FWP 1 dp182577_fwp-ps6730.htm FORM FWP

Free Writing Prospectus No. 6,730
Registration Statement Nos. 333-250103; 333-250103-01
Dated October 17, 2022

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 

   

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC Trigger Callable Yield Notes

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index due January 24, 2024 

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Principal at Risk Securities 

Investment Description

These Trigger Callable Yield Notes (the “Securities”) are unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The Securities provide a return at maturity based on the performance of the Russell 2000® Index (the “Underlying”). On each monthly Coupon Payment Date, unless the Securities have previously been called, MSFL will make a Coupon payment based on the Coupon Rate, regardless of the performance of the Underlying. In addition, beginning on January 24, 2023, MSFL will call the Securities on any monthly Call Date if and only if the output of a risk neutral valuation model on a Business Day that is at least 2 but no more than 5 Business Days prior to such Call Date, based on the inputs indicated in the Call Feature section below, indicates that calling on such date is economically rational for us as compared to not calling on such date. If the Securities are called, MSFL will pay you the principal amount plus the Coupon otherwise due with respect to the relevant Coupon Payment Date, and no further amounts will be owed to you. Any early redemption of the Securities will not automatically occur based solely on the performance of the Underlying. If the Securities are not called prior to maturity and the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Downside Threshold, MSFL will make a cash payment to you at maturity equal to the principal amount of your Securities and the Coupon with respect to the final Coupon Payment Date. However, if the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold, MSFL will pay you, in addition to the final Coupon, an amount that is significantly less than the full principal amount, if anything, at maturity, resulting in a loss on your principal amount that is proportionate to the decline in the level of the Underlying. The Securities may be appropriate for investors who seek an opportunity for fixed income in exchange for the risk of losing their principal at maturity and the risk of an early redemption of the Securities. Your return will be solely the Coupons that are paid until maturity or an earlier redemption, and you will not participate in any appreciation in the Underlying. Investing in the Securities involves significant risks. The Issuer may call the Securities early based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model. You will lose a significant portion or all of your principal amount at maturity if the Securities are not called and the Final Level is below the Downside Threshold. Generally, the higher the Coupon Rate for the Securities, the greater risk of loss on those Securities. If you sell the Securities prior to maturity, you may receive substantially less than the principal amount even if the level of the Underlying is greater than the Downside Threshold at the time of sale.

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.

Features   Key Dates*
qCall Feature: Beginning January 24, 2023, an early redemption, in whole but not in part, will occur on a monthly Call Date if and only if the output of a risk neutral valuation model on a Business Day that is at least 2 but no more than 5 Business Days prior to such Call Date, as selected by the Calculation Agent (the “Determination Date”), taking as input: (i) prevailing reference market levels, volatilities and correlations, as applicable and in each case as of the Determination Date and (ii) Morgan Stanley’s credit spreads as of the Trade Date, indicates that calling on such date is economically rational for us as compared to not calling on such date. If the Securities are called, MSFL will pay you the principal amount plus the Coupon otherwise due with respect to the relevant Coupon Payment Date and no further amounts will be owed to you. If the Securities are not called, investors will have the potential for downside equity market risk at maturity.

 

qIncome: Regardless of the performance of the Underlying, MSFL will pay you a Coupon on each Coupon Payment Date unless the Securities have been previously called.

 

qContingent Downside Market Exposure at Maturity: If, by maturity, the Securities have not been called and the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Downside Threshold on the Final Valuation Date, MSFL will pay you the principal amount per Security at maturity, as well as the final Coupon. However, if the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold, MSFL will pay you, in addition to the final Coupon, an amount that is significantly less than the full principal amount, if anything, at maturity, resulting in a loss on your principal amount that is proportionate to the decline in the level of the Underlying from the Trade Date to the Final Valuation Date. If you sell the Securities prior to maturity, you may receive substantially less than the principal amount even if the level of the Underlying is greater than the Downside Threshold at the time of sale. Any payment on the Securities is subject to our creditworthiness.

 

Trade Date October 19, 2022
Settlement Date October 24, 2022 (3 business days
  after the Trade Date)
Coupon Payment Dates** Monthly, callable beginning January 24, 2023. See “Coupon Payment Dates and Call Dates” on page 6 for details.
Final Valuation Date** January 19, 2024
Maturity Date** January 24, 2024


*       Expected. In the event that we make any change to the expected Trade Date and Settlement Date, we may change the Coupon Payment Dates, the Call Dates, the Final Valuation Date and/or the Maturity Date so that the stated term of the Securities remains the same.

 

**       Subject to postponement in the event of a Market Disruption Event or for non-Trading Days. See “Postponement of Final Valuation Date and Coupon Payment Dates (including the Call Dates and the Maturity Date)” under “Additional Terms of the Securities” below.

 

 

NOTICE TO INVESTORS: THE SECURITIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY RISKIER THAN CONVENTIONAL DEBT INSTRUMENTS. THE SECURITIES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE REPAYMENT OF THE FULL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT AT MATURITY, AND THE SECURITIES WILL HAVE DOWNSIDE MARKET RISK SIMILAR TO THE UNDERLYING. THIS MARKET RISK IS IN ADDITION TO THE CREDIT RISK INHERENT IN PURCHASING OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS. YOU SHOULD NOT PURCHASE THE SECURITIES IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE SIGNIFICANT RISKS INVOLVED IN INVESTING IN THE SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES WILL NOT BE LISTED ON ANY SECURITIES EXCHANGE.

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED UNDER “KEY RISKS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 8 BEFORE PURCHASING ANY SECURITIES. EVENTS RELATING TO ANY OF THOSE RISKS, OR OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARKET VALUE OF, AND THE RETURN ON, YOUR SECURITIES. YOU MAY LOSE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OR ALL OF YOUR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT.

Security Offering

This free writing prospectus relates to Securities linked to the Russell 2000® Index. The actual Coupon Rate and the Initial Level and Downside Threshold will be determined on the Trade Date. The Securities are offered at a minimum investment of $1,000 in denominations of $10 and integral multiples thereof.

Underlying Initial Level Downside Threshold Coupon Rate* CUSIP ISIN
Russell 2000® Index      50% of the Initial Level 7.00% to 8.00% per annum 61774E790 US61774E7904

*The actual Coupon Rate will be determined on the Trade Date.

See “Additional Information about Morgan Stanley, MSFL and the Securities” on page 2. The Securities will have the terms set forth in the accompanying prospectus, prospectus supplement and index supplement and this free writing prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these Securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this free writing prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement or prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. 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.

Estimated value on the Trade Date Approximately $9.807 per Security, or within $0.25 of that estimate.  See “Additional Information about Morgan Stanley, MSFL and the Securities” on page 2.
  Price to Public Underwriting Discount(1) Proceeds to Us(2)
Per Security $10.00 $0.10 $9.90
Total $ $ $

We are also offering, pursuant to Free Writing Prospectus No. 6,731, a separate issuance of securities, being sold only to fee-based advisory accounts, with terms substantially similar to, but somewhat different than, those of this issuance.

(1) UBS Financial Services Inc., acting as dealer, will receive from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, the agent, a fixed sales commission of $0.10 for each Security it sells. For more information, please see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” on page 25 of this free writing prospectus.

(2) See “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on page 25.

The agent for this offering, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”), is our affiliate and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” on page 25 of this free writing prospectus.

 

Morgan Stanley UBS Financial Services Inc.

 

 

Additional Information about Morgan Stanley, MSFL and the Securities

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

 

You may access the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus on the SEC website at.www.sec.gov as follows:

 

tProspectus supplement dated November 16, 2020:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/895421/000095010320022191/dp140637_424b2-seriesa.htm

 

tIndex supplement dated November 16, 2020:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/895421/000095010320022214/dp140278_424b2-isn2020.htm

 

tProspectus dated November 16, 2020:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/895421/000095010320022190/dp140485_424b2-base.htm

 

References to “MSFL” refer to only MSFL, references to “Morgan Stanley” refer to only Morgan Stanley and references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MSFL and Morgan Stanley collectively. In this document, the “Securities” refers to the Trigger Callable Yield Notes that are offered hereby. Also, references to the accompanying “prospectus”, “prospectus supplement” and “index supplement” mean the prospectus filed by MSFL and Morgan Stanley dated November 16, 2020, the prospectus supplement filed by MSFL and Morgan Stanley dated November 16, 2020 and the index supplement filed by MSFL and Morgan Stanley dated November 16, 2020, respectively.

 

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this free writing prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these Securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this free writing prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this document.

 

The Issue Price of each Security is $10. 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 Trade Date will be less than $10. We estimate that the value of each Security on the Trade Date will be approximately $9.807, or within $0.25 of that estimate. Our estimate of the value of the Securities as determined on the Trade Date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.

