This pricing supplement, which is not complete and may be changed,
relates to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities
Act of 1933. This pricing supplement and the accompanying product
supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer
to sell these notes in any country or jurisdiction where such an
offer would not be permitted.

Linked to the Common Stock of Citigroup Inc.
|
● |
Approximate 2 year term if not called prior to maturity. |
|
● |
Payments on the Notes will depend on the
individual performance of the common stock of Citigroup Inc.
(the “Underlying Stock”). |
|
● |
Contingent coupon rate of at least 10.25% per annum (at least 2.5625% per quarter) payable quarterly if the Observation Value of the
Underlying Stock on the applicable
Observation Date is greater than or equal to 70% of its Starting Value. The coupon per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes payable on the related Contingent Payment
Date, if applicable, will equal (i) the product of at least $25.625
times the number of Contingent Payment Dates that have
occurred up to the relevant Contingent Payment Date (inclusive of
the relevant Contingent Payment Date) minus (ii) the sum of
all Contingent Coupon Payments previously paid. The actual
contingent coupon rate will be determined on the pricing
date. |
|
● |
Beginning in July 2023, automatically callable quarterly
for an amount equal to the principal
amount plus the relevant contingent coupon payment if the
Observation Value of the Underlying Stock is greater than or equal
to 100% of its Starting Value
on any Observation Date (other than the final Observation
Date). |
|
● |
Assuming the Notes are not called prior to
maturity, if the Underlying
Stock declines by more than 30%
from its Starting Value, at maturity your investment will be
subject to 1:1 downside exposure to decreases in the value of the
Underlying Stock, with up
to 100% of the principal at
risk; otherwise, at maturity you will receive the principal amount.
At maturity you will also receive the final contingent
coupon payment if the Observation
Value of the Underlying Stock
on the final Observation Date is greater than or equal to
70% of its Starting Value. |
|
● |
All
payments on the Notes are subject to the credit risk of BofA
Finance LLC (“BofA Finance”), as issuer of the Notes, and Bank of
America Corporation (“BAC” or the “Guarantor”), as guarantor of the
Notes. |
|
● |
The Contingent Income Auto-Callable
Yield Notes Linked to the Common Stock of Citigroup Inc.,
due February 4, 2025 (the
“Notes”) are expected to price
on January 30, 2023 and expected to issue on February 2, 2023. |
|
● |
The
Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date
is expected to be between $930.00 and $980.00 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes, which is less than the public offering
price listed below. The actual value of your Notes at any time
will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-8 of this pricing
supplement and “Structuring the Notes” on page PS-14 of this
pricing supplement for additional information.
There are important differences between the Notes and a
conventional debt security. Potential purchasers of the Notes
should consider the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page
PS-8 of this pricing supplement, page PS-5 of the accompanying
product supplement, page S-6 of the accompanying prospectus
supplement, and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus.
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 determined if this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
|
Public offering price(1) |
Underwriting discount(1)(2) |
Proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance(2) |
Per Note |
$1,000.00 |
$17.50 |
$982.50 |
Total |
|
|
|
(1) |
Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain
fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling
concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for
investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory accounts
may be as low as $982.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes. |
(2) |
The underwriting discount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
may be as high as $17.50, resulting in proceeds, before expenses,
to BofA Finance of as low as $982.50 per $1,000 in principal amount
of Notes. |
The Notes and the related guarantee:
Are Not FDIC Insured |
Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
May Lose Value |
 |
Selling Agent |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Terms of the Notes
The Notes provide a quarterly Contingent Coupon Payment of
at least $25.625 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes on the applicable Contingent Payment Date
if, on any quarterly Observation Date, the Observation Value of the
Underlying Stock is greater than or equal to its Coupon Barrier.
The coupon per $1,000 in principal
amount of Notes payable on the related Contingent Payment Date, if
applicable, will equal (i) the product of at least $25.625
times the number of Contingent
Payment Dates that have occurred up to the relevant Contingent
Payment Date (inclusive of the relevant Contingent Payment Date)
minus (ii) the sum of all Contingent Coupon Payments
previously paid. The actual contingent coupon will be determined on
the pricing date.
Beginning in July 2023, if the Observation Value of the Underlying
Stock is greater than or equal to its Call Value on any Observation
Date (other than the final Observation Date), the Notes will be
automatically called, in whole but not in part, at 100% of the
principal amount, together with the relevant Contingent Coupon
Payment. No further amounts will be payable following an Automatic
Call. If the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity
and the Underlying Stock declines by more than 30% from its
Starting Value, there is full exposure to declines in the
Underlying Stock, and you will lose a significant portion or all of
your investment in the Notes. Otherwise, at maturity you will
receive the principal amount. At maturity you will also receive the
final Contingent Coupon Payment if the Observation Value of the
Underlying Stock on the final Observation Date is greater than or
equal to its Coupon Barrier. It is possible that the Notes will not
pay any Contingent Coupon Payments and you may lose a significant
portion or all of your investment in the Notes at maturity. Any
payments on the Notes will be calculated based on $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes and will depend on the performance of the
Underlying Stock, subject to our and BAC’s credit risk.
