November 2024
Preliminary Pricing Supplement No. 4,876
Registration Statement Nos. 333-275587; 333-275587-01
Dated November 14, 2024
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Structured Investments
Opportunities in U.S. and International Equities
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley
Principal at Risk Securities
The securities offered are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The securities have the terms described in the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus, as supplemented or modified by this document. The securities do not guarantee the repayment of any principal. The securities offer the opportunity for investors to earn a fixed semi-annual coupon at an annual rate of 6.00%. In addition, the securities will be automatically redeemed if the closing level of each of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index is greater than or equal to its respective initial level on any semi-annual redemption determination date for the early redemption payment equal to the sum of the stated principal amount plus the related semi-annual coupon. At maturity, if the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final level of each underlying is greater than or equal to 75% of the respective initial level, meaning that neither underlying has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25%, the payment at maturity will be the stated principal amount and the related semi-annual coupon. If, however, the final level of either underlying is less than its respective initial level by an amount greater than the specified buffer amount, investors will lose 1.3333% of the principal amount for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities. Accordingly, investors in the securities may lose their entire initial investment in the securities. Because payments on the securities are based on the worst performing of the underlyings, a decline beyond the buffer amount of either of the underlyings will result in a loss of your investment, even if the other underlying has appreciated or has not declined as much. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlyings. The securities are for investors who are willing to risk their principal based on the worst performing of two underlyings and who are willing to forgo the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the underlyings in exchange for the limited protection against loss, the opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate and the possibility of an automatic early redemption prior to maturity. The securities are notes issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program.
All payments are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. These securities are not secured obligations and you will not have any security interest in, or otherwise have any access to, any underlying reference asset or assets.
SUMMARY TERMS | |||
Issuer: | Morgan Stanley Finance LLC | ||
Guarantor: | Morgan Stanley | ||
Underlyings: | iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF (the “EFA Shares”) and S&P 500® Index (the “SPX Index”) | ||
Aggregate principal amount: | $ | ||
Stated principal amount: | $1,000 per security | ||
Issue price: | $1,000 per security (see “Commissions and issue price” below) | ||
Pricing date: | November 15, 2024 | ||
Original issue date: | November 20, 2024 (3 business days after the pricing date) | ||
Maturity date: | May 18, 2026 | ||
Early redemption: | If, on any redemption determination date, beginning on May 13, 2025, the closing level of each underlying is greater than or equal to its respective initial level, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment on the related early redemption date. No further payments will be made on the securities once they have been redeemed. The securities will not be redeemed early on any early redemption date if the closing level of either underlying is below the respective initial level for such underlying on the related redemption determination date. | ||
Early redemption payment: | The early redemption payment will be an amount equal to (i) the stated principal amount for each security you hold plus (ii) the semi-annual coupon for the related interest period. | ||
Semi-annual coupon: | Unless the securities have been previously redeemed, a fixed coupon at an annual rate of 6.00% (corresponding to approximately $30.00 per semi-annual period per security) will be paid on each coupon payment date. | ||
Payment at maturity: | If the securities have not been automatically redeemed prior to maturity, the payment at maturity will be determined as follows:
If the final level of each underlying is greater than or equal to 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that the final level of neither underlying has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, investors will receive the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period.
If the final level of either underlying is less than 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that the final level of either of the underlyings has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, investors will receive (i) the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period plus (ii) an amount calculated as follows: $1,000 + [$1,000 × (underlying percent change of the worst performing underlying + 25%) × downside factor] Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. | ||
| Terms continued on the following page | ||
Agent: | Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”), an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.” | ||
Estimated value on the pricing date: | Approximately $991.70 per security, or within $25.00 of that estimate. See “Investment Summary” beginning on page 3. | ||
Commissions and issue price: | Price to public(1) | Agent’s commissions and fees(2) | Proceeds to us(3) |
Per security | $1,000 | $ | $ |
Total | $ | $ | $ |
(1)The securities will be sold only to investors purchasing the securities in fee-based advisory accounts.
(2)MS & Co. expects to sell all of the securities that it purchases from us to an unaffiliated dealer at a price of $ per security, for further sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts at the price to public of $1,000 per security. In addition, selected dealers and their financial advisors may receive a structuring fee of up to $6.25 for each security from the agent or its affiliates. MS & Co. will not receive a sales commission with respect to the securities. See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.” For additional information, see “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement.
(3)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 30.
The securities involve risks not associated with an investment in ordinary debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this document or the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. 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.
You should read this document together with the related product supplement, index supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below. When you read the accompanying product supplement and index supplement, please note that all references in such supplements to the prospectus dated November 16, 2023, or to any sections therein, should refer instead to the accompanying prospectus dated April 12, 2024 or to the corresponding sections of such prospectus, as applicable. Please also see “Additional Terms of the Securities” and “Additional Information About the Securities” at the end of this document.
As used in this document, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley or MSFL, or Morgan Stanley and MSFL collectively, as the context requires.
