Investment Summary
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities
Principal at Risk Securities
The Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due December 17, 2025, with 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period Based on the Performance of the Nasdaq-100® Technology Sector IndexSM, which we refer to as the securities, provide an opportunity for investors to earn a contingent monthly coupon with respect to each monthly observation date on which the index closing value or the final index value, as applicable, is greater than or equal to 80% of the initial index value, which we refer to as the downside threshold level. It is possible that the index closing value of the underlying index could remain below the downside threshold level for extended periods of time or even throughout the term of the securities so that you may receive few or no contingent monthly coupons.
If the index closing value is greater than or equal to the initial index value on any monthly redemption determination date, beginning on May 12, 2025, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment equal to the stated principal amount, plus the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the related observation date. If the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final index value is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, the payment at maturity will be the stated principal amount and the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the related observation date. However, if the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final index value is less than the downside threshold level, investors will be exposed to the decline in the underlying index, as compared to the initial index value, on a 1-to-1 basis. In this case, the payment at maturity will be less than 80% of the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Investors in the securities must be willing to accept the risk of losing their entire principal and also the risk of not receiving any contingent monthly coupon. In addition, investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index.
The original issue price of each security is $1,000. This price includes costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities, which are borne by you, and, consequently, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date is less than $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date is $977.40.
What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?
In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account that the securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the underlying index. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlying index, instruments based on the underlying index, 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 contingent monthly coupon rate and the downside threshold level, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.
What is the relationship between the estimated value on the pricing date and the secondary market price of the securities?
The price at which MS & Co. purchases the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlying index, may vary from, and be lower than, the estimated value on the pricing date, because the secondary market price takes into account our secondary market credit spread as well as the bid-offer spread that MS & Co. would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type and other factors. 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 5 months following the issue 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 index, 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. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities, and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time.