Issuer: |
BofA Finance |
Guarantor: |
BAC |
Denominations: |
The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and
whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
Term: |
Approximately 2 years, unless previously automatically called. |
Underlying Stock: |
The common stock of Citigroup Inc. (New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”) symbol: “C”). |
Pricing Date*: |
January 30, 2023 |
Issue Date*: |
February 2, 2023 |
Valuation Date*: |
January 30, 2025, subject to postponement as described under
“Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events
Relating to Observation Dates” in the accompanying product
supplement. |
Maturity Date*: |
February 4, 2025 |
Starting Value: |
The Closing Market Price of the Underlying Stock on the pricing
date. |
Observation Value: |
The Closing Market Price of the Underlying Stock on the applicable
Observation Date multiplied by its Price Multiplier. |
Ending Value: |
The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on the Valuation
Date. |
Call Value: |
100% of the Starting Value. |
Price Multiplier: |
1, subject to adjustment for certain corporate events relating to
the Underlying Stock as described in “Description of the Notes —
Anti-Dilution Adjustments” beginning on page PS-23 of the
accompanying product supplement. |
Coupon Barrier: |
70% of the Starting Value. |
Threshold Value: |
70% of the Starting Value |
Contingent Coupon
Payment:
|
If, on any quarterly Observation Date, the Observation Value of the
Underlying Stock is greater than or equal to its Coupon Barrier, we
will pay a Contingent Coupon Payment of at least $25.625 per $1,000
in principal amount of Notes (equal to a rate of at least 2.5625%
per quarter or at least 10.25% per annum) on the applicable
Contingent Payment Date (including the Maturity Date). The coupon per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
payable on the related Contingent Payment Date, if applicable, will
equal (i) the product of at least $25.625 times the number of Contingent Payment
Dates that have occurred up to the relevant Contingent Payment Date
(inclusive of the relevant Contingent Payment Date) minus
(ii) the sum of all Contingent Coupon Payments previously paid. The
actual contingent coupon will be determined on the pricing
date. |
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-2 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Automatic Call: |
Beginning in July 2023, all (but not less than all) of the Notes
will be automatically called if the Observation Value of the
Underlying Stock is greater than or equal to its Call Value on any
Observation Date (other than the final Observation Date). If the
Notes are automatically called, the Early Redemption Amount will be
paid on the applicable Contingent Payment Date. No further amounts
will be payable following an Automatic Call. |
Early Redemption
Amount:
|
For each $1,000 in principal amount of Notes, $1,000 plus the
applicable Contingent Coupon Payment. |
Redemption Amount: |
If the Notes have not been automatically called prior to maturity,
the Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes will
be: |
a) If
the Ending Value of the Underlying Stock is greater than or equal
to its Threshold Value: |
$1,000; or |
b) If
the Ending Value of the Underlying Stock is less than its Threshold
Value: |
 |
In
this case, the Redemption Amount will be less than 70%
of the principal amount and you could lose up to 100% of your
investment in the Notes. |
The Redemption Amount will also include the final Contingent Coupon
Payment if the Ending Value of the Underlying Stock is greater than
or equal to its Coupon Barrier. |
Observation Dates*: |
As set forth on page PS-4. |
Contingent Payment
Dates*:
|
As set forth on page PS-4. |
Calculation Agent: |
BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”), an affiliate of BofA Finance. |
Selling Agent: |
BofAS |
CUSIP: |
09709VFN1 |
Underlying Stock
Return: |
 |
Events of Default and
Acceleration: |
If an Event of Default, as defined in the senior indenture relating
to the Notes and in the section entitled “Description of Debt
Securities of BofA Finance LLC—Events of Default and Rights of
Acceleration; Covenant Breaches” on page 54 of the accompanying
prospectus, with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, the
amount payable to a holder of the Notes upon any acceleration
permitted under the senior indenture will be equal to the amount
described under the caption “Redemption Amount” above, calculated
as though the date of acceleration were the Maturity Date of the
Notes and as though the Valuation Date were the third trading day
prior to the date of acceleration. We will also determine whether
the final Contingent Coupon Payment is payable based upon the price
of the Underlying Stock on the deemed Valuation Date; any such
final Contingent Coupon Payment will be prorated by the calculation
agent to reflect the length of the final contingent payment period.