Product Supplement for Auto-Callable Securities dated November 16, 2023 Index Supplement dated November 16, 2023 Prospectus dated April 12, 2024
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Terms continued from previous page: | ||
Redemption determination dates: | Semi-annually, on May 13, 2025 and November 13, 2025, subject to postponement for non-index business days and non-trading days, as applicable, and certain market disruption events. | |
Early redemption dates: | Semi-annually, on May 16, 2025 and November 18, 2025. If any such day is not a business day, that early redemption payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no adjustment will be made to any early redemption payment made on that succeeding business day. | |
Buffer amount: | With respect to each underlying, 25%. As a result of the buffer amount of 25%, the value at or above which each underlying must close on the final observation date so that you are not exposed to the negative performance of the worst performing underlying at maturity is: With respect to the EFA Shares: $57.938, which is approximately 75% of its initial level With respect to the SPX Index: 4,489.035, which is approximately 75% of its initial level | |
Downside factor: | 1.3333 | |
Initial level: | With respect to the EFA Shares: $77.25, which is its closing price on November 13, 2024 With respect to the SPX Index: 5,985.38, which is its index closing value on November 13, 2024 | |
Final level: | With respect to each underlying, the respective closing level on the final observation date | |
Closing level: | With respect to the EFA Shares, on any trading day, the closing price of one EFA Share on such day times the adjustment factor on such day With respect to the SPX Index, on any index business day, the index closing value on such day | |
Adjustment factor: | With respect to the EFA Shares, 1.0, subject to adjustment in the event of certain events affecting such EFA Shares | |
Worst performing underlying: | The underlying with the larger percentage decrease from the respective initial level to the respective final level | |
Underlying percent change: | With respect to each underlying, (final level – initial level) / initial level | |
Coupon payment dates: | Semi-annually, on May 16, 2025, November 18, 2025 and the maturity date; provided that if any such day is not a business day, that coupon payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no adjustment will be made to any coupon payment made on that succeeding business day. The final semi-annual coupon will be paid on the maturity date. | |
Final observation date: | May 13, 2026, subject to postponement for non-index business days and non-trading days, as applicable, and certain market disruption events. | |
CUSIP / ISIN: | 61776WF73 / US61776WF731 | |
Listing: | The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. | |
November 2024 Page 2
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Investment Summary
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities
Principal at Risk Securities
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026 All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index (the “securities”) do not guarantee the repayment of any principal. The securities offer the opportunity for investors to earn a fixed semi-annual coupon at an annual rate of 6.00%. In addition, the securities will be automatically redeemed if the closing level of each underlying is greater than or equal to its respective initial level on any semi-annual redemption determination date for the early redemption payment equal to the sum of the stated principal amount plus the related semi-annual coupon. At maturity, if the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final level of each underlying is greater than or equal to 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that neither underlying has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25%, investors will receive the stated principal amount of the securities. If, however, the final level of either underlying is less than its initial level by an amount greater than the specified buffer amount, investors will lose 1.3333% of the principal amount for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of either underlying. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities. Accordingly, investors in the securities may lose their entire initial investment in the securities.
Maturity: | Approximately 1.5 years |
Semi-annual coupon: | A semi-annual coupon at an annual rate of 6.00% (corresponding to approximately $30.00 per semi-annual period per security) will be paid on the securities on each coupon payment date. |
Automatic early redemption: | If the closing level of each underlying is greater than or equal to its initial level on any semi-annual redemption determination date, beginning on May 13, 2025, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment equal to the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the related interest period. |
Payment at maturity: | If the securities have not been automatically redeemed prior to maturity, the payment at maturity will be determined as follows: If the final level of each underlying is greater than or equal to 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that the final level of neither underlying has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, investors will receive the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period. If the final level of either underlying is less than 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that the final level of either of the underlyings has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, investors will receive (i) the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period plus (ii) an amount calculated as follows: $1,000 + [$1,000 × (underlying percent change of the worst performing underlying + 25%) × downside factor] Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Accordingly, investors in the securities must be willing to accept the risk of losing their entire initial investment. |
November 2024 Page 3
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
The original issue price of each security is $1,000. This price includes costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities, which are borne by you, and, consequently, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be less than $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date will be approximately $991.70, or within $25.00 of that estimate. Our estimate of the value of the securities as determined on the pricing date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.
What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?
In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account that the securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the underlyings. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlyings, instruments based on the underlyings, 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 semi-annual coupon rate and the buffer amount, 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 underlyings, 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 6 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 underlyings, 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.
November 2024 Page 4
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Key Investment Rationale
The securities do not guarantee the repayment of principal and offer investors an opportunity to earn a fixed semi-annual coupon at an annual rate of 6.00%. These securities are for investors who are willing to risk their principal based on the performance of the worst performing underlying and who are willing to forgo the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the underlyings in exchange for the opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate and the possibility of an automatic early redemption.
The following scenarios are for illustrative purposes only to demonstrate how the early redemption payment or the payment at maturity (if the securities have not previously been redeemed) is calculated, and do not attempt to demonstrate every situation that may occur. Accordingly, the securities may or may not be redeemed, and the payment at maturity may be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount and could be zero.
Semi-annual coupon: | The securities will pay a fixed semi-annual coupon at an annual rate of 6.00% (corresponding to approximately $30.00 per semi-annual period per security) on each coupon payment date. |
Scenario 1: The securities are redeemed prior to maturity | When each underlying closes at or above its respective initial level on a semi-annual redemption determination date, the securities will be automatically redeemed for the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the related semi-annual interest period. No further payments will be made on the securities once they have been redeemed. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of either underlying. |
Scenario 2: The securities are not redeemed prior to maturity, and investors receive principal back at maturity | This scenario assumes that each underlying closes below its respective initial level on every semi-annual redemption determination date. Consequently, the securities are not automatically redeemed. On the final observation date, each underlying closes at or above 75% of its respective initial level. At maturity, investors will receive the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of either underlying. |
Scenario 3: The securities are not redeemed prior to maturity, and investors suffer a loss of principal at maturity | This scenario assumes that each underlying closes below its respective initial level on every semi-annual redemption determination date. Consequently, the securities are not automatically redeemed. On the final observation date, one or both underlyings have decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from their respective initial levels. At maturity, investors will receive the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period, but will lose 1.3333% of principal for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount and could be zero. |
November 2024 Page 5
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
How the Securities Work
The following diagrams illustrate the potential outcomes for the securities depending on (1) the closing levels on each semi-annual redemption determination date and (2) the final levels. Please see “Hypothetical Examples” beginning on page 7 for illustration of hypothetical payouts on the securities.
Diagram #1: Automatic Early Redemption
Diagram #2: Payment at Maturity if No Automatic Early Redemption Occurs
For more information about the payout upon an early redemption or at maturity in different hypothetical scenarios, see “Hypothetical Examples” starting on page 7.