 

What goes into the estimated value on the Trade Date?

 

In valuing the Securities on the Trade Date, we take into account that the Securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the Underlying. The estimated value of the Securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the Underlying, instruments based on the Underlying, 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.

 

What determines the economic terms of the Securities?

 

In determining the economic terms of the Securities, including the Downside Threshold and the Coupon Rate, 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 Trade 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, may vary from, and be lower than, the estimated value on the Trade 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. However, because the costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the Securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 4 months following the Settlement Date, to the extent that MS & Co. may buy or sell the Securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the Underlying, and to our secondary market credit spreads, it would do so based on values higher than the estimated value. We expect that those higher values will also be reflected in your brokerage account statements.

 

MS & Co. currently intends, 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.

 

2 

 

Investor Suitability

The Securities may be suitable for you if:

 

tYou fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the risk of loss of your entire initial investment.

 

tYou can tolerate a loss of all or a substantial portion of your investment and are willing to make an investment that will have the same downside market risk as the Underlying.

 

tYou understand and accept the risks associated with the Underlying.

 

tYou understand and accept that you will not participate in any appreciation in the level of the Underlying and that your potential return is limited to the Coupons that are paid until maturity or an earlier redemption.

 

tYou can tolerate fluctuations in the value of the Securities prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside level fluctuations of the Underlying.

 

tYou would be willing to invest in the Securities if the Coupon Rate were set to the minimum Coupon Rate indicated on the cover hereof (the actual Coupon Rate will be determined on the Trade Date).

 

tYou are willing to forgo dividends paid on the stocks comprising the Underlying.

 

tYou are willing to invest in securities that may be called early (after an initial three-month non-call period) based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model and you are otherwise willing to hold such securities to maturity, as set forth on the cover of this free writing prospectus.

 

tYou accept that there may be little or no secondary market for the Securities and that any secondary market will depend in large part on the price, if any, at which MS & Co. is willing to trade the Securities.

 

tYou are willing to assume our credit risk, and understand that if we default on our obligations you may not receive any amounts due to you and could lose your entire investment.

 

The Securities may not be suitable for you if:

 

tYou do not fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the risk of loss of your entire initial investment.

 

tYou cannot tolerate a loss of all or a substantial portion of your investment, or are unwilling to make an investment that will have the same downside market risk as the Underlying.

 

tYou require an investment designed to provide a full return of principal at maturity.

 

tYou do not understand and accept the risks associated with the Underlying.

 

tYou seek an investment that participates in the appreciation in the level of the Underlying or that has unlimited return potential.

 

tYou cannot tolerate fluctuations in the value of the Securities prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside level fluctuations of the Underlying.

 

tYou would not be willing to invest in the Securities if the Coupon Rate were set to the minimum Coupon Rate indicated on the cover hereof (the actual Coupon Rate will be determined on the Trade Date).

 

tYou prefer the lower risk, and therefore accept the potentially lower returns, of fixed income investments with comparable maturities and credit ratings.

 

tYou prefer to receive the dividends paid on the stocks comprising the Underlying.

 

tYou are unable or unwilling to invest in securities that may be called early (after an initial three-month non-call period) based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model, or you are otherwise unable or unwilling to hold such securities to maturity, as set forth on the cover of this free writing prospectus, or you seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.

 

tYou are not willing to assume our credit risk for all payments under the Securities, including any repayment of principal.

 

 

The investor suitability considerations identified above are not exhaustive. Whether or not the Securities are a suitable investment for you will depend on your individual circumstances, and you should reach an investment decision only after you and your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors have carefully considered the suitability of an investment in the Securities in light of your particular circumstances. You should also review “Key Risks” on page 8 of this free writing prospectus and “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of the accompanying prospectus for risks related to an investment in the Securities. For additional information about the Underlying, see the information set forth under “The Russell 2000® Index” on page 19.

3 

 


 

Terms
Issuer Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Guarantor Morgan Stanley
Issue Price $10.00 per Security. The Securities are offered at a minimum investment of 100 Securities.
Underlying The Russell 2000® Index
Principal Amount $10.00 per Security
Term 1.25 years, unless earlier called by the Issuer
Call Feature

Beginning January 24, 2023, an early redemption, in whole but not in part, will occur on a monthly Coupon Payment Date (the date on which the Securities are called, the “Call Date”), if and only if the output of a risk neutral valuation model on a Business Day that is at least 2 but no more than 5 Business Days prior to such Call Date, as selected by the Calculation Agent (the “Determination Date”), taking as input: (i) prevailing reference market levels, volatilities and correlations, as applicable and in each case as of the Determination Date and (ii) Morgan Stanley’s credit spreads as of the Trade Date, indicates that calling on such date is economically rational for us as compared to not calling on such date. If MSFL calls the Securities, MSFL will give you notice at least 2 Business Days before the Call Date specified in the notice.

 

If the Securities are called, MSFL will pay you on the Call Date the Principal Amount plus the Coupon otherwise due (such payment upon an early redemption, the “Settlement Amount”), and no further payments will be made on the Securities.

 

Coupon

Regardless of the performance of the Underlying, unless the Securities have been previously called, MSFL will pay the Coupon on each Coupon Payment Date.

 

Each Coupon will be a fixed amount based on equal monthly installments at the Coupon Rate, which is a per-annum rate. The Coupon amount of $0.0583 to $0.0667 for each Security (based on the per-annum rate of 7.00% to 8.00%) (the actual Coupon Rate will be determined on the Trade Date) would be applicable to each Coupon Payment Date until maturity or an earlier redemption.

 

 

 

Coupon Rate The Coupon Rate will be 7.00% to 8.00% per annum (to be determined on the Trade Date).
Trade Date October 19, 2022
Settlement Date October 24, 2022
Final Valuation Date* January 19, 2024
Maturity Date* January 24, 2024
Coupon Payment Dates As set forth under “Coupon Payment Dates and Call Dates” on page 6.
Payment at Maturity (per Security)

If the Securities have not been called prior to maturity, MSFL will pay you a cash payment on the Maturity Date linked to the performance of the Underlying during the term of the Securities, as follows:

 

If the Securities have not been called and the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Downside Threshold, MSFL will pay you the $10 Principal Amount and the final Coupon otherwise due on the Maturity Date.

 

If the Securities have not been called by MSFL prior to maturity and the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold, MSFL will pay you, in addition to the final Coupon otherwise due on the Maturity Date, an amount calculated as follows:

 

$10 × (1 + Underlying Return)

 

In this case, you will lose a significant portion and could lose all of the Principal Amount in an amount proportionate to the decline of the Underlying from the Trade Date to the Final Valuation Date.

 

Underlying Return Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level
*Subject to postponement in the event of a Market Disruption Event or for non-Trading Days.

 

 

 

 

4 

 

 

 

Initial Level The Closing Level of the Underlying on the Trade Date.
Final Level The Closing Level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date.
Downside Threshold 50% of the Initial Level of the Underlying
Record Date The record date for each Coupon shall be the date one Business Day prior to such scheduled Coupon Payment Date; provided, however, that the Coupon payable at maturity or upon a call shall be payable to whom the Payment at Maturity or the payment upon a call, as the case may be, shall be payable.
Trustee The Bank of New York Mellon
Calculation Agent MS & Co.

 

 

 

5 

 

Coupon Payment Dates and Call Dates

 

Coupon Payment Dates/Call Dates
11/24/2022*
12/24/2022*
1/24/2023
2/24/2023
3/24/2023
4/24/2023
5/24/2023
6/24/2023
7/24/2023
8/24/2023
9/24/2023
10/24/2023
11/24/2023
12/24/2023
Maturity Date**(1)

 

* The Securities are not callable until the third Coupon Payment Date, which is January 24, 2023.

 

** The Securities are not callable on the Maturity Date.

 

(1) If any scheduled Coupon Payment Date (including a scheduled Call Date) is not a Business Day, that Coupon (or the Settlement Amount, if applicable), shall be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no adjustment shall be made to any payment made on that postponed date; provided that the final Coupon shall be paid on the Maturity Date; provided further that if, due to a Market Disruption Event or otherwise, the Final Valuation Date is postponed so that it falls less than two Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date shall be postponed to the second Business Day following the Final Valuation Date as postponed, by which date the Closing Level of the Underlying has been determined, and no adjustment shall be made to any payment made on that postponed date.

 

6 

 

Investment Timeline
 

Trade Date

 

  The Initial Level and Downside Threshold are determined.  The Coupon Rate is set.
   

