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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-234425 and 333-234425-01

 

Product Supplement No. EQUITY INDICES BEAR STR-1

(To Prospectus dated December 31, 2019

and Series A MTN Prospectus Supplement dated December 31, 2019)

January 8, 2020

 

 

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BofA Finance LLC

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to One or More Equity Indices

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Bank of America Corporation

 

   

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® (the “notes”) are unsecured senior notes issued by BofA Finance LLC, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (the “Guarantor”). Any payment due on the notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance LLC, as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation, as guarantor of the notes.

 

   

The notes do not guarantee the return of principal at maturity, and we will not pay interest on the notes. Instead, the return on the notes will be based on the performance of an underlying “Market Measure,” which will be an equity index or a basket of equity indices. The return on the notes will be positive only if the value of the Market Measure decreases (or does not change) from the Call Level, as described in more detail in “Summary” below.

 

   

The notes will be called automatically if the Observation Level on any Observation Date (each as defined in “Summary” below) is less than or equal to the Call Level. If automatically called, you will receive a cash payment per unit (the “Call Amount”) that equals the principal amount plus the applicable Call Premium (as defined in “Summary” below).

 

   

At maturity, if the notes have not been called, and if the Ending Value is less than or equal to the Threshold Value, you will receive a cash payment per unit (the “Redemption Amount”) that equals the principal amount. However, if the Ending Value is greater than the Threshold Value, you will lose a percentage of the principal amount equal to the percentage of the increase in the value of the Market Measure above the Threshold Value. In such a case, you may lose all or a significant portion of the principal amount of your notes.

 

   

This product supplement describes the general terms of the notes, the risk factors to consider before investing, the general manner in which the notes may be offered and sold, and other relevant information.

 

   

For each offering of the notes, we will provide you with a pricing supplement (which we refer to as a “term sheet”) that will describe the specific terms of that offering, including the specific Market Measure, the Threshold Value, the Call Level, the Call Amount and the Call Premium for each Observation Date, the Observation Dates, the Call Settlement Dates and certain risk factors. The applicable term sheet will identify, if applicable, any additions or changes to the terms specified in this product supplement.

 

   

The notes will be issued in denominations of whole units. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, each unit will have a principal amount of $10. The applicable term sheet may also set forth a minimum number of units that you must purchase.

 

   

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the notes will not be listed on a securities exchange or quotation system.

 

   

One or more of our affiliates, including BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”), may act as our selling agents to offer the notes and will act in a principal capacity in such role.

 

 

The notes and the related guarantee of the notes by the Guarantor are unsecured and are not savings accounts, deposits, or other obligations of a bank. The notes are not guaranteed by Bank of America, N.A. or any other bank, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) or any other governmental agency and involve investment risks. Potential purchasers of the notes should consider the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-7 of this product supplement, page S-5 of the accompanying Series A MTN prospectus supplement, and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus. You may lose all or a significant portion of your investment in the notes.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this product supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement or prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

BofA Securities


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

SUMMARY

     PS-3  

RISK FACTORS

     PS-7  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     PS-19  

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

     PS-20  

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     PS-28  

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY

     PS-29  

 

“Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®” is the Guarantor’s registered service mark.

 

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SUMMARY

The information in this “Summary” section is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed explanation set forth elsewhere in this product supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, as well as the applicable term sheet. None of us, the Guarantor or BofAS have authorized any other person to provide you with any information different from the information set forth in these documents. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information about the notes, you should not rely on it.

Key Terms:

 

General:

The notes are senior debt securities issued by BofA Finance LLC, and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or secured by collateral. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Bank of America Corporation. The notes will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of BofA Finance LLC from time to time outstanding, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. The guarantee of the notes will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Bank of America Corporation, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, are subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance LLC, as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation, as guarantor of the notes.

 

  The return on the notes will be based on the performance of a Market Measure, and there is no guaranteed return of principal amount at maturity. Therefore, you may lose all or a significant portion of your principal if the notes are not called prior to maturity and the value of the Market Measure increases from the Starting Value to an Ending Value that is greater than the Threshold Value. The return on the notes will only be positive if the value of the Market Measure decreases (or does not change), as described in more detail below.

 

  Each issue of the notes will mature on the date set forth in the applicable term sheet, unless the notes are automatically called on an earlier date. You should be aware that the automatic call feature may shorten the term of an investment in the notes, and you must be willing to accept that your notes may be called prior to maturity. You will not receive any interest payments.

 

Market Measure:

The Market Measure may consist of one or more of the following:

 

   

U.S. broad-based equity indices;

 

   

U.S. sector or style-based equity indices;

 

   

non-U.S. or global equity indices; or

 

   

any combination of the above.

 

 

The Market Measure may consist of a group, or “Basket,” of the foregoing. We refer to each equity index included in any Basket as a “Basket



 

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Component.” If the Market Measure to which your notes are linked is a Basket, the Basket Components will be set forth in the applicable term sheet.

 

Automatic Call:

The notes will be automatically called on an Observation Date if the Observation Level of the Market Measure on that Observation Date is less than or equal to the Call Level. See “Description of the Notes—Automatic Call.” If the notes are not called automatically prior to maturity, see “Redemption Amount at Maturity” below in the Summary for a description of the amount payable at maturity.

 

Call Amount:

If your notes are called on an Observation Date, you will receive the Call Amount applicable to that Observation Date. The “Call Amount” will be equal to the principal amount per unit plus the applicable “Call Premium.” Each Call Premium will be a percentage of the principal amount and will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. The Call Amount, if payable, will be payable on the applicable “Call Settlement Date” applicable to that Observation Date, as set forth in the applicable term sheet. See “Description of the Notes—Automatic Call.”

 

Market Measure Performance:

The performance of the Market Measure will be measured according to the percentage change of the Market Measure from its Starting Value to its Observation Level or Ending Value, as applicable.

 

  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet:

 

  The “Starting Value will be the closing level of the Market Measure on the date when the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the “pricing date”).

 

  If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, the Starting Value will be equal to 100. See “Description of the Notes—Basket Market Measures.”

 

  The “Threshold Value” will be a value of the Market Measure that equals a specified percentage (100% or more) of the Starting Value. The Threshold Value will be determined on the pricing date and set forth in the applicable term sheet. If the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, you will lose a percentage of the principal amount equal to the percentage amount of any increase in the value of the Market Measure from the Starting Value to the Ending Value, and you may lose all of your investment in the notes.

 

  The “Call Level” will be a value of the Market Measure that equals a specified percentage (100% or less) of the Starting Value.

 

  The “Observation Level” will be the closing level of the Market Measure on the applicable Observation Date. The “Observation Dates” will be set forth in the applicable term sheet and will be subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events (as defined below). See “Description of the Notes—Automatic Call.”

 

  The “Ending Value” will be the Observation Level on the final Observation Date.


 

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  If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, each Observation Level and the Ending Value will be the value of the Basket on the applicable Observation Date, determined as described in “Description of the Notes—Basket Market Measures—Observation Level of the Basket.”

 

  If a Market Disruption Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes—Market Disruption Events”) occurs and is continuing on a scheduled Observation Date or, if certain other events occur, the calculation agent will determine the Observation Levels and/or Ending Value as described in “Description of the Notes—Automatic Call” or “—Basket Market Measures—Observation Level of the Basket,” as applicable.

 

Redemption Amount at Maturity:

If the notes are not called automatically prior to maturity, then at maturity, you will receive a Redemption Amount that is equal to the principal amount if the Ending Value is less than or equal to the Threshold Value. If the Ending Value is greater than the Threshold Value, you will lose a percentage of the principal amount equal to the percentage amount of the increase in the value of the Market Measure above the Threshold Value, and will receive a Redemption Amount that is less than the principal amount, and, if the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount could be zero.

 

  Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, are subject to our credit risk as issuer of the notes and the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation, as guarantor of the notes.

 

  The Redemption Amount, denominated in U.S. dollars, will be calculated as follows:

 

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  In no event will the Redemption Amount be less than zero.