November 2024 Page 6
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Hypothetical Examples
The following hypothetical examples illustrate how to determine whether the securities are redeemed early and the payment at maturity, if any, if the securities have not been automatically redeemed early. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only. Whether the securities are redeemed early will be determined by reference to the closing level of each underlying on each semi-annual redemption determination date, and the payment at maturity, if any, will be determined by reference to the final level of each underlying on the final observation date. The actual initial level for each underlying is set forth on the cover of this document. All payments on the securities are subject to our credit risk. The numbers in the hypothetical examples below may have been rounded for the ease of analysis. The below examples are based on the following terms:
Semi-annual Coupon: | 6.00% per annum (corresponding to approximately $30.00 per semi-annual period per security1) |
Automatic Early Redemption: | If the closing level of each underlying is greater than or equal to its respective initial level on any semi-annual redemption determination date, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment equal to the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the related semi-annual interest period. |
Payment at Maturity (if the securities have not been automatically redeemed early): | If the final level of each underlying is greater than or equal to 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that the final level of neither underlying has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, investors will receive the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period. If the final level of either underlying is less than 75% of its respective initial level, meaning that the final level of either of the underlyings has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, investors will receive (i) the semi-annual coupon for the final interest period plus (ii) an amount calculated as follows: $1,000 + [$1,000 × (underlying percent change of the worst performing underlying + 25%) × downside factor] Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less than the stated principal amount of $1,000 and could be zero. |
Stated Principal Amount: | $1,000 per security |
Hypothetical Initial Level: | With respect to the EFA Shares: $80 With respect to the SPX Index: 4,500 |
Buffer Amount: | With respect to each of the underlyings, 25% |
Downside Factor: | 1.3333 |
1 The actual semi-annual coupon will be an amount determined by the calculation agent based on the number of days in the applicable payment period, calculated on a 30/360 day-count basis. The hypothetical semi-annual coupon of $30.00 is used in these examples for ease of analysis.
November 2024 Page 7
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
How to determine whether the securities are redeemed early:
| Closing Level | Early Redemption Payment* | |
EFA Shares | SPX Index |
| |
Hypothetical Redemption Determination Date 1 | $95 (at or above the initial level) | 4,250 (below the initial level) | N/A |
Hypothetical Redemption Determination Date 2 | $88 (at or above the initial level) | 4,750 (at or above the initial level) | $1,030.00 (the stated principal amount plus the semi-annual coupon for the related semi-annual interest period) |
* The Early Redemption Payment includes the unpaid semi-annual coupon for the related semi-annual interest period.
If, on any redemption determination date, the closing level of each underlying is greater than or equal to its respective initial level, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment.
On hypothetical redemption determination date 1, the EFA Shares close at or above their initial level but the SPX Index closes below its initial level. Therefore, the securities are not redeemed early following such redemption determination date.
On hypothetical redemption determination date 2, each underlying closes at or above its respective initial level. Accordingly, the securities are automatically redeemed following such redemption determination date. You receive the early redemption payment, calculated as follows:
stated principal amount + semi-annual coupon = $1,000 + $30 = $1,030
No further payments will be made on the securities once they have been redeemed. Additionally, investors will not participate in any appreciation of either underlying.
The securities will not be redeemed early if the closing level of either underlying on the related redemption determination date is less than the initial level for such underlying.
November 2024 Page 8
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
How to calculate the payment at maturity (if the securities have not been automatically redeemed):
The examples below illustrate how to calculate the payment at maturity if the securities have not been automatically redeemed prior to maturity.
| Final Level | Payment at Maturity (in addition to the semi-annual coupon of $30.00 for the final interest period) | ||
EFA Shares | SPX Index |
| ||
Example 1: | $56 (below 75% of the initial level) | 4,250 (at or above 75% of the initial level) | $1,000 + [$1,000 × (underlying percent change of the worst performing underlying + 25%) × downside factor] = $1,000 + [$1,000 × (-30% + 25%) × 1.3333] | |
Example 2: | $70 (at or above 75% of the initial level) | 2,700 (below 75% of the initial level) | = $1,000 + [$1,000 × (-40% + 25%) × 1.3333] | |
Example 3: | $40 (below 75% of the initial level) | 900 (below 75% of the initial level) | = $1,000 + [$1,000 × (-80% + 25%) × 1.3333] | |
Example 4: | $96 (at or above 75% of the initial level) | 5,000 (at or above 75% of the initial level) | The stated principal amount of $1,000 | |
In examples 1 and 2, the final level of one of the underlyings is at or above 75% of its respective initial level, but the final level of the other underlying has decreased from its initial level by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 25%. Therefore, at maturity, investors receive the final semi-annual coupon, but will lose 1.3333% of principal for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%.
Similarly, in example 3, the final level of each of the underlyings is below 75% of its respective initial level. Therefore, at maturity, investors receive the final semi-annual coupon, but will lose 1.3333% of principal for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%.
In example 4, the final level of each underlying is greater than or equal to 75% of its respective initial level. Therefore, investors receive the stated principal amount and the final semi-annual coupon. However, investors do not participate in the appreciation of either underlying.
If the final level of EITHER of the underlyings has declined from its initial level by an amount greater than the buffer amount, your payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount and could be zero.
November 2024 Page 9
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Risk Factors
This section describes the material risks relating to the securities. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus. We also urge you to consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the securities.
Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities
￭The securities do not guarantee the return of any principal. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that they do not guarantee the repayment of any principal at maturity. If the securities have not been automatically redeemed prior to maturity, and if the final level of either underlying is less than 75% of its respective initial level, meaning the final level of either of the underlyings has decreased by more than the buffer amount of 25% from its respective initial level, you will lose 1.3333% of your principal for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%. In this case, the payment at maturity will be less than the stated principal amount and could be zero. You could lose some or all of your investment in the securities.
￭Investors will not participate in any appreciation in either underlying. Investors will not participate in any appreciation in either underlying, and the return on the securities will be limited to the fixed semi-annual coupons paid until early redemption or maturity.