Monthly

 

 

Regardless of the performance of the Underlying, unless the Securities have been previously called, MSFL will pay you a Coupon on each Coupon Payment Date.

 

Beginning on January 24, 2023, MSFL will call the Securities on any monthly Call Date if and only if the output of a risk neutral valuation model on a Business Day that is at least 2 but no more than 5 Business Days prior to such Call Date, based on the inputs indicated in the Call Feature section above, indicates that calling on such date is economically rational for us as compared to not calling on such date. If the Securities are called, MSFL will pay you the Principal Amount plus the Coupon otherwise due, and no further payments will be made on the Securities.

 

   

Maturity Date

 

 

The Final Level is determined as of the Final Valuation Date.

 

If the Securities have not been called and the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Downside Threshold, at maturity, MSFL will pay you the $10 Principal Amount and the final Coupon otherwise due on the Maturity Date.

 

However, if the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold, MSFL will pay you, in addition to the final Coupon otherwise due on the Maturity Date, an amount calculated as follows:

 

$10 × (1 + Underlying Return) per Security

 

This will be significantly less than the $10 Principal Amount by an amount proportionate to the negative Underlying Return, and you could lose your entire investment.

 

 

Investing in the Securities involves significant risks. You may lose YOUR ENTIRE principal amount. Any payment on the Securities is subject to OUR CREDITWORTHINESS. If we were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the Securities and you could lose your entire investment.

 

The Issuer MAY call the Securities early based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model. You will lose A SIGNIFICANT PORTION or all of your principal amount at maturity if the Securities are not called and the Final Level is below the Downside Threshold.

 

7 

 

Key Risks

An investment in the Securities involves significant risks. The material risks that apply to the Securities are summarized here, but we urge you to also read the “Risk Factors” section of the accompanying prospectus. You should also consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the Securities.

 

Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities

 

tThe Securities do not guarantee the return of any principal. The terms of the Securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that the Securities do not guarantee the return of any of the principal amount at maturity. Instead, if the Securities have not been called by MSFL prior to maturity and if the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold, you will be exposed to the decline in the level of the Underlying from the Initial Level to the Final Level, on a 1-to-1 basis and such payment will result in a significant loss of your initial investment that is proportionate to the decline of the Underlying over the term of the Securities. You could lose your entire principal amount.

 

tThe securities are subject to early redemption. The term of the Securities, and thus your opportunity to earn a coupon, may be limited if MSFL calls the Securities based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model on any monthly Call Date beginning January 24, 2023. The term of your investment in the Securities may be limited to as short as approximately three months. In accordance with the risk neutral valuation model determination noted herein, it is more likely that MSFL will call the Securities when it would otherwise be advantageous for you to continue to hold the Securities. As such, MSFL will be more likely to call the Securities when the interest payable on the Securities is greater than the interest that would be payable on other instruments of a comparable maturity, terms and credit rating trading in the market. In other words, MSFL will be more likely to call the Securities at a time when the Securities are paying an above-market coupon. If the Securities are called prior to maturity, you will receive no more Coupons, you may be forced to invest in a lower interest rate environment and you may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns.

 

On the other hand, MSFL will be less likely to call the Securities when the interest payable on the Securities is less than the interest that would be payable on other instruments of comparable maturity, terms and credit rating trading in the market, or when the Final Level is expected to be less than the Downside Threshold. Therefore, if MSFL does not call the Securities, it is more likely that you will suffer a significant loss at maturity.

 

tInvestors will not participate in any appreciation in the level of the Underlying. Investors will not participate in any appreciation in the level of the Underlying from the Initial Level, and the return on the Securities will be limited to the Coupon that is paid with respect to each monthly Coupon Payment Date prior to maturity or a call by MSFL. The return on the Securities will be limited to the Coupons regardless of the appreciation of the Underlying, which could be significant. In addition, if the Securities are not called prior to maturity, you may be exposed to the full downside market risk of the Underlying and lose a significant portion or all of your investment despite not being able to participate in any potential appreciation of the Underlying.

 

tYou may incur a loss on your investment if you are able to sell your Securities prior to maturity. The Downside Threshold is considered only at maturity. If you are able to sell your Securities in the secondary market prior to maturity, you may have to sell them at a loss relative to your initial investment even if the Closing Level of the Underlying is above the Downside Threshold at that time. If you hold the Securities to maturity and the Securities have not been called, MSFL will either repay you the full principal amount per Security (plus the Coupon for the final Coupon Payment Date), if the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Downside Threshold, or if the Underlying closes below the Downside Threshold on the Final Valuation Date, MSFL will repay significantly less than the Principal Amount, if anything, at maturity, resulting in a loss on your Principal Amount that is proportionate to the decline in the level of the Underlying from the Trade Date to the Final Valuation Date.

 

tThe Securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or our 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, including Coupons and any payments upon a call or 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.

 

tAs 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.

 

tThe 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 MS & Co. may be willing to purchase or sell the Securities in the secondary market. Although we expect that generally the Closing Level of the Underlying on any day will affect the value of the Securities more than any other single factor, other factors that may influence the value of the Securities include:

 

othe value and volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the Underlying,

 

odividend rates on the stocks comprising the Underlying,

 

ointerest and yield rates in the market,

 

8 

 

otime remaining until the Securities mature,

 

ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the Underlying or the consitituent stocks of the Underlying or equities markets generally and which may affect the Final Level,

 

othe occurrence of certain events affecting the Underlying that may or may not require an adjustment to its composition, and

 

oany actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.

 

Some or all of these factors will influence the terms of the Securities at the time of issuance and the price that you will receive if you sell your Securities prior to maturity, as the Securities are comprised of both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the Underlying, and these are the types of factors that also generally affect the values of debt securities and derivatives linked to the Underlying. Generally, the longer the time remaining to maturity, the more the market price of the Securities will be affected by the other factors described above. The level of the Underlying may be, and has recently been, extremely volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. See “Historical Information” below. You may receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the Principal Amount per Security if you try to sell your Securities prior to maturity.

 

tInvesting in the Securities is not equivalent to investing in the Underlying. Investing in the Securities is not equivalent to investing in the Underlying or the component stocks of the Underlying. Investors in the Securities will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to stocks that constitute the Underlying. Further, you will not participate in any potential appreciation of the Underlying even though you may be exposed to its full decline at maturity.

 

tThe 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. currently intends, but is not obligated, make a market in 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. Because we do not expect that other broker-dealers will 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.

 

tThe 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 Issue Price reduce the economic terms of the Securities, cause the estimated value of the Securities to be less than the Issue Price and will adversely affect secondary market prices. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other 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 Issue Price, because secondary market prices will exclude the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging-related costs that are included in the 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 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.

 

However, because the costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the Securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 4 months following the Settlement Date, to the extent that MS & Co. may buy or sell the Securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the Underlying, and to our secondary market credit spreads, it would do so based on values higher than the estimated value, and we expect that those higher values will also be reflected in your brokerage account statements.

 

tThe 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 Trade Date does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which dealers, including MS & Co., would be willing to purchase your Securities in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your Securities at any time after the date of this free writing prospectus 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 of the Securities may be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above.

 

tHedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially affect the value of the Securities. One or more of our affiliates and/or third-party dealers expect to carry out hedging activities related to the Securities (and to other instruments linked to the Underlying), including trading in the stocks that constitute the Underlying as well as in other instruments related to the Underlying. 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 Final Valuation Date approaches. MS & Co. and some of our other affiliates also trade the stocks that constitute the Underlying and other financial instruments related to the Underlying on a regular basis as part of their general broker-dealer and other businesses. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the Trade Date could potentially increase the Initial Level, and, as a result, the Downside Threshold, which if the Securities are not called prior to maturity, is the level at or above which the Underlying must close on the Final Valuation Date in order for you to avoid being exposed to the negative performance of the Underlying at maturity. Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the Securities could potentially affect the level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date and, accordingly, if the Securities are not called prior to maturity, the payout to you at maturity.

 

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tThe Calculation Agent, which is our affiliate, will make determinations with respect to the Securities. As Calculation Agent, MS & Co. will determine the Initial Level, the Downside Threshold and the Final Level, whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred and the payment that you will receive upon a call or at maturity. Moreover, certain determinations made by MS & Co., in its capacity as Calculation Agent, may require it to exercise discretion and make subjective judgments, such as with respect to the occurrence or nonoccurrence of Market Disruption Events. These potentially subjective determinations may affect the payout to you upon a call or at maturity. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Additional Terms of the Securities—Postponement of Coupon Payment Dates (including the Call Dates and the Maturity Date),” “—Discontinuance of the Underlying; Alteration of Method of Calculation” and “—Calculation Agent and Calculations”. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the Securities on the Trade Date.

