FWP 1 dp89863_fwp-ps521.htm FORM FWP

April 2018

Filed pursuant to Rule 433 dated April 19, 2018 relating to

Preliminary Pricing Supplement No. 521 dated April 23, 2018 to

Registration Statement Nos. 333-221595; 333-221595-01

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Structured Investments 

Opportunities in Commodities

Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Principal at Risk Securities

The Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil futures contracts, which we refer to as the securities, are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. Unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities do not pay interest and do not guarantee the return of any principal at maturity. Instead, at maturity, you will receive for each security that you hold an amount in cash that may be greater than or less than the stated principal amount depending on the performance of West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contracts, which we refer to as the underlying commodity, as measured on each of the five averaging dates (as defined below). If the final commodity price (as defined below), as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value of 60% of the initial commodity price, the return on your investment in the securities will be the specified fixed percentage. However, if the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, meaning that the underlying commodity has depreciated by more than 40% from its initial value, the payment at maturity will be solely based on the commodity percent change, and, therefore, you will be exposed on a 1 to 1 basis to the negative performance of the underlying commodity over the term of the securities and you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less than $600 per security and could be zero. The securities are for investors who seek a West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contract-based return and who are willing to risk their principal and forgo current income and upside above the fixed percentage in exchange for the potential of receiving the fixed percentage return if the final commodity price is greater than or equal to the specified downside threshold value. The payment at maturity may be significantly less than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Accordingly, you could lose your entire initial investment in the securities.

All payments are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. These securities are not secured obligations and you will not have any security interest in, or otherwise have any access to, any underlying reference asset or assets.

SUMMARY TERMS  
Issuer: Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Guarantor: Morgan Stanley
Aggregate principal amount: $
Stated principal amount: $1,000 per security
Issue price: $1,000 per security
Pricing date: April 23, 2018
Original issue date: April 26, 2018 (3 business days after the pricing date)
Maturity date: June 26, 2019
Underlying commodity: West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contracts (“WTI crude oil”)
Payment at maturity per security: $1,000  +  return amount.  The payment at maturity may be greater than or less than the stated principal amount.  There is no minimum payment at maturity.  Accordingly, you could lose your entire initial investment in the securities.
Return amount:

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value, the return amount will be an amount in cash equal to:

$1,000 x the fixed percentage 

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the return amount will be an amount in cash equal to:

$1,000 x the commodity percent change 

In this case, the return amount will be negative and your payment at maturity per security will be an amount less than 60% of the stated principal amount and could be zero.

Fixed percentage: 9.05%
Downside threshold value: $41.01, which is 60% of the initial commodity price
Commodity percent change: (final commodity price – initial commodity price) / initial commodity price
Final commodity price: The arithmetic average of the commodity prices on each of the five averaging dates
Initial commodity price: $68.35, which is the commodity price on April 20, 2018
Commodity price: For any trading day, the official settlement price per barrel of WTI crude oil on the NYMEX Division, or its successor, of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (the “NYMEX Division”) of the first nearby month futures contract, stated in U.S. dollars, as made public by the NYMEX Division on such date, provided that if such date falls on the last trading day of such futures contract (all pursuant to the rules of the NYMEX Division), then the second nearby month futures contract on such date.
Averaging dates: June 17, 2019, June 18, 2019, June 19, 2019, June 20, 2019 and June 21, 2019, subject to adjustment for non-trading days and certain market disruption events.
CUSIP / ISIN : 61766YCU3 / US61766YCU38
Listing: The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Agent: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”), an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.  See “Supplemental information concerning plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.”
Estimated value on the pricing date: Approximately $986.80 per security, or within $16.80 of that estimate.  See “Investment Overview” beginning on page 2.
Commissions and issue price: Price to public(1) Agent’s commissions and fees(2) Proceeds to us(3)
Per security $1,000 $10 $990
Total $ $ $
(1)J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as placement agents for the securities. The placement agents will forgo fees for sales to certain fiduciary accounts. The total fees represent the amount that the placement agents receive from sales to accounts other than such fiduciary accounts. The placement agents will receive a fee from the issuer or one of its affiliates that will not exceed $10 per $1,000 principal amount of securities.

(2)Please see “Supplemental information concerning plan of distribution; conflicts of interest” for information about fees and commissions. For additional information, see “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

(3)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 8.

 

You should read this document together with the preliminary pricing supplement describing the offering and the related prospectus supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below, before you decide to invest.

As used in this document, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley or MSFL, or Morgan Stanley and MSFL collectively, as the context requires. 

Preliminary Pricing Supplement No. 521 dated April 23, 2018

Prospectus Supplement dated November 16, 2017               Prospectus dated November 16, 2017

The securities are not deposits or savings accounts and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

MSFL and Morgan Stanley have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the MSFL and Morgan Stanley have filed with the SEC for more complete information about MSFL, Morgan Stanley and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at.www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll-free 1-800-584-6837.

 

Morgan Stanley  

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

Investment Overview

 

Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities

 

Principal at Risk Securities

 

The Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts (the “securities”) can be used:

 

§To gain exposure to the performance of West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contracts and provide diversification of underlying asset class exposure

 

§To provide limited protection against loss and potentially outperform the underlying commodity for a certain range of performance due to the fixed percentage return if the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial commodity price, which we refer to as the downside threshold value

 

The securities are exposed to the performance of West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contracts, but have a fixed percentage return payable at maturity if the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities. Accordingly, you could lose your entire initial investment in the securities.

