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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of
Securities Offered
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Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
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Amount of
Registration Fee
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Notes
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$3,400,000
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$463.76
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Pricing supplement no. 1224
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To prospectus dated November 14, 2011,
prospectus supplement dated November 14, 2011,
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Registration Statement No. 333-177923
Dated March 26, 2013
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product supplement no. 4-I dated November 14, 2011 and
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Rule 424(b)(8)
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underlying supplement no. 1-I dated November 14, 2011
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Structured
Investments
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$3,400,000
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index due April 1, 2015
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General
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•
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The notes are designed for investors who seek a return of 1.5 times the appreciation of the Russell 2000® Index up to a maximum return of 18.00% at maturity. Investors should be willing to forgo interest and dividend payments and, if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, be willing to lose up to 90% of their principal. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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•
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Unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. maturing April 1, 2015*
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•
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Minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof
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•
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The notes priced on March 26, 2013 and are expected to settle on or about April 1, 2013.
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Key Terms
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Index:
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The Russell 2000® Index (“RTY”) (the “Index”)
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Upside Leverage Factor:
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1.5
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the Ending Index Level is greater than the Initial Index Level, at maturity you will receive a cash payment that provides you with a return per $1,000 principal amount note equal to the Index Return multiplied by 1.5, subject to the Maximum Return of 18.00%. For example, if the Index Return is equal to or greater than 12.00%, you will receive the Maximum Return of 18.00%, which entitles you to a maximum payment at maturity of $1,180.00 per $1,000 principal amount note that you hold. Accordingly, if the Index Return is positive, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows:
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$1,000 +[$1,000 x (Index Return x 1.5)], subject to the Maximum Return
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If the Ending Index Level is equal to or less than the Initial Index Level by up to 10%, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity.
If the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, you will lose 1% of the principal amount of your notes for every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, and your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + [$1,000 x (Index Return+10%)]
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If the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, you could lose up to $900 per $1,000 principal amount note.
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Maximum Return:
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18.00%
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Buffer Amount:
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10%
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Index Return:
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Ending Index Level – Initial Index Level
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Initial Index Level
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Initial Index Level:
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The Index closing level on the pricing date, which is 949.82.
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Ending Index Level:
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The Index closing level on the Observation Date.
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Observation Date*:
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March 27, 2015
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Maturity Date*:
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April 1, 2015
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CUSIP:
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48126DF87
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*
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Subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under “Description of Notes — Payment at Maturity” and “Description of Notes — Postponement of a Determination Date — A. Notes Linked to a Single Component” in the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I.
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Investing in the Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-21 of the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I, “Risk Factors” beginning on page US-1 of the accompanying underlying supplement no. 1-I and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-2 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Price to Public (1)
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Fees and Commissions (2)
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Proceeds to Us
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Per note
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$1,000
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$22.30
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$977.70
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Total
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$3,400,000
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$75,820
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$3,324,180
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(1)
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The price to the public includes the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes through one or more of our affiliates.
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(2)
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J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Chase & Co., will receive a commission of $22.30 per $1,000 principal amount note and will use a portion of that commission to allow selling concessions to other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers of $13.20 per $1,000 principal amount note. This commission includes the projected profits that our affiliates expect to realize, some of which have been allowed to other unaffiliated dealers, for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” beginning on page PS-77 of the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I.
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The notes are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
March 26, 2013
Additional Terms Specific to the Notes
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You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated November 14, 2011, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated November 14, 2011 relating to our Series E medium-term notes of which these notes are a part, and the more detailed information contained in product supplement no. 4-I dated November 14, 2011 and underlying supplement no. 1-I dated November 14, 2011. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes, supplements the term sheet related hereto dated March 22, 2013 and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement no.4-I and “Risk Factors” in the accompanying underlying supplement no.1-I, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
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You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
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•
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Product supplement no. 4-I dated November 14, 2011:
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Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated November 14, 2011:
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Prospectus supplement dated November 14, 2011:
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•
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Prospectus dated November 14, 2011:
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Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 19617. As used in this pricing supplement, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Selected Purchase Considerations
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•
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CAPPED APPRECIATION POTENTIAL — The notes provide the opportunity to enhance equity returns by multiplying a positive Index Return by 1.5, up to the Maximum Return of 18.00%, for a maximum payment at maturity of $1,180 per $1,000 principal amount note. Because the notes are our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, payment of any amount on the notes is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due.