 

Principal at Risk:

You may lose all or a significant portion of the principal amount of your notes. Further, if you sell your notes prior to maturity, you may find that the market value per note is less than the price that you paid for your notes.

 

Calculation Agent:

The calculation agent will make all determinations associated with the notes. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, we will appoint our affiliate, BofAS, or one of our other affiliates to act as calculation agent for the notes. See “Description of the Notes—Role of the Calculation Agent.”


 

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Selling Agents:

One or more of our affiliates, including BofAS, will act as our selling agent(s) in connection with each offering of the notes and will receive a commission or an underwriting discount based on the number of units of notes sold. None of the selling agents is your fiduciary or advisor solely as a result of the making of any offering of the notes, and you should not rely on this product supplement, the applicable term sheet, or the accompanying prospectus or prospectus supplement as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase the notes.

 

Listing:

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the notes will not be listed on a securities exchange or quotation system.

 

ERISA Considerations:

See “ERISA Considerations” beginning on page 60 of the accompanying prospectus.

This product supplement relates only to the notes and does not relate to any equity index that comprises the Market Measure described in any term sheet. You should read carefully the entire prospectus, prospectus supplement, and this product supplement, together with the applicable term sheet, to understand fully the terms of your notes, as well as the tax and other considerations important to you in making a decision about whether to invest in any notes. In particular, you should review carefully the section in this product supplement entitled “Risk Factors,” which highlights a number of risks of an investment in the notes, to determine whether an investment in the notes is appropriate for you. If information in this product supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus or prospectus supplement, this product supplement will supersede those documents. However, if information in any term sheet is inconsistent with this product supplement, that term sheet will supersede this product supplement.

None of us, the Guarantor or any selling agent is making an offer to sell the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Certain terms used and not defined in this product supplement have the meanings ascribed to them in the accompanying prospectus supplement or prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this product supplement to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to BofA Finance LLC, and not to Bank of America Corporation (or any other affiliate of ours).

You are urged to consult with your own attorneys and business and tax advisors before making a decision to purchase any notes.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Your investment in the notes is subject to investment risks, many of which differ from those of a conventional debt security. Your decision to purchase the notes should be made only after carefully considering the risks, including those discussed below, together with the risk information contained in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, in light of your particular circumstances. The notes are not an appropriate investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about the material terms of the notes or investments in equity or equity-based securities in general.

General Risks Relating to the Notes

If the notes are not called, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. There is no fixed principal repayment amount on the notes at maturity. The return on the notes will be based on the performance of the Market Measure. If the notes are not called automatically prior to maturity and the Ending Value is greater than the Threshold Value, then you will receive a Redemption Amount at maturity that will be less than, and possibly significantly less than, the principal amount of your notes. If the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount could be zero.

Your return on the notes may be less than the yield on a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. There will be no periodic interest payments on the notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity. Any return that you receive on the notes may be less than the return you would earn if you purchased a conventional debt security with the same maturity date. As a result, your investment in the notes may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you consider factors, such as inflation, that affect the time value of money.

Your investment return is limited to the applicable Call Premium and may be less than a comparable investment that takes a short position in the Market Measure. Your return on the notes will be limited to the applicable Call Premium, regardless of the extent of any decrease in the value of the Market Measure. In contrast, a short position in the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable (or the securities included in the Market Measure or Basket Component) would allow you to receive the full benefit of any decrease in the value of the Market Measure or Basket Component (or those underlying securities).

Additionally, the Market Measure may consist of one or more equity indices that include components traded in a non-U.S. currency. If the value of that currency weakens against the U.S. dollar during the term of your notes, you may not obtain the benefit of that decrease, which you would have received if you had, for example, taken a short position in the securities included in the index or indices.

Reinvestment Risk. Because the notes could be called automatically as early as the first Observation Date, the term of the notes could be short. There is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the notes at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the notes are called prior to maturity.

Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk and the credit risk of the Guarantor, and any actual or perceived changes in our or the Guarantor’s creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. The notes are our senior unsecured debt securities, the payment on which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The notes are not guaranteed by any entity other than the Guarantor. As a result,

 

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your receipt of any payments on the notes is dependent upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our respective obligations under the notes on the applicable payment date, regardless of whether the Market Measure decreases from the Starting Value to the applicable Observation Level or Ending Value. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition or the financial condition of the Guarantor will be on the applicable payment date. If we and the Guarantor become unable to meet our respective financial obligations as they become due, you may not receive the amounts payable under the terms of the notes.

In addition, our credit ratings and the credit ratings of the Guarantor are assessments by ratings agencies of our respective abilities to pay our obligations. Consequently, our or the Guarantor’s perceived creditworthiness and actual or anticipated decreases in our or the Guarantor’s credit ratings or increases in the spread between the yield on our respective securities and the yield on U.S. Treasury securities (the “credit spread”) prior to the maturity date may adversely affect the market value of the notes. However, because your return on the notes depends upon factors in addition to our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to pay our respective obligations, such as the value of the Market Measure, an improvement in our or the Guarantor’s credit ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to the notes.

We are a finance subsidiary and, as such, have no independent assets, operations or revenues. We are a finance subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation, have no operations other than those related to the issuance, administration and repayment of our debt securities that are guaranteed by the Guarantor, and are dependent upon the Guarantor and/or its other subsidiaries to meet our obligations under the notes in the ordinary course. However, we will have no assets available for distributions to holders of such notes if they make claims in respect of the notes in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders in respect of such claims will be limited to those available under the Guarantor’s guarantee of such notes, and any obligations under that guarantee will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law, and senior in right of payment to the Guarantor’s subordinated obligations. Holders of the notes will have recourse only to a single claim against the Guarantor and its assets under the Guarantor’s guarantee of the notes, and holders of the notes should accordingly assume that in any bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding, they would not have priority over, and should be treated equally with, the claims of all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor, including claims of holders of unsecured senior debt securities issued by the Guarantor.

The Guarantor’s ability to make payments under its guarantee of the notes will depend upon its receipt of funds from its subsidiaries, and applicable laws and regulations, and actions taken under the Guarantor’s resolution plan, could restrict the ability of its subsidiaries to transfer such funds. The Guarantor is a holding company and conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. The Guarantor’s ability to make payments under its guarantee of our payment obligations on the notes depends upon the Guarantor’s receipt from its subsidiaries of dividends and other distributions, loans, advances and other payments. Many of these subsidiaries, including bank and broker-dealer subsidiaries, are subject to laws that restrict dividend payments or authorize regulatory bodies to block or reduce the flow of funds from those subsidiaries to the Guarantor or to its other subsidiaries. In addition, the Guarantor’s bank and broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on their ability to lend or transact with affiliates and to minimum regulatory capital and liquidity requirements. Intercompany arrangements the Guarantor has entered into in connection with its resolution planning could restrict the amount of funding available to it from its subsidiaries under certain adverse conditions, as described below under “—A resolution under the Guarantor’s preferred single point of entry resolution strategy could materially adversely affect its liquidity and

 

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financial condition and its ability to make payments under its guarantee of our payment obligations on the notes.” These restrictions could prevent the Guarantor’s subsidiaries from paying dividends or making other distributions to the Guarantor or otherwise providing funds to the Guarantor that the Guarantor needs in order to make payments under its guarantee of our payment obligations on the notes.

