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Free Writing Prospectus
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration Statement No. 333-155535
October 11, 2011
The S-P 500([R]) Daily RC2
8% Excess Return Index
Strategy Guide
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Important Information
JPMorgan Chase and Co. ("J.P. Morgan") has filed a registration statement
(including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") for any offerings to which these materials relate. Before you invest in
any offering of securities by J.P. Morgan, you should read the prospectus in
that registration statement, the prospectus supplement, as well as the
particular product supplement, the relevant term sheet or pricing supplement,
and any other documents that J.P. Morgan will file with the SEC relating to
such offering for more complete information about J.P. Morgan and the offering
of any securities. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR
on the SEC Website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, J.P. Morgan, any agent, or
any dealer participating in the particular offering will arrange to send you
the prospectus and the prospectus supplement, as well as any product supplement
and term sheet or pricing supplement, if you so request by calling toll-free
(866) 535-9248.
To the extent there are any inconsistencies between this free writing
prospectus and the relevant term sheet or pricing supplement, the relevant term
sheet or pricing supplement, including any hyperlinked information, shall
supersede this free writing prospectus.
Investments in securities linked to the Index require investors to assess
several characteristics and risk factors that may not be present in other types
of transactions. In reaching a determination as to the appropriateness of any
proposed transaction, clients should undertake a thorough independent review of
the legal, regulatory, credit, tax, accounting and economic consequences of
such transaction in relation to their particular circumstances. This document
contains market data from various sources other than us and our affiliates,
and, accordingly, we make no representation or warranty as to the market data's
accuracy or completeness. All information is subject to change without notice.
We or our affiliated companies may make a market or deal as principal in any
notes linked to the Index mentioned in this document or in options, futures or
other derivatives based thereon.
Use of Simulated Returns
Back-testing and other statistical analysis material that is provided in
connection with the explanations of the potential returns of the Index use
simulated analysis and hypothetical circumstances to estimate how it may have
performed prior to its actual existence. The results obtained from such
"back-testing" information should not be considered indicative of the actual
results that might be obtained from an investment or participation in a
financial instrument or transaction referencing the Index. J.P. Morgan provides
no assurance or guarantee that the financial instruments linked to the Index
will operate or would have operated in the past in a manner consistent with
these materials. The hypothetical historical levels presented herein have not
been verified by an independent third party, and such hypothetical historical
levels have inherent limitations. Alternative simulations, techniques, modeling
or assumptions might produce significantly different results and prove to be
more appropriate. Actual results will vary, perhaps materially, from the
simulated returns presented in this document.
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure
We and our affiliates do not provide tax advice. Accordingly, any discussion of
U.S. tax matters contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and
cannot be used, in connection with the promotion, marketing or recommendation
by anyone unaffiliated with J.P. Morgan of any of the matters addressed herein
or for the purpose of avoiding U.S. tax-related penalties.
Investment suitability must be determined individually for each investor, and
financial instruments linked to the Index may not be suitable for all
investors. This information is not intended to provide and should not be relied
upon as providing accounting, legal, regulatory or tax advice. Investors should
consult with their own advisors as to these matters.
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This material is not a product of J.P. Morgan Research Departments. Structured
Investments may involve a high degree of risk, and may be appropriate
investments only for sophisticated investors who are capable of understanding
and assuming the risks involved. J.P. Morgan and its affiliates may have
positions (long or short), effect transactions or make markets in financial
instruments mentioned herein (or options with respect thereto), or provide
advice or loans to, or participate in the underwriting or restructuring of the
obligations of, issuers mentioned herein. J.P. Morgan is the marketing name for
the Issuer and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. J.P. Morgan
Securities LLC is a member of FINRA, NYSE, and SIPC. Clients should contact
their salespersons at, and execute transactions through, a J.P. Morgan entity
qualified in their home jurisdiction unless governing law permits otherwise.
Index Disclaimers
"Standard and Poor's([R])," "S-P([R])," "S-P 500([R])" and "S-P 500([R]) Daily
RC2 8% Excess Return" are trademarks of the Standard and Poor's Financial
Services LLC ("S-P") and have been licensed for use by J.P. Morgan Securities
LLC. This transaction is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S-P, and
S-P makes no representation regarding the advisability of purchasing financial
instruments generally or financial instruments issued by JPMorgan Chase and Co.
S-P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration,
marketing, or trading of products linked to the S-P 500([R]) Daily RC2 8%
Excess Return Index.
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Overview
The S-P 500([R]) Daily RC2 8% Excess Return Index (the "S-P 500 RC2 Index" or
the "Index") is intended to provide investors exposure to broad U.S. equities
with the potential for greater stability and lower overall risk when compared
to the S-P 500([R]) Total Return Index.