 

tPotentially inconsistent research, opinions or recommendations by Morgan Stanley, UBS or our or their respective affiliates. Morgan Stanley, UBS and our or their respective affiliates may publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that may influence the value of the Securities, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Securities. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by Morgan Stanley, UBS or our or their respective affiliates may not be consistent with each other and may be modified from time to time without notice. Investors should make their own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the Securities and the Underlying to which the Securities are linked.

 

tThe U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities are uncertain. There is no direct legal authority as to the proper treatment of the Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and, therefore, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the Securities are uncertain.

 

Please read the discussion under “What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities” in this free writing prospectus concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities. We intend to treat a Security for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a unit consisting of (i) a Put Right (as defined below under “What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities”) written by you to us that, if exercised, requires you to pay to us an amount equal to the Deposit (as defined below under “What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities”), in exchange for a cash amount based on the performance of the Underlying, and (ii) a Deposit with us of a fixed amount of cash to secure your obligation under the Put Right. Alternative U.S. federal income tax treatments of the Securities are possible, and if the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) were successful in asserting such an alternative tax treatment for the Securities the timing and the character of income on the Securities might differ significantly from the tax treatment described herein. For example, there is a substantial risk that the IRS could seek to treat the Securities as debt instruments subject to Treasury regulations governing contingent payment 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 herein.

 

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. While it is not clear whether the Securities would be viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, it is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance issued after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, possibly with retroactive effect. The notice focuses on a number of issues, the most relevant of which for holders of the Securities are the character and timing of income or loss (including whether the entire coupon on the Securities should be required to be included currently as ordinary income) and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax.

 

Non-U.S. Holders should note that we currently do not intend to withhold on any payments made with respect to the Securities to Non-U.S. Holders (subject to compliance by such holders with certification necessary to establish an exemption from withholding and to the discussion under “What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities—FATCA”). However, in the event of a change of law or any formal or informal guidance by the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Department or Congress, we may decide to withhold on payments made with respect to the Securities to Non-U.S. Holders and will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.

 

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 the IRS notice and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

Risks Relating to the Underlying

 

tA higher Coupon Rate and/or lower Downside Threshold may reflect greater expected volatility of the Underlying, and greater expected volatility generally indicates an increased risk of declines in the levels of the Underlying and, potentially, a significant loss at maturity. The economic terms for the Securities, including the Coupon Rate and the Downside Threshold, are based, in part, on the expected volatility of the Underlying at the time the terms of the Securities are set. “Volatility” refers to the frequency and magnitude of changes in the level of the Underlying. Higher expected volatility with respect to the Underlying as of the Trade Date generally indicates a greater expectation as of that date that the Final Level could ultimately be less than the Downside Threshold on the Final Valuation Date, which would result in a loss of a significant portion or all of the Principal Amount. At the time the terms of the Securities are set, higher expected volatility will generally be reflected in a higher Coupon Rate and/or lower Downside Threshold, as compared to otherwise comparable securities. Therefore, a relatively higher Coupon Rate may indicate an increased risk that the level of the Underlying will decrease substantially, which would result in a significant loss at maturity. In addition, and as described above in "The Securities do not guarantee the return of any principal," in general, the higher potential return on the Securities as compared to the return payable on our ordinary debt securities with a comparable maturity indicates the risk that you may lose a significant portion or all of your investment. Further, a relatively lower Downside Threshold may not indicate that the Securities have a greater likelihood of a return of principal at maturity. You should be willing to accept the downside market risk of the Underlying and the potential to lose a significant portion or all of your Principal Amount at maturity.

 

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tThe Securities are linked to the Russell 2000® Index and are subject to risks associated with small-capitalization companies. The Russell 2000® Index consists of stocks issued by companies with relatively small market capitalization. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and, therefore, the Russell 2000® Index may be more volatile than indices that consist of stocks issued by large-capitalization companies. Stock prices of small-capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded. In addition, small capitalization companies are typically less well-established and less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Such companies tend to have smaller revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products.

 

tGovernmental regulatory actions could result in material changes to the composition of the Underlying and could negatively affect your return on the Securities. Governmental regulatory actions, including but not limited to sanctions-related actions by the U.S. or foreign governments, could make it necessary or advisable for there to be material changes to the composition of the Underlying, depending on the nature of such governmental regulatory actions and the Underlying constituent stocks that are affected. If any governmental regulatory action results in the removal of Underlying constituent stocks that have (or historically have had) significant weights within the Underlying, such removal, or even any uncertainty relating to a possible removal, could have a material and negative effect on the level of the Underlying and, therefore, your return on the Securities.

 

tAdjustments to the Underlying could adversely affect the value of the Securities. The Index Publisher of the Underlying is responsible for calculating and maintaining the Underlying. The Index Publisher may add, delete or substitute the stocks constituting the Underlying or make other methodological changes required by certain corporate events relating to the stocks constituting the Underlying, such as stock dividends, stock splits, spin-offs, rights offerings and extraordinary dividends, that could change the value of the Underlying. The Index Publisher may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the Underlying at any time. In these circumstances, the Calculation Agent will have the sole discretion to substitute a Successor Underlying that is comparable to the discontinued Underlying, and is permitted to consider indices that are calculated and published by the Calculation Agent or any of its affiliates. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of the Underlying and, consequently, the value of the Securities.

 

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Hypothetical Payments on the Securities at Maturity

The examples below illustrate the payment upon a call or at maturity for a $10 Security on a hypothetical offering of the Securities, with the following assumptions (the actual terms for the Securities will be determined on the Trade Date; amounts may have been rounded for ease of reference):

 

tPrincipal Amount: $10

 

tTerm: 1.25 years

 

tHypothetical Initial Level: 2,000

 

tHypothetical Downside Threshold: 1,000, which is 50% of the Hypothetical Initial Level

 

tHypothetical Coupon Rate: 7.00% per annum (or 0.583% per month) (The actual Coupon Rate will be determined on the Trade Date.)

 

tHypothetical Coupon: $0.0583 per month

 

tCall Feature: Monthly

 

Example 1 — Securities are Called on the Third Coupon Payment Date (the first Coupon Payment Date on which MSFL can call the Securities)

 

Date Payment (per Security)
First Coupon Payment Date $0.0583 (Coupon — Not Callable)
Second Coupon Payment Date $0.0583 (Coupon — Not Callable)
Third Coupon Payment Date $10.0583 (Settlement Amount)
  Total Payment: $10.1749 (1.749% return)
     

MSFL calls the Securities based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model on the third Coupon Payment Date, which is the first Coupon Payment Date on which the Securities can be called. On the Call Date, MSFL will pay you a total of $10.0583 per Security, reflecting your principal amount plus the applicable Coupon. When added to the total Coupon payments of $0.1166 received in respect of the prior Coupon Payment Dates, MSFL will have paid you a total of $10.1749 per Security for a 1.749% total return over the 3-month term of the Securities. No further amount will be owed to you under the Securities, and you do not participate in any appreciation of the Underlying.

 

Example 2 — Securities are NOT Called and the Final Level of the Underlying is at or above the Downside Threshold

 

Date   Payment (per Security)
First to Fourteenth Coupon Payment Dates   $0.8162 in total Coupons
  Final Level  
Final Valuation Date 2,375 (at or above Downside Threshold) $10.0583 (Settlement Amount)
  Total Payment: $10.8745 (8.745% return)
     

In this example, MSFL does not call the Securities based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model prior to maturity. On the Final Valuation Date, the Underlying close above the Downside Threshold. Therefore, at maturity, MSFL will pay you a total of $10.0583 per Security, reflecting your principal amount plus the applicable Coupon. When added to the total Coupon payments of $0.8162 received in respect of prior Coupon Payment Dates, MSFL will have paid you a total of $10.8745 per Security for an 8.745% total return on the Securities over 1.25 years. This represents the hypothetical maximum total payment over the term of the Securities. You do not participate in any appreciation of the Underlying.

 

Example 3 — Securities are NOT Called and the Final Level of the Underlying is below the Downside Threshold

 

Date   Payment (per Security)
First to Fourteenth Coupon Payment Dates   $0.8162 in total Coupons
  Final Level  
Final Valuation Date 800 (below Downside Threshold)

Final Coupon + [$10 + ($10 × Underlying Return)] =

$0.0583 + [$10 + ($10 × -60%)] =

$0.0583 + ($10 - $6) =

$4.0583 (Payment at Maturity)

  Total Payment: $4.8745 (-51.255% return)
     

In this example, MSFL does not call the Securities based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model prior to maturity. On the Final Valuation Date, the Underlying close below the Downside Threshold. Therefore, at maturity, investors are exposed to the downside performance of the Underlying, and MSFL will pay you $4.0583 per Security, which reflects the final Coupon plus a return reflecting the percentage decrease of the Underlying from the Trade Date to the Final Valuation Date. When added to the total Coupon payments of $0.8162 received in respect of prior Coupon Payment Dates, MSFL will have paid you $4.8745 per Security for a loss on the Securities of 51.255%.