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LIMITED PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS — We will pay you your principal back at maturity if the Ending Index Level is not less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%. If the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, for every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, you will lose an amount equal to 1% of the principal amount of your notes.
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RETURN LINKED TO THE RUSSELL 2000® INDEX — The return on the notes is linked to the performance of the Russell 2000® Index. The Russell 2000® Index consists of the middle 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000E™ Index and, as a result of the index calculation methodology, consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 2000® Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. For additional information about the Index , see the information set forth under “Equity Index Descriptions — The Russell 2000® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement no. 1-I.
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CAPITAL GAINS TAX TREATMENT — You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I. The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of notes.
Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel it is reasonable to treat the notes as “open transactions” that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Assuming this treatment is respected, the gain or loss on your notes should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your notes for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of notes at the issue price. However, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or a court may not respect this treatment of the notes, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on the notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
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JPMorgan Structured Investments —
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PS-1
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Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
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Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Index or in any of the component securities of the Index. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I dated November 14, 2011 and the “Risk Factors” section of the accompanying underlying supplement no. 1-I dated November 14, 2011.
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YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. The return on the notes at maturity is linked to the performance of the Index and will depend on whether, and the extent to which, the Index Return is positive or negative. Your investment will be exposed to loss if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%. For every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 10%, you will lose an amount equal to 1% of the principal amount of your notes. Accordingly, you could lose up to 90% of your initial investment at maturity.
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YOUR MAXIMUM GAIN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM RETURN — If the Ending Index Level is greater than the Initial Index Level, for each $1,000 principal amount note, you will receive at maturity $1,000 plus an additional return that will not exceed the Maximum Return of 18.00%, regardless of the appreciation in the Index, which may be significant.
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CREDIT RISK OF JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. — The notes are subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co., and our credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market's view of our creditworthiness. Any decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. If we were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the notes and you could lose your entire investment.
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POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the notes. In performing these duties, our economic interests and the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. In addition, our business activities, including hedging and trading activities, could cause our economic interests to be adverse to yours and could adversely affect any payment on the notes and the value of the notes. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. Please refer to “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Notes Generally” in the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I for additional information about these risks.
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CERTAIN BUILT-IN COSTS ARE LIKELY TO AFFECT ADVERSELY THE VALUE OF THE NOTES PRIOR TO MATURITY — While the payment at maturity, if any, described in this pricing supplement is based on the full principal amount of your notes, the original issue price of the notes includes the agent’s commission and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. As a result, and as a general matter, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to purchase notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the original issue price and any sale prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you. This secondary market price will also be affected by a number of factors aside from the agent’s commission and hedging costs, including those set forth under “Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the Notes” below.
The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity.
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NO INTEREST OR DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the notes, you will not receive interest payments, and you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities composing the Index would have.
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AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES IS SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL CAPITALIZATION STOCKS — The stocks that constitute the Russell 2000® Index are issued by companies with relatively small market capitalization. The stock prices of smaller companies may be more volatile than stock prices of large capitalization companies. Small capitalization companies may be less able to withstand adverse economic, market, trade and competitive conditions relative to larger companies. Small capitalization companies are less likely to pay dividends on their stocks, and the presence of a dividend payment could be a factor that limits downward stock price pressure under adverse market conditions.
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LACK OF LIQUIDITY — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. JPMS intends to offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which JPMS is willing to buy the notes.
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MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS WILL IMPACT THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — In addition to the levels of the Index on any day, the value of the notes will be impacted by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:
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the actual and expected volatility of the Index;
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the time to maturity of the notes;
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the dividend rates on the equity securities underlying the Index;
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interest and yield rates in the market generally;
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a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events; and
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our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.
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JPMorgan Structured Investments —
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PS-2
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Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
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What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Index?
