Term Sheet

Term Sheet

To prospectus dated November 14, 2011,

prospectus supplement dated November 14, 2011,

product supplement no. 4-I dated November 14, 2011 and

underlying supplement no. 1-I dated November 14, 2011

  

01-#03-2012-R

Term Sheet to

Product Supplement No. 4-I

Registration Statement No. 333-177923

Dated January 9, 2012; Rule 433

LOGO

 

LOGO    $
   Capped Index Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index due January 30, 2013
  

General

   

The notes are designed for investors who seek to participate in the appreciation of the S&P 500® Index, up to the Maximum Return of at least 10.00% at maturity, and who anticipate that the Index closing level will not be less than the Initial Index Level by more than 26.65% on any day during the Monitoring Period. Investors should be willing to forgo interest and dividend payments and, if the Index closing level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 26.65% on any day during the Monitoring Period, be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity. If the Index closing level is not less than the Initial Index Level by more than 26.65% on any day during the Monitoring Period, investors have the opportunity to receive the Contingent Minimum Return of at least 10.00% at maturity. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   

Senior unsecured obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. maturing January 30, 2013

   

Minimum denominations of $10,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

   

The notes are expected to price on or about January 13, 2012 and are expected to settle on or about January 19, 2012.

Key Terms

Index:    The S&P 500® Index (the “Index”)
Knock-Out Event:    A Knock-Out Event occurs if, on any day during the Monitoring Period, the Index closing level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than the Knock-Out Buffer Amount.
Knock-Out Buffer Amount:    26.65%
Payment at Maturity:    If a Knock-Out Event has occurred, you will receive a cash payment at maturity that will reflect the performance of the Index, subject to the Maximum Return. Under these circumstances, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows:
  

 

$1,000 + ($1,000 × Index Return), subject to the Maximum Return

  

 

If a Knock-Out Event has occurred, you will lose some or all of your initial investment at maturity if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level.

 

   If a Knock-Out Event has not occurred, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will equal $1,000 plus the product of (a) $1,000 and (b) the Contingent Minimum Return. For additional clarification, please see “What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Index?” in this term sheet.
Maximum Return:    At least 10.00%. The actual Maximum Return and the actual maximum payment at maturity will be determined on the pricing date and will not be less than 10.00% and $1,100 per $1,000 principal amount note, respectively.
Contingent Minimum Return:    At least 10.00%. The actual Contingent Minimum Return will be determined on the pricing date and will not be less than 10.00%.
Monitoring Period:    The period from but excluding the pricing date to and including the Observation Date
Index Return:   

Ending Index Level – Initial Index Level

                Initial Index Level

Initial Index Level:    The Index closing level on the pricing date
Ending Index Level:    The Index closing level on the Observation Date
Observation Date:    January 25, 2013
Maturity Date:    January 30, 2013
CUSIP:    48125VJD3
   

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

Investing in the Capped Index Knock-Out 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 1-I and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page TS-3 of this term sheet.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this term sheet or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

     Price to Public (1)   Fees and Commissions (2)   Proceeds to Us

Per note

  $   $   $

Total

  $   $   $
  (1) The price to the public includes the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes through one or more of our affiliates, which includes our affiliates’ expected cost of providing such hedge as well as the profit our affiliates expect to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in providing such hedge. For additional related information, please see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” beginning on page PS-48 of the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I.
  (2) Please see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” in this term sheet for information about fees and commissions.

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.

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January 9, 2012


Additional Terms Specific to the Notes

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents relating to this offering that JPMorgan Chase & Co. has filed with the SEC for more complete information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, JPMorgan Chase & Co., any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, the prospectus supplement, product supplement no. 4-I, underlying supplement no. 1-I and this term sheet if you so request by calling toll-free 866-535-9248.

You may revoke your offer to purchase the notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the applicable agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the notes, we will notify you and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase. You may also choose to reject such changes in which case we may reject your offer to purchase.

You should read this term sheet 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 term sheet, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes 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, 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.

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):

 

   

Product supplement no. 4-I dated November 14, 2011:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000089109211007593/e46160_424b2.pdf

 

   

Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated November 14, 2011:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000089109211007615/e46154_424b2.pdf

 

   

Prospectus supplement dated November 14, 2011:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000089109211007578/e46180_424b2.pdf

 

   

Prospectus dated November 14, 2011:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000089109211007568/e46179_424b2.pdf

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 19617. As used in this term sheet, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Supplemental Terms of the Notes

For purposes of this offering, the Contingent Minimum Return will be equal to the Maximum Return. Accordingly, if a Knock-Out Event has not occurred, your payment at maturity will reflect a fixed return equal to the Contingent Minimum Return/Maximum Return of at least 10.00%. The actual Contingent Minimum Return/Maximum Return and the actual maximum payment at maturity will be set on the pricing date and will not be less than 10.00% and $1,100 per $1,000 principal amount note, respectively.