 

Maturity: Approximately 1 year and 2 weeks
Minimum payment at maturity: None.  You could lose your entire initial investment in the securities.
Interest: None
Payment scenario 1: If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value, you will receive a full return of principal at maturity plus a return based on the fixed percentage of 9.05%.
Payment scenario 2: If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, you will not receive a full return of principal at maturity.  Instead, you will receive an amount equal to the sum of the stated principal amount and a return based on the commodity percent change, which will be negative.  The payment you receive will be significantly less than the stated principal amount and could be zero.  There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities, and, accordingly, you could lose your entire investment.
   

The original issue price of each security is $1,000. This price includes costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities, which are borne by you, and, consequently, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be less than $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date will be approximately $986.80, or within $16.80 of that estimate. Our estimate of the value of the securities as determined on the pricing date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.

 

What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?

 

In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account that the securities comprises both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the underlying commodity. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlying commodity, instruments based on the underlying commodity, volatility and other factors including current and expected interest rates, as well as an interest rate related to our secondary market credit spread, which is the implied interest rate at which our conventional fixed rate debt trades in the secondary market.

 

April 2018Page 2

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

What determines the economic terms of the securities?

 

In determining the economic terms of the securities, including the fixed percentage and the downside threshold value, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.

 

What is the relationship between the estimated value on the pricing date and the secondary market price of the securities?

 

The price at which MS & Co. purchases the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlying commodity, may vary from, and be lower than, the estimated value on the pricing date, because the secondary market price takes into account our secondary market credit spread as well as the bid-offer spread that MS & Co. would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type and other factors.

 

MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities, and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time.

 

April 2018Page 3

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

Underlying Commodity Overview

 

Crude oil is used as a refined product primarily as transport fuel, industrial fuel and in-home heating fuel. The price of WTI crude oil to which the return on the securities is linked is based on the official settlement price per barrel of West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil on the NYMEX Division of the first nearby month futures contract, stated in U.S. dollars, as made public by the NYMEX Division on such date, provided that if such date falls on the last trading day of such futures contract (all pursuant to the rules of the NYMEX Division), then the second nearby month futures contract on such date.

 

Underlying commodity information as of April 20, 2018
  Bloomberg Ticker Symbol* Current Price 52 Weeks Ago 52 Week
High
52 Week
Low
WTI crude oil (in U.S. dollars) CL1 $68.35 $50.27 $68.47 (on 4/18/2018) $42.53 (on 6/21/2017)
           

* The Bloomberg ticker symbol is being provided for reference purposes only. The commodity price on any trading day will be determined based on the price published by the NYMEX Division, and, notwithstanding the Bloomberg ticker symbol provided for reference purposes above, such price may be based on the second nearby month futures contract, as further described under “Commodity price” on the cover page of this document.

 

Daily Closing Prices of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts

January 1, 2013 to April 20, 2018

 

The solid red line indicates the downside threshold value of $41.01, which is 60% of the initial commodity price.

 

April 2018Page 4

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

 

Historical Information

 

The following table sets forth the published high and low fixing prices, as well as end-of-quarter fixing prices, for the underlying commodity for each quarter in the period from January 1, 2013 through April 20, 2018. The commodity price on April 20, 2018 was $68.35. We obtained the information in the table from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical performance of the underlying commodity should not be taken as an indication of its future performance.

 

West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil (in U.S. dollars per barrel) High ($) Low ($) Period End ($)
2013      
First Quarter 97.94 90.12 97.23
Second Quarter 98.44 86.68 96.56
Third Quarter 110.53 97.99 102.33
Fourth Quarter 104.10 92.30 98.42
2014      
First Quarter 104.92 91.66 101.58
Second Quarter 107.26 99.42 105.37
Third Quarter 105.34 91.16 91.16
Fourth Quarter 91.01 90.73 53.27
2015      
First Quarter 53.53 43.46 47.60
Second Quarter 61.43 49.14 59.47
Third Quarter 56.96 38.24 45.09
Fourth Quarter 49.63 34.73 37.04
2016      
First Quarter 41.45 26.21 38.34
Second Quarter 51.23 35.70 48.33
Third Quarter 48.99 39.51 48.24
Fourth Quarter 54.06 43.32 53.72
2017      
First Quarter 54.45 47.34 50.60
Second Quarter 53.40 42.53 46.04
Third Quarter 52.22 44.23 51.67
Fourth Quarter 60.42 49.29 60.42
2018      
First Quarter 66.14 59.19 64.94
Second Quarter (through April 20, 2018) 68.47 62.06 68.35
       

April 2018Page 5

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

Key Investment Rationale

 

This 54-week investment offers a potential fixed upside return at maturity based on the specified fixed percentage of 9.05% and protection from loss so long as the final commodity price, as measured on the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial commodity price, which we refer to as the downside threshold value. However, if the final commodity price is less than the downside threshold value, the securities will be exposed on a 1 to 1 basis to the negative performance of West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contracts.

 

Upside Scenario The final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value, and, at maturity, an investor would receive a full return of principal at maturity plus a return reflecting the fixed percentage of 9.05%.
   