A resolution under the Guarantor’s preferred single point of entry resolution strategy could materially adversely affect its liquidity and financial condition and its ability to make payments under its guarantee of our payment obligations on the notes. The Guarantor is required periodically to submit a plan to its primary regulatory authorities describing its resolution strategy under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the event of material financial distress or failure. In the Guarantor’s current plan, its preferred resolution strategy is a single point of entry strategy. This strategy provides that only the Guarantor (the parent holding company) files for resolution under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and contemplates providing certain key operating subsidiaries with sufficient capital and liquidity to operate through severe stress and to enable such subsidiaries to continue operating or be wound down in a solvent manner following a Guarantor bankruptcy. The Guarantor has entered into intercompany arrangements governing the contribution of capital and liquidity with these key subsidiaries. As part of these arrangements, the Guarantor has transferred most of its assets (and has agreed to transfer additional assets) to a wholly-owned holding company subsidiary in exchange for a subordinated note. Certain of the Guarantor’s remaining assets secure its ongoing obligations under these intercompany arrangements. The wholly-owned holding company subsidiary also has provided a committed line of credit that, in addition to the Guarantor’s cash, dividends and interest payments, including interest payments the Guarantor receives in respect of the subordinated note, may be used to fund the Guarantor’s obligations. These intercompany arrangements include provisions to terminate the line of credit, forgive the subordinated note and require the Guarantor to contribute its remaining financial assets to the wholly-owned holding company subsidiary if the Guarantor’s projected liquidity resources deteriorate so severely that resolution becomes imminent, which could materially and adversely affect the Guarantor’s liquidity and ability to meet its payment obligations, including under its guarantee of our payment obligations on the notes. In addition, the Guarantor’s preferred resolution strategy could result in holders of the notes being in a worse position and suffering greater losses than would have been the case under bankruptcy or other resolution scenarios or plans.

The Guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee of the notes will be structurally subordinated to liabilities of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries. Because the Guarantor is a holding company, its right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. As a result, any obligations of the Guarantor under its guarantee of the notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments under the Guarantor’s guarantee of the notes. Further, creditors of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries recapitalized pursuant to the Guarantor’s resolution plan generally would be entitled to payment of their claims from the assets of the subsidiaries, including the Guarantor’s contributed assets. In addition, any obligations of the Guarantor under its guarantee of the notes will be unsecured and, therefore, in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, will effectively rank junior to the Guarantor’s secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations.

Each of BofA Finance LLC and the Guarantor is permitted to sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to one or more of the Guarantor’s majority-owned subsidiaries and, in either such event, such subsidiary or subsidiaries will not

 

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be required under the indenture relating to the notes to assume our obligations under the notes or the Guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee of the notes, as the case may be. We and the Guarantor each may sell, convey or transfer all or substantially all of our respective assets to one or more entities that are direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Guarantor in which the Guarantor and/or one or more of its subsidiaries owns more than 50% of the combined voting power, and under the indenture under which the notes will be issued, including the provisions thereof relating to the Guarantor’s guarantee of such notes, such subsidiary or subsidiaries will not be required to assume our obligations under the notes or the Guarantor’s obligations under its guarantee thereof, as the case may be. In either such event, (i) we will remain the sole obligor on such notes and the Guarantor will remain the sole obligor on such guarantee, as the case may be, (ii) creditors of any such subsidiary or subsidiaries would have additional assets from which to recover on their claims and (iii) obligations of the Guarantor under its guarantee of our notes would be structurally subordinated to creditors of such subsidiary or subsidiaries with respect to such transferred assets. See “Description of Debt Securities—Limitation on Mergers and Sales of Assets” beginning on page 21 of the accompanying prospectus for more information.

The notes issued by us will not have the benefit of any cross-default or cross-acceleration with other indebtedness of BofA Finance LLC or the Guarantor; events of bankruptcy or insolvency or resolution proceedings relating to the Guarantor and covenant breach by the Guarantor will not constitute an event of default with respect to the notes. The notes issued by us will not have the benefit of any cross-default or cross-acceleration with other indebtedness of BofA Finance LLC or the Guarantor. In addition, events of bankruptcy or insolvency or resolution or similar proceedings relating to the Guarantor will not constitute an event of default with respect to the notes. Furthermore, it will not constitute an event of default with respect to the notes if the guarantee by the Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect for any reason. Therefore, events of bankruptcy or insolvency or resolution or similar proceedings relating to the Guarantor (in the absence of any such event occurring with respect to us) will not permit the notes to be declared due and payable. In addition, a breach of a covenant by the Guarantor (including, for example, a breach of the Guarantor’s covenants with respect to mergers or the sale of all or substantially all its assets) will not permit the notes to be declared due and payable. The value you receive on the notes may be significantly less than what you otherwise would have received had the notes been declared due and payable immediately upon certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency or resolution or similar proceedings relating to the Guarantor or the breach of a covenant by the Guarantor or upon the Guarantor’s guarantee ceasing to be in full force and effect.

The initial estimated value of the notes considers certain assumptions and variables and relies in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. The initial estimated value of the notes, which will be set forth in the applicable term sheet, is an estimate only, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our and our affiliates’ pricing models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and variables, including our credit spreads and those of the Guarantor, the Guarantor’s internal funding rate on the pricing date, mid-market terms on hedging transactions, expectations on interest rates and volatility, price-sensitivity analysis, and the expected term of the notes. These pricing models rely in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect.

The public offering price you pay for the notes will exceed the initial estimated value. If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the value of the Market Measure, changes in the Guarantor’s internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and an expected

 

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hedging related charge. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways.

The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, the Guarantor, BofAS or any of our other affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your notes at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including the performance of the Market Measure, our and the Guarantor’s creditworthiness and changes in market conditions.

We cannot assure you that there will be a trading market for your notes. If a secondary market exists, we cannot predict how the notes will trade, or whether that market will be liquid or illiquid. The development of a trading market for the notes will depend on various factors, including the Guarantor’s financial performance and changes in the value of the Market Measure. The number of potential buyers of your notes in any secondary market may be limited. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market.

We anticipate that one or more of the selling agents or their affiliates will act as a market-maker for the notes that it offers, but none of them is required to do so and may cease to do so at any time. Any price at which a selling agent or its affiliate may bid for, offer, purchase, or sell any of the notes may be higher or lower than the applicable public offering price, and that price may differ from the values determined by pricing models that it may use, whether as a result of dealer discounts, mark-ups, or other transaction costs. These bids, offers, or transaction costs may adversely affect the prices, if any, at which the notes might otherwise trade in the market. In addition, if at any time any selling agent or its affiliates were to cease acting as a market-maker for any issue of the notes, it is likely that there would be significantly less liquidity in that secondary market. In such a case, the price at which those notes could be sold likely would be lower than if an active market existed.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable term sheet, we will not list the notes on any securities exchange or quotation system. Even if an application were made to list your notes, we cannot assure you that the application will be approved or that your notes will be listed and, if listed, that they will remain listed for their entire term. The listing of the notes on any securities exchange or quotation system will not necessarily ensure that a trading market will develop or, if a trading market does develop, that there will be liquidity in the trading market.

The amount you receive at maturity or upon an automatic call will not reflect changes in the value of the Market Measure that occur other than on the applicable Observation Date. Changes in the value of the Market Measure during the term of the notes other than on the applicable Observation Date will not be reflected in determining whether the notes will be automatically called or in calculating the Redemption Amount. To make that determination or calculation, the calculation agent will refer only to the value of the Market Measure on the applicable Observation Date. No other values of the Market Measure will be taken into account. As a result, even if the value of the Market Measure has decreased at certain times during the term of the notes before increasing to a value above the Call Level on each Observation Date or greater than the Threshold Value on the final Observation Date, your notes will not be called, and you will receive a Redemption Amount that is less than the principal amount.

 

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If your notes are linked to a Basket, decreases in the levels of one or more of the Basket Components may be offset by increases in the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components. The Market Measure of your notes may be a Basket. In such a case, changes in the levels of one or more of the Basket Components may not correlate with changes in the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components. The levels of one or more Basket Components may decrease, while the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components may increase or not decrease as much. Therefore, in calculating the value of the Market Measure at any time, decreases in the level of one Basket Component may be moderated or wholly offset by increases or lesser decreases in the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components. If the weightings of the applicable Basket Components are not equal, increases in the levels of the Basket Components that are more heavily weighted could have a greater adverse impact upon the value of the Market Measure and, consequently, the return on your notes.

Exchange rate movements may adversely impact the value of the notes. If any security included in a Market Measure or Basket Component, as applicable, is traded in a currency other than U.S. dollars and, for purposes of the applicable index, is converted into U.S. dollars, then the applicable Observation Level may depend in part on the relevant exchange rates. If the value of the U.S. dollar weakens against the currencies of that index, the level of the applicable index may increase and the value of the notes may decrease.