 

The Securities differ from ordinary debt securities in that, among other features, MSFL is not necessarily obligated to repay the full amount of your initial investment. If the Securities are not called on any Coupon Payment Date, you may lose a significant portion

 

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or all of your initial investment. Specifically, if the Securities are not called and the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold, you will lose 1% (or a fraction thereof) of your principal amount for each 1% (or a fraction thereof) that the Underlying Return is less than zero. Any payment on the Securities, including the Coupon, payment upon a call or the Payment at Maturity, is dependent on our ability to satisfy its obligations when they come due. If we are is unable to meet our obligations, you may not receive any amounts due to you under the Securities.

 

The Issuer may call the Securities early based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model on any monthly Call Date, beginning January 24, 2023. You will lose a significant portion or all of your principal amount at maturity if the Securities are not called and the Final Level is below the Downside Threshold.

 

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What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities?

Prospective investors should note that the discussion under the section called “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus supplement does not apply to the Securities issued under this free writing prospectus and is superseded by the following discussion.

 

The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain estate tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the Securities. This discussion applies only to initial investors in the Securities who:

 

tpurchase the Securities at their “issue price,” which will equal the first price at which a substantial amount of the Securities is sold to the public (not including bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers); and

 

thold the Securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

tcertain financial institutions;

tinsurance companies;

tdealers and certain traders in Securities or commodities;

tinvestors holding the Securities as part of a “straddle,” wash sale, conversion transaction, integrated transaction or constructive sale transaction;

tU.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

tpartnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

tregulated investment companies;

treal estate investment trusts; or

ttax-exempt entities, including “individual retirement accounts” or “Roth IRAs” as defined in Section 408 or 408A of the Code, respectively.

 

If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the Securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding the Securities or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult your tax adviser as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of the Securities to you.

 

As the law applicable to the U.S. federal income taxation of instruments such as the Securities is technical and complex, the discussion below necessarily represents only a general summary. The effect of any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws is not discussed, nor are any alternative minimum tax consequences or consequences resulting from the Medicare tax on investment income. Moreover, the discussion below does not address the consequences to taxpayers subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code.

 

This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date hereof may affect the tax consequences described herein. Persons considering the purchase of the Securities should consult their tax advisers with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

General

 

Due to the lack of any controlling legal authority, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities. We intend to treat a Security, under current law, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a unit consisting of the following:

 

(i) a put right (the “Put Right”) written by you to us that, if exercised, requires you to pay us an amount equal to the Deposit (as defined below) in exchange for a cash amount based on the performance of the Underlying; and

 

(ii) a deposit with us of a fixed amount of cash, equal to the issue price, to secure your obligation under the Put Right (the “Deposit”) that pays interest based on our cost of borrowing at the time of issuance (the “Yield on the Deposit”).

 

Based on the treatment set forth above, a portion of the coupon on the Securities will be treated as the Yield on the Deposit, and the remainder will be attributable to the premium on the Put Right (the “Put Premium”). The Yield on the Deposit will be determined by us as of the Trade Date and set forth in the applicable pricing supplement.

 

We will allocate 100% of the issue price of the Securities to the Deposit and none to the Put Right. Our allocation of the issue price between the Put Right and the Deposit will be binding on you, unless you timely and explicitly disclose to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that your allocation is different from ours. This allocation is not, however, binding on the IRS or a court.

 

No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addresses the treatment of the Securities or instruments similar to the Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no ruling is being requested from the IRS with respect to the Securities. Significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities are uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court will agree with the tax treatment described herein. In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the treatment of the

 

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Securities described above is reasonable under current law; however, our counsel has advised us that it is unable to conclude affirmatively that this treatment is more likely than not to be upheld, and that alternative treatments are possible. Moreover, our counsel’s opinion is based on market conditions as of the date of this free writing propsectus and is subject to confirmation on the Trade Date. Accordingly, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities (including alternative treatments of the Securities). Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the treatment and the allocation described above.

 

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

 

This section applies to you only if you are a U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Security that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

ta citizen or individual resident of the United States;

ta corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or

tan estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

 

Tax Treatment of the Securities

 

Assuming the treatment of the Securities and allocation of the issue price as set forth above are respected, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result.

 

Coupon Payments on the Securities. Under the characterization described above under “—General,” only a portion of the coupon payments on the Securities will be attributable to the Yield on the Deposit. The remainder of the coupon payments will represent payments attributable to the Put Premium. To the extent attributable to the Yield on the Deposit, coupon payments on the Securities should generally be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time accrued or received, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

The Put Premium will not be taxable to a U.S. Holder upon receipt but will be accounted for as described below.

 

Tax Basis. Based on our determination set forth above, the U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Deposit will be 100% of the issue price. The determination of gain or loss with respect to the Put Right is described below.

 

Receipt of Stated Principal Amount in Cash upon Settlement of the Securities. If a U.S. Holder receives the stated principal amount of a Security in cash (excluding cash attributable to coupon payments on the Security, which would be taxed as described above under “—Coupon Payments on the Securities”), the Put Right will be deemed to have expired unexercised. In such case, the U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain upon the return of the Deposit, but will recognize the total amount of Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the Securities (including Put Premium received upon settlement) as short-term capital gain at such time.

 

Receipt of a Cash Amount Based on the Performance of the Underlying upon Maturity of the Securities. If a U.S. Holder receives an amount of cash (excluding cash attributable to coupon payments on the Securities, which would be taxed as described above under “—Coupon Payments on the Securities”) that is less than the stated principal amount of the Securities, the Put Right will be deemed to have been exercised and the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have applied the Deposit toward the cash settlement of the Put Right. In such case, the U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain or loss in respect of the Deposit, but will recognize short-term capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash received by the U.S. Holder at maturity (excluding cash attributable to coupon payments on the Securities), plus the total Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the Securities (including the Put Premium received at maturity) and (ii) the Deposit.

 

Sale or Exchange of the Securities Prior to Settlement.

 

Upon the sale or exchange of a Security, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize long-term capital gain or loss with respect to the Deposit if the U.S. Holder has held the Securities for more than one year at the time of such sale or exchange and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. The U.S. Holder will also generally recognize short-term capital gain or loss with respect to the Put Right. For the purpose of determining such gain or loss, a U.S. Holder should apportion the amount realized on the sale or exchange of a Security (excluding any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid Yield on the Deposit, which would be taxed as described under “—Coupon Payments on the Securities”) between the Deposit and the Put Right based on their respective values on the date of such sale or exchange. The amount of capital gain or loss on the Deposit will equal the amount realized that is attributable to the Deposit, less the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Deposit. The amount realized that is attributable to the Put Right, together with the total Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the Security, will be treated as short-term capital gain.

 

If the value of the Deposit on the date of such sale or exchange exceeds the total amount realized on the sale or exchange of the Security, the U.S. Holder will be treated as having (i) sold or exchanged the Deposit for an amount equal to its value on that date and (ii) made a payment (the “Put Right Assumption Payment”) to the purchaser of the Security equal to the amount of such excess, in exchange for the purchaser’s assumption of the U.S. Holder’s rights and obligations under the Put Right. In such a case, the U.S. Holder will recognize short-term capital gain or loss in respect of the Put Right in an amount equal to the total Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the Security, less the amount of the Put Right Assumption Payment deemed to be made by the U.S. Holder.

 

Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities

 

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Due to the absence of authorities that directly address the proper characterization of the Securities, no assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or that a court will uphold, the treatment described above. In particular, there is a substantial risk that the IRS could seek to treat a Security or the Deposit as a debt instrument subject to Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (the “Contingent Debt Regulations”).

 

If the IRS were successful in asserting that the Contingent Debt Regulations applied to the Securities or to the Deposit, the timing and character of income thereon would be significantly affected. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be required to accrue interest income as original issue discount, subject to adjustments, at a “comparable yield” based on our cost of borrowing. Furthermore, if the Securities or Deposit were treated as contingent payment debt instruments, any gain realized with respect to the Securities or the Deposit would generally be treated as ordinary income. 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.