Downside Scenario The final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, and the securities redeem for less than the stated principal amount by an amount proportionate to the negative performance of the underlying commodity.  Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be significantly less than the $1,000 stated principal amount and could be zero.  There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities.  Accordingly, you could lose your entire initial investment in the securities.

 

 

Summary of Selected Key Risks (see page 16)

 

§No guaranteed return of principal.

 

§No interest payments.

 

§The appreciation potential of the securities is fixed and limited.

 

§You will lose the benefit of the fixed percentage return if the downside threshold value is breached based on the arithmetic average of the commodity prices on the averaging dates.

 

§The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities.

 

§As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets.

 

§The amount payable at maturity, if any, is based on the arithmetic average of the commodity prices on each of the five averaging dates, and therefore the return amount may be less than if it were based solely on the commodity price on the final averaging date.

 

§The market price of the securities may be influenced by many unpredictable factors.

 

§Single commodity prices tend to be more volatile than, and may not correlate with, the prices of commodities generally.

 

§Investments linked to a single commodity are subject to sharp fluctuations in commodity prices, and the price of WTI crude oil may change unpredictably and affect the value of the securities in unforeseen ways.

 

§An investment linked to commodity futures contracts is not equivalent to an investment linked to the spot prices of physical commodities.

 

§Differences between futures prices and the spot price of WTI crude oil may decrease the amount payable at maturity.

 

§Suspension or disruptions of market trading in WTI crude oil futures contracts may adversely affect the value of the securities.

 

§Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying commodity or in futures contracts or forward contracts on the underlying commodity.

 

§Legal and regulatory changes could adversely affect the return on and value of the securities.

 

§The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited.

 

§Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially adversely affect the value of the securities.

 

§The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both the lower rate and the inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the securities, cause the estimated value of the securities to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices.

 

§The estimated value of the securities is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price.

 

§The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of the Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, will make determinations with respect to the securities.

 

§The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities are uncertain.

 

April 2018Page 6

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

Fact Sheet

 

The Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil futures contracts, which we refer to as the securities, are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. Unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities will pay no interest, do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity and have the terms described in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. At maturity, an investor will receive for each stated principal amount of securities that the investor holds an amount in cash that may be greater than or less than the stated principal amount based on whether the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value. The securities are unsecured notes issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program. All payments on the securities are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. These securities are not secured obligations and you will not have any security interest in, or otherwise have any access to, any underlying reference asset or assets.

 

Expected Key Dates    
Pricing date: Original issue date (settlement date): Maturity date:
April 23, 2018 April 26, 2018 (3 business days after the pricing date) June 26, 2019 (subject to postponement as described below)
Key Terms
Issuer: Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Guarantor: Morgan Stanley
Aggregate principal amount: $
Issue price: $1,000 per security
Stated principal amount: $1,000 per security
Denominations: $1,000 per security and integral multiples thereof
Interest: None
Underlying commodity: West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil futures contracts
Payment at maturity per security: $1,000 + return amount, which may be greater than or less than the stated principal amount. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities.
Return amount:

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value, the return amount will be an amount in cash equal to:

$1,000 x the fixed percentage 

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the return amount will be an amount in cash equal to:

$1,000 x the commodity percent change 

In this case, the return amount will be negative and your payment at maturity per security will be an amount less than 60% of the stated principal amount and could be zero.

Fixed percentage: 9.05%
Downside threshold value: $41.01, which is 60% of the initial commodity price
Commodity percent change: (final commodity price – initial commodity price) / initial commodity price
Relevant exchange: The NYMEX Division, or its successor, of the New York Mercantile Exchange
Final commodity price: The arithmetic average of the commodity prices on each of the five averaging dates
Initial commodity price: $68.35, which is the commodity price on April 20, 2018
Commodity price: For any trading day, the official settlement price per barrel of WTI crude oil on the NYMEX Division of the first nearby month futures contract, stated in U.S. dollars, as made public by the NYMEX Division on such date, provided that if such date falls on the last trading day of such futures contract (all pursuant to the rules of the NYMEX Division), then the second nearby month futures contract on such date.
Averaging dates: June 17, 2019, June 18, 2019, June 19, 2019, June 20, 2019 and June 21, 2019, subject to adjustment for non-trading days and certain market disruption events.
Postponement of maturity date: If, due to a market disruption event or otherwise, the final averaging date is postponed so that it falls less than two business days prior to the scheduled maturity date, the maturity date will be postponed to the second business day following the final averaging date as postponed.
Risk factors: Please see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16.

April 2018Page 7

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

General Information  
Listing: The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
CUSIP: 61766YCU3
ISIN: US61766YCU38
Minimum ticketing size: $1,000 / 1 security
Tax considerations:

You should note that the discussion under “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus supplement does not apply to the securities offered under the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement and is superseded by the following discussion.

 

Although there is uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities due to the lack of governing authority, in the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, under current law, and based on current market conditions, a security should be treated as a single financial contract that is an “open transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

  Assuming this treatment of the securities is respected, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result based on current law:
   
  §     A U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize taxable income over the term of the securities prior to settlement, other than pursuant to a sale or exchange.
   