The Index aims to track the performance of a hypothetical portfolio that
invests in the S-P 500([R]) Total Return Index (the "Underlying Equity Index",
"S-P 500([R]) TR", or "SPTR"), which reflects dividend reinvestment in the S-P
500([R]) Index, and the S-P 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures Index Total
Return (the "Underlying Bond Index"), with these notional investments funded at
short-term money market rates. The Underlying Equity Index and the Underlying
Bond Index will be referred to together as the "Underlying Indices". The Index
seeks to maintain an overall target volatility of 8% by dynamically allocating
its exposure between the Underlying Indices on a daily basis based on their
observed historical volatilities and correlation(1).
The exposure of the Index to the Underlying Equity Index ("equity exposure")
can range from 0% to 100%. Except in certain circumstances described in the
section entitled "When an Allocation to the Underlying Bond Index is not
Achievable", the exposure to the Underlying Bond Index ("bond exposure") is
equal to 100% minus the equity exposure. In such circumstances where the bond
exposure is zero, if the equity exposure is less than 100%, the balance of the
exposure in the S-P 500 RC2 Index will be uninvested.
The Index is an excess return index and tracks the weighted excess returns of
the Underlying Indices over and above short-term money market rates.
The S-P 500 RC2 Index belongs to Standard and Poor's family of RC2 indices which
are the second-generation of Standard and Poor's Risk Control indices and seek to
provide the potential for enhanced returns relative to the first generation of
Risk Control indices via allocation to government bond futures.
Key features of the Index include:
[] exposure to the S-P 500(R) Total Return Index with the overlay of a risk
control mechanism that targets an annualized volatility of 8%
[] ability to dynamically allocate exposure between the S-P 500(R) Total
Return Index and US government bond futures
[] exposure adjusted on a daily basis based on the historical volatilities and
correlation of the Underlying Indices
[] potential for enhanced returns compared with the first generation Risk
Control Indices via an allocation in US government bond futures
[] closing levels published daily by Standard and Poor's on Bloomberg under
the ticker SPX8UE2
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(1) Volatility is a measurement of the variability of returns based on
historical performance, and correlation is a number between -1 and 1 which
measures the extent to which the returns of two assets increase or decrease to
the same degree at the same time. In the case of the Index, an exponential
weighting approach which gives more significance to more recent observations is
used in the calculation of volatility and correlation. The calculations are
performed with two sets of exponential weighting parameters, a "short-term
weighting parameter" and a "long-term weighting parameter". The "short-term
weighting parameter" results in a higher relative weight being applied to more
recent historical returns compared to the "long-term weighting parameter". The
final allocation the Index methodology assigns to the Underlying Indices takes
into account the volatilities and correlation calculated with respect to both
parameters, and selects the allocation with the lower equity exposure. Please
review the relevant prospectus supplement, as well as any relevant product
supplement, term sheet, or pricing supplement for further information on the
Index.
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The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the S-P 500([R])
Index from September 28, 2001 to September 30, 2011 and the performance of the
S-P 500 RC2 Index based on hypothetical back-tested closing levels from
September 28, 2001 through June 2, 2011, and actual historical closing levels
from June 3, 2011 through September 30, 2011. Over this period, the S-P 500 RC2
Index had hypothetical annualized returns of 3.4% with a hypothetical
annualized volatility of 8.2% in comparison to the S-P 500([R]) Index, which
had annualized returns of 0.7% with an annualized volatility of 21.8% . There
is no guarantee that the S-P 500 RC2 Index will outperform the S-P 500([R])
Index, or any alternative strategy during the term of your investment in any
financial instruments linked to the S-P RC2 Index.
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Hypothetical performance of the S-P 500([R]) RC2 Index (September 28, 2001 --
September 30, 2011)
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Source: Bloomberg and J.P. Morgan
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Summary of hypothetical S-P 500 RC2 Index (September 28, 2001 -- September 30,
2011)
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S-P 500([R]) RC2 Index S-P 500([R]) Index
--------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
Annualized return 3.67% 2.82%
Annualized volatility 8.11% 21.80%
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Source: Bloomberg and J.P. Morgan
Note: The values for the index levels shown above have been normalized to a
level of 100 at the beginning of the period. Because the Index did not exist
prior to June 3, 2011 all retrospective levels provided in the table and graph
above are simulated and must be considered illustrative only. The simulated
data was constructed using certain procedures that may vary from the procedures
used to calculate the Index going forward, and on the basis of certain
assumptions that may not hold during future periods. The differences in
methodology used in producing simulated historical data from that used to
calculate the Index going forward could produce variations in returns of
indeterminate direction and amount.
