidencing ownership of beneficial interests by DTC participants in the global securities and transfers of those
ownership interests. DTC participants will maintain records evidencing ownership of beneficial interests in the
global securities by persons that hold through those DTC participants and transfers of those ownership interests
within those DTC participants. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. You will
not receive written confirmation from DTC of your purchase, but we do expect that you will receive written
confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of your holdings, from the DTC
participant through which you entered the transaction. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in certificated form. Those laws may impair
your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
DTC has advised us that upon the issuance of a global security and the deposit of that global security with
DTC, DTC will immediately credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal
amounts or number of shares represented by that global security to the accounts of DTC participants.
We will make payments on securities represented by a global security to DTC or its nominee, as the case
may be, as the registered owner and holder of the global security representing those securities. DTC has advised
us that upon receipt of any payment on a global security, DTC will immediately credit accounts of DTC
participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that security, as
shown in the records of DTC. Standing instructions and customary practices will govern payments by DTC
participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those DTC participants, as is now
the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those
payments will be the sole responsibility of those DTC participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements in effect from time to time.
None of JPMorgan Chase, the trustees or any of our respective agents will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records of DTC, any nominee or any DTC participant relating to, or payments made
on account of, beneficial interests in a global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the
records of DTC, any nominee or any DTC participant relating to those beneficial interests.
A global security is exchangeable for certificated securities registered in the name of a person other than
DTC or its nominee only if:
• DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security or DTC
ceases to be registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
• we determine in our discretion that the global security will be exchangeable for certificated securities
in registered form; or
• if applicable to the particular type of security, there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of
default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default
under the securities.
29
Any global security that is exchangeable as described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable in
whole for certificated securities in registered form, and, in the case of global debt securities, of like tenor and of
an equal aggregate principal amount as the global security, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000 (or in denominations and integral multiples as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement). The registrar for the securities will register the certificated securities in the name or names
instructed by DTC. We expect that those instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from DTC
participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security. In the case of global debt
securities, we will make payment of any principal and interest on the certificated securities and will register
transfers and exchanges of those certificated securities at the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York
Mellon. However, we may elect to pay interest by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to that
interest payment as of the record date, as shown on the register for the securities.
Except as provided above, as an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security, you will not be entitled to
receive physical delivery of securities in certificated form and will not be considered a holder of securities for
any purpose under either of the indentures. No global security will be exchangeable except for another global
security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Accordingly, you
must rely on the procedures of DTC and the DTC participant through which you own your interest to exercise
any rights of a holder under the global security or the applicable indenture.
We understand that, under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action of holders, or
an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action that a holder is entitled to take
under the securities or the indentures, DTC would authorize the DTC participants holding the relevant beneficial
interests to take that action, and those DTC participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those
DTC participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning
through them.
DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal
Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a
“clearing agency” registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, investors may elect to hold interests in the offered
securities outside the United States through Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”) or Euroclear
Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), if they are participants in those systems, or
indirectly through organizations that are participants in those systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold
interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s
names on the books of their respective depositaries. Those depositaries in turn hold those interests in customers’
securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus
supplement, The Bank of New York Mellon will act as depositary for each of Clearstream and Euroclear.
Clearstream has advised us that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional
depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of
securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry transfers between their accounts.
Clearstream provides its participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration,
clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream
interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries through established depository and custodial
relationships. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission
for the Supervision of the Financial Sector, also known as the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.
Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. Clearstream’s
participants in the United States are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to
Clearstream is also available to other institutions such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with Clearstream participants.
30
Distributions with respect to interests in global securities held through Clearstream will be credited to cash
accounts of its customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S.
depositary for Clearstream.
Euroclear has advised us that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants and to clear and
settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against
payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of
simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities
lending and borrowing, and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear operator”) under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation.
Euroclear participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other
professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to interests in global securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be
credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with Euroclear’s terms and conditions and
operating procedures and applicable Belgian law, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of global securities,
initial settlement for global securities will be made in immediately available funds. DTC participants will
conduct secondary market trading with other DTC participants in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC
rules. Thereafter, secondary market trades will settle in immediately available funds using DTC’s same day funds
settlement system.
If the prospectus supplement specifies that interests in the global securities may be held through Clearstream
or Euroclear, Clearstream customers and/or Euroclear participants will conduct secondary market trading with
other Clearstream customers and/or Euroclear participants in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable
rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear. Thereafter, secondary market trades will settle in
immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and
directly or indirectly through Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected in
DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by the
U.S. depositary for that system; however, those cross-market transactions will require delivery by the
counterparty in the relevant European international clearing system of instructions to that system in accordance
with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European
international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the
U.S. depositary for that system to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving
interests in global securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for
same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver
instructions directly to DTC.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in global securities received in Clearstream or
Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement
processing and will be credited the business day following the DTC settlement date. Those credits or any
transactions in global securities settled during that processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear
participants or Clearstream customers on that business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result
of sales of interests in global securities by or through a Clearstream customer or a Euroclear participant to a DTC
participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant
Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures described above in order to
facilitate transfers of interests in global securities among DTC participants, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are
under no obligation to perform those procedures and those procedures may be discontinued at any time.
31
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock, securities warrants,
currency warrants or units being offered by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement:
• through underwriters;
• through dealers;
• through agents; or
• directly to purchasers.
We will set forth the terms of the offering of any securities being offered in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
If we utilize underwriters in an offering of securities using this prospectus, we will execute an underwriting
agreement with those underwriters. The underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the
underwriters with respect to a sale of the offered securities are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased, other than securities
subject to an underwriter’s overallotment option. Underwriters may sell those securities to or through dealers.
The underwriters may change any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers from time to time. If we utilize underwriters in an offering of securities using this
prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will contain a statement regarding the intention, if any, of the
underwriters to make a market in the offered securities.
If we utilize a dealer in an offering of securities using this prospectus, we will sell the offered securities to
the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell those securities to the public at a fixed price or at varying
prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
We may also use this prospectus to offer and sell securities through agents designated by us from time to
time. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a reasonable efforts
basis for the period of its appointment.
Underwriters, dealers or agents participating in a distribution of securities by use of this prospectus and an
applicable prospectus supplement may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered securities, whether received from us or
from purchasers of offered securities for whom they act as agent, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.
Under agreements that we may enter into, underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution
of securities by use of this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement may be entitled to
indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to
contribution with respect to payments that those underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.
We may offer to sell securities either at a fixed price or at prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Underwriters, dealers, agents or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Our direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, including J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, may use this
prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement in connection with offers and sales of securities in the
secondary market. Those subsidiaries may act as principal or agent in those transactions. Secondary market sales
will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
32
We may also use this prospectus to directly solicit offers to purchase securities. Except as set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement, none of our directors, officers, or employees nor those of our bank
subsidiaries will solicit or receive a commission in connection with those direct sales. Those persons may
respond to inquiries by potential purchasers and perform ministerial and clerical work in connection with direct
sales.
Conflicts of Interest
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and, as such, is deemed to have a
“conflict of interest” in any offering within the meaning of Rule 2720. Consequently, any offer or sale of offered
securities will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of Rule 2720. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is not
permitted to sell securities in any offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without
the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting)
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of that firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
LEGAL OPINIONS
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, will provide an opinion for us regarding the
validity of the offered securities and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York, will provide such an
opinion for the underwriters. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP acts as legal counsel to us and our subsidiaries in a
substantial number of matters on a regular basis.
33
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