  §     Upon sale, exchange or settlement of the securities, a U.S. Holder should recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the securities.  Such gain or loss should be long-term capital gain or loss if the investor has held the securities for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise.
   
 

In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. 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; whether short-term instruments should be subject to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange-traded status of the instruments and 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. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” rule, 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 securities, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

Both U.S. and non-U.S. investors considering an investment in the securities should read the discussion under “Risk Factors” in this document and the discussion under “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement and consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including possible alternative treatments, the issues presented by the aforementioned notice and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

The discussion in the preceding paragraphs under “Tax considerations” and the discussion contained in the section entitled “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement, insofar as they purport to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities.

 

Trustee: The Bank of New York Mellon
Calculation agent: Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. and its successors (“MSCG”)
Use of proceeds and hedging:

The proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used by us for general corporate purposes. We will receive, in aggregate, $1,000 per security issued, because, when we enter into hedging transactions in order to meet our obligations under the securities, our hedging counterparty will reimburse the cost of the agent’s commissions. The costs of the securities borne by you and described beginning on page 2 above comprise the agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the

 

April 2018Page 8

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

 

securities.

 

On or prior to April 20, 2018, we hedged our anticipated exposure in connection with the securities by entering into hedging transactions with our affiliates and/or third party dealers. We expect our hedging counterparties to have taken positions in futures contracts on the underlying commodity. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the averaging dates approach. Such purchase activity could have increased the initial commodity price, and, as a result, could have increased the downside threshold value, which is the price at or above which the final commodity price must be on the averaging dates so that you do not suffer a significant loss on your initial investment in the securities. In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify our hedge position throughout the term of the securities by purchasing and selling futures contracts on the underlying commodity or positions in any other available instruments that we may wish to use in connection with such hedging activities, including by selling any such instruments during the term of the securities, including on the averaging dates. We cannot give any assurance that our hedging activities will not affect the commodity price, and, therefore, adversely affect the value of the securities or the payment you will receive at maturity, if any. For further information on our use of proceeds and hedging, see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement.

 

Benefit plan investor considerations:

Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (a “Plan”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.

 

In addition, we and certain of our affiliates, including MS & Co., may each be considered a “party in interest” within the meaning of ERISA, or a “disqualified person” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to many Plans, as well as many individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans (such accounts and plans, together with other plans, accounts and arrangements subject to Section 4975 of the Code, also “Plans”). ERISA Section 406 and Code Section 4975 generally prohibit transactions between Plans and parties in interest or disqualified persons. Prohibited transactions within the meaning of ERISA or the Code would likely arise, for example, if the securities are acquired by or with the assets of a Plan with respect to which MS & Co. or any of its affiliates is a service provider or other party in interest, unless the securities are acquired pursuant to an exemption from the “prohibited transaction” rules. A violation of these “prohibited transaction” rules could result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for those persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the securities. Those class exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts) and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Code Section 4975(d)(20) provide an exemption for the purchase and sale of securities and the related lending transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities nor any of its affiliates has or exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders any investment advice with respect to the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the Plan pays no more, and receives no less, than “adequate consideration” in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider” exemption). There can be no assurance that any of these class or statutory exemptions will be available with respect to transactions involving the securities.

 

Because we may be considered a party in interest with respect to many Plans, the securities may not be purchased, held or disposed of by any Plan, any entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “Plan Asset Entity”) or any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase, holding or disposition is eligible for exemptive relief, including relief available under PTCEs 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1, 84-14 or the service provider exemption or such purchase, holding or disposition is otherwise not prohibited. Any purchaser, including any fiduciary purchasing on behalf of a Plan, transferee or holder of the securities will be deemed to have represented, in its corporate and its fiduciary capacity, by its purchase and holding of the securities that either (a) it is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not purchasing such securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan or with any assets of

 

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a governmental, non-U.S. or church plan that is subject to any federal, state, local or non-U.S. law that is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (“Similar Law”) or (b) its purchase, holding and disposition of these securities will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or violate any Similar Law.

 

Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan consult with their counsel regarding the availability of exemptive relief.

 

The securities are contractual financial instruments. The financial exposure provided by the securities is not a substitute or proxy for, and is not intended as a substitute or proxy for, individualized investment management or advice for the benefit of any purchaser or holder of the securities. The securities have not been designed and will not be administered in a manner intended to reflect the individualized needs and objectives of any purchaser or holder of the securities.

 

Each purchaser or holder of any securities acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)   the purchaser or holder or its fiduciary has made and shall make all investment decisions for the purchaser or holder and the purchaser or holder has not relied and shall not rely in any way upon us or our affiliates to act as a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder with respect to (A) the design and terms of the securities, (B) the purchaser or holder’s investment in the securities, or (C) the exercise of or failure to exercise any rights we have under or with respect to the securities;

 

(ii)   we and our affiliates have acted and will act solely for our own account in connection with (A) all transactions relating to the securities and (B) all hedging transactions in connection with our obligations under the securities;

 

(iii)  any and all assets and positions relating to hedging transactions by us or our affiliates are assets and positions of those entities and are not assets and positions held for the benefit of the purchaser or holder;

 

(iv)  our interests are adverse to the interests of the purchaser or holder; and

 

(v)   neither we nor any of our affiliates is a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder in connection with any such assets, positions or transactions, and any information that we or any of our affiliates may provide is not intended to be impartial investment advice.