In case of a default in the payment of the Notes, whether at their
maturity or upon acceleration, the Notes will not bear a default
interest rate. |
*Subject to change.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-3 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Observation Dates and Contingent Payment Dates
|
Observation Dates* |
|
Contingent Payment Dates |
|
|
May 1, 2023 |
|
May 4, 2023 |
|
|
July 31, 2023 |
|
August 3, 2023 |
|
|
October 30, 2023 |
|
November 2, 2023 |
|
|
January 30, 2024 |
|
February 2, 2024 |
|
|
April 30, 2024 |
|
May 3, 2024 |
|
|
July 30, 2024 |
|
August 2, 2024 |
|
|
October 30, 2024 |
|
November 4, 2024 |
|
|
January 30, 2025 (the “Valuation Date”) |
|
February 4, 2025 (the “Maturity Date”) |
|
* The Observation Dates are subject to postponement as set forth in
“Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events
Relating to Observation Dates” on page PS-21 of the accompanying
product supplement.
Any payments on the Notes depend on the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor, and on the performance
of the Underlying Stock. The economic terms of the Notes are based
on BAC’s internal funding rate, which is the rate it would pay to
borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes, and the
economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements BAC’s
affiliates enter into. BAC’s internal funding rate is typically
lower than the rate it would pay when it issues conventional fixed
or floating rate debt securities. This difference in funding rate,
as well as the underwriting discount, if any, and the hedging
related charges described below (see “Risk Factors” beginning on
page PS-8), will reduce the economic terms of the Notes to you and
the initial estimated value of the Notes. Due to these factors, the
public offering price you pay to purchase the Notes will be greater
than the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing
date.
The initial estimated value range of the Notes is set forth on the
cover page of this pricing supplement. The final pricing supplement
will set forth the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the
pricing date. For more information about the initial estimated
value and the structuring of the Notes, see “Risk Factors”
beginning on page PS-8 and “Structuring the Notes” on page
PS-14.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-4 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Contingent Coupon Payment and Redemption Amount Determination
On each Contingent Payment Date, you may receive a
Contingent Coupon Payment per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes determined as follows:

Assuming the Notes have not been automatically called,
on the Maturity Date, you will receive a cash payment per $1,000
in principal amount of Notes determined as follows:

All payments described above are subject to the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as issuer, and BAC, as guarantor.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-5 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Total Contingent Coupon Payment Examples
The examples and table below illustrate the hypothetical total
Contingent Coupon Payments per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
over the term of the Notes, based on a Contingent Coupon Payment of
$25.625 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes, depending on how
many Contingent Coupon Payments are payable prior to an Automatic
Call or maturity. Depending on the performance of the Underlying
Stock, you may not receive any Contingent Coupon Payments during
the term of the Notes.
Example 1 – The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on
the first Observation Date is below its Coupon Barrier. No
Contingent Coupon Payment will be paid on the applicable Contingent
Payment Date. The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on the
second Observation Date (which is also the first date on which the
Notes may be automatically called) is above its Coupon Barrier but
below its Call Value. Therefore, a Contingent Coupon Payment will
be paid on the applicable Contingent Payment Date, but the Notes
will not be automatically called on the Contingent Payment Date.
The Contingent Coupon Payment per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes due on the related Contingent Payment Date will be calculated
as follows:
(i) the product of $25.625 times the number of
Contingent Payment Dates that have occurred up to the relevant
Contingent Payment Date (inclusive of the relevant Contingent
Payment Date) minus (ii) the sum of all Contingent
Coupon Payments previously paid.
= (i) $25.625 x 2 - (ii) $0.00 = $51.25
The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on the third
Observation Date is above its Coupon Barrier and its Call Value.
Therefore, the Notes will be automatically called, and the
Contingent Coupon Payment per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
otherwise due on the related Contingent Payment Date will be
calculated as follows:
(i) the product of $25.625 times the number of
Contingent Payment Dates that have occurred up to the relevant
Contingent Payment Date (inclusive of the relevant Contingent
Payment Date) minus (ii) the sum of all Contingent
Coupon Payments previously paid.
= (i) $25.625 x 3 - (ii) $51.25 = $25.625 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes. No further amounts will be payable
following an Automatic Call.
Example 2 - The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on
the first Observation Date is below its Coupon Barrier. No
Contingent Coupon Payment will be paid on the applicable Contingent
Payment Date. The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on the
second Observation Date (which is also the first date on which the
Notes may be automatically called) is below its Coupon Barrier and
Call Value. Therefore, the Notes will not be automatically called
and no Contingent Coupon Payment is paid on the applicable
Contingent Payment Date. The Observation Value of the Underlying
Stock on the third Observation Date is above its Coupon Barrier and
its Call Value. Therefore, the Notes will be automatically called,
and the Contingent Coupon Payment per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes otherwise due on the related Contingent Payment Date will be
calculated as follows:
(i) the product of $25.625 times the number of
Contingent Payment Dates that have occurred up to the relevant
Contingent Payment Date (inclusive of the relevant Contingent
Payment Date) minus (ii) the sum of all Contingent
Coupon Payments previously paid.
