Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce /Can/ 6-K, filed Feb 26, 2020

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report ofForeign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or15d-16 under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of February, 2020

Commission File Number: 1-14678

CANADIANIMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Commerce Court

Toronto, Ontario

Canada M5L 1A2

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F  ☐         Form 40-F ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g 3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Yes  ☐            No  ☒

If yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g 3-2(b):  _____________________

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Exhibits

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CIBC Provides Update on the Phase-Out ofNon-Qualifying Capital Instruments under the OSFI Capital Adequacy Requirements Guideline

TORONTO, February 26, 2020 – CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) announced today that, subject to regulatory approval, it currently expects to exercise a regulatory event redemption right in its fiscal 2022 year in respect of the $300 million 10.25% CIBC Tier 1 Notes – Series B issued by CIBC Capital Trust outstanding at that time (the “Tier 1 – Series B Notes”), meaning that this redemption right could occur as early as November 1, 2021.

As disclosed in CIBC’s Annual Report since 2011, it has been CIBC’s expectation to exercise its regulatory event redemption right in fiscal 2022 in respect of the Tier 1 – Series B Notes. Under the OSFI Capital Adequacy Requirements Guideline, any non-qualifying capital instruments (such as the Tier 1 – Series B Notes) outstanding as of November 1, 2021 will not be recognized as regulatory capital.

Future circumstances within or outside CIBC’s control, including generally applicable legal and regulatory changes that have the effect of causing non-qualifying regulatory capital to become compliant, as well as CIBC’s financial position and market conditions, may cause CIBC to change its expectation regarding the exercise of regulatory event redemptions and require CIBC to disclose an updated regulatory event redemption schedule.

A NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: From time to time, we make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including in this press release report, in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in other communications. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our financial condition, priorities, targets, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in any of our forward-looking statements, including general business and economic conditions worldwide; amendments to, and interpretations of, risk-based capital guidelines; and changes in monetary and economic policy. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Small Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets businesses, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre.

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