 

Each purchaser and holder of the securities has exclusive responsibility for ensuring that its purchase, holding and disposition of the securities do not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any Similar Law. The sale of any securities to any Plan or plan subject to Similar Law is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by plans generally or any particular plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for plans generally or any particular plan. In this regard, neither this discussion nor anything provided in this document is or is intended to be investment advice directed at any potential Plan purchaser or at Plan purchasers generally and such purchasers of these securities should consult and rely on their own counsel and advisers as to whether an investment in these securities is suitable.

 

However, individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities and Keogh plans, as well as employee benefit plans that permit participants to direct the investment of their accounts, will not be permitted to purchase or hold the securities if the account, plan or annuity is for the benefit of an employee of Morgan Stanley or Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or a family member and the employee receives any compensation (such as, for example, an addition to bonus) based on the purchase of the securities by the account, plan or annuity.

 

Additional considerations: Client accounts over which Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or any of their respective subsidiaries have investment discretion are not permitted to purchase the securities, either directly or indirectly.
Supplemental information concerning plan of distribution; conflicts of interest:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and its affiliates will act as placement agents for the securities and will receive a fee from the issuer or one of its affiliates that will not exceed $10 per $1,000 principal amount of securities, but will forgo any fees for sales to certain fiduciary accounts.

 

MS & Co. is an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and it and other affiliates of ours expect to make a profit by selling, structuring and, when applicable, hedging the

 

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securities. When MS & Co. prices this offering of securities, it will determine the economic terms of the securities such that for each security the estimated value on the pricing date will be no lower than the minimum level described in “Investment Overview” beginning on page 2.

 

MS & Co. will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account. See “Supplemental Information Concerning Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement.

 

 

This is a summary of the terms and conditions of the securities. We encourage you to read the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus for this offering, which can be accessed via the hyperlinks on the front page of this document.

 

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Hypothetical Payments on the Securities at Maturity

 

Payoff Diagram

 

The payoff diagram below illustrates the payment at maturity on the securities based on the following terms:

 

Stated principal amount: $1,000 per security
Downside threshold value: 60% of the initial commodity price (-40% change in final commodity price compared to initial commodity price)
Fixed percentage: 9.05%

 

 

Payoff Diagram for the Securities

 

How it works

 

¡Upside Scenario. If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value, an investor would receive a full return of principal at maturity plus a return reflecting the fixed percentage of 9.05%.

 

¡Downside Scenario. If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the payment at maturity would be less than the stated principal amount of $1,000 by an amount that is proportionate to the decline in the final commodity price from the initial commodity price. In this scenario, the investor would lose a significant portion or all of the amount invested in the securities. For example, if the final commodity price declines by 50% from the initial commodity price, the payment at maturity would be $500 per security (50% of the stated principal amount).

 

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Hypothetical Examples

 

The examples below illustrate how the payment at maturity on the securities is calculated and are based on the following terms:

 

Stated principal amount: $1,000 per security
Hypothetical initial commodity price: $100
Downside threshold value: $60, which is 60% of the hypothetical initial commodity price
Fixed percentage: 9.05%

 

 

The actual initial commodity price is set forth on the cover of this document.

 

EXAMPLE 1: The final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, has declined from the initial commodity price by 10% but is greater than the downside threshold value. You receive the fixed percentage-based return.

 

Hypothetical final commodity price = $90
Commodity percent change = (final commodity price – initial commodity price) / initial commodity price
  = ($90 – $100) / $100
  = –10%
Return amount = stated principal amount    ×    the fixed percentage
  = $1,000   ×  9.05%
  = $90.50
Payment at maturity = stated principal amount    +    return amount
  = $1,090.50
Payment at maturity = $1,090.50
 

EXAMPLE 2: The final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, has increased from the initial commodity price by 50%. You receive only the fixed percentage-based return.

 

Hypothetical final commodity price = $150
Commodity percent change = (final commodity price – initial commodity price) / initial commodity price
  = ($150 – $100) / $100
  = 50%
Return amount = stated principal amount    ×    the fixed percentage
  = $1,000   ×  9.05%
  = $90.50
Payment at maturity = stated principal amount    +    return amount
  = $1,090.50

Payment at maturity = $1,090.50

 

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EXAMPLE 3: The final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, has declined from the initial commodity price by 60% and is below the downside threshold value. You are fully exposed to the decline in the final commodity price from the initial commodity price.

 

Hypothetical final commodity price = $40
Commodity percent change = (final commodity price – initial commodity price) / initial commodity price
  = ($40 – $100) / $100
  = –60%
Return amount = stated principal amount    ×    commodity percent change
  = $1,000    ×    (–60%)
  = –$600
Payment at maturity = stated principal amount  +  return amount, which means that the payment at maturity is an amount significantly less than the stated principal amount, because the return amount is necessarily negative by a significant amount.
  = $1,000   +   (–$600)
  = $400
Payment at maturity = $400

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Principal at Risk Securities 

Payment at Maturity

 

At maturity, investors will receive for each $1,000 stated principal amount of securities that they hold a payment equal to the sum of the stated principal amount and a return amount. The payment at maturity may be greater than or less than the stated principal amount.

