Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-185242
American Express Company
850,000 Depositary Shares, Each Representing a 1/1,000th Interest in a 4.900% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate
Noncumulative Preferred Share, Series C
$1,000 Liquidation Preference Per Depositary Share
Pricing Term Sheet
February 25, 2015
Issuer: |
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American Express Company |
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Securities Offered: |
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850,000 Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a 4.900% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Noncumulative Preferred Share, Series C (the Series C Preferred Shares) |
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Expected Ratings*: |
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Baa3 (Stable outlook) / BB+ (Stable outlook) / BBB- (Stable outlook) (Moodys / S&P / Fitch) |
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Trade Date: |
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February 25, 2015 |
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Settlement Date: |
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March 2, 2015 (T+3 days) |
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Maturity: |
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Perpetual |
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Liquidation Preference: |
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$1,000,000 per Series C Preferred Share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share) |
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Aggregate Liquidation Preference: |
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$850,000,000 |
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Public Offering Price: |
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$1,000 per depositary share |
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Underwriting Discount: |
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$10 per depositary share |
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Net Proceeds to the Issuer, Before Expenses: |
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$841,500,000 ($990 per depositary share) |
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Dividend Rate and Payment Dates: |
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When, as and if declared by the board of directors of the American Express Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of funds legally available for such payments, (i) from the Settlement Date to, but excluding, March 15, 2020, at an annual rate of 4.900% payable semi-annually in arrears and on a noncumulative basis, on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2015, and (ii) from, and including, March 15, 2020, at an annual rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.285% payable quarterly in arrears on a noncumulative basis, on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2020. |
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Redemption at Issuers Option: |
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American Express Company may redeem the Series C Preferred Shares, and thus redeem a proportionate number of depositary shares, (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after March 15, 2020, or (ii) in whole but not in part at any time within 90 days following a Regulatory Capital Event (as defined in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 25, 2015 related to this offering), in each case at a cash redemption price equal to $1,000,000 per Preferred Share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to, but excluding, the redemption date. |
Sinking Fund: |
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Not applicable |
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Listing: |
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None |
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CUSIP/ISIN: |
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025816BL2 / US025816BL21 |
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Joint Book-Running Managers: |
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Barclays Capital Inc. |
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Co-Managers: |
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Lloyds Securities Inc. |
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Junior Co-Managers: |
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Mischler Financial Group, Inc. |
*Note: An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained from the ratings agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and such of their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. The rating of the depositary shares should be evaluated independently from similar ratings of other securities. A credit rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a base prospectus dated December 3, 2012) and a preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February 25, 2015, with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the preliminary prospectus supplement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplement if you request them from Barclays Capital Inc. by calling (888) 603-5847; Citigroup Global Markets Inc. by calling (800) 831-9146; Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at Prospectus Dept., One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 or by calling (800) 221-1037; RBC Capital Markets, LLC by calling (866) 375-6829; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC by calling (800) 645-3751.