Past hypothetical performance results are neither indicative of nor a guarantee
of future returns. Actual results will vary, potentially materially, from the
hypothetical historical performance provided herein. Please see "Important
Information" at the front of this publication for a discussion of certain
additional limitations of back-testing and simulated returns. "Annualized
return" is based on compounded performance of returns over the period shown.
"Annualized volatility" means the standard deviation of each index's arithmetic
daily returns, scaled for a one-year period based on the period from September
28, 2001 to September 30, 2011.
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Index description
Dynamic Exposure
The S-P 500 RC2 Index aims to track the performance of a hypothetical portfolio
that invests in the S-P 500([R]) Total Return Index and the S-P 10-Year U.S.
Treasury Note Futures Index Total Return, with these notional investments
funded at short-term money market rates.
The equity exposure and bond exposure are adjusted on a daily basis. To
determine the allocation between the Underlying Indices the Index relies on a
standard formula that relates the overall volatility of a portfolio of two
assets to the:
[] Individual volatilities of the assets
[] Correlation between the assets
[] Weights allocated to each asset
The equity exposure can range from 0% to 100%, with the remaining exposure
allocated to the bond exposure, except in certain circumstances (as described
in the section entitled "When an Allocation to the Underlying Bond Index is not
Achievable") in which the bond exposure is set to zero. In such circumstances,
the equity exposure will be determined based solely on the historical
volatility of the S-P 500([R]) Total Return Index, without regard to the
historical volatility of the Underlying Bond Index or the correlation between
the two Underlying Indices, and the bond exposure will be zero. If the equity
exposure determined in such circumstance is less than 100%, the remaining
exposure of the Index will be un-invested.
When an Allocation to the Underlying Bond Index is not Achievable
The Index aims to allocate between the Underlying Indices in a manner so as to
maintain its target volatility of 8%. In addition the Index caps the equity
exposure at 100%, therefore there is no leverage employed. Depending on the
level of the volatilities of and correlation between the Underlying Indices, it
may not always be possible to find an allocation to the Underlying Indices that
would result in a historical volatility for the Index equal to the target
volatility of 8%.
The following two scenarios illustrate this point(2):
Scenario 1: Suppose that the historical volatilities for both of the Underlying
Indices are lower than the target volatility of 8% and, for the sake of
simplicity, that the two volatilities are equal to each other. In such a case,
because each Underlying Index has a volatility that is lower than the target
volatility of 8%, and because there is no leverage allowed in the Index, any
combination of the Underlying Indices (regardless of the correlation between
the two indices) will result in a historical volatility for the portfolio that
is lower than the target volatility of 8%.
In this particular case the Index will allocate 100% to the Underlying Equity
Index and will be unallocated with respect to the Underlying Bond Index.
Scenario 2: Suppose that the historical volatilities for both of the Underlying
Indices are greater than the target volatility of 8%. Depending on the level of
the correlation between the two Underlying Indices, there may or may not exist
a combination of the Underlying Indices that will yield a historical volatility
for the portfolio equal to the target volatility of 8%. For example, if we
consider an extreme case where the Underlying Indices are perfectly correlated
(i.e.with a correlation of 1), there will be no combination of the Underlying
Indices that that will yield a historical volatility for the portfolio equal to
the target volatility of 8%.
In this particular case, the Index will allocate only to the Underlying Equity
Index, and to the extent that the equity exposure is less than 100%, the
remaining exposure in the Index will be uninvested. The allocation to the
Underlying Bond Index will be zero.
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(2) In scenarios 1 and 2, assumptions made regarding volatilities and
correlations are assumed to be made for volatilities and correlations measured
with respect to both the short-term weighting parameter and the long-term
weighting parameter. Please review the relevant disclosure statement and any
relevant prospectus supplement, as well as any relevant product supplement,
term sheet, or pricing supplement for further information on the Index.
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Please see the relevant prospectus supplement as well as any product
supplement, term sheet, or pricing supplement for additional information on the
methodology employed by the Index for allocating between the Underlying
Indices.
Hypothetical, Historical Analysis of the Correlation between the Underlying
Indices
The chart below shows the daily rolling 1-year correlation(3) between the daily
returns of the S-P 500([R]) Total Return Index and the S-P 10-Year U.S.
Treasury Note Futures Index Total Return. As the chart shows, based on the
hypothetical historical performance of the Underlying Indices since January
2001, the Underlying Indices have, on average, displayed negative correlation.
However, this may or may not be the case over any given period of time in the
future.