￭The market price will 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. We expect that generally the level of interest rates available in the market and the levels of the underlyings on any day will affect the value of the securities more than any other factors. Other factors that may influence the value of the securities include:
othe volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the underlyings and the stocks constituting the MSCI EAFE® Index (the “share underlying index”) and the SPX Index,
ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlyings or equity markets generally and which may affect the levels of the underlyings,
odividend rates on the stocks constituting the share underlying index and the SPX Index,
othe time remaining until the securities mature,
ointerest and yield rates in the market,
othe availability of comparable instruments,
othe composition of the underlyings and changes in the constituent stocks of the share underlying index and SPX Index,
othe occurrence of certain events affecting the EFA Shares that may or may not require an adjustment to the adjustment factor,
othe exchange rates of the U.S. dollar relative to the currencies in which the stocks constituting the share underlying index trade, and
oany actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.
Some or all of these factors will influence the price that you will receive if you sell your securities prior to maturity. In particular, if the level of either of the underlyings has closed near or below 75% of its respective initial level, the market value of the securities is expected to decrease substantially, and you may have to sell your securities at a substantial discount from the stated principal amount of $1,000 per security.
November 2024 Page 10
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
You cannot predict the future performance of either underlying based on its historical performance. The final level of one or both of the underlyings may be less than 75% of the respective initial level(s), resulting in a loss of 1.3333% of principal for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%. There can be no assurance that the final level of each underlying will be equal to or greater than 75% of its respective initial level on the final observation date so that you do not suffer a loss on your initial investment in the securities. See “iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF Overview” and “S&P 500® Index Overview” below.
￭The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the securities on each coupon payment date, upon early redemption and at maturity and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. The securities are not guaranteed by any other entity. If we default on our obligations under the securities, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the securities prior to maturity will be affected by changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any actual or anticipated decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the securities.
￭As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets. As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of its securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of MSFL securities if they make claims in respect of such securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by Morgan Stanley and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Morgan Stanley. Holders will have recourse only to a single claim against Morgan Stanley and its assets under the guarantee. Holders of securities issued by MSFL should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of Morgan Stanley, including holders of Morgan Stanley-issued securities.
￭Not equivalent to investing in the underlyings or the stocks composing the share underlying index or the SPX Index. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in either underlying or the stocks that constitute the share underlying index or the SPX Index. Investors in the securities will not participate in any positive performance of either underlying, and will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the stocks that constitute either the share underlying index or the SPX Index.
￭Reinvestment risk. The term of your investment in the securities may be shortened due to the automatic early redemption feature of the securities. If the securities are redeemed prior to maturity, you will receive no more semi-annual coupons and may be forced to invest in a lower interest rate environment and may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns.
￭The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited. Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities for the entire 1.5-year term of the securities. The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the securities. MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time. When it does make a market, it will generally do so for transactions of routine secondary market size at prices based on its estimate of the current value of the securities, taking into account its bid/offer spread, our credit spreads, market volatility, the notional size of the proposed sale, the cost of unwinding any related hedging positions, the time remaining to maturity and the likelihood that it will be able to resell the securities. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the securities easily. Since other broker-dealers may not participate significantly in the secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to trade your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which MS & Co. is willing to transact. If, at any time, MS & Co. were to cease making a market in the securities, it is likely that there would be no secondary market for the securities. Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities to maturity.
￭The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both the lower rate and the
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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
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All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the securities, cause the estimated value of the securities to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the prices, if any, at which dealers, including MS & Co., may be willing to purchase the securities in secondary market transactions will likely be significantly lower than the original issue price, because secondary market prices will exclude the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging-related costs that are included in the original issue price and borne by you and because the secondary market prices will reflect our secondary market credit spreads and the bid-offer spread that any dealer would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type as well as other factors.
The inclusion of the costs of issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price and the lower rate we are willing to pay as issuer make the economic terms of the securities less favorable to you than they otherwise would be.
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 6 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 underlyings, 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.
￭The estimated value of the securities is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price. These pricing and valuation models are proprietary and rely in part on subjective views of certain market inputs and certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, because there is no market-standard way to value these types of securities, our models may yield a higher estimated value of the securities than those generated by others, including other dealers in the market, if they attempted to value the securities. In addition, the estimated value on the pricing date does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which dealers, including MS & Co., would be willing to purchase your securities in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your securities at any time after the date of this document will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. See also “The market price will be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above.
￭Hedging 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 underlyings and the share underlying index), including trading in the EFA Shares, the stocks that constitute the share underlying index or the SPX Index, as well as in other instruments related to the underlyings. 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 observation date approaches. Some of our affiliates also trade the underlyings and other financial instruments related to the underlyings and the share underlying index 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 November 13, 2024 could potentially increase the initial level of an underlying, and, therefore, could increase (i) the level at or above which such underlying must close on any redemption determination date so that the securities are redeemed prior to maturity for the early redemption payment (depending also on the performance of the other underlying) and (ii) the level at or above which such underlying must close on the final observation date so that you are not exposed to the negative performance of the worst performing underlying at maturity (depending also on the performance of the other underlying). Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities could affect the value of an underlying on the redemption determination dates and the final observation date and, accordingly, whether we redeem the securities prior to maturity and the amount of cash you receive at maturity, if any (depending also on the performance of the other underlying).
￭The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, will make determinations with respect to the securities. As calculation agent, MS & Co. will determine the initial levels, the final levels, whether the securities will be redeemed on any early redemption date, the payment at maturity, if any, and whether a market disruption event has occurred. Moreover, certain determinations made by MS & Co., in its capacity
November 2024 Page 12
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
as calculation agent, may require it to exercise discretion and make subjective judgments, such as with respect to the occurrence or non-occurrence of market disruption events, any adjustments to the adjustment factor and the selection of a successor index or calculation of the closing level of any underlying in the event of a market disruption event or discontinuance of the share underlying index or the SPX Index. These potentially subjective determinations may adversely affect the payout to you at maturity, if any. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see "Description of Auto-Callable Securities—Postponement of Determination Dates," "—Alternate Exchange Calculation in Case of an Event of Default,” "—Discontinuance of Any Underlying Index; Alteration of Method of Calculation,” “Discontinuance of the Underlying Shares of an Exchange-Traded Fund and/or Share Underlying Index; Alteration of Method of Calculation,” “—Antidilution Adjustments” and "—Calculation Agent and Calculations" in the accompanying product supplement. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date.