= (i) $25.625 x 3 - (ii) $0.00 = $76.875 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes. No further amounts will be payable
following an Automatic Call.
Example 3 - The Observation Value of the Underlying Stock on
the first Observation Date is above its Coupon Barrier. A
Contingent Coupon Payment in the amount of $25.625 will be paid on
the applicable Contingent Payment Date. The Observation Value of
the Underlying Stock on the second Observation Date (which is also
the first date on which the Notes may be automatically called) is
above its Coupon Barrier but below its Call Value. Therefore, the
Notes will not be automatically called but a Contingent Coupon
Payment will be payable on the related Contingent Payment Date,
calculated as follows:
(i) the product of $25.875 times the number of
Contingent Payment Dates that have occurred up to the relevant
Contingent Payment Date (inclusive of the relevant Contingent
Payment Date) minus (ii) the sum of all Contingent
Coupon Payments previously paid.
= (i) $25.625 x 2 - (ii) $25.625 x 1 = $25.625 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-6 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at
Maturity
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Table
The following table is for purposes of illustration only. It
assumes the Notes have not been automatically called prior to
maturity and is based on hypothetical values and shows
hypothetical returns on the Notes. The table illustrates the
calculation of the Redemption Amount and the return on the Notes
based on a hypothetical Starting Value of 100, a hypothetical
Coupon Barrier of 70, a hypothetical Threshold Value of 70, a
Contingent Coupon Payment of $25.625 per $1,000 in principal amount
of Notes and a range of hypothetical Ending Values of the
Underlying Stock. The actual amount you receive and the
resulting return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Coupon
Barrier, Threshold Value, Observation Values and Ending Value of
the Underlying Stock, the actual Contingent Coupon Payment, whether
the Notes are automatically called prior to maturity, and whether
you hold the Notes to maturity. The following examples do not
take into account any tax consequences from investing in the Notes.
The table below also assumes that a Contingent Coupon Payment was
paid on each Contingent Payment Date prior to maturity.
For recent actual values of the Underlying Stock, see “The
Underlying Stock” section below. The Ending Value of the Underlying
Stock will not include any income generated by dividends or other
distributions paid with respect to shares of the Underlying Stock.
In addition, all payments on the Notes are subject to Issuer and
Guarantor credit risk.
Ending Value
|
Underlying Stock Return
|
Redemption Amount per Note (including any final Contingent
Coupon Payment)
|
Return on the Notes(1)
|
160.00 |
60.00% |
$1,025.625(2) |
2.5625% |
150.00 |
50.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
140.00 |
40.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
130.00 |
30.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
120.00 |
20.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
110.00 |
10.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
105.00 |
5.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
102.00 |
2.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
100.00(3) |
0.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
90.00 |
-10.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
80.00 |
-20.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
70.00(4) |
-30.00% |
$1,025.625 |
2.5625% |
69.99 |
-30.01% |
$699.900 |
-30.0100% |
50.00 |
-50.00% |
$500.000 |
-50.0000% |
0.00 |
-100.00% |
$0.000 |
-100.0000% |
(1)
|
The “Return on the Notes” is calculated based on the Redemption
Amount and potential final Contingent Coupon Payment, not including
any Contingent Coupon Payments paid prior to maturity, and assumes
that the relevant Contingent Coupon Payment has been made on each
prior Contingent Payment Date.
|
(2)
|
This amount represents the sum of the principal amount and a final
quarterly Contingent Coupon Payment of $25.625 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes (assuming that each prior quarterly
Contingent Coupon Payment has been made on the related Contingent
Payment Date).
|
(2) |
The hypothetical Starting Value of 100
used in the table above has been chosen for illustrative purposes
only and does not represent a likely Starting Value of the
Underlying Stock. |
(3) |
This is the hypothetical Coupon
Barrier and Threshold Value. |
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-7 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Risk Factors
Your investment in the Notes entails significant 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 of an investment in the Notes, including
those discussed below, with your advisors in light of your
particular circumstances. The Notes are not an appropriate
investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about significant
elements of the Notes or financial matters in general. You should
carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to
the Notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-5 of
the accompanying product supplement, page S-6 of the accompanying
prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus,
each as identified on page PS-18 below.