Exchange rate movements may be impacted particularly by existing and expected rates of inflation and interest rate levels; political, civil or military unrest; the balance of payments between countries; and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in the relevant countries and the United States. All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal, and trade policies pursued by the governments of those countries and the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance.

If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value, if any, will be affected by various factors that interrelate in complex ways, and their market value may be less than the principal amount. The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. The limited protection against the risk of losses provided by the Threshold Value, if any, will only apply if you hold the notes to maturity. You have no right to have your notes redeemed at your option prior to maturity. If you wish to liquidate your investment in the notes prior to maturity, your only option would be to sell them. At that time, there may be an illiquid market for your notes or no market at all. Even if you were able to sell your notes, there are many factors outside of our control that may affect their market value, some of which, but not all, are stated below. The impact of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. These factors may interact with each other in complex and unpredictable ways. The following paragraphs describe a specific factor’s expected impact on the market value of the notes, assuming all other conditions remain constant.

 

   

Value of the Market Measure. We anticipate that the market value of the notes prior to maturity generally will depend to a significant extent on the value of the Market Measure. In general, it is expected that the market value of the notes will decrease as the value of the Market Measure increases, and increase as the value of the Market Measure decreases. However, as the value of the Market Measure increases or decreases, the market value of the notes is not expected to increase or decrease at the same rate. If you sell your notes when the value of the Market Measure is greater than, or not sufficiently less than, the applicable Threshold Value or Call Level, then you may receive less than the principal amount of your notes.

 

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In addition, because the return on the notes will not exceed the applicable Call Premium, we do not expect that the notes will trade in any secondary market prior to any Observation Date at a price that is greater than the applicable Call Amount.

 

   

Volatility of the Market Measure. Volatility is the term used to describe the size and frequency of market fluctuations. Increases or decreases in the volatility of the Market Measure may have an adverse impact on the market value of the notes. Even if the value of the Market Measure decreases after the applicable pricing date, if you are able to sell your notes before their maturity date, you may receive substantially less than the amount that would be payable on any Call Settlement Date or at maturity based on that value because of the anticipation that the value of the Market Measure will continue to fluctuate until the notes are automatically called or until the final Observation Date.

 

   

Economic and Other Conditions Generally. The general economic conditions of the capital markets in the United States, as well as geopolitical conditions and other financial, political, regulatory, and judicial events and related uncertainties that affect stock markets generally, may adversely affect the value of the Market Measure and the market value of the notes. If the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable, includes one or more indices that have returns that are calculated based upon securities prices in one or more non-U.S. markets (a “non-U.S. Market Measure”), the value of your notes may also be adversely affected by similar events in the markets of the relevant foreign countries.

 

   

Interest Rates. We expect that changes in interest rates will affect the market value of the notes. In general, if U.S. interest rates increase, we expect that the market value of the notes will decrease. In general, we expect that the longer the amount of time that remains until maturity, the more significant the impact of these changes will be on the value of the notes. In the case of non-U.S. Market Measures, the level of interest rates in the relevant foreign countries may also affect their economies and in turn increase the value of the non-U.S. Market Measure, and, thus, the market value of the notes may be adversely affected.

 

   

Dividend Yields. In general, if the cumulative dividend yields on the securities included in the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable, decrease, we anticipate that the market value of the notes will decrease.

 

   

Exchange Rate Movements and Volatility. If the Market Measure of your notes or any Basket Component, as applicable, includes any non-U.S. Market Measures, changes in, and the volatility of, the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the relevant non-U.S. currency or currencies could have an adverse impact on the value of your notes, and each Observation Level may depend in part on the relevant exchange rates. In addition, the correlation between the relevant exchange rate and any applicable non-U.S. Market Measure reflects the extent to which a percentage change in that exchange rate corresponds to a percentage change in the applicable non-U.S. Market Measure, and changes in these correlations may have an adverse impact on the value of your notes.

 

   

Our and the Guarantor’s Financial Condition and Creditworthiness. Our and the Guarantor’s perceived creditworthiness, including any increases in our respective credit spreads and any actual or anticipated decreases in our respective credit ratings, may adversely affect the market value of the notes. In general, we expect the longer the amount of time that remains until maturity, the more significant the impact will be on the value of the notes. However, a decrease in our or the Guarantor’s credit spreads or an improvement

 

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in our or the Guarantor’s credit ratings will not necessarily increase the market value of the notes.

 

   

Time to Maturity or Next Observation Date. There may be a disparity between the market value of the notes prior to maturity or prior to an Observation Date, as applicable, and their value at maturity or as of the next Observation Date. This disparity is often called a time “value,” “premium,” or “discount,” and reflects expectations concerning the value of the Market Measure during the term of the notes. As the time to maturity or the next Observation Date decreases, this disparity will likely decrease, such that the market value of the notes will approach the expected Redemption Amount to be paid at maturity or, if applicable, the Call Amount to be paid at the next Call Settlement Date.

Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may affect your return on the notes and their market value. We, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may buy or sell the securities included in the Market Measure or in a Basket Component, as applicable, or futures or options contracts or exchange-traded instruments on the Market Measure or Basket Component or their respective component securities, or other instruments whose value is derived from the Market Measure or Basket Component or their respective component securities. We, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may execute such purchases or sales for our own or their own accounts, for business reasons, or in connection with hedging our obligations under the notes. These transactions could adversely affect the value of these securities and, in turn, the value of a Market Measure in a manner that could be adverse to your investment in the notes. On or before the applicable pricing date, any sales by us, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including the selling agents, or others on our or their behalf (including for the purpose of hedging some or all of our anticipated exposure in connection with the notes), may have the effect of decreasing the value of a Market Measure or Basket Component or their respective component securities. Consequently, the values of that Market Measure or Basket Component or the securities included in that Market Measure or Basket Component may increase subsequent to the pricing date of an issue of the notes, which may adversely affect the market value of the notes.

We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, also expect to engage in hedging activities that could have the effect of decreasing the value of the Market Measure on the applicable pricing date. In addition, these hedging activities, including the unwinding of a hedge, may decrease the market value of your notes prior to maturity, including on each Observation Date, and may adversely affect whether the notes will be called on an Observation Date or may reduce the Redemption Amount.

We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short position in the notes and may hold or resell the notes. For example, the selling agents may enter into these transactions in connection with any market making activities in which they engage. We cannot assure you that these activities will not increase the value of the Market Measure, decrease the market value of your notes prior to maturity, adversely affect whether the notes will be called, or reduce the Redemption Amount.

Our trading, hedging and other business activities, and those of the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may create conflicts of interest with you. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may engage in trading activities related to the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable, and to securities included in the Market Measure that are not for your account or on your behalf. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including the selling agents,

 

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also may issue or underwrite other financial instruments with returns based upon the applicable Market Measure or Basket Component. These trading and other business activities may present a conflict of interest between your interest in the notes and the interests we, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may have in our or their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including block trades, for our or their other customers, and in accounts under our or their management. These trading and other business activities, if they influence the value of the Market Measure or secondary trading in your notes, could be adverse to your interests as a beneficial owner of the notes.

We, the Guarantor and one or more of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, expect to enter into arrangements or adjust or close out existing transactions to hedge our obligations under the notes. We, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including the selling agents, also may enter into hedging transactions relating to other notes or instruments that we or they issue, some of which may have returns calculated in a manner related to that of a particular issue of the notes. We may enter into such hedging arrangements with one or more of our affiliates. Our affiliates may enter into additional hedging transactions with other parties relating to the notes and the applicable Market Measure or Basket Components. This hedging activity is expected to result in a profit to those engaging in the hedging activity, which could be more or less than initially expected, but could also result in a loss. We, the Guarantor and our affiliates, including the selling agents, will price these hedging transactions with the intent to realize a profit, regardless of whether the value of the notes increases or decreases or whether the Redemption Amount on the notes is less than the principal amount of the notes. Any profit in connection with such hedging activities will be in addition to any other compensation that we, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, receive for the sale of the notes, which creates an additional incentive to sell notes to you.