 

Even if the Contingent Debt Regulations do not apply to the Securities, other alternative U.S. federal income tax characterizations or treatments of the Securities are also possible, which if applied could significantly affect the timing and character of the income or loss with respect to the Securities. It is possible, for example, that a Security could be treated as constituting an “open transaction” with the result that the coupon payments on the Securities might not be accounted for separately as giving rise to income to U.S. Holders until the sale, exchange or settlement of the Securities. Alternatively, the entire coupon on the Securities could be required to be included in income by a U.S. Holder at the time received or accrued. Other alternative characterizations are also possible. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.

 

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. While it is not clear whether the Securities would be viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, it is possible that 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. The notice focuses on a number of issues, the most relevant of which for U.S. Holders of the Securities is the character and timing of income or loss realized with respect to these instruments (including whether the Put Premium might be required to be included currently as ordinary income). Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, including the possible implications of this notice.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

Backup withholding may apply in respect of payments on the Securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Securities, unless a U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional tax and may be refunded, or credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In addition, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the Securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Securities, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption from the information reporting rules.

 

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

 

This section applies to you only if you are a Non-U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Security that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

tan individual who is classified as a nonresident alien;

ta foreign corporation; or

ta foreign trust or estate.

 

The term “Non-U.S. Holder” does not include any of the following holders:

 

ta holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and who is not otherwise a resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

tcertain former citizens or residents of the United States; or

ta holder for whom income or gain in respect of the Securities is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

 

Such holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.

 

General

 

Assuming the treatment of the Securities as set forth above is respected and subject to the discussions below regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) of the Code and FATCA, payments with respect to a Security, and gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of such Security, should not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax under current law, provided that:

 

tthe Non-U.S. Holder does not own, directly or by attribution, ten percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

tthe Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership;

 

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tthe Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest under Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and

tthe certification requirement described below has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner.

 

Certification Requirement. The certification requirement referred to in the preceding paragraph will be fulfilled if the beneficial owner of a Security (or a financial institution holding a Security on behalf of the beneficial owner) furnishes to the applicable withholding agent an IRS Form W-8BEN (or other appropriate form), on which the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person.

 

Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities

 

As described above under “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities,” the IRS may seek to apply a different characterization and tax treatment from the treatment described herein. While the U.S. federal income and withholding tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder of ownership and disposition of a Security under current law should generally be the same as those described immediately above, it is possible that a Non-U.S. Holder could be subject to withholding tax under certain recharacterizations of the Securities.

 

Moreover, among the issues addressed in the IRS notice described in “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders” is the degree, if any, to which income realized by Non-U.S. Holders should be subject to withholding tax. It is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance issued after consideration of this issue could materially and adversely affect the withholding tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the Securities, possibly with retroactive effect. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, including the possible implications of the notice discussed above. Prospective investors should note that we currently do not intend to withhold on any of the payments made with respect to the Securities to Non-U.S. Holders (subject to compliance by such holders with the certification requirement described above and to the discussion below regarding FATCA). However, in the event of a change of law or any formal or informal guidance by the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Department or Congress, we (or any financial intermediary) may decide to withhold on payments made with respect to the Securities to Non-U.S. Holders and we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.

 

Section 871(m) Withholding Tax on Dividend Equivalents

 

Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities (each, an “Underlying Security”). Subject to certain exceptions, Section 871(m) generally applies to Securities that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more Underlying Securities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “Specified Security”). However, pursuant to an IRS notice, Section 871(m) will not apply to Securities issued before January 1, 2025 that do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security. Based on the terms of the Securities and current market conditions, we expect that the Securities will not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security on the Trade Date. However, we will provide an updated determination in the pricing supplement. Assuming that the Securities do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security, our counsel is of the opinion that the Securities should not be Specified Securities and, therefore, should not be subject to Section 871(m).

 

Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If Section 871(m) withholding is required, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the Securities.

 

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

 

Individual Non-U.S. Holders and entities the property of which is potentially includible in such an individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example, a trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the individual has retained certain interests or powers), should note that, absent an applicable treaty exemption, the Securities may be treated as U.S. situs property subject to U.S. federal estate tax. Prospective investors that are non-U.S. individuals, or are entities of the type described above, should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with any coupon payment and may be filed with the IRS in connection with the payment at maturity on the Securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Securities. A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding in respect of amounts paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, unless such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise establishes an exemption. Compliance with the certification procedures described under “—General—Certification Requirement” will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

FATCA

 

Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. FATCA generally applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest or other U.S.-source “fixed

 

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or determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). Withholding (if applicable) applies to payments of U.S.-source FDAP income and to payments of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement) of certain financial instruments treated as providing for U.S.-source interest or dividends. Under proposed regulations (the preamble to which specifies that taxpayers are permitted to rely on them pending finalization), no withholding will apply on payments of gross proceeds (other than amounts treated as interest or other FDAP income). While the treatment of the Securities is unclear, you should assume that the yield on the Deposit will be subject to the FATCA rules. It is also possible in light of this uncertainty that an applicable withholding agent will treat the entire amount of the coupon payments as being subject to the FATCA rules. If withholding applies to the Securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of FATCA to the Securities.

 

The discussion in the preceding paragraphs under “What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities,” insofar as it purports to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.

 

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The Russell 2000® Index

The Russell 2000® Index is an index calculated, published and disseminated by FTSE Russell, and measures the composite price performance of stocks of 2,000 companies incorporated in the U.S. and its territories. All 2,000 stocks are traded on a major U.S. exchange and are the 2,000 smallest securities that form the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000® Index is composed of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies as determined by market capitalization and represents approximately 98% of the U.S. equity market. The Russell 2000® Index consists of the smallest 2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index and represents a small portion of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 2000® Index is designed to track the performance of the small-capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. For additional information about the Russell 2000® Index, see the information set forth under “Russell 2000® Index” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

The “Russell 2000® Index” is a trademark of FTSE Russell. For more information, see “Russell 2000® Index” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

Historical Information

The following table sets forth the published high and low closing levels, as well as the end-of-quarter closing levels, of the Russell 2000® Index for each quarter in the period from January 1, 2017 through October 14, 2022. The closing level of the Russell 2000® Index on October 14, 2022 was 1,682.403. We obtained the information in the table below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical closing levels of the Russell 2000® Index should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the level of the Russell 2000® Index on the Final Valuation Date.

 

Quarter Begin Quarter End Quarterly High Quarterly Low Quarterly Close
1/1/2017 3/31/2017 1,413.635 1,345.598 1,385.920
4/1/2017 6/30/2017 1,425.985 1,345.244 1,415.359
7/1/2017 9/30/2017 1,490.861 1,356.905 1,490.861
10/1/2017 12/31/2017 1,548.926 1,464.095 1,535.511
1/1/2018 3/31/2018 1,610.706 1,463.793 1,529.427
4/1/2018 6/30/2018 1,706.985 1,492.531 1,643.069
7/1/2018 9/30/2018 1,740.753 1,653.132 1,696.571
10/1/2018 12/31/2018 1,672.992 1,266.925 1,348.559
1/1/2019 3/31/2019 1,590.062 1,330.831 1,539.739
4/1/2019 6/30/2019 1,614.976 1,465.487 1,566.572
7/1/2019 9/30/2019 1,585.599 1,456.039 1,523.373
10/1/2019 12/31/2019 1,678.010 1,472.598 1,668.469
1/1/2020 3/31/2020 1,705.215 991.160 1,153.103
4/1/2020 6/30/2020 1,536.895 1,052.053 1,441.365
7/1/2020 9/30/2020 1,592.287 1,398.920 1,507.692
10/1/2020 12/31/2020 2,007.104 1,531.202 1,974.855
1/1/2021 3/31/2021 2,360.168 1,945.914 2,220.519
4/1/2021 6/30/2021 2,343.758 2,135.139 2,310.549
7/1/2021 9/30/2021 2,329.359 2,130.680 2,204.372
10/1/2021 12/31/2021 2,442.742 2,139.875 2,245.313
1/1/2022 3/31/2022 2,272.557 1,931.288 2,070.125
4/1/2022 6/30/2022 2,095.440 1,649.836 1,707.990
7/1/2022 9/30/2022 2,021.346 1,655.882 1,664.716
10/1/2022 10/14/2022* 1,775.766 1,682.403 1,682.403

*       Available information for the indicated period includes data for less than the entire calendar quarter and accordingly, the “Quarterly High,” “Quarterly Low” and “Quarterly Close” data indicated are for this shortened period only.

 

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The graph below illustrates the performance of the Russell 2000® Index from January 1, 2008 through October 14, 2022, based on information from Bloomberg.

 

 

 

* The dotted line indicates the hypothetical Downside Threshold, assuming the Closing Level of the Underlying on October 14, 2022 were the Initial Level.

 

Past performance is not indicative of future results.