Structure-related Risks
|
● |
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. If the Notes are not automatically
called prior to maturity and the Ending Value of the Underlying
Stock is less than the Threshold Value, at maturity, your
investment will be subject to 1:1 downside exposure to decreases in
the value of the Underlying Stock and you will lose 1% of the
principal amount for each 1% that the Ending Value of the
Underlying Stock is less than the Starting Value. In that case, you
will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the
Notes. |
|
● |
Your return on the Notes is limited to the return
represented by the Contingent Coupon Payments, if any, over the
term of the Notes. Your return on the Notes is limited to the
Contingent Coupon Payments paid over the term of the Notes,
regardless of the extent to which the Observation Value or the
Ending Value of the Underlying Stock exceeds its Coupon Barrier or
Starting Value, as applicable. Similarly, the amount payable at
maturity or upon an Automatic Call will never exceed the sum of the
principal amount and the applicable Contingent Coupon Payment,
regardless of the extent to which the Observation Value or the
Ending Value of the Underlying Stock exceeds its Starting Value. In
contrast, a direct investment in the Underlying Stock would allow
you to receive the benefit of any appreciation in its price. Any
return on the Notes will not reflect the return you would realize
if you actually owned shares of an Underlying Stock and received
the dividends paid or distributions made on them. |
|
● |
The Notes are subject to a potential Automatic Call, which
would limit your ability to receive the Contingent Coupon Payments
over the full term of the Notes. The Notes are subject to a
potential Automatic Call. Beginning in July 2023, the Notes will be
automatically called if, on any Observation Date (other than the
final Observation Date), the Observation Value of the Underlying
Stock is greater than or equal to its Call Value. If the Notes are
automatically called prior to the Maturity Date, you will be
entitled to receive the principal amount and the Contingent Coupon
Payment with respect to the applicable Observation Date and no
further amounts will be payable following the Automatic Call. In
this case, you will lose the opportunity to continue to receive
Contingent Coupon Payments after the date of the Automatic Call. If
the Notes are called prior to the Maturity Date, you may be unable
to invest in other securities with a similar level of risk that
could provide a return that is similar to the Notes. |
|
● |
You may not receive any Contingent Coupon Payments. The
Notes do not provide for any regular fixed coupon payments.
Investors in the Notes will not necessarily receive any Contingent
Coupon Payments on the Notes. If the Observation Value of the
Underlying Stock is less than its Coupon Barrier on an Observation
Date, you will not receive the Contingent Coupon Payment applicable
to that Observation Date (unless on a later Observation Date a
Contingent Coupon Payment is payable). If the Observation Value of
the Underlying Stock is less than its Coupon Barrier on all the
Observation Dates during the term of the Notes, you will not
receive any Contingent Coupon Payments during the term of the
Notes, and will not receive a positive return on the Notes. |
|
● |
Your return on the Notes may be less than the yield on a
conventional debt security of comparable 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. In
addition, if interest rates increase during the term of the Notes,
the Contingent Coupon Payment (if any) may be less than the yield
on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. |
|
● |
The Contingent Coupon Payment, Early Redemption Amount or
Redemption Amount, as applicable, will not reflect changes in the
price of the Underlying Stock other than on the Observation
Dates. The price of the Underlying Stock during the term of the
Notes other than on the Observation Dates will not affect payments
on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, investors should
generally be aware of the performance of the Underlying Stock while
holding the Notes, as the performance of the Underlying Stock may
influence the market value of the Notes. The calculation agent will
determine whether each Contingent Coupon Payment is payable and
will calculate the Early Redemption Amount or the Redemption
Amount, as applicable, by comparing only the Starting Value, the
Coupon Barrier or the Threshold Value, as applicable, to the
Observation Value or the Ending Value for the Underlying Stock. No
other prices of the Underlying Stock will be taken into account. As
a result, if the Notes are not automatically called prior to
maturity and the Ending Value of the Underlying Stock is less than
the Threshold Value, you will receive less than the principal
amount at maturity even if the price of the Underlying Stock was
always above its Threshold Value prior to the Valuation Date. |
|
● |
Any 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. Any payment on the Notes will be fully
and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Notes are not
guaranteed by any entity other than the Guarantor. As a result,
your receipt of the Early Redemption Amount or the Redemption
Amount at maturity, as applicable, will be dependent upon our
ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our respective
obligations under the Notes on the applicable Contingent Payment
Date or the Maturity Date, regardless of the Ending Value of the
Underlying Stock as compared to the Starting Value. No assurance
can be given as to what our financial condition or the financial
condition of the Guarantor will be at any time after the pricing
date of the Notes. If we and the Guarantor become unable to meet
our respective financial obligations as they become due, you may
not receive the amount(s) 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 |
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-8 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
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 price of the Underlying Stock, 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 the Guarantor, 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. Therefore, our
ability to make payments on the Notes may be limited. |
Valuation- and Market-related Risks
|
● |
The public offering price you pay for the Notes will exceed
their initial estimated value. The range of initial estimated
values of the Notes that is provided on the cover page of this
preliminary pricing supplement, and the initial estimated value as
of the pricing date that will be provided in the final pricing
supplement, are each estimates 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, mid-market terms on hedging
transactions, expectations on interest rates, dividends 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. 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 their
initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things,
changes in the price of the Underlying Stock, changes in the