 

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value of 60% of the initial commodity price, the return amount will be positive and will equal:

 

$1,000 × the fixed percentage

 

where,

 

commodity percent change
fixed percentage 9.05%

 

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the return amount will equal:

 

$1,000    x     commodity percent change

 

If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the return amount will be negative and the payment at maturity will be significantly less than the stated principal amount and could be zero. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities, and, accordingly, you could lose your entire investment.

 

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Risk Factors

 

The following is a non-exhaustive list of certain key risk factors for investors in the securities. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement. You should also consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the securities.

 

§The securities do not pay interest or guarantee return of any principal at maturity. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that we do not guarantee repayment of the principal amount of the securities at maturity and do not pay you interest on the securities. If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the payment at maturity on each security will be significantly less than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Consequently, the entire principal amount of your investment is at risk.

 

§The appreciation potential of the securities is fixed and limited. Where the final commodity price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold value, the appreciation potential of the securities is limited to the return amount based on the fixed percentage of 9.05% of the stated principal amount, even if the final commodity price is significantly greater than the initial commodity price. See “Hypothetical Payments on the Securities at Maturity” on page 12 above.

 

§You will lose the benefit of the fixed percentage return if the downside threshold value is breached based on the arithmetic average of the commodity prices on the averaging dates. If the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the payment at maturity will solely depend on the commodity percent change, which will be negative, and you will lose the benefit of the minimum return based on the fixed percentage. As a result, you will be exposed on a 1 to 1 basis to the negative performance of the underlying commodity over the term of the securities and you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the securities.

 

§The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the securities at maturity and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations under the securities, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the securities prior to maturity will be affected by changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any actual or anticipated decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the securities.

 

§As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets. As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of its securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of MSFL securities if they make claims in respect of such securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by Morgan Stanley and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Morgan Stanley. Holders will have recourse only to a single claim against Morgan Stanley and its assets under the guarantee. Holders of securities issued by MSFL should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of Morgan Stanley, including holders of Morgan Stanley-issued securities.

 

§The amount payable at maturity, if any, is based on the arithmetic average of the commodity prices on each of the five averaging dates, and therefore the return amount may be less than if it were based solely on the commodity price on the final averaging date. The amount payable at maturity, if any, will be calculated by reference to the average of the commodity prices on each of the five averaging dates. Therefore, in calculating the final commodity price, positive performance of the underlying commodity as of some averaging dates may be moderated, or wholly offset, by lesser or negative performance as of other averaging dates. Similarly, the final commodity price, calculated based on the commodity prices on each of the five averaging dates, may be less than the commodity price on the final averaging date, and as a result, the amount you receive at maturity may be less than if it were based solely on the commodity price on the final averaging date.

 

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§The market price of the securities may be influenced by many unpredictable factors. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of the securities in the secondary market and the price at which Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, which we refer to as MS & Co., may be willing to purchase or sell the securities in the secondary market, including:

 

·the market price of the underlying commodity and futures contracts on the underlying commodity and the volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in price) of such prices;

·whether or not the price of the underlying commodity is less than the downside threshold value;

·trends of supply and demand for the underlying commodity at any time, as well as the effects of speculation or any government actions that could affect the markets for the underlying commodity;

·interest and yield rates in the market;

·geopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlying commodity or commodities markets generally and which may affect the price of the underlying commodity;

·the time remaining until the maturity of the securities; and

·any actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.

 

Some or all of these factors will influence the price you will receive if you sell your securities prior to maturity. For example, you may have to sell your securities at a substantial loss if the price of the underlying commodity at the time of sale is at or below its initial price and especially if it is near or below the downside threshold value or it is believed to be likely to do so in light of the then-current price of the underlying commodity.

 

You cannot predict the future prices of the underlying commodity based on its historical prices. The final commodity price may be less than the downside threshold value such that you will be exposed on a 1 to 1 basis to the negative performance of the underlying commodity and, as a result, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment at maturity. There can be no assurance that the final commodity price will be greater than or equal to the downside threshold value so that you will receive at maturity an amount that is greater than the stated principal amount of the securities, or that you will not lose a significant portion or all of your investment.

 

§Single commodity prices tend to be more volatile than, and may not correlate with, the prices of commodities generally. The payment at maturity is linked exclusively to the price of futures contracts on West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil and not to a diverse basket of commodities or a broad-based commodity index. The price of futures contracts on West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil may not correlate to, and may diverge significantly from, the prices of commodities generally. Because the securities are linked to the price of a single commodity, they carry greater risk and may be more volatile than a security linked to the prices of multiple commodities or a broad-based commodity index. The price of futures contracts on West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude oil may be, and has recently been, highly volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. See “Historical Information” on page 5.