 

 

JPMorgan Structured Investments —

Capped Index Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index

  

 

TS-1        


What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Index?

The following table illustrates the hypothetical total return at maturity on the notes. The “total return” as used in this term sheet 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 1,275, a Contingent Minimum Return of 10.00% and a Maximum Return of 10.00% and reflect the Knock-Out Buffer Amount of 26.65%. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.

 

        Total Return
       
Ending Index
Level
  Index Return   Knock-Out Event
Has Not Occurred (1) 
  Knock-Out Event
Has Occurred (2) 
2,295.0000     80.00%   10.00%     10.00%
2,167.5000     70.00%   10.00%     10.00%
2,040.0000     60.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,912.5000     50.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,785.0000     40.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,657.5000     30.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,530.0000     20.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,466.2500     15.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,402.5000     10.00%   10.00%     10.00%
1,338.7500       5.00%   10.00%       5.00%
1,306.8750       2.50%   10.00%       2.50%
1,275.0000       0.00%   10.00%       0.00%
1,211.2500      -5.00%   10.00%      -5.00%
1,147.5000    -10.00%   10.00%    -10.00%
1,083.7500    -15.00%   10.00%    -15.00%
1,020.0000    -20.00%   10.00%    -20.00%
   956.2500    -25.00%   10.00%    -25.00%
   935.2125    -26.65%   10.00%    -26.65%
   935.0850    -26.66%   N/A    -26.66%
   892.5000    -30.00%   N/A    -30.00%
   765.0000    -40.00%   N/A    -40.00%
   637.5000    -50.00%   N/A    -50.00%
   510.0000    -60.00%   N/A    -60.00%
   382.5000    -70.00%   N/A    -70.00%
   255.0000    -80.00%   N/A    -80.00%
   127.5000    -90.00%   N/A    -90.00%
        0.0000   -100.00%   N/A   -100.00%
(1) The Index closing level is greater than or equal to 935.2125 (73.35% of the hypothetical Initial Index Level) on each day during the Monitoring Period.
(2) The Index closing level is less than 935.2125 (73.35% of the hypothetical Initial Index Level) on at least one day during the Monitoring Period.

Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity

The following examples illustrate how the total returns set forth in the table above are calculated.

Example 1: A Knock-Out Event has not occurred, and the level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 1,275 to an Ending Index Level of 1,306.875. Because a Knock-Out Event has not occurred, the investor receives a fixed payment equal to the hypothetical Contingent Minimum Return of 10.00%, for a payment at maturity of $1,100 per $1,000 principal amount note, regardless of the Index Return.

Example 2: A Knock-Out Event has not occurred, and the level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 1,275 to an Ending Index Level of 1,211.25. Because a Knock-Out Event has not occurred, the investor receives a fixed payment equal to the hypothetical Contingent Minimum Return of 10.00%, for a payment at maturity of $1,100 per $1,000 principal amount note regardless of the Index Return.

Example 3: A Knock-Out Event has occurred, and the level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 1,275 to an Ending Index Level of 1,147.50. Because a Knock-Out Event has occurred and the Index Return is -10%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $900 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + ($1,000 × -10%) = $900

 

 

 

JPMorgan Structured Investments —

Capped Index Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index

  

 

TS-2        


Example 4: A Knock-Out Event has occurred, and the level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 1,275 to an Ending Index Level of 1,338.75. Because a Knock-Out Event has occurred and the Index Return of 5% is less than the hypothetical Maximum Return of 10.00%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,050 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + ($1,000 × 5%) = $1,050

Example 5: The level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 1,275 to an Ending Index Level of 1,912.50. Because the Index Return of 50% is greater than the hypothetical Maximum Return of 10.00%, regardless of whether a Knock-Out Event has occurred, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,100 per $1,000 principal amount note, the hypothetical maximum payment on the notes.

The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payouts 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 payouts shown above would likely be lower.

Selected Purchase Considerations

 

   

CAPPED APPRECIATION POTENTIAL — If a Knock-Out Event has occurred, the notes provide the opportunity to participate in the appreciation of the Index, up to the Maximum Return of at least 10.00% at maturity. If a Knock-Out Event has not occurred, in addition to the principal amount, you will receive at maturity a fixed return equal to the Contingent Minimum Return of not less than 10.00% on the notes, for a payment at maturity of at least $1,100 for every $1,000 principal amount note. The maximum payment at maturity will be at least $1,100 per $1,000 principal amount note. The actual Contingent Minimum Return and Maximum Return will be set on the pricing date and will not be less than 10.00%. Because the notes are our senior unsecured obligations, payment of any amount on the notes is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due.

