8-KExhibits & Filings

JPMORGAN CHASE & CO 8-K Report, Exhibit Filing (Oct 20, 2008)

Filed October 20, 2008For Securities:JPMJPM-PCJPM-PDJPM-PKJPM-PLJPM-PMJPM-PJAMJBVYLD

Summary

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) filed an 8-K on October 19, 2008, primarily to disclose exhibits related to newly issued debt securities. The exhibits are tax opinions from Davis Polk & Wardwell concerning three specific note offerings: Buffered Return Enhanced Notes, Return Enhanced Notes, and Principal Protected Knock-Out Notes, all linked to the S&P 500 Index. These notes have varying maturity dates in 2009 and 2010. For investors, this filing indicates that JPM is continuing to access capital markets through structured debt products. While the core of this 8-K is technical documentation (tax opinions), it signifies ongoing business operations and product development by the company amidst the broader financial market conditions of late 2008. Investors interested in these specific note offerings should review the underlying prospectus supplements for detailed terms, risks, and potential returns, as these tax opinions solely address the tax treatment of the instruments.

Key Highlights

  • 1JPM filed an 8-K on October 19, 2008, reporting an event date of October 15, 2008.
  • 2The filing primarily consists of exhibits related to debt securities offerings.
  • 3Exhibit 8.1: Tax Opinion for Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index (due November 3, 2009).
  • 4Exhibit 8.2: Tax Opinion for Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index (due November 3, 2009).
  • 5Exhibit 8.3: Tax Opinion for Principal Protected Knock-Out Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index (due October 21, 2010).
  • 6All referenced notes are linked to the performance of the S&P 500® Index.
  • 7The tax opinions were provided by the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to report and incorporate by reference into JPM's existing registration statements the tax opinions from Davis Polk & Wardwell for three newly issued structured note offerings.

The filing discusses three types of structured debt notes: Buffered Return Enhanced Notes, Return Enhanced Notes, and Principal Protected Knock-Out Notes. All are linked to the S&P 500® Index.

No, this filing does not provide details on JPM's overall financial health or recent performance. It is a technical filing related to specific debt issuances and includes legal tax opinions, not financial statements or operational updates.

Investors should refer to the underlying prospectus supplements for these specific note offerings, which would contain detailed information about their terms, risks, potential returns, and conditions. These tax opinions only address the tax treatment.