Guarantor’s internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public
offering price of the underwriting discount, if any, and the
hedging related charges, all as further described in “Structuring
the Notes” below. 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, BAC, 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
Underlying Stock, our and BAC’s creditworthiness and changes in
market conditions. |
|
● |
We cannot assure you that a trading market for your Notes
will ever develop or be maintained. We will not list the Notes
on any securities exchange. We cannot predict how the Notes will
trade in any secondary market or whether that market will be liquid
or illiquid. |
Conflict-related Risks
|
● |
Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any
of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may create conflicts of
interest with you and may affect your return on the Notes and their
market value. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other
affiliates, including BofAS, may buy or sell shares of the
Underlying Stock, or futures or options contracts or exchange
traded instruments on the Underlying Stock, or other instruments
whose value is derived from the Underlying Stock. We, the Guarantor
or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, 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 may present a conflict of
interest between your interest in the Notes and the interests we,
the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, 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 transactions may
adversely affect the price of the Underlying Stock in a manner that
could be adverse to your investment in the Notes. On or before the
pricing date, any purchases or sales by us, the Guarantor or our
other affiliates, including BofAS or others on our or their behalf
(including those for the purpose of hedging some or all of our
anticipated exposure in connection with the Notes), may affect the
price of the Underlying Stock. Consequently, the price of the
Underlying Stock may change subsequent to the pricing date, which
may adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including
BofAS, also expect to engage in hedging activities that could
affect the price of the Underlying Stock on the pricing date. In
addition, these hedging activities, including the unwinding of a
hedge, may decrease the market value of your Notes prior to
maturity, and may affect the amounts to be paid on the Notes. We,
the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including
BofAS, may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short position
in the Notes and may hold or resell the Notes. For example, BofAS
may enter into these transactions in connection with any market
making activities in which it engages. We cannot assure you that
these activities will not adversely affect the price of the
Underlying Stock, the market value of your Notes prior to maturity
or the amounts payable on the Notes. |
|
● |
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 make a variety of determinations relating to the Notes,
including the amounts that will be paid on the Notes. Under some
circumstances, these duties could result in a conflict of interest
between its status as our affiliate and its responsibilities as
calculation agent. |
Underlying Stock-related Risks
|
● |
The terms of the Notes will not be adjusted for all
corporate events that could affect the issuer of the Underlying
Stock. The Price Multiplier of the Underlying Stock, the
determination of the payments on the Notes, and other terms of the
Notes may be adjusted for the specified corporate events affecting
the Underlying Stock, as described in the section entitled
“Description of the Notes—Anti-Dilution Adjustments” beginning on
page PS-23 of the accompanying product supplement. However, these
adjustments do not cover all corporate events that could affect the
market price of the Underlying Stock, such as offerings of common
shares for cash or in connection with certain acquisition |
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-9 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
transactions. The occurrence of any event that does not require the
calculation agent to adjust the Price Multiplier or the amounts
that may be paid on the Notes at maturity may adversely affect the
price of the Underlying Stock, and, as a result, the market value
of the Notes.
Tax-related Risks
|
● |
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 contingent income-bearing single financial contracts, as
described below 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 income, gain or loss with respect to the Notes may
differ. No ruling will be requested from 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. |
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-10 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
The
Underlying Stock
We have derived the following information on the Underlying Stock
and the company issuing the Underlying Stock (the “Underlying
Company”) from publicly available documents. Because the Underlying
Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Underlying Company is required to file periodically certain
financial and other information specified by the SEC. Information
provided to or filed with the SEC by the Underlying Company can be
located through the SEC’s web site at sec.gov by reference to the
CIK number set forth below.
This document relates only to the offering of the Notes and does
not relate to any offering of Underlying Stock or any other
securities of the Underlying Company. None of us, the Guarantor,
BofAS or any of our other affiliates has made any due diligence
inquiry with respect to the Underlying Company in connection with
the offering of the Notes. None of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or any
of our other affiliates has independently verified the accuracy or
completeness of the publicly available documents or any other
publicly available information regarding the Underlying Company and
hence makes no representation regarding the same. Furthermore,
there can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the
date of this document, including events that would affect the
accuracy or completeness of these publicly available documents that
could affect the trading price of the Underlying Stock, have been
or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events
or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events
concerning the Underlying Company could affect the price of the
Underlying Stock and therefore could affect your return on the
Notes. The selection of the Underlying Stock is not a
recommendation to buy or sell the Underlying Stock.
Citigroup Inc.
Citigroup Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company
that provides a broad range of financial services to consumer and
corporate customers. The company services include investment
banking, retail brokerage, corporate banking, and cash management
products and services. Citigroup serves customers globally. This
Underlying Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol "C." The
company's CIK number is 0000831001.