There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent. One of our affiliates will be the calculation agent for the notes and, as such, will determine the Starting Value, the Call Level, the Threshold Value, the Observation Level on each Observation Date, the Ending Value, whether the notes will be called automatically prior to maturity, and if the notes are not called, the Redemption Amount. Under some circumstances, these duties could result in a conflict of interest between its status as our affiliate and its responsibilities as calculation agent. These conflicts could occur, for instance, in connection with the calculation agent’s determination as to whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred, or in connection with judgments that it would be required to make if the publication of an index is discontinued. See the sections entitled “Description of the Notes—Market Disruption Events,” “—Adjustments to an Index,” and “—Discontinuance of an Index.” The calculation agent will be required to carry out its duties in good faith and use its reasonable judgment. However, because we expect that the Guarantor will control the calculation agent, potential conflicts of interest could arise. None of us, the Guarantor or any of our affiliates will have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the notes in taking any action that might affect the value of the notes.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of the notes or securities similar to the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes are not certain. Under the terms of the notes, you will have agreed with us to treat the notes as single financial contracts, as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary—General.” If the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) were successful in asserting an alternative characterization for the notes, the timing and character of gain or loss with respect to the notes may differ. No ruling will be requested from

 

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the IRS with respect to the notes and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the statements made in the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary.” You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the notes.

Risks Relating to the Market Measures

The respective publishers of the applicable indices may adjust those indices in a way that affects their levels, and these publishers have no obligation to consider your interests. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, we, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, have no affiliation with any publisher of an index to which your notes are linked (each, an “Index Publisher”). Consequently, we have no control of the actions of any Index Publisher. The Index Publisher can add, delete, or substitute the components included in that index or make other methodological changes that could change its level. A new security included in an index may perform significantly better or worse than the replaced security, and the performance will impact the level of the applicable index. Additionally, an Index Publisher may alter, discontinue, or suspend calculation or dissemination of an index. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of your notes. The Index Publishers will have no obligation to consider your interests in calculating or revising any index.

You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the applicable Market Measure. In the ordinary course of business, our affiliates may have expressed views on expected movements in a Market Measure, a Basket Component or the securities included in the Market Measure or Basket Component, and may do so in the future. These views or reports may be communicated to our clients and clients of our affiliates. However, these views are subject to change from time to time. Moreover, other professionals who deal in markets relating to a Market Measure or a Basket Component may at any time have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. For these reasons, you are encouraged to derive information concerning a Market Measure or a Basket Component and their respective component securities from multiple sources, and you should not rely on the views expressed by our affiliates.

You will have no rights as a security holder, you will have no rights to receive any of the securities included in the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable, and you will not be entitled to dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities. The notes are our debt securities. They are not equity instruments, shares of stock, or securities of any other issuer, other than the related guarantees, which are the securities of the Guarantor. Investing in the notes will not make you a holder of any of the securities included in the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable. You will not have any voting rights, any rights to receive dividends or other distributions, or any other rights with respect to those securities. Your notes will be paid in cash and you have no right to receive any of these securities. This is different than a short position in the Market Measure of Basket Component which would allow you to receive the full benefits of any decrease in the value of the Market Measure or Basket Component (or those underlying securities).

If the Market Measure or a Basket Component, as applicable, to which your notes are linked includes equity securities traded on foreign exchanges, your return may be affected by factors affecting international securities markets. The value of securities traded outside of the U.S. may be adversely affected by a variety of factors relating to the relevant securities markets. Factors which could affect those markets, and therefore the return on your notes, include:

 

   

Market Liquidity and Volatility. The relevant foreign securities markets may be less liquid and/or more volatile than U.S. or other securities markets and may be affected by market developments in different ways than U.S. or other securities markets.

 

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Political, Economic, and Other Factors. The prices and performance of securities of companies in foreign countries may be affected by political, economic, financial, and social factors in those regions. Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize a particular securities market and cross-shareholdings in companies in the relevant foreign markets may affect prices and the volume of trading in those markets. In addition, recent or future changes in government, economic, and fiscal policies in the relevant jurisdictions, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws, or other laws or restrictions, and possible fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, are factors that could adversely affect the relevant securities markets. The relevant foreign economies may differ from the U.S. economy in economic factors such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, and self-sufficiency.

In particular, many emerging nations are undergoing rapid change, involving the restructuring of economic, political, financial and legal systems. Regulatory and tax environments may be subject to change without review or appeal, and many emerging markets suffer from underdevelopment of capital markets and tax systems. In addition, in some of these nations, issuers of the relevant securities face the threat of expropriation of their assets, and/or nationalization of their businesses. The economic and financial data about some of these countries may be unreliable.

 

   

Publicly Available Information. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. Additionally, the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements applicable to foreign companies may differ from those applicable to U.S. companies.

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, we, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, do not control any company included in any Market Measure or Basket Component and have not verified any disclosure made by any of those companies. We, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including the selling agents, currently, or in the future, may engage in business with companies included in a Market Measure or Basket Component and we, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may from time to time own securities of companies included in a Market Measure or Basket Component. However, none of us, the Guarantor or any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, have the ability to control the actions of any of these companies or have undertaken any independent review of, or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to, any of these companies, unless (and only to the extent that) our securities or the securities of the Guarantor or our other affiliates are included in that Market Measure or Basket Component. In addition, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, none of us, the Guarantor or any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, are responsible for the calculation of any index included in a Market Measure or Basket Component. You should make your own investigation into the Market Measure or Basket Component.

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, none of the Index Publishers, their affiliates, or any companies included in the Market Measure or Basket Component will be involved in any offering of the notes or will have any obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. As a result, none of those companies will have any obligation to take your interests as holders of the notes into consideration for any reason, including taking any corporate actions that might adversely affect the value of the securities included in the Market Measure or Basket Component or the value of the notes.

 

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The business activities of us, the Guarantor, and any of our other affiliates, including the selling agents, relating to the companies included in a Market Measure or Basket Component, as applicable, may create conflicts of interest with you. We, the Guarantor and/or our other affiliates, including the selling agents, at the time of any offering of the notes or in the future, may engage in business with the companies included in a Market Measure or Basket Component, including making loans to, equity investments in, or providing investment banking, asset management, or other services to those companies, their affiliates, and their competitors.

In connection with these activities, we, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including the selling agents, may receive information about those companies that we or they will not divulge to you or other third parties. One or more of our affiliates may have published, and in the future may publish, research reports on one or more of these companies. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding your notes. Any of these activities may adversely affect the value of the Market Measure and, consequently, the market value of your notes. We, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including the selling agents, do not make any representation to any purchasers of the notes regarding any matters whatsoever relating to the issuers of the securities included in a Market Measure or Basket Component. Any prospective purchaser of the notes should undertake an independent investigation of the companies included in the Market Measure or Basket Component to a level that, in its judgment, is appropriate to make an informed decision regarding an investment in the notes. The composition of the Market Measure or Basket Component does not reflect any investment recommendations from us, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including the selling agents.

Other Risk Factors Relating to the Applicable Market Measure

The applicable term sheet may set forth additional risk factors as to the Market Measure or Basket Component, as applicable, that you should review prior to purchasing the notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, we intend to lend the net proceeds we receive from each sale of the notes to the Guarantor and/or its other subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the Guarantor expects that it and/or its subsidiaries will use the proceeds from these loans for the purposes described in the accompanying prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.” In addition, we expect that we may use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to hedge our obligations under the notes by entering into hedging arrangements with one or more of our affiliates.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

General

Each issue of the notes will be part of a series of medium-term notes entitled “Medium-Term Notes, Series A” that will be issued under the senior indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, among us, the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as trustee. The senior indenture is described more fully in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement. The following description of the notes supplements and, to the extent it is inconsistent with, supersedes the description of the general terms and provisions of the notes and debt securities set forth under the headings “Description of the Notes” in the prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities” in the prospectus. These documents should be read in connection with the applicable term sheet.

Our payment obligations on the notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The notes will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations from time to time outstanding, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. The guarantee of the notes will rank equally in right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor from time to time outstanding, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, are subject to our credit risk, as issuer, and the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation, as guarantor.