￭The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities are uncertain. 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 “Additional Information―Tax considerations” in this document 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 “Additional Information―Tax considerations”) written by you to us that, if exercised, requires you to pay to us an amount equal to the Deposit (as defined below under “Additional Information―Tax considerations”), in exchange for a cash amount based on the performance of the worst performing 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 “Additional Information―Tax considerations—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.
November 2024 Page 13
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Risks Relating to the Underlyings
￭You are exposed to the price risk of each underlying with respect to the payment at maturity, if any. Your return on the securities is not linked to a basket consisting of the underlyings. Rather, it will be contingent upon the independent performance of each underlying. Unlike an instrument with a return linked to a basket of underlying assets, in which risk is mitigated and diversified among all the components of the basket, you will be exposed to the risks related to each underlying. Poor performance by either underlying over the term of the securities will negatively affect your return and will not be offset or mitigated by any positive performance by the other underlying. If the final level of either underlying is less than 75% of its respective initial level, investors will lose 1.3333% of principal for every 1% decline in the final level of the worst performing underlying from its initial level beyond the buffer amount of 25%, even if the other underlying has appreciated or has not declined as much. Under this scenario, the value of any such payment will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount and could be zero. Accordingly, your investment is subject to the price risk of each of the underlyings.
￭Because the securities are linked to the performance of the worst performing underlying, you are exposed to greater risks of sustaining a loss on your investment than if the securities were linked to just one of the underlyings. The risk that you will suffer a loss on your investment is greater if you invest in the securities as opposed to substantially similar securities that are linked to the performance of just one underlying. With two underlyings, it is more likely that the final level of either of the underlyings will be less than 75% of its respective initial level than if the securities were linked to only one underlying. Therefore, it is more likely that you will suffer a loss on your investment. In addition, because each underlying must close above its initial level on a semi-annual redemption determination date in order for the securities to be called prior to maturity, the securities are less likely to be called on any early redemption date than if the securities were linked to just one underlying.
￭There are risks associated with investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities. The price of the EFA Shares tracks the performance of the share underlying index, which measures the value of foreign equity securities. Investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve risks associated with the securities markets in those countries, including risks of volatility in those markets, governmental intervention in those markets and cross-shareholdings in companies in certain countries. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements different from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. The prices of securities issued in foreign markets may be affected by political, economic, financial and social factors in those countries, or global regions, including changes in government, economic and fiscal policies and currency exchange laws. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. Moreover, the economies in such countries may differ unfavorably from the economy in the United States in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions between countries.
￭The securities are subject to currency exchange risk. Because the price of the EFA Shares tracks the performance of the share underlying index, holders of the securities will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which such component securities trade. Exchange rate movements for a particular currency are volatile and are the result of numerous factors including the supply of, and the demand for, those currencies, as well as relevant government policy, intervention or actions, but are also influenced significantly from time to time by political or economic developments, and by macroeconomic factors and speculative actions related to the relevant region. An investor’s net exposure will depend on the extent to which the currencies of the component securities strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each security. If, taking into account such weighting, the dollar strengthens against the currencies of the component securities represented in the EFA Shares, the price of the EFA Shares will be adversely affected and the payment at maturity on the securities may be reduced.
Of particular importance to potentially currency exchange risk are:
oexisting and expected rates of inflation;
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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
oexisting and expected interest rate levels;
othe balance of payments; and
othe extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in the countries represented in the MSCI EAFE® Index and the United States.
All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of various countries represented in the MSCI EAFE® Index and the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance.
￭The antidilution adjustments the calculation agent is required to make do not cover every event that could affect the EFA Shares. MS & Co., as calculation agent, will adjust the adjustment factor for certain events affecting the EFA Shares. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment for every event that could affect the EFA Shares. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the adjustment factor, the market price of the securities may be materially and adversely affected.
￭Adjustments to the EFA Shares or the share underlying index could adversely affect the value of the security. The investment adviser to iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF, BlackRock Fund Advisors (the “Investment Adviser”), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the share underlying index. Pursuant to its investment strategies or otherwise, the Investment Adviser may add, delete or substitute the stocks composing iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF. Any of these actions could adversely affect the price of the EFA Shares and, consequently, the value of the securities. MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”) is responsible for calculating and maintaining the share underlying index. MSCI may add, delete or substitute the stocks constituting the share underlying index or make other methodological changes that could change the level of the share underlying index. MSCI may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the share underlying index at any time. In these circumstances, the calculation agent will have the sole discretion to substitute a successor index that is comparable to the discontinued share underlying index 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 price of the EFA Shares and, consequently, the value of the securities.
￭The performance and market price of the EFA Shares, particularly during periods of market volatility, may not correlate with the performance of the share underlying index, the performance of the component securities of the share underlying index or the net asset value per share of the EFA Shares. The EFA Shares do not fully replicate the share underlying index and may hold securities that are different than those included in the share underlying index. In addition, the performance of the EFA Shares will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of the share underlying index. All of these factors may lead to a lack of correlation between the performance of EFA Shares and the share underlying index. In addition, corporate actions (such as mergers and spin-offs) with respect to the equity securities underlying the EFA Shares may impact the variance between the performances of EFA Shares and the share underlying index. Finally, because the shares of the EFA Shares are traded on an exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market price of one share of the EFA Shares may differ from the net asset value per share of the EFA Shares.
In particular, during periods of market volatility, or unusual trading activity, trading in the securities underlying the EFA Shares may be disrupted or limited, or such securities may be unavailable in the secondary market. Under these circumstances, the liquidity of the EFA Shares may be adversely affected, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of the EFA Shares, and their ability to create and redeem shares of the EFA Shares may be disrupted. Under these circumstances, the market price of shares of the EFA Shares may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the EFA Shares or the level of the share underlying index.