 

§Investments linked to a single commodity are subject to sharp fluctuations in commodity prices, and the price of WTI crude oil may change unpredictably and affect the value of the securities in unforeseen ways. Investments, such as the securities, linked to the price of a single commodity, such as WTI crude oil futures contracts, are subject to significant fluctuations in the price of the commodity over short periods due to a variety of factors. Demand for refined petroleum products by consumers, as well as by the agricultural, manufacturing and transportation industries, affects the price of crude oil.  Crude oil’s end-use as a refined product is often as transport fuel, industrial fuel and in-home heating fuel.  Potential for substitution in most areas exists, although considerations including relative cost often limit substitution levels.  Because the precursors of demand for petroleum products are linked to economic activity, demand will tend to reflect economic conditions.  Demand is also influenced by government regulations, such as environmental or consumption policies.  In addition to general economic activity and demand, prices for crude oil are affected by political events, labor activity, developments in production technology such as fracking and, in particular, direct government intervention (such as embargos) or supply disruptions in major oil producing regions of the world.  Such events tend to affect oil prices worldwide, regardless of the location of the event.  Supply for crude oil may increase or decrease depending on many factors.  These include production decisions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other crude oil producers.  In the event of sudden disruptions in the supplies of oil, such as those caused by war, natural events, accidents or acts of terrorism, prices of oil futures contracts could become extremely volatile and unpredictable.  Also, sudden and dramatic changes in the futures market may occur, for example, upon a cessation of hostilities that may exist in countries producing oil, the introduction of new or previously withheld supplies into the market or the introduction of substitute products or

 

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commodities.  WTI crude oil is also subject to the risk that it has demonstrated a lack of correlation with world crude oil prices due to structural differences between the U.S. market for crude oil and the international market for crude oil.  As a result, the price of WTI crude oil futures contracts may be more volatile than world crude oil prices generally. See “Underlying Commodity Overview” on page 4.

 

§An investment linked to commodity futures contracts is not equivalent to an investment linked to the spot prices of physical commodities. The securities have returns based on the change in price of futures contracts on the underlying commodity, not the change in the spot price of actual physical commodity to which such futures contracts relate. The price of a futures contract reflects the expected value of the commodity upon delivery in the future, whereas the price of a physical commodity reflects the value of such commodity upon immediate delivery, which is referred to as the spot price. Several factors can result in differences between the price of a commodity futures contract and the spot price of a commodity, including the cost of storing such commodity for the length of the futures contract, interest costs related to financing the purchase of such commodity and expectations of supply and demand for such commodity. While the changes in the price of a futures contract are usually correlated with the changes in the spot price, such correlation is not exact. In some cases, the performance of a commodity futures contract can deviate significantly from the spot price performance of the related underlying commodity, especially over longer periods of time. Accordingly, investments linked to the return of commodities futures contracts may underperform similar investments that reflect the spot price return on physical commodities.

 

§Differences between futures prices and the spot price of WTI crude oil may decrease the amount payable at maturity. The initial commodity price and final commodity price that are used to determine the payment at maturity on the securities are determined by reference to the settlement price of the first nearby month futures contract for WTI crude oil on April 20, 2018 and the averaging dates, respectively, provided that if any such date falls on the last trading day of such futures contract, then the second nearby month futures contract on such date, and will not therefore reflect the spot price of WTI crude oil on such dates. The market for futures contracts on WTI crude oil has experienced periods of backwardation, in which futures prices are lower than the spot price, and periods of contango, in which futures prices are higher than the spot price. If the contract is in backwardation on April 20, 2018 or in contango on the averaging dates, the amount payable at maturity on the securities will be less than if the initial WTI crude oil price or final WTI crude oil price, respectively, was determined with reference to the spot price.

 

§Suspension or disruptions of market trading in WTI crude oil futures contracts may adversely affect the value of the securities. The futures market for WTI crude oil is subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, the participation of speculators and government regulation and intervention. In addition, the contract is listed on the NYMEX. NYMEX has limits on the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. The current maximum daily price fluctuation for futures contracts of WTI crude oil is $10 per barrel for any particular month of delivery. If any contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes, the limit is expanded by $10 per barrel in either direction. If another halt is triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $10 per barrel in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There are no maximum price fluctuation limits during any one trading session. Fluctuation limits will have the effect of precluding trading in the contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the value of WTI crude oil futures contracts and, therefore, the value of the securities.

 

§Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying commodity or in futures contracts or forward contracts on the underlying commodity. By purchasing the securities, you do not purchase any entitlement to the underlying commodity or futures contracts or forward contracts on the underlying commodity. Furthermore, by purchasing the securities, you are taking credit risk to us and not to any counter-party to futures contracts or forward contracts on the underlying commodity.

 

§Legal and regulatory changes could adversely affect the return on and value of the securities. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including those related to the underlying commodity, are subject to extensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, commonly referred to as the “CFTC,”

 

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and the exchanges on which such futures contracts trade, are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the retroactive implementation of speculative position limits or higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily limits and the suspension of trading. Furthermore, certain exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuations in futures contract prices that may occur during a single five-minute trading period. These limits could adversely affect the market prices of relevant futures and options contracts and forward contracts. The regulation of commodity transactions in the U.S. is subject to ongoing modification by government and judicial action. In addition, various non-U.S. governments have expressed concern regarding the disruptive effects of speculative trading in the commodity markets and the need to regulate the derivative markets in general. The effect on the value of the securities of any future regulatory change is impossible to predict, but could be substantial and adverse to the interests of holders of the securities.