The maturity date of the notes and the aggregate principal amount of each issue of the notes will be stated in the applicable term sheet. If any scheduled payment date for the notes is not a business day, we will make the required payment on the next business day, and no interest will accrue as a result of such delay.

We will not pay interest on the notes. The notes do not guarantee the return of principal at maturity. The notes will be payable only in U.S. dollars.

Unless automatically called prior to the maturity date, the notes will mature on the date set forth in the applicable term sheet. Prior to the maturity date, the notes are not redeemable at the option of any holder. The notes are not subject to any sinking fund.

We will issue the notes in denominations of whole units. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, each unit will have a principal amount of $10. The CUSIP number for each issue of the notes will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. You may transfer the notes only in whole units.

Automatic Call

The notes will automatically be called, in whole but not in part, if, on any Observation Date, the Observation Level of the Market Measure is less than or equal to the Call Level set forth in the applicable term sheet.

If the notes are called automatically on an Observation Date, for each unit of notes that you own, we will pay you the Call Amount applicable to that Observation Date. The “Call Amount” will be equal to the principal amount plus the applicable Call Premium. The “Call Premium” will be a percentage of the principal amount.

The Observation Dates and the related Call Amounts and Call Premiums will be specified in the applicable term sheet.

 

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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, if the notes are called automatically on an Observation Date (other than the final Observation Date), we will redeem the notes and pay the applicable Call Amount on the applicable Call Settlement Date. Each “Call Settlement Date” will occur on approximately the fifth business day after the applicable Observation Date, subject to postponement as described below. If the notes are called automatically on the final Observation Date, we will redeem the notes and pay the applicable Call Amount on the maturity date.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, if a scheduled Observation Date (other than a final Observation Date) is determined by the calculation agent not to be a Market Measure Business Day (as defined below) by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration, or otherwise, or if there is a Market Disruption Event on that day, the applicable Observation Date will be the immediately succeeding Market Measure Business Day during which no Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing; provided that the Observation Level will not be determined on a date later than the fifth scheduled Market Measure Business Day after the scheduled Observation Date, and if that day is not a Market Measure Business Day, or if there is a Market Disruption Event on that date, the calculation agent will determine the Observation Level (or, if not determinable, estimate) in a manner which the calculation agent considers commercially reasonable under the circumstances on that fifth scheduled Market Measure Business Day.

If the scheduled final Observation Date is determined by the calculation agent not to be a Market Measure Business Day by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration, or otherwise, or if there is a Market Disruption Event on that day, the final Observation Date will be the immediately succeeding Market Measure Business Day during which no Market Disruption Event occurs or is continuing; provided that the Ending Value will be determined (or, if not determinable, estimated) by the calculation agent in a manner which the calculation agent considers commercially reasonable under the circumstances on a date no later than the second scheduled Market Measure Business Day prior to the maturity date, regardless of the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event on that second scheduled Market Measure Business Day.

If, due to a Market Disruption Event or otherwise, a scheduled Observation Date (other than the final Observation Date) is postponed, the Call Settlement Date, if applicable, will be postponed to approximately the fifth business day following the Observation Date as postponed, unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, a “Market Measure Business Day” means a day on which (1) the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and The Nasdaq Stock Market, or their successors, are open for trading, and (2) the applicable index (or any successor) is calculated and published.

Payment at Maturity

If the notes are not called automatically prior to the maturity date, then at maturity, subject to our credit risk as issuer of the notes and the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation as guarantor of the notes, you will receive a Redemption Amount, denominated in U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the “Redemption Amount” will be calculated as follows:

 

   

If the Ending Value is less than or equal to the Threshold Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal the principal amount.

 

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If the Ending Value is greater than the Threshold Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal:

 

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The Redemption Amount will not be less than zero.

The “Threshold Value” will be a value of the Market Measure that equals a specified percentage of the Starting Value, which will be greater than or equal to 100%. The Threshold Value will be determined on the applicable pricing date and set forth in the applicable term sheet. If the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, then the Redemption Amount for the notes will be less than the principal amount if the notes are not called automatically prior to maturity, if there is any increase in the value of the Market Measure from the Starting Value to the Ending Value, and you may lose all of your investment in the notes.

Each term sheet will provide examples of payments on the notes based on certain hypothetical Observation Levels and Ending Values.

The applicable term sheet will set forth information as to the specific Market Measure, including information as to the historical values of the Market Measure or Basket Component, as applicable. However, historical values of the Market Measure or a Basket Component are not indicative of its future performance or the performance of your notes.

An investment in the notes does not entitle you to any ownership interest, including any voting rights, dividends paid, or other distributions made, in the securities of any of the companies included in a Market Measure or Basket Component.

The Starting Value, the Observation Level and the Ending Value

Starting Value

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the “Starting Value” will be the closing level of the Market Measure on the applicable pricing date.

If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, the Starting Value will be equal to 100. See “—Basket Market Measures.”

Observation Level

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the “Observation Level” will be the closing level of the Market Measure on the applicable Observation Date.

If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, the Observation Level of the Basket on an Observation Date will be determined as described in “—Basket Market Measures—Observation Level of the Basket.”

Ending Value

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the “Ending Value” will be the Observation Level on the final Observation Date.

 

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If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, the Ending Value of the Basket will be determined as described in “—Basket Market Measures—Observation Level of the Basket.”

Market Disruption Events

As to any index, “Market Disruption Event” means one or more of the following events, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion:

 

  (A)

the suspension of or material limitation on trading, in each case, for more than two consecutive hours of trading, or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of trading, on the primary exchange where the securities included in the index trade, as determined by the calculation agent (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session), in 20% or more of the securities which then compose the index or any successor index (as defined in “—Discontinuance of an Index”); or

 

  (B)

the suspension of or material limitation on trading, in each case, for more than two consecutive hours of trading, or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of trading, on the primary exchange that trades options contracts or futures contracts related to the index, as determined by the calculation agent (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session), in options contracts or futures contracts related to the index or any success index, whether by reason of movements in price otherwise exceeding levels permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise.

For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred:

 

  (1)

a limitation on the hours in a trading day and/or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the relevant exchange;

 

  (2)

a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the relevant futures or options contracts related to the index, or any successor index, will not constitute a Market Disruption Event;

 

  (3)

a suspension in trading in a futures or options contract on the index, or any successor index, by a major securities market by reason of (a) a price change violating limits set by that securities market, (b) an imbalance of orders relating to those contracts, or (c) a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to those contracts will constitute a suspension of or material limitation on trading in futures or options contracts related to the index, or any successor index;

 

  (4)

a suspension of or material limitation on trading on the relevant exchange will not include any time when that exchange is closed for trading under ordinary circumstances; and

 

  (5)

if applicable to indices with component securities listed on the NYSE, for the purpose of clause (A) above, any limitations on trading during significant market fluctuations under NYSE Rule 80B, or any applicable rule or regulation enacted or promulgated by the NYSE or any other self-regulatory organization or the SEC of similar scope as determined by the calculation agent, will be considered “material.”

 

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Adjustments to an Index

After the applicable pricing date, an Index Publisher may make a material change in the method of calculating an index or in another way that changes the index such that it does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the level of the index had those changes or modifications not been made. In this case, the calculation agent will, at the close of business in New York, New York, on each date that the closing level is to be calculated, make adjustments to the index. Those adjustments will be made in good faith as necessary to arrive at a calculation of a level of the index as if those changes or modifications had not been made, and calculate the closing level of the index, as so adjusted.

Discontinuance of an Index

After the applicable pricing date, an Index Publisher may discontinue publication of an index to which an issue of the notes is linked. The Index Publisher or another entity may then publish a substitute index that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the original index (a “successor index”). If this occurs, the calculation agent will substitute the successor index as calculated by the relevant Index Publisher or other entity and calculate each Observation Level and/or the Ending Value as described in “—The Starting Value, the Observation Level and the Ending Value” or in “—Basket Market Measures”, as applicable. If the calculation agent selects a successor index, the calculation agent will give written notice of the selection to the trustee, to us, to the Guarantor and to the holders of the notes.