For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the EFA Shares may not correlate with the performance of the share underlying index, the performance of the component securities of the share underlying index or the net asset value per share of the EFA Shares. Any of these events could materially and adversely affect the price of the shares of the EFA Shares and, therefore, the value of the securities. Additionally, if market volatility or these events were to occur on the final observation date, the calculation agent would maintain discretion to determine whether such market volatility
November 2024 Page 15
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
or events have caused a market disruption event to occur, and such determination may affect the payment at maturity of the securities. If the calculation agent determines that no market disruption event has taken place, the payment at maturity would be based on the published closing price per share of the EFA Shares on the final observation date, even if the EFA Shares’ shares are underperforming the share underlying index or the component securities of the share underlying index and/or trading below the net asset value per share of the EFA Shares.
￭Adjustments to the SPX Index could adversely affect the value of the securities. The publisher of the SPX Index may add, delete or substitute the stocks constituting the SPX Index or make other methodological changes that could change the value of the SPX Index. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of the securities. The publisher of the SPX Index may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the SPX Index at any time. In these circumstances, the calculation agent will have the sole discretion to substitute a successor index that is comparable to the discontinued index. The calculation agent could have an economic interest that is different than that of investors in the securities insofar as, for example, the calculation agent is permitted to consider indices that are calculated and published by the calculation agent or any of its affiliates. If the calculation agent determines that there is no appropriate successor index on any redemption determination date or the final observation date, the determination of whether the securities will be redeemed and/or the amount payable at maturity, if any, will be based on the value of the SPX Index, based on the closing prices of the stocks constituting the SPX Index at the time of such discontinuance, without rebalancing or substitution, computed by the calculation agent in accordance with the formula for calculating the SPX Index last in effect prior to such discontinuance, as compared to the relevant initial level (depending also on the performance of the other underlying).
November 2024 Page 16
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF Overview
The iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF is an exchange-traded fund that seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE® Index. The iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF is managed by iShares Trust (“iShares”), a registered investment company that consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF. Information provided to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by iShares pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 can be located by reference to Commission file numbers 333-92935 and 811-09729, respectively, through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other publicly available sources. Neither the issuer nor the agent makes any representation that any such publicly available information regarding the EFA Shares is accurate or complete.
Information as of market close on November 13, 2024:
Bloomberg Ticker Symbol: | EFA UP | 52 Week High (on 9/26/2024): | $84.43 |
Current Share Price: | $77.25 | 52 Week Low (on 11/13/2023): | $69.28 |
52 Weeks Ago: | $69.28 |
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The following graph sets forth the daily closing prices of the EFA Shares for the period from January 1, 2019 through November 13, 2024. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing prices, as well as end-of-quarter closing values, of the EFA Shares for each quarter for the period from January 1, 2019 through November 13, 2024. The closing price of the EFA Shares on November 13, 2024 was $77.25. We obtained the information in the graph and table below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The EFA Shares have at times experienced periods of high volatility, and you should not take the historical prices of the EFA Shares as an indication of future performance.
EFA Shares January 1, 2019 to November 13, 2024 |
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November 2024 Page 17
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF (CUSIP 464287465) | High ($) | Low ($) | Period End ($) |
2019 |
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First Quarter | 65.61 | 58.13 | 64.86 |
Second Quarter | 66.99 | 63.40 | 65.73 |
Third Quarter | 66.68 | 61.30 | 65.21 |
Fourth Quarter | 69.66 | 63.25 | 69.44 |
2020 |
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First Quarter | 70.38 | 46.50 | 53.46 |
Second Quarter | 64.65 | 50.90 | 60.87 |
Third Quarter | 65.92 | 61.10 | 63.65 |
Fourth Quarter | 73.52 | 61.39 | 72.96 |
2021 |
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First Quarter | 76.92 | 72.39 | 75.87 |
Second Quarter | 81.95 | 76.86 | 78.88 |
Third Quarter | 82.13 | 76.90 | 78.01 |
Fourth Quarter | 81.83 | 76.40 | 78.68 |
2022 |
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First Quarter | 79.66 | 66.84 | 73.60 |
Second Quarter | 74.59 | 61.48 | 62.49 |
Third Quarter | 66.76 | 55.54 | 56.01 |
Fourth Quarter | 67.79 | 55.71 | 65.64 |
2023 |
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First Quarter | 72.19 | 66.22 | 71.52 |
Second Quarter | 73.90 | 70.67 | 72.50 |
Third Quarter | 74.46 | 68.56 | 68.92 |
Fourth Quarter | 75.47 | 65.84 | 75.35 |
2024 |
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First Quarter | 80.04 | 73.11 | 79.86 |
Second Quarter | 82.16 | 76.09 | 78.33 |
Third Quarter | 84.43 | 75.32 | 83.63 |
Fourth Quarter (through November 13, 2024) | 83.01 | 77.25 | 77.25 |
This document relates only to the securities offered hereby and does not relate to the EFA Shares. We have derived all disclosures contained in this document regarding iShares from the publicly available documents described above. In connection with the offering of the securities, neither we nor the agent has participated in the preparation of such documents or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to iShares. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding iShares is accurate or complete. Furthermore, we cannot give any assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof (including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described above) that would affect the trading price of the EFA Shares (and therefore the price of the EFA Shares at the time we price the securities) have been publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any such events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning iShares could affect the value received with respect to the securities and therefore the value of the securities.
Neither we nor any of our affiliates makes any representation to you as to the performance of the EFA Shares.
We and/or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with iShares. In the course of such business, we and/or our affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to iShares, and neither we nor any of our affiliates undertakes to disclose any such information to you. In addition, one or more of our affiliates may publish research reports with respect to the EFA Shares. The statements in the preceding two sentences are not intended to affect the rights of investors in the securities under the securities laws. As a prospective purchaser of the securities, you should undertake an independent investigation of iShares as in your judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to an investment linked to the EFA Shares.