 

   

RETURNS LINKED TO THE S&P 500® INDEX — The return on the notes is linked to the S&P 500® Index. The S&P 500® Index consists of 500 component stocks selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. See “Equity Index Descriptions — The S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying underlying supplement no. 1-I.

 

   

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 significantly 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, such as the notes. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require holders of 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. Holders 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 an 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. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers 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.

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 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 accompanying underlying supplement 1-I dated November 14, 2011.

 

   

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 a Knock-Out Event has occurred and whether, and the extent to which, the Index Return is positive or negative. If the Index closing level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than the Knock-Out Buffer Amount of 26.65% on any day during the Monitoring Period, a Knock-Out Event has occurred, and the benefit provided by the Knock-Out Buffer Amount of 26.65% will terminate. If a Knock-Out Event has occurred, for every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level, you will lose an amount equal to 1% of the principal amount of your notes. Under these circumstances, you could lose some or all of your initial investment at maturity.

 

 

JPMorgan Structured Investments —

Capped Index Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index

  

 

TS-3        


   

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 a predetermined percentage of the principal amount, regardless of the appreciation in the Index, which may be significant. We refer to this predetermined percentage as the Maximum Return, which will be set on the pricing date and will not be less than 10.00%.

 

   

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 affect adversely 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.

 

   

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the notes. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. It is possible that these hedging activities or other trading activities of ours or our affiliates could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. In addition, we are currently one of the companies that make up the Index. We will not have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the notes in taking any corporate action that might affect the value of the Index and the notes.

 

   

THE BENEFIT PROVIDED BY THE KNOCK-OUT BUFFER AMOUNT MAY TERMINATE ON ANY DAY DURING THE MONITORING PERIOD — If the Index closing level on any day during the Monitoring Period is less than the Initial Index Level by more than the Knock-Out Buffer Amount of 26.65%, the benefit provided by the Knock-Out Buffer Amount will terminate and you will be fully exposed to any depreciation in the Index. We refer to this feature as a contingent buffer. Under these circumstances, if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level, you will lose 1% of the principal amount of your initial investment for every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level. You will be subject to this potential loss of principal even if the Index subsequently increases such that the Index closing level is less than the Initial Index Level by not more than the Knock-Out Buffer Amount of 26.65%, or is equal to or greater than the Initial Index Level. If these notes had a non-contingent buffer feature, under the same scenario, you would have received the full principal amount of your notes plus the Contingent Minimum Return at maturity. As a result, your investment in the notes may not perform as well as an investment in a security with a return that includes a non-contingent buffer.

 

   

YOUR ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE CONTINGENT MINIMUM RETURN OF AT LEAST 10.00%* MAY TERMINATE ON ANY DAY DURING THE MONITORING PERIOD — If the Index closing level on any day during the Monitoring Period is less than the Initial Index Level by more than the Knock-Out Buffer Amount of 26.65%, you will not be entitled to receive the Contingent Minimum Return of at least 10.00%* on the notes. Under these circumstances, you may lose some or all of your initial investment at maturity and will be fully exposed to any depreciation in the Index.

  * The actual Contingent Minimum Return on the notes will be set on the pricing date and will not be less than 10.00%.

 

   

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 term sheet 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, the price, if any, at which J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as 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. The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity.

 

   

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.

 

   

RISK OF A KNOCK-OUT EVENT OCCURRING IS GREATER IF THE INDEX IS VOLATILE — The likelihood that the Index closing level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than the Knock-Out Buffer Amount on any day during the Monitoring Period, thereby triggering a Knock-Out Event, will depend in large part on the volatility of the Index — the frequency and magnitude of changes in the level of the Index.

 

   

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.

 

 

JPMorgan Structured Investments —

Capped Index Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index

  

 

TS-4        


   

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

   

the actual and expected volatility of the Index;

   

the time to maturity of the notes;

   

whether a Knock-Out Event has occurred or is expected to occur;

   

the dividend rates on the equity securities underlying the Index;

   

interest and yield rates in the market generally;

   

a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events; and

   

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

Historical Information

The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the S&P 500® Index based on the weekly historical Index closing levels from January 5, 2007 through January 6, 2012. The Index closing level on January 6, 2012 was 1,277.81. We obtained the Index closing levels below from Bloomberg Financial Markets. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg Financial Markets.

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 pricing date, the Observation Date or any day during the Monitoring Period. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Index will result in the return of any of your initial investment.

LOGO

Supplemental Plan of Distribution

JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Chase & Co., will receive a commission that will depend on market conditions on the pricing date. In no event will that commission exceed $10.00 per $1,000 principal amount note. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” beginning on page PS-77 of the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I.

For a different portion of the notes to be sold in this offering, an affiliated bank will receive a fee and another affiliate of ours will receive a structuring and development fee. In no event will the total amount of these fees exceed $10.00 per $1,000 principal amount note.

 

 

JPMorgan Structured Investments —

Capped Index Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index

  

 

TS-5