Historical Performance of C
The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of
C in the period from January 2, 2018 through January 24, 2023. We
obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not
independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the
information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. The Closing Market Prices
reflected in the graph below may have been adjusted to reflect
certain corporate actions, such as stock splits and reverse stock
splits. The horizontal line in the graph represents C’s
hypothetical Coupon Barrier and hypothetical Threshold Value of
$35.99 (rounded to two decimal places), which is 70% of C’s
hypothetical Starting Value of $51.42, which was its Closing Market
Price on January 24, 2023. The actual Starting Value, Coupon
Barrier and Threshold Value will be determined on the pricing
date.

This historical data on C is not necessarily indicative of the
future performance of C or what the value of the Notes may be. Any
historical upward or downward trend in the Closing Market Price of
C during any period set forth above is not an indication that the
Closing Market Price of C is more or less likely to increase or
decrease at any time over the term of the Notes.
Before investing in the Notes, you should consult publicly
available sources for the Closing Market Prices and trading pattern
of C.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-11 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Role of BofAS and Conflicts
of Interest
BofAS, a broker-dealer affiliate of ours, is a member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and will
participate as selling agent in the distribution of the Notes.
Accordingly, the offering of the Notes will conform to the
requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. BofAS may not make sales in this
offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior
written approval of the account holder.
We expect to deliver the Notes against payment therefor in New
York, New York on a date that is greater than two business days
following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are
required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any
such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial
settlement of the Notes occurs more than two business days from the
pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than two
business days prior to the original issue date will be required to
specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed
settlement.
Under our distribution agreement with BofAS, BofAS will purchase
the Notes from us as principal at the public offering price
indicated on the cover of this pricing supplement, less the
indicated underwriting discount, if any. BofAS will sell the Notes
to other broker-dealers that will participate in the offering and
that are not affiliated with us, at an agreed discount to the
principal amount. Each of those broker-dealers may sell the Notes
to one or more additional broker-dealers. BofAS has informed us
that these discounts may vary from dealer to dealer and that not
all dealers will purchase or repurchase the Notes at the same
discount. Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to
certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their
selling concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price
for investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory
accounts may be as low as $982.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes.
BofAS and any of our other broker-dealer affiliates may use this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus for offers and sales in
secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the
Notes. However, they are not obligated to engage in such secondary
market transactions and/or market-making transactions. These
broker-dealer affiliates may act as principal or agent in these
transactions, and any such sales will be made at prices related to
prevailing market conditions at the time of the sale.
At BofAS’s discretion, for a short, undetermined initial period
after the issuance of the Notes, BofAS may offer to buy the Notes
in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial
estimated value of the Notes. Any price offered by BofAS for the
Notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other
considerations, including the performance of the Underlying Stock
and the remaining term of the Notes. However, none of us, the
Guarantor, BofAS or any of our other affiliates is obligated to
purchase your Notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot
assure you that any party will purchase your Notes at a price that
equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the Notes.
Any price that BofAS may pay to repurchase the Notes will depend
upon then prevailing market conditions, the creditworthiness of us
and the Guarantor, and transaction costs. At certain times, this
price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value
of the Notes.
Sales Outside of the United States
The Notes have not been approved for public sale in any
jurisdiction outside of the United States. There has been no
registration or filing as to the Notes with any regulatory,
securities, banking, or local authority outside of the United
States and no action has been taken by BofA Finance, BAC, BofAS or
any other affiliate of BAC, to offer the Notes in any jurisdiction
other than the United States. As such, these Notes are made
available to investors outside of the United States only in
jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offer or sale and
only under circumstances that will result in compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, including private placement
requirements.
Further, no offer or sale of the Notes is being made to residents
of:
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-12 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
You are urged to carefully review the selling restrictions that may
be applicable to your jurisdiction beginning on page S-56 of the
accompanying prospectus supplement.
European Economic Area and United Kingdom
None of this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the accompanying
prospectus supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the
Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This pricing supplement,
the accompanying product supplement, the accompanying prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement have been prepared on
the basis that any offer of Notes in any Member State of the
European Economic Area (the “EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (each,
a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a
qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified
Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an
offer in that Relevant State of Notes which are the subject of the
offering contemplated in this pricing supplement, the accompanying
product supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
accompanying prospectus supplement may only do so with respect to
Qualified Investors. Neither BofA Finance nor BAC has authorized,
nor does it authorize, the making of any offer of Notes other than
to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation”
means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA AND UNITED KINGDOM RETAIL
INVESTORS – The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or
otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or
otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or in
the United Kingdom. For these purposes: (a) a retail investor means
a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in
point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended
(“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive
(EU) 2016/97 (the Insurance Distribution Directive) where that
customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in
point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified
investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and (b) the
expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by
any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and
the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to
purchase or subscribe for the Notes. Consequently no key
information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as
amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Notes
or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA
or in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering
or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any
retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful
under the PRIIPs Regulation.