November 2024 Page 18
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
“iShares®” is a registered mark of BlackRock Fund Advisors or its affiliates (“BFA”). The securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by BFA. BFA makes no representations or warranties to the owners of the securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the securities. BFA has no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the securities.
MSCI EAFE® Index. The MSCI EAFE® Index is a stock index calculated, published and disseminated by MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”). The MSCI EAFE® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the United States and Canada. As of March 2024, the MSCI EAFE® Index consists of the following 21 developed market country indices: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For additional information about the MSCI EAFE® Index, see the information set forth under “MSCI Global Investable Market Indices—MSCI EAFE® Index” and “—MSCI Global Investable Market Indices Methodology” in the accompanying index supplement.
November 2024 Page 19
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
S&P 500® Index Overview
The S&P 500® Index, which is calculated, maintained and published by S&P® Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P®”), is intended to provide a benchmark for performance measurement of the large capitalization segment of the U.S. equity markets by tracking the stock price movement of 500 companies with large market capitalizations. Component stocks of the S&P 500® Index are required to have a total company level market capitalization that reflects approximately the 85th percentile of the S&P® Total Market Index. The S&P 500® Index measures the relative performance of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time as compared to the performance of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. For additional information about the S&P 500® Index, see the information set forth under “S&P® U.S. Indices—S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying index supplement.
Information as of market close on November 13, 2024:
Bloomberg Ticker Symbol: | SPX | 52 Week High (on 11/11/2024): | 6,001.35 |
Current Index Value: | 5,985.38 | 52 Week Low (on 11/13/2023): | 4,411.55 |
52 Weeks Ago: | 4,411.55 |
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The following graph sets forth the daily index closing values of the SPX Index for the period from January 1, 2019 through November 13, 2024. The related table sets forth the published high and low index closing values, as well as end-of-quarter index closing values, of the SPX Index for each quarter for the period from January 1, 2019 through November 13, 2024. The index closing value of the SPX Index on November 13, 2024 was 5,985.38. We obtained the information in the graph and table below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The SPX Index has at times experienced periods of high volatility, and you should not take the historical values of the SPX Index as an indication of its future performance.
SPX Index |
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November 2024 Page 20
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
S&P 500® Index | High | Low | Period End |
2019 |
|
|
|
First Quarter | 2,854.88 | 2,447.89 | 2,834.40 |
Second Quarter | 2,954.18 | 2,744.45 | 2,941.76 |
Third Quarter | 3,025.86 | 2,840.60 | 2,976.74 |
Fourth Quarter | 3,240.02 | 2,887.61 | 3,230.78 |
2020 |
|
|
|
First Quarter | 3,386.15 | 2,237.40 | 2,584.59 |
Second Quarter | 3,232.39 | 2,470.50 | 3,100.29 |
Third Quarter | 3,580.84 | 3,115.86 | 3,363.00 |
Fourth Quarter | 3,756.07 | 3,269.96 | 3,756.07 |
2021 |
|
|
|
First Quarter | 3,974.54 | 3,700.65 | 3,972.89 |
Second Quarter | 4,297.50 | 4,019.87 | 4,297.50 |
Third Quarter | 4,536.95 | 4,258.49 | 4,307.54 |
Fourth Quarter | 4,793.06 | 4,300.46 | 4,766.18 |
2022 |
|
|
|
First Quarter | 4,796.56 | 4,170.70 | 4,530.41 |
Second Quarter | 4,582.64 | 3,666.77 | 3,785.38 |
Third Quarter | 4,305.20 | 3,585.62 | 3,585.62 |
Fourth Quarter | 4,080.11 | 3,577.03 | 3,839.50 |
2023 |
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|
|
First Quarter | 4,179.76 | 3,808.10 | 4,109.31 |
Second Quarter | 4,450.38 | 4,055.99 | 4,450.38 |
Third Quarter | 4,588.96 | 4,273.53 | 4,288.05 |
Fourth Quarter | 4,783.35 | 4,117.37 | 4,769.83 |
2024 |
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|
|
First Quarter | 5,254.35 | 4,688.68 | 5,254.35 |
Second Quarter | 5,487.03 | 4,967.23 | 5,460.48 |
Third Quarter | 5,762.48 | 5,186.33 | 5,762.48 |
Fourth Quarter (through November 13, 2024) | 6,001.35 | 5,695.94 | 5,985.38 |
“Standard & Poor’s®,” “S&P®,” “S&P 500®,” “Standard & Poor’s 500” and “500” are trademarks of Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC. For more information, see “S&P® U.S. Indices” in the accompanying index supplement.
November 2024 Page 21
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Additional Terms of the Securities
Please read this information in conjunction with the terms on the front cover of this document.