If an Index Publisher discontinues publication of the applicable index before an Observation Date and the calculation agent does not select a successor index, then on each day that would otherwise be an Observation Date, until the earlier to occur of:

 

   

the occurrence of an automatic call;

 

   

the determination of the Ending Value; or

 

   

a determination by the calculation agent that a successor index is available,

the calculation agent will compute a substitute level for the index in accordance with the procedures last used to calculate the index before any discontinuance. The calculation agent will make available to holders of the notes information regarding those levels by means of Bloomberg L.P., Thomson Reuters, a website, or any other means selected by the calculation agent in its reasonable discretion.

If a successor index is selected or the calculation agent calculates a level as a substitute for an index, the successor index or level will be used as a substitute for all purposes, including for the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event exists.

Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, any modification or discontinuance of the publication of any index to which your notes are linked may adversely affect trading in the notes.

Basket Market Measures

If the Market Measure to which your notes are linked is a Basket, the Basket Components will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. We will assign each Basket Component a weighting (the “Initial Component Weight”) so that each Basket Component represents a percentage of

 

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the Starting Value of the Basket on the pricing date. We may assign the Basket Components equal Initial Component Weights, or we may assign the Basket Components unequal Initial Component Weights. The Initial Component Weight for each Basket Component will be stated in the applicable term sheet.

Determination of the Component Ratio for Each Basket Component

The “Starting Value” of the Basket will be equal to 100. We will set a fixed factor (the “Component Ratio”) for each Basket Component on the applicable pricing date, based on the weighting of that Basket Component. The Component Ratio for each Basket Component will equal:

 

   

the Initial Component Weight (expressed as a percentage) for that Basket Component, multiplied by 100; divided by

 

   

the closing level of that Basket Component on the applicable pricing date.

Each Component Ratio will be rounded to eight decimal places.

The Component Ratios will be calculated in this way so that the Starting Value of the Basket will equal 100 on the applicable pricing date. The Component Ratios will not be revised subsequent to their determination on the applicable pricing date, except that the calculation agent may in its good faith judgment adjust the Component Ratio of any Basket Component in the event that Basket Component is materially changed or modified in a manner that does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the value of that Basket Component had those material changes or modifications not been made.

The following table is for illustration purposes only, and does not reflect the actual composition, Initial Component Weights, or Component Ratios of a Basket, all of which will be set forth in the applicable term sheet.

Example: The hypothetical Basket Components are Index ABC, Index XYZ, and Index RST, with their Initial Component Weights being 50.00%, 25.00% and 25.00%, respectively, on a hypothetical pricing date:

 

Basket Component

   Initial
Component
Weight
    Hypothetical
Closing
Level(1)
     Hypothetical
Component
Ratio(2)
     Initial Basket
Value
Contribution
 

Index ABC

     50.00     500.00        0.10000000        50.00  

Index XYZ

     25.00     2,420.00        0.01033058        25.00  

Index RST

     25.00     1,014.00        0.02465483        25.00  
          

 

 

 

Starting Value

 

     100.00  

 

 

(1)

This column sets forth the hypothetical closing level of each Basket Component on the hypothetical pricing date.

 

(2)

The hypothetical Component Ratio for each Basket Component equals its Initial Component Weight (expressed as a percentage) multiplied by 100, and then divided by the hypothetical closing level of that Basket Component on the hypothetical pricing date, with the result rounded to eight decimal places.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable term sheet, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on the applicable pricing date as to any Basket Component or the pricing date is determined by the

 

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calculation agent not to be a Market Measure Business Day for any Basket Component by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration or otherwise, the calculation agent will establish the closing level of that Basket Component (the “Basket Component Closing Level”), and thus its Component Ratio, based on the closing level of that Basket Component on the first Market Measure Business Day following the pricing date on which no Market Disruption Event occurs for that Basket Component. In the event that a Market Disruption Event or non-Market Measure Business Day occurs for that Basket Component on the pricing date and on each scheduled Market Measure Business Day to and including the second scheduled Market Measure Business Day following the pricing date, the calculation agent (not later than the close of business in New York, New York on the second scheduled Market Measure Business Day following the pricing date) will estimate the Basket Component Closing Level, and thus the applicable Component Ratio, in a manner that the calculation agent considers commercially reasonable. The final term sheet will provide the Basket Component Closing Level, a brief statement of the facts relating to the establishment of the Basket Component Closing Level (including the applicable Market Disruption Event(s)), and the applicable Component Ratio.

For purposes of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred as to any Basket Component, “Market Disruption Event” will have the meaning set forth in “—Market Disruption Events.”

Observation Level of the Basket

The “Observation Level” of the Basket will be the value of the Basket on the relevant Observation Date. The calculation agent will calculate the value of the Basket by summing the products of the closing level of each Basket Component on the applicable Observation Date and the Component Ratio for that Basket Component. The value of the Basket will vary based on the increase or decrease in the level of that Basket Component. Any increase in the level of a Basket Component (assuming no change in the level of the other Basket Component or Basket Components) will result in an increase in the value of the Basket. Conversely, any decrease in the level of a Basket Component (assuming no change in the level of the other Basket Component or Basket Components) will result in a decrease in the value of the Basket.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, if, for any Basket Component (an “Affected Basket Component”), (i) a Market Disruption Event occurs on a scheduled Observation Date or (ii) any scheduled Observation Date is determined by the calculation agent not to be a Market Measure Business Day by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration, or otherwise (any such day in either (i) or (ii) being a “non-calculation day”), the calculation agent will determine the closing levels of the Basket Components for such non-calculation day, and as a result, the relevant Observation Level, as follows:

 

   

The closing level of each Basket Component that is not an Affected Basket Component will be its closing level on such non-calculation day.

 

   

The closing level of each Basket Component that is an Affected Basket Component for the applicable non-calculation day will be determined in the same manner as described in “—Automatic Call,” provided that references to “Observation Level” or “Ending Value” will be deemed to be references to “closing level of the Basket Component.”

Role of the Calculation Agent

The calculation agent has the sole discretion to make all determinations regarding the notes as described in this product supplement, including determinations regarding the Starting Value,

 

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the Call Level, the Threshold Value, the Observation Level of the Market Measure on each Observation Date, the Ending Value, whether the notes will be called automatically, and if the notes are not called automatically, the Redemption Amount, the Market Measure, the Basket Components, as applicable, any Market Disruption Events, a successor index, Market Measure Business Days, business days, non-calculation days, and determinations related to any adjustments to, or discontinuance of, any index. Absent manifest error, all determinations of the calculation agent will be conclusive for all purposes and final and binding on you, the Guarantor and us, without any liability on the part of the calculation agent.

We expect to appoint BofAS or one of our other affiliates as the calculation agent for each issue of the notes. However, we may change the calculation agent at any time without notifying you. The identity of the calculation agent will be set forth in the applicable term sheet.

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

The notes will be delivered in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company against payment by purchasers of the notes in immediately available funds. We will pay the Call Amount or the Redemption Amount, as applicable, in immediately available funds so long as the notes are maintained in book-entry form.

Events of Default and Acceleration

Events of Default are defined in the senior indenture and in the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration” beginning on page 22 of the accompanying prospectus. If such event occurs and is continuing, unless otherwise stated in the applicable term sheet, the amount payable to a holder of the notes upon any acceleration permitted under the senior indenture will be equal to the Redemption Amount described in “—Payment at Maturity,” determined as if the notes matured on the date of acceleration and as if the final Observation Date were the fifth Market Measure Business Day prior to the date of acceleration. If a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced in respect of us, your claim may be limited under applicable bankruptcy law. In case of a default in payment of the notes, whether at their maturity or upon acceleration, they will not bear a default interest rate.

Listing

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the notes will not be listed on a securities exchange or quotation system.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

One or more of our affiliates may act as our selling agent for any offering of the notes. The selling agents may act on either a principal basis or an agency basis, as set forth in the applicable term sheet. Each selling agent will be a party to the distribution agreement described in “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” beginning on page S-66 of the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Each selling agent will receive an underwriting discount or commission that is a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the notes sold through its efforts, which will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. You must have an account with the applicable selling agent in order to purchase the notes.