 

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Additional Terms of the Securities

If the terms discussed in this free writing prospectus differ from those discussed in the prospectus supplement, index supplement or prospectus, the terms contained in this free writing prospectus will control.

 

Some Definitions

 

We have defined some of the terms that we use frequently in this free writing prospectus below:

 

t“Closing Level” on any Index Business Day means the closing value of the Underlying, or any relevant Successor Index (as defined under “—Discontinuance of the Underlying; Alteration of Method of Calculation” below) published at the regular weekday close of trading on that Index Business Day by the Index Publisher.

 

t“Index Publisher” means FTSE Russell or any successor thereto.

 

t“Index Business Day” means a day, as determined by the Calculation Agent, on which trading is generally conducted on each of the Relevant Exchange(s) for the Underlying, other than a day on which trading on such exchange(s) is scheduled to close prior to the time of the posting of its regular final weekday closing price.

 

t“Market Disruption Event” means:

 

(i)the occurrence or existence of any of:

 

(a) a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading of securities then constituting 20 percent or more of the value of the Underlying (or any relevant Successor Index (as defined below under “—Discontinuance of the Underlying; Alteration of Method of Calculation”)) on the Relevant Exchange(s) for such securities for more than two hours of trading or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of the principal trading session on such Relevant Exchange(s), or

 

(b) a breakdown or failure in the price and trade reporting systems of any Relevant Exchange as a result of which the reported trading prices for securities then constituting 20 percent or more of the value of the Underlying (or a Successor Index) during the last one-half hour preceding the close of the principal trading session on such Relevant Exchange are materially inaccurate, or

 

(c) the suspension, material limitation or absence of trading on any major U.S. securities market for trading in futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds related to the Underlying (or a Successor Index) for more than two hours of trading or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of the principal trading session on such market,

 

in each case, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion; and

 

(ii)a determination by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion that any event described in clause (i) above materially interfered with our ability or the ability of any of our affiliates to unwind or adjust all or a material portion of the hedge position with respect to the Securities.

 

For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event exists at any time, if trading in a security included in the Underlying is materially suspended or materially limited at that time, then the relevant percentage contribution of that security to the value of the Underlying shall be based on a comparison of (x) the portion of the value of the Underlying attributable to that security relative to (y) the overall value of the Underlying, in each case immediately before that suspension or limitation.

 

For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred: (1) a limitation on the hours or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the Relevant Exchange or market, (2) a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the relevant futures or options contract or exchange-traded fund will not constitute a Market Disruption Event, (3) a suspension of trading in futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds on the Underlying by the primary securities market trading in such contracts or funds by reason of (a) a price change exceeding limits set by such securities exchange or market, (b) an imbalance of orders relating to such contracts or funds, or (c) a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to such contracts or funds will constitute a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds related to the Underlying and (4) a “suspension, absence or material limitation of trading” on any Relevant Exchange or on the primary market on which futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds related to the Underlying are traded will not include any time when such securities market is itself closed for trading under ordinary circumstances.

 

t“Relevant Exchange” means, with respect to the Underlying, the primary exchange(s) or market(s) of trading for (i) any security then included in the Underlying, or any relevant Successor Index, and (ii) any futures or options contracts related to the Underlying or to any security then included in the Underlying.

 

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Postponement of Final Valuation Date and Coupon Payment Dates (including the Call Dates and the Maturity Date)

 

If the scheduled Final Valuation Date is not an Index Business Day with respect to the Underlying, or if there is a Market Disruption Event on such day with respect to the Underlying, the Final Valuation Date shall be the next succeeding Index Business Day with respect to the Underlying on which there is no Market Disruption Event with respect to the Underlying; provided that if a Market Disruption Event with respect to the Underlying has occurred on each of the five Index Business Days with respect to that Underlying immediately succeeding the Final Valuation Date, then (i) such fifth succeeding Index Business Day shall be deemed to be the Final Valuation Date with respect to the Underlying, notwithstanding the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event with respect to the Underlying on such day, and (ii) with respect to any such fifth Index Business Day on which a Market Disruption Event occurs with respect to the Underlying, the Calculation Agent shall determine the Closing Level on such fifth Index Business Day in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating that Underlying last in effect prior to the commencement of the Market Disruption Event, using the closing price (or, if trading in the relevant securities has been materially suspended or materially limited, its good faith estimate of the closing price that would have prevailed but for such suspension or limitation) at the close of the principal trading session of the Relevant Exchange on such Index Business Day of each security most recently constituting the Underlying without any rebalancing or substitution of such securities following the commencement of the Market Disruption Event.

 

If any scheduled Coupon Payment Date (including a scheduled Call Date) is not a Business Day, that Coupon (or the Settlement Amount, if applicable), shall be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no adjustment shall be made to any payment made on that postponed date; provided that the final Coupon shall be paid on the Maturity Date; provided further that if, due to a Market Disruption Event or otherwise, the Final Valuation Date is postponed so that it falls less than two Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date shall be postponed to the second Business Day following the Final Valuation Date as postponed, by which date the Closing Level of the Underlying has been determined, and no adjustment shall be made to any payment made on that postponed date.

 

Alternate Exchange Calculation in case of an Event of Default

 

If an event of default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing, the amount declared due and payable upon any acceleration of the Securities (the “Acceleration Amount”) will be an amount, determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion, that is equal to the cost of having a Qualified Financial Institution, of the kind and selected as described below, expressly assume all our payment and other obligations with respect to the Securities as of that day and as if no default or acceleration had occurred, or to undertake other obligations providing substantially equivalent economic value to you with respect to the Securities. That cost will equal:

 

othe lowest amount that a Qualified Financial Institution would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking, plus

 

othe reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the holders of the Securities in preparing any documentation necessary for this assumption or undertaking.

 

During the Default Quotation Period for the Securities, which we describe below, the holders of the Securities and/or we may request a Qualified Financial Institution to provide a quotation of the amount it would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking. If either party obtains a quotation, it must notify the other party in writing of the quotation. The amount referred to in the first bullet point above will equal the lowest—or, if there is only one, the only—quotation obtained, and as to which notice is so given, during the Default Quotation Period. With respect to any quotation, however, the party not obtaining the quotation may object, on reasonable and significant grounds, to the assumption or undertaking by the Qualified Financial Institution providing the quotation and notify the other party in writing of those grounds within two business days after the last day of the Default Quotation Period, in which case that quotation will be disregarded in determining the Acceleration Amount.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of, or any analogous proceeding is filed with respect to MSFL or Morgan Stanley, then depending on applicable bankruptcy law, your claim may be limited to an amount that could be less than the Acceleration Amount.

 

If the maturity of the Securities is accelerated because of an event of default as described above, we shall, or shall cause the Calculation Agent to, provide written notice to the Trustee at its New York office, on which notice the Trustee may conclusively rely, and to the Depositary of the Acceleration Amount and the aggregate cash amount due, if any, with respect to the Securities as promptly as possible and in no event later than two business days after the date of such acceleration.

 

Default Quotation Period

 

The Default Quotation Period is the period beginning on the day the Acceleration Amount first becomes due and ending on the third business day after that day, unless:

 

ono quotation of the kind referred to above is obtained, or

 

oevery quotation of that kind obtained is objected to within five business days after the due date as described above.

 

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If either of these two events occurs, the Default Quotation Period will continue until the third business day after the first business day on which prompt notice of a quotation is given as described above. If that quotation is objected to as described above within five business days after that first business day, however, the Default Quotation Period will continue as described in the prior sentence and this sentence.

 

In any event, if the Default Quotation Period and the subsequent two business day objection period have not ended before the Final Valuation Date, then the Acceleration Amount will equal the principal amount of the Securities.

 

Qualified Financial Institutions

 

For the purpose of determining the Acceleration Amount at any time, a Qualified Financial Institution must be a financial institution organized under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or Europe, which at that time has outstanding debt obligations with a stated maturity of one year or less from the date of issue and rated either:

 

oA-2 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency, or

 

oP-2 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency.

 

Discontinuance of the Underlying; Alteration of Method of Calculation

 

If the Underlying Index Publisher discontinues publication of the Underlying and the Index Publisher or another entity (including MS & Co.) publishes a successor or substitute index that MS & Co., as the Calculation Agent, determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the discontinued Underlying (such index being referred to herein as a “Successor Index”), then any subsequent Closing Level of the Underlying will be determined by reference to the published value of such Successor Index at the regular weekday close of trading on such Index Business Day, and, to the extent the value of the Successor Index differs from the value of the Underlying at the time of such substitution, proportionate adjustments shall be made by the Calculation Agent for purposes of calculating payments on the Securities.