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The following table, graph and examples illustrate the hypothetical total return at maturity on the notes. The “total return” as used in this pricing supplement is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below assume an Initial Index Level of 950.00 and reflect the Maximum Return of 18.00%. Each hypothetical total return or hypothetical payment at maturity set forth below is for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total return or payment at maturity applicable to a purchaser of the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table, graph and in the examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.
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Ending Index Level
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Index Return
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Total Return
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Payment at Maturity
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1,710.00
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80.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,567.50
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65.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,425.00
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50.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,330.00
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40.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,235.00
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30.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,140.00
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20.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,092.50
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15.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,064.00
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12.00%
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18.00%
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$1,180.00
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1,045.00
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10.00%
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15.00%
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$1,150.00
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997.50
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5.00%
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7.50%
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$1,075.00
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959.50
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1.00%
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1.50%
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$1,015.00
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950.00
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0.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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902.50
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-5.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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855.00
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-10.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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807.50
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-15.00%
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-5.00%
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$950.00
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665
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-30.00%
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-20.00%
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$800.00
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570
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-40.00%
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-30.00%
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$700.00
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475
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-50.00%
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-40.00%
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$600.00
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380
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-60.00%
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-50.00%
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$500.00
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285
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-70.00%
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-60.00%
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$400.00
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190
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-80.00%
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-70.00%
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$300.00
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95
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-90.00%
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-80.00%
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$200.00
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0
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-100.00%
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-90.00%
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$100.00
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The following graph demonstrates the hypothetical total returns and hypothetical payments at maturity on the notes at maturity for a sub-set of Index Returns detailed in the table above (-30% to 30%). Your investment may result in a loss of up to 90% of your principal at maturity.
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JPMorgan Structured Investments —
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PS-3
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Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
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Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity
The following examples illustrate how a total payment set forth in the table above is calculated.
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Example 1: The level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 950.00 to an Ending Index Level of 959.50. Because the Ending Index Level of 959.50 is greater than the Initial Index Level of 950.00 and the Index Return of 1% multiplied by 1.5 does not exceed the Maximum Return of 18.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,015 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + [$1,000 x (1% x 1.5)] = $1,015
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Example 2: The level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 950.00 to an Ending Index Level of 855.00. Although the Index Return is negative, because the Ending Index Level of 855.00 is less than the Initial Index Level of 950.00 by not more than the Buffer Amount of 10%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount note.
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Example 3: The level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 950.00 to an Ending Index Level of 1,235.00. Because the Ending Index Level of 1,235.00 is greater than the Initial Index Level of 950.00 and the Index Return of 30% multiplied by 1.5 exceeds the Maximum Return of 18.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,180.00 per $1,000 principal amount note, the maximum payment on the notes.
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Example 4: The level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 950.00 to an Ending Index Level of 665.00. Because the Index Return is negative and the Ending Index Level of 665.00 is less than the Initial Index Level of 950.00 by more than the Buffer Amount of 10%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $800 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + [$1,000 x (-30% + 10%)] = $800
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Example 5: The level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 950.00 to an Ending Index Level of 0.00. Because the Index Return is negative and the Ending Index Level of 0.00 is less than the Initial Index Level of 950.00 by more than the Buffer Amount of 10%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $100 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
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$1,000 + [$1,000 x (-100% + 10%)] = $100
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The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments on the notes shown above do not reflect fees or expenses that would be associated with any sale in the secondary market. If these fees and expenses were included, the hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments shown above would likely be lower.
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Historical Information
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The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Index based on the weekly historical Index closing levels from January 4, 2008 through March 22, 2013. The Index closing level on March 26, 2013 was 949.82. We obtained the Index closing levels below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification.
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The historical levels of the Index should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Index closing level on the Observation Date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Index will result in the return of any of your initial investment in excess of $100 per $1,000 principal amount note, subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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JPMorgan Structured Investments —
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PS-4
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Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
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Validity of the Notes
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In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as our special products counsel, when the notes offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by us and authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture, and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such notes will be our valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the federal laws of the United States of America, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and its authentication of the notes and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated March 29, 2012, which was filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K by us on March 29, 2012.
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JPMorgan Structured Investments —
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PS-5
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Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
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