Additional Terms: | |
If the terms described herein are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying product supplement, index supplement or prospectus, the terms described herein shall control. | |
Share underlying index: | MSCI EAFE® Index |
Share underlying index publisher: | MSCI Inc. or any successor thereof |
SPX Index publisher: | S&P® Dow Jones Indices LLC or any successor thereof |
Interest period: | The semi-annual period from and including the original issue date (in the case of the first interest period) or the previous scheduled coupon payment date, as applicable, to but excluding the following scheduled coupon payment date, with no adjustment for any postponement thereof. |
Record date: | The record date for each coupon payment date shall be the date one business day prior to such scheduled coupon payment date; provided, however, that any coupon payable at maturity (or upon early redemption) shall be payable to the person to whom the payment at maturity or early redemption payment, as the case may be, shall be payable. |
Day-count convention: | Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. |
Postponement of early redemption dates and maturity date: | If any redemption determination date or the final observation date is postponed due to a non-index business days and non-trading days, as applicable, or certain market disruption events so that it falls less than two business days prior to the relevant early redemption date or the maturity date, as applicable, the early redemption date or the maturity date, as applicable, will be postponed to the second business day following that redemption determination date or final observation date as postponed, and no adjustment will be made to any payment made on that postponed date. |
Denominations: | $1,000 per security and integral multiples thereof |
Trustee: | The Bank of New York Mellon |
Calculation agent: | MS & Co. |
Issuer notices to registered security holders, the trustee and the depositary: | In the event that the maturity date is postponed due to postponement of the final observation date, 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 observation date as postponed. In the event that the securities are subject to early redemption, the issuer shall, (i) on the business day following the applicable redemption determination date, give notice of the early redemption and the early redemption payment, including specifying the payment date of the amount due upon the early redemption, (x) to each registered holder of the securities by mailing notice of such early redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such registered holder’s last address as it shall appear upon the registry books, (y) 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 (z) to the depositary by telephone or facsimile confirmed by mailing such notice to the depositary by first class mail, postage prepaid, and (ii) on or prior to the early redemption date, deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the securities to the trustee for delivery to the depositary, as holder of the securities. Any notice that is mailed to a |
November 2024 Page 22
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
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. This notice shall be given by the issuer or, at the issuer’s request, by the trustee in the name and at the expense of the issuer, with any such request to be accompanied by a copy of the notice to be given. 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 of the amount of cash to be delivered as semi-annual coupon with respect to each security on or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the business day preceding each coupon payment date, and (ii) deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the semi-annual coupon to the trustee for delivery to the depositary, as holder of the securities, on the applicable 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 of the amount of cash to be delivered with respect to each stated principal amount of the securities, on or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the business day preceding the maturity date, 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 the maturity date. |
November 2024 Page 23
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Additional Information About the Securities
Additional Information: | |
Minimum ticketing size: | $1,000 / 1 security |
Tax considerations: | Prospective investors should note that the discussion under the section called “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement does not apply to the securities issued under this document 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: •purchase 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 •hold 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: •certain financial institutions; •insurance companies; •dealers and certain traders in securities or commodities; •investors holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” wash sale, conversion transaction, integrated transaction or constructive sale transaction; •U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; •partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes; •regulated investment companies; •real estate investment trusts; or •tax-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 |
November 2024 Page 24
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
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 worst performing 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 pricing 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 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 preliminary pricing supplement and is subject to confirmation on the pricing 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: •a citizen or individual resident of the United States; •a 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 •an 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. |
November 2024 Page 25
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
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 Worst Performing 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 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 |
November 2024 Page 26
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
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: •an individual who is classified as a nonresident alien; •a foreign corporation; or •a foreign trust or estate. The term “Non-U.S. Holder” does not include any of the following holders: •a 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; •certain former citizens or residents of the United States; or •a 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. |
November 2024 Page 27
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
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: •the 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; •the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership; •the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest under Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and •the 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, 2027 that do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying |
November 2024 Page 28
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
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 pricing date. However, we will provide an updated determination in the final 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 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, 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. |
November 2024 Page 29
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
federal tax consequences of an investment in 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, $1,000 per security issued, because, when we enter into hedging transactions in order to meet our obligations under the securities, our hedging counterparty will reimburse the cost of the agent’s commissions. The costs of the securities borne by you and described beginning on page 4 above comprise the agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the securities. On or prior to November 13, 2024, we expect to 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 EFA Shares, in stocks constituting the share underlying index or the SPX Index, in futures and/or options contracts on the EFA Shares, the share underlying index, the SPX Index, or their component stocks listed on major securities markets, or positions in any other available securities or instruments that they may wish to use in connection with such hedging. Such purchase activity could potentially increase the initial level of an underlying, and, as a result, could increase (i) the level at or above which such underlying must close on any redemption determination date so that the securities are redeemed prior to maturity for the early redemption payment (depending also on the performance of the other underlying) and (ii) the level at or above which such underlying must close on the final observation date so that you are not exposed to the negative performance of the worst performing underlying at maturity (depending also on the performance of the other underlying). 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 observation date approaches. Additionally, our hedging activities, as well as our other trading activities, during the term of the securities could potentially affect the value of an underlying on the redemption determination dates and the final observation date and, accordingly, whether we redeem the securities prior to maturity and the amount of cash you receive at maturity, if any (depending also on the performance of the other underlying). |
Additional considerations: | Client accounts over which Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or any of their respective subsidiaries have investment discretion are not permitted to purchase the securities, either directly or indirectly. |
Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest: | MS & Co. expects to sell all of the securities that it purchases from us to an unaffiliated dealer at a price of $ per security, for further sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts at the price to public of $1,000 per security. In addition, selected dealers and their financial advisors may receive a structuring fee of up to $6.25 for each security from the agent or its affiliates. MS & Co. will not receive a sales commission with respect to the securities. MS & Co. is an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and it and other affiliates of ours expect to make a profit by selling, structuring and, when applicable, hedging the securities. When MS & Co. prices this offering of securities, it will determine the economic terms of the securities such that for each security the estimated value on the pricing date will be no lower than the minimum level described in “Investment Summary” beginning on page 3. MS & Co. will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities. |
Where you can find more information: | Morgan Stanley and MSFL have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by the product supplement for auto-callable securities and the index supplement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this communication relates. You should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the product supplement for auto-callable securities, 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. When you read the accompanying product supplement and index supplement, please note that all references in such supplements to the prospectus dated November 16, 2023, or to any sections therein, should refer instead to the accompanying prospectus dated April 12, 2024 or to the corresponding sections of such prospectus, as applicable. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Morgan |
November 2024 Page 30
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Fixed Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due May 18, 2026
All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF and the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities
Stanley, MSFL, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, the product supplement for auto-callable securities and the index supplement if you so request by calling toll-free 1-(800)-584-6837.
You may access these documents on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov as follows: Product Supplement for Auto-Callable Securities dated November 16, 2023 Index Supplement dated November 16, 2023 Prospectus dated April 12, 2024 Terms used but not defined in this document are defined in the product supplement for auto-callable securities, in the index supplement or in the prospectus. |
November 2024 Page 31