Often during periods of heightened volatility in the US equity markets, the
equity markets may suffer a draw-down while US government bonds may rally as
investors switch from equity exposure perceived to be riskier into government
bond exposure perceived to be safer. In such scenarios, the Index would be
expected to reallocate exposure from the Underlying Equity Index to the
Underlying Bond Index.
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Hypothetical historical correlation: S-P 500([R]) TR and the S-P 10-Year U.S.
Treasury Note Futures Index (Jan 2001 -- Sep 2011)
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Source: Bloomberg and J.P. Morgan. Correlation is a number between -1 and 1 and
measures the extent to which the returns of two assets increase or decrease to
the same degree at the same time. The correlation values are based on daily
arithmetic returns of the two Underlying Indices and are each calculated over a
1 year historical window. As previously noted the Index methodology applies an
exponential weighting approach which applies more significance to more recent
performance to calculate the historical correlation between the Underlying
Indices. However, for the sake of simplicity, for the data shown in the chart
above which displays the correlation between the Underlying Indices we have
chosen to use a 1-year correlation measure which weights all returns in the
1-year window equally.
Note: The hypothetical, historical correlation between Underlying Equity Index
and the Underlying Bond Index is presented for informational purposes only and
has inherent limitations. No representation is made that in the future the
correlation between the Underlying Indices will have the correlation values
shown above. Alternative modeling techniques or assumptions might produce
significantly different results and may prove to be more appropriate.
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(3) As previously noted, the Index methodology applies an exponential weighting
approach which applies more significance to more recent performance to
calculate the historical correlation between the Underlying Indices.
However, for the sake of simplicity, for the data shown in the chart above
which displays the correlation between the Underlying Indices we have chosen to
use a 1-year correlation measure which weights all returns in the 1-year window
equally.
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Hypothetical Analysis of the Equity Exposure versus Volatility
The exposure of the Index to the S-P 500([R]) Total Return Index is adjusted on
a daily basis to target an 8% level of volatility. The equity exposure is
determined based on the historical volatility of the S-P 500([R]) Total Return
Index, as well as the historical volatility of the Underlying Bond Index and
the correlation between the two Underlying Indices.
Volatility is a measurement of the variability of returns based on historical
performance and, in the case of the Index, is calculated using weightings that
are designed to give more significance to more recent observations. Correlation
is a number between -1 and 1 and measures the extent to which the returns of
two assets increase or decrease to the same degree at the same time. As with
volatility, correlation is calculated using weightings which are designed to
give more significance to more recent observations.
The following graph displays the hypothetical back-tested levels for the equity
exposure that the Index would have had and the historical volatility of the
Underlying Equity Index over the period shown.
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Hypothetical Equity Exposure and Volatility (September 28, 2001 -- September
30, 2011)
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
Source: Bloomberg and J.P. Morgan
Note: The historical volatility levels of the S-P 500([R]) TR are presented for
informational purposes only and have inherent limitations. For the purposes of
this graph, volatility is calculated in accordance with Standard and Poor's
official methodology used in the calculation of the S-P 500([R]) RC2 Index. No
representation is made that in the future the S-P
500([R]) TR will have the volatility shown above. Alternative modeling
techniques or assumptions might produce significantly different results and may
prove to be more appropriate.
The hypothetical equity exposure obtained from such back-testing should not be
considered indicative of the actual exposure that would be assigned during your
investment in the Index. No representation is made that the actual performance
of the Index would result in exposure consistent with the hypothetical exposure
displayed in the preceding graph. Actual annualized volatilities and exposures
will vary, perhaps materially, from this analysis. Please see "Important
Information" at the front of this document for a discussion of certain
additional limitations of back-testing and simulated returns.
Background on the S-P 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures Index Total Return
The S-P 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures Index Total Return seeks to track
the performance of a portfolio that is comprised of a single futures contract,
the 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note futures contract that is traded on the Chicago
Board of Trade. At any given time, the treasury futures contract tracked by the
Underlying Bond Index is either the treasury futures contract closest to
expiration (each, the "Near Month Futures Contract") or the treasury futures
contract that is scheduled to expire immediately following the Near Month
Futures Contract (the "Far Month Futures Contract").
The S-P 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures Index Total Return maintains a long
position in the component Treasury futures contract by undergoing a process
called a "roll" from the Near Month Futures Contract into the Far Month Futures
Contract each quarter. The Underlying Bond Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P.
under the ticker symbol "SPUSTTTR."