 

For example, the Dodd-Frank Act, which was enacted on July 21, 2010, requires the CFTC to establish limits on the amount of positions that may be held by any person in certain commodity futures contracts and swaps, futures and options that are economically equivalent to such contracts. While the effects of these or other regulatory developments are difficult to predict, when adopted, such rules may have the effect of making the markets for commodities, commodity futures contracts, options on futures contracts and other related derivatives more volatile and over time potentially less liquid. Such restrictions may force market participants, including us and our affiliates, or such market participants may decide, to sell their positions in such futures contracts and other instruments subject to the limits. If this broad market selling were to occur, it would likely lead to declines, possibly significant declines, in commodity prices, in the price of such commodity futures contracts or instruments and potentially, the value of the securities.

 

§The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited. The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.  Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the securities. MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time. When it does make a market, it will generally do so for transactions of routine secondary market size at prices based on its estimate of the current value of the securities, taking into account its bid/offer spread, our credit spreads, market volatility, the notional size of the proposed sale, the cost of unwinding any related hedging positions, the time remaining to maturity and the likelihood that it will be able to resell the securities..  Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the securities easily. Since other broker-dealers may not participate significantly in the secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to trade your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which MS & Co. is willing to transact.  If, at any time, MS & Co. were to cease making a market in the securities, it is likely that there would be no secondary market for the securities.  Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities to maturity.

 

§Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially adversely affect the value of the securities. One or more of our affiliates and/or third-party dealers have carried out, and will continue to carry out, hedging activities related to the securities (and to other instruments linked to the underlying commodity), including trading in futures contracts on the underlying commodity, and possibly in other instruments related to the underlying commodity. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the averaging dates approach. Some of our affiliates also trade the underlying commodity and other financial instruments related to the underlying commodity on a regular basis as part of their general broker-dealer, commodity trading, proprietary trading and other businesses. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to April 20, 2018 could have increased the initial commodity price and, as a result, could have increased the downside threshold value, which is the price at or above which the final commodity price must be on the averaging dates so that you do not suffer a significant loss on your initial investment in the securities. Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities could potentially affect the final commodity price and whether the final commodity price is less than the downside threshold value, and, accordingly, the amount of cash you will receive upon a sale of the securities or at maturity, if any.

 

§The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both the lower rate and the inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the securities, cause the estimated value of the securities to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other

 

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relevant factors, the prices, if any, at which dealers, including MS & Co., may be willing to purchase the securities in secondary market transactions will likely be significantly lower than the original issue price, because secondary market prices will exclude the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging-related costs that are included in the original issue price and borne by you and because the secondary market prices will reflect our secondary market credit spreads and the bid-offer spread that any dealer would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type as well as other factors.

 

The inclusion of the costs of issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price and the lower rate we are willing to pay as issuer make the economic terms of the securities less favorable to you than they otherwise would be.

 

§The estimated value of the securities is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price. These pricing and valuation models are proprietary and rely in part on subjective views of certain market inputs and certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, because there is no market-standard way to value these types of securities, our models may yield a higher estimated value of the securities than those generated by others, including other dealers in the market, if they attempted to value the securities. In addition, the estimated value on the pricing date does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which dealers, including MS & Co., would be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your securities at any time after the date of this pricing supplement will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. See also “The market price will be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above.

 

§The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of the Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, will make determinations with respect to the securities. As calculation agent, MSCG has determined the initial commodity price, and will determine the final commodity price and whether the final commodity price, as measured on each of the five averaging dates, is less than the downside threshold value, the commodity percent change and whether a market disruption event has occurred. Additionally, the calculation agent will calculate the amount of cash, if any, you will receive at maturity. Moreover, certain determinations made by the calculation agent may require it to exercise discretion and make subjective judgments, such as with respect to the occurrence or non-occurrence of market disruption events or calculation of any commodity price in the event of a market disruption event. These potentially subjective determinations may adversely affect the payout to you at maturity, if any. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Description of Securities—Return Amount,” “—Initial Commodity Price,” “—Commodity Price,” “—Averaging Dates,” “—Trading Day,” “—Calculation Agent,” “—Market Disruption Event,” and “—Alternate Exchange Calculation in Case of an Event of Default” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date.

 

§The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities are uncertain. Please read the discussion under “Additional provisions—Tax considerations” in this document and the discussion under “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement (together the “Tax Disclosure Sections”) concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities.

 

If the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the securities, the timing and character of income on the securities might differ significantly from the tax treatment described in the Tax Disclosure Sections. For example, under one possible treatment, the IRS could seek to recharacterize the securities as debt instruments. In that event, U.S. Holders would be required to accrue into income original issue discount on the securities every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time of issuance and recognize all income and gain in respect of the securities as ordinary income. Additionally, as discussed under “United States Federal Taxation – FATCA” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement for the securities, the withholding rules commonly referred to as “FATCA” would apply to the securities if they were recharacterized as debt instruments. The risk that financial instruments providing for buffers, triggers or similar downside protection features, such as the securities, would be recharacterized as debt is greater than the risk of recharacterization for comparable financial instruments that do not have such features. We do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the tax treatment of the securities, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in the Tax Disclosure Sections.

 

In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require

 

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Enchanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 26, 2019 Based on the Performance of West Texas Intermediate Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contracts 

Principal at Risk Securities 

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; whether short-term instruments should be subject to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange-traded status of the instruments and 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. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” rule, 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 securities, 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 securities, including possible alternative treatments, the issues presented by this notice and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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