None of the selling agents is acting as your fiduciary or advisor solely as a result of the making of any offering of the notes, and you should not rely upon this product supplement, the applicable term sheet, or the accompanying prospectus or prospectus supplement as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase any notes. You should make your own investment decision regarding the notes after consulting with your legal, tax, and other advisors.

BofAS and any of our other affiliates may use this product supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus, together with the applicable term sheet, in a market-making transaction for any notes after their initial sale.

 

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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY

The following summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the notes supplements and, to the extent inconsistent, supersedes the discussions under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus and under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”) (including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. This summary does not include any description of the tax laws of any state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that may be applicable to a particular holder. If the tax consequences associated with the notes are different than those described below, they will be described in the applicable term sheet.

Although the notes are issued by us, they will be treated as if they were issued by Bank of America Corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly throughout this tax discussion, references to “we,” “our” or “us” are generally to Bank of America Corporation unless the context requires otherwise.

This summary is directed solely to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders that, except as otherwise specifically noted, will purchase the notes upon original issuance and will hold the notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means property held for investment, and that are not excluded from the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.

You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.

General

Although there is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addressing the characterization of the notes, in the opinion of our counsel, Sidley Austin LLP, and based on certain factual representations received from us, the notes with terms described in this product supplement should be treated as single financial contracts with respect to the Market Measure and under the terms of the notes, we and every investor in the notes agree, in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat the notes in accordance with such characterization. This discussion assumes that the notes constitute single financial contracts with respect to the Market Measure for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the notes did not constitute single financial contracts, the tax consequences described below would be materially different.

This characterization of the notes is not binding on the IRS or the courts. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of the notes or any similar instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no ruling is being requested from the IRS with respect to their proper characterization and treatment. Due to the absence of authorities on point, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the

 

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notes are not certain, and no assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with the characterization and tax treatment described in this product supplement. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including possible alternative characterizations.

Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the characterization described above. The discussion in this section assumes that there is a significant possibility of a significant loss of principal on an investment in the notes.

We will not attempt to ascertain whether the issuer of any component stocks included in the Market Measure would be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”), within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, or a United States real property holding corporation, within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code. If the issuer of one or more stocks included in the Market Measure were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could possibly apply to a holder of the notes. You should refer to information filed with the SEC by the issuers of the component stocks included in the Market Measure and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you, if any, if any issuer of a component stock included in the Market Measure is or becomes a PFIC or is or becomes a United States real property holding corporation.

U.S. Holders

Upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the notes. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the notes will equal the amount paid by that holder to acquire them. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the notes for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Alternative Tax Treatments. Due to the absence of authorities that directly address the proper tax treatment of the notes, prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding all possible alternative tax treatments of an investment in the notes. In particular, if the notes have a term that exceeds one year, the IRS could seek to subject the notes to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. If the IRS were successful in that regard, the timing and character of income on the notes would be affected significantly. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be required to accrue original issue discount every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time of issuance. In addition, any gain realized by a U.S. Holder at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes generally would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes generally would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s prior accruals of original issue discount, and as capital loss thereafter. If the notes have a term of one year or less, a U.S. Holder who uses the accrual method of accounting generally should be required to accrue any original issue discount on the notes on a straight-line basis. At maturity or upon a sale, exchange or redemption of the notes, a U.S. Holder using either a cash or accrual method of accounting generally should recognize taxable gain (all or a portion of which may be treated as ordinary income) or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and such holder’s tax basis in the notes.

The IRS released Notice 2008-2 (the “Notice”), which sought comments from the public on the taxation of financial instruments currently taxed as “prepaid forward contracts.” This Notice addresses instruments such as the notes. According to the Notice, the IRS and Treasury are considering whether a holder of an instrument such as the notes should be required to accrue

 

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ordinary income on a current basis, regardless of whether any payments are made prior to maturity. It is not possible to determine what guidance the IRS and Treasury will ultimately issue, if any. Any such future guidance may affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain, or loss in respect of the notes, possibly with retroactive effect.

The IRS and Treasury are also considering additional issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, whether Section 1260 of the Code, concerning certain “constructive ownership transactions,” generally applies or should generally apply to such instruments, and whether any of these determinations depend on the nature of the underlying asset.

In addition, proposed Treasury regulations require the accrual of income on a current basis for contingent payments made under certain notional principal contracts. The preamble to the regulations states that the “wait and see” method of accounting does not properly reflect the economic accrual of income on those contracts, and requires current accrual of income for some contracts already in existence. While the proposed regulations do not apply to prepaid forward contracts, the preamble to the proposed regulations expresses the view that similar timing issues exist in the case of prepaid forward contracts. If the IRS or Treasury publishes future guidance requiring current economic accrual for contingent payments on prepaid forward contracts, it is possible that you could be required to accrue income over the term of the notes.

Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate tax characterization of the notes, it is also possible that the IRS could seek to characterize the notes in a manner that results in tax consequences that are different from those described above. For example, the IRS could possibly assert that any gain or loss that a holder may recognize at maturity or upon the sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes should be treated as ordinary gain or loss. It is possible that the IRS could assert that a U.S. Holder’s holding period in respect of the notes should end on the applicable Observation Date, even though such holder will not receive any amounts in respect of the notes prior to the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of the notes. In such case, if the applicable Observation Date is not in excess of one year from the original issue date, a U.S. Holder may be treated as having a holding period in respect of the notes equal to one year or less, in which case any gain or loss such holder recognizes at such time would be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.

Because the Market Measure is an index that periodically rebalances, it is possible that the notes could be treated as a series of single financial contracts, each of which matures on the next rebalancing date. If the notes were properly characterized in such a manner, a U.S. Holder would be treated as disposing of the notes on each rebalancing date in return for new notes that mature on the next rebalancing date, and a U.S. Holder would accordingly likely recognize capital gain or loss on each rebalancing date equal to the difference between the holder’s tax basis in the notes (which would be adjusted to take into account any prior recognition of gain or loss) and the fair market value of the notes on such date.

Non-U.S. Holders

Except as discussed below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax for amounts paid in respect of the notes provided that the Non-U.S. Holder complies with applicable certification requirements and that the payment is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a U.S. trade or business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes or their settlement at

 

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maturity may be subject to U.S. federal income tax if that Non-U.S. Holder is a non-resident alien individual and is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale, exchange, redemption, or settlement and certain other conditions are satisfied.

If a Non-U.S. Holder of the notes is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. and if gain realized on the settlement at maturity or upon sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes, is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.), the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax, generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. Such Non-U.S. Holders should read the material under the heading “—U.S. Holders,” for a description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes. In addition, if such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by any applicable tax treaty) of a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the U.S., subject to certain adjustments.

A “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the United States and such payments generally would be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a Non-U.S. Holder. Under Treasury regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are “specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs reference an interest in an “underlying security,” which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, IRS guidance provides that withholding on dividend equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2021. Based on our determination that the notes are not delta-one instruments, Non-U.S. Holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the notes. However, it is possible that the notes could be treated as deemed reissued for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the Market Measure or the notes, and following such occurrence the notes could be treated as subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. Holders that enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the Market Measure or the notes should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the notes and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable paying agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld. As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the notes to become subject to withholding tax, tax will be withheld at the applicable statutory rate. As discussed above, the IRS has indicated in the Notice that it is considering whether income in respect of instruments such as the notes should be subject to withholding tax. Prospective Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such alternative characterizations.

U.S. Federal Estate Tax. Under current law, while the matter is not entirely clear, individual Non-U.S. Holders, and entities whose property is potentially includible in those individuals’ gross estates 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 benefit, a note is likely to be treated as U.S. situs property, subject to

 

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U.S. federal estate tax. These individuals and entities should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of investing in a note.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Please see the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Debt Securities—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the applicability of the backup withholding and information reporting rules to payments made on the notes.

 

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