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Risks associated with the S-P 500([R]) Daily RC2 8% Excess Return Index
THE INDEX HAS A LIMITED HISTORY AND MAY PERFORM IN UNEXPECTED WAYS -- The Index
began publishing on June 3, 2011 and, therefore, has a limited history. This
document includes calculation of returns that hypothetically might have been
generated had the Index existed in the past, but those calculations are subject
to many limitations. Unlike historical performance, such hypothetical
calculations do not reflect actual trading, liquidity constraints, fees and
other costs. In addition, the models used to calculate these hypothetical
returns are based on certain data, assumptions and estimates. Different models
or models using different data, assumptions or estimates might result in
materially different hypothetical performance.
THE INDEX MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL, MAY NOT OUTPERFORM EITHER UNDERLYING INDEX AND
MAY NOT ACHIEVE ITS TARGET VOLATILITY -- The Index employs a mathematical
algorithm designed to control the level of risk of the Index by establishing a
specific volatility target and dynamically adjusting the exposure to the
Underlying Equity Index and Underlying Bond Index based on the observed
historical volatilities of, and correlation between, the Underlying Equity
Index and the Underlying Bond Index. No assurance can be given that the
volatility strategy will be successful or that the Index will outperform the
Underlying Equity Index or the Underlying Bond Index or any alternative
strategy that might be employed to reduce the level of risk of the Underlying
Equity Index or Underlying Bond Index. We also can give you no assurance that
the Index will achieve its target volatility of 8%.
THE INDEX MAY SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPERFORM THE UNDERLYING EQUITY INDEX -- The
Index is designed to allocate its exposure between the Underlying Equity Index
and the Underlying Bond Index in a manner that results in the Index targeting a
volatility of 8%. It is not possible to predict the level of exposure that the
Index will have to either the Underlying Equity Index or the Underlying Bond
Index over any given period of time. However, the Index will likely have less,
and possibly significantly less, than 100% exposure to the Underlying Equity
Index over any given period of time. Consequently, if the Underlying Equity
Index increases in value over the applicable period, the Index will likely
underperform the Underlying Equity Index, possibly significantly, over the same
period if the Underlying Bond Index declines or does not increase in value to
the same extent over that period. If the Underlying Equity Index and the
Underlying Bond Index are negatively correlated and the Index has relatively
high exposure to the Underlying Bond Index and relatively low exposure to the
Underlying Equity Index, the Index may experience a significant negative
performance even as the Underlying Equity Index rises.
IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE INDEX WILL BE NOTIONALLY INVESTED, IN PART, IN
CASH, ON WHICH NO INTEREST OR OTHER RETURN WILL ACCRUE --
In certain circumstances the Index will be solely allocated to the Underlying
Equity Index with a weight less than 100% and with the balance notionally
allocated to cash. No net return or interest will accrue on any such portion of
the Index exposure that is notionally allocated to cash, and such portion may
be significant. Such portion is effectively uninvested.
THE RETURNS OF THE UNDERLYING INDICES MAY OFFSET EACH OTHER OR MAY BECOME
CORRELATED IN DECLINE --
At a time when the value of one Underlying Index increases, the value of the
other Underlying Index may not increase as much or may even decline, offsetting
the potentially positive effect of the performance of the former Underlying
Index on the performance of the Index. Historically, the performance of the
Underlying Equity Index has often been negatively correlated with the
performance of the futures contracts underlying the Underlying Bond Index. It
is also possible that the returns of the Underlying Indices may be positively
correlated with each other. In this case, a decline in one Underlying Index
would not moderate the effect of a decline in the other Underlying Index on the
performance of the Index, but would rather exacerbate it. As a result, the
Index may not perform as well as an alternative index that tracks only one
Underlying Index.
OUR AFFILIATE, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, HELPED DEVELOP THE S-P 500([R])
DAILY RC2 8% EXCESS RETURN INDEX -- J.P. Morgan Securities LLC ("JPMS"), one of
our affiliates, worked with S-P in developing the guidelines and policies
governing the composition and calculation of the S-P 500([R]) Daily RC2 8%
Excess Return Index. Although judgments,
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policies and determinations concerning the S-P 500([R]) Daily RC2 8% Excess
Return Index were made by JPMS, JPMorgan Chase and Co., as the parent company of
JPMS, ultimately controls JPMS.
In addition, the policies and judgments for which JPMS was responsible could
have an impact, positive or negative, on the level of the S-P 500([R]) Daily
RC2 8% Excess Return Index. JPMS is under no obligation to consider your
interests as an investor.
The risks identified above are not exhaustive. You should also review carefully
the related "Risk Factors" section in the relevant product supplement and the
"Selected Risk Considerations" in the relevant term sheet or pricing
supplement.
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