 

Upon any selection by the Calculation Agent of a Successor Index, the Calculation Agent will cause written notice thereof to be furnished to the Trustee, to us and to the Depositary, as holder of the Securities, within three business days of such selection. We expect that such notice will be made available to you, as a beneficial owner of such Securities, in accordance with the standard rules and procedures of the Depositary and its direct and indirect participants.

 

If the Index Publisher discontinues publication of the Underlying prior to, and such discontinuance is continuing on the Final Valuation Date and MS & Co., as the Calculation Agent, determines, in its sole discretion, that no Successor Index is available at such time, then the Calculation Agent will determine the Closing Level of the Underlying for such date. The Closing Level of the Underlying will be computed by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the formula for calculating the Underlying last in effect prior to such discontinuance, using the Closing Price (or, if trading in the relevant securities has been materially suspended or materially limited, its good faith estimate of the Closing Price that would have prevailed but for such suspension or limitation) at the close of the principal trading session of the Relevant Exchange on such date of each security most recently composing the Underlying without any rebalancing or substitution of such securities following such discontinuance. Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, discontinuance of the publication of the Underlying may adversely affect the value of the Securities.

 

If at any time the method of calculating the Underlying or Successor Index, or the value thereof, is changed in a material respect, or if the Underlying or Successor Index is in any other way modified so that such index does not, in the opinion of the Calculation Agent, fairly represent the value of such index had such changes or modifications not been made, then, from and after such time, the Calculation Agent will, at the close of business in New York City on each date on which the Closing Level is to be determined, make such calculations and adjustments as, in the good faith judgment of the Calculation Agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a value of a stock index comparable to such Underlying or Successor Index, as the case may be, as if such changes or modifications had not been made, and the Calculation Agent will calculate the Closing Level with reference to such Underlying or Successor Index, as adjusted. Accordingly, if the method of calculating such Underlying or Successor Index is modified so that the value of such index is a fraction of what it would have been if it had not been modified (e.g., due to a split in the index), then the Calculation Agent will adjust such index in order to arrive at a value of such Underlying or Successor Index as if it had not been modified (e.g., as if such split had not occurred).

 

Trustee

 

The “Trustee” for each offering of notes issued under our Senior Debt Indenture, including the Securities, will be The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation.

 

Agent

 

The “agent” is MS & Co.

 

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Calculation Agent and Calculations

 

The “Calculation Agent” for the Securities will be MS & Co. As Calculation Agent, MS & Co. will determine, among other things, the Initial Level, the Downside Threshold, the Final Level and the Payment at Maturity.

 

All determinations made by the Calculation Agent will be at the sole discretion of the Calculation Agent and will, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on you, the Trustee and us.

 

All calculations with respect to the Coupon, payment upon a call, and Payment at Maturity will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth, with five one-millionths rounded upward (e.g., .876545 would be rounded to .87655); all dollar amounts related to determination of the amount of cash payable per Security will be rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth, with five one hundred-thousandths rounded upward (e.g., .76545 would be rounded up to .7655); and all dollar amounts paid on the aggregate number of Securities will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward.

 

Because the Calculation Agent is our affiliate, the economic interests of the Calculation Agent and its affiliates may be adverse to your interests, as an owner of the Securities, including with respect to certain determinations and judgments that the Calculation Agent must make in determining the Final Level or whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred. See “—Discontinuance of the Underlying; Alteration of Method of Calculation,” and the definition of Market Disruption Event. MS & Co. is obligated to carry out its duties and functions as Calculation Agent in good faith and using its reasonable judgment.

 

Issuer Notice to Registered Security Holders, the Trustee and the Depositary

 

In the event that the Maturity Date of the Securities is postponed due to postponement of the Final Valuation, the Issuer shall give notice of such postponement and, once it has been determined, of the date to which the Maturity Date has been rescheduled (i) to each registered holder of the Securities by mailing notice of such postponement by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such registered holder’s last address as it shall appear upon the registry books, (ii) to the Trustee by facsimile, confirmed by mailing such notice to the Trustee by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its New York office and (iii) to The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) by telephone or facsimile confirmed by mailing such notice to the Depositary by first class mail, postage prepaid. Any notice that is mailed to a registered holder of the Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given to such registered holder, whether or not such registered holder receives the notice. The Issuer shall give such notice as promptly as possible, and in no case later than (i) with respect to notice of postponement of the Maturity Date, the Business Day immediately preceding the scheduled Maturity Date, and (ii) with respect to notice of the date to which the Maturity Date has been rescheduled, the Business Day immediately following the Final Valuation Date as postponed.

 

The Issuer shall, or shall cause the Calculation Agent to, (i) provide written notice to the Trustee, on which notice the Trustee may conclusively rely, and to the Depositary, on or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day preceding each Coupon Payment Date, of the amount of cash to be delivered with respect to each Principal Amount of the Securities and (ii) deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the Securities to the Trustee for delivery to the Depositary, as holder of the Securities, on or prior to the Coupon Payment Date.

 

The Issuer shall, or shall cause the Calculation Agent to, (i) provide written notice to the Trustee, on which notice the Trustee may conclusively rely, and to the Depositary, on or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day preceding the Call Date or the Business Day preceding the Maturity Date, as applicable, of the amount of cash to be delivered with respect to each Principal Amount of the Securities and (ii) deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the Securities to the Trustee for delivery to the Depositary, as holder of the Securities, on or prior to the Call Date or Maturity Date, as applicable.

 

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Additional Information About the Securities

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, $10 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 on page 2 above comprise the Agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the Securities. See also “Use of Proceeds” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

On or prior to the Trade Date, we will hedge 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 take positions in the Underlying or the constituent stocks of the Underlying, in futures or options contracts on the Underlying or the constituent stocks of the Underlying, as well as in other instruments related to the Underlying that they may wish to use in connection with such hedging. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the Trade Date could potentially increase the Initial Level, and, as a result, the Downside Threshold, which if the Securities are not called prior to maturity, is the level at or above which the Underlying must close on the Final Valuation Date in order for you to avoid being exposed to the negative performance of the Underlying at maturity. In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify our hedge position throughout the term of the Securities, including on the Final Valuation Date, by purchasing and selling the Underlying or the constituent stocks of the Underlying, futures or options contracts on the Underlying or the component stocks listed on major securities markets or positions in any other available securities or instruments that we may wish to use in connection with such hedging activities, including by purchasing or selling any such securities or instruments on the Final Valuation Date. 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 Final Valuation Date approaches. We cannot give any assurance that our hedging activities will not affect the values of the Underlying and, therefore, adversely affect the value of the Securities or the payment you will receive at maturity if not previously called.

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest

 

We are also offering, pursuant to Free Writing Prospectus No. 6,731, a separate issuance of securities, being sold only to fee-based advisory accounts, with terms substantially similar to, but somewhat different than, those of this issuance.

 

MS & Co. will act as the agent for this offering. We will agree to sell to MS & Co., and MS & Co. will agree to purchase, all of the Securities at the issue price less the underwriting discount indicated on the cover of this document. UBS Financial Services Inc., acting as dealer, will receive from MS & Co. a fixed sales commission of $0.10 for each Security it sells.

 

MS & Co. is our affiliate 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 Securities. When MS & Co. prices this offering of Securities, it will determine the economic terms of the Securities, including the Coupon Rate, such that for each Security the estimated value on the Trade Date will be no lower than the minimum level described in “Additional Information about Morgan Stanley, MSFL and the Securities” on page 2.

 

MS & Co. will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“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.

 

In order to facilitate the offering of the Securities, the agent may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Securities. Specifically, the agent may sell more Securities than it is obligated to purchase in connection with the offering, creating a naked short position in the Securities, for its own account. The agent must close out any naked short position by purchasing the Securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the agent is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means of facilitating the offering, the agent may bid for, and purchase, the Securities or the constituent stocks of the Underlying in the open market to stabilize the price of the Securities. Any of these activities may raise or maintain the market price of the Securities above independent market levels or prevent or retard a decline in the market price of the Securities. The agent is not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time. An affiliate of the agent has entered into a hedging transaction with us in connection with this offering of Securities. See “—Use of Proceeds and Hedging” above.

 

Form of Securities

 

The Securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and will be registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary. The Depositary’s nominee will be the only registered holder of the Securities. Your beneficial interest in the Securities will be evidenced solely by entries on the

 

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books of the securities intermediary acting on your behalf as a direct or indirect participant in the Depositary. In this free writing prospectus, all references to payments or notices to you will mean payments or notices to the Depositary, as the registered holder of the Securities, for distribution to participants in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures. For more information regarding the Depositary and book entry notes, please read “Form of Securities—The Depositary” and “Securities Offered on a Global Basis Through the Depositary” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

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