United Kingdom
The communication of this pricing supplement, the accompanying
product supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any other document or materials
relating to the issue of the Notes offered hereby is not being
made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved,
by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the
United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as
amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials
are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the
general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such
documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being
made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional
experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within
the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article
19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial
Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion
Order”)), or who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the
Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it
may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order
(all such persons together being referred to as “relevant
persons”). In the United Kingdom, the Notes offered hereby are only
available to, and any investment or investment activity to which
this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement, the
accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
relates will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person
in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act
or rely on this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with
the issue or sale of the Notes may only be communicated or caused
to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the
FSMA does not apply to BofA Finance, as issuer, or BAC, as
guarantor.
All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in
respect to anything done by any person in relation to the Notes in,
from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-13 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Structuring the Notes
The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to
the performance of the Underlying Stock. The related guarantee is
BAC’s obligation. As is the case for all of our and BAC’s
respective debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the
economic terms of the Notes reflect our and BAC’s actual or
perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition,
because market-linked notes result in increased operational,
funding and liability management costs to us and BAC, BAC typically
borrows the funds under these types of notes at a rate, which we
refer to in this pricing supplement as BAC’s internal funding rate,
that is more favorable to BAC than the rate that it might pay for a
conventional fixed or floating rate debt security. This generally
relatively lower internal funding rate, which is reflected in the
economic terms of the Notes, along with the fees and charges
associated with market-linked notes, typically results in the
initial estimated value of the Notes on the pricing date being less
than their public offering price.
In order to meet our payment obligations on the Notes, at the time
we issue the Notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging
arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other
derivatives) with BofAS or one of our other affiliates. The terms
of these hedging arrangements are determined based upon terms
provided by BofAS and its affiliates, and take into account a
number of factors, including our and BAC’s creditworthiness,
interest rate movements, the volatility of the Underlying Stock,
the tenor of the Notes and the hedging arrangements. The economic
terms of the Notes and their initial estimated value depend in part
on the terms of these hedging arrangements.
BofAS has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include
hedging related charges, reflecting the costs associated with, and
our affiliates’ profit earned from, these hedging arrangements.
Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable
market forces, actual profits or losses from these hedging
transactions may be more or less than any expected amounts.
For further information, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-8
above and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” on page PS-18 of the
accompanying product supplement.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-14 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary
The following summary of the material U.S. federal income and
estate tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership, and
disposition of the Notes supplements, and to the extent
inconsistent supersedes, the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income
Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus 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.
Although the Notes are issued by us, they will be treated as if
they were issued by BAC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly throughout this tax discussion, references to “we,”
“our” or “us” are generally to BAC 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, we
intend to treat the Notes for all tax purposes as contingent
income-bearing single financial contracts with respect to the
Underlying Stock 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. In the opinion of
our counsel, Sidley Austin LLP, it is reasonable to treat the Notes
as contingent income-bearing single financial contracts with
respect to the Underlying Stock. However, Sidley Austin LLP has
advised us that it is unable to conclude that it is more likely
than not that this treatment will be upheld. This discussion
assumes that the Notes constitute contingent income-bearing single
financial contracts with respect to the Underlying Stock for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. If the Notes did not constitute
contingent income-bearing 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 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 pricing
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 the
Underlying Stock 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 the
Underlying Stock 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
issuer of the Underlying Stock and consult your tax advisor
regarding the possible consequences to you, if any, if the issuer
of the Underlying Stock is or becomes a PFIC or is or becomes a
United States real property holding corporation.
U.S. Holders
Although the U.S. federal income tax treatment of any Contingent
Coupon Payment on the Notes is uncertain, we intend to take the
position, and the following discussion assumes, that any Contingent
Coupon Payment constitutes taxable ordinary income to a U.S. Holder
at the time received or accrued in accordance with the U.S.
Holder’s regular method of accounting. By purchasing the Notes you
agree, in the absence of an administrative determination or
judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat any Contingent Coupon
Payment as described in the preceding sentence.
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 (other than amounts
representing any Contingent Coupon Payment, which would be taxed as
described above) and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes. A
U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes will equal
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-15 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
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, 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.
In addition, it is possible that the Notes could be treated as a
unit consisting of a deposit and a put option written by the Note
holder, in which case the timing and character of income on the
Notes would be affected significantly.
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 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.
Non-U.S. Holders
Because the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes
(including any Contingent Coupon Payment) is uncertain, we (or the
applicable paying agent) will withhold U.S. federal income tax at a
30% rate (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty)
on the entire amount of any Contingent Coupon Payment made unless
such payments are effectively connected with the conduct by the
Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the U.S. (in which case,
to avoid withholding, the Non-U.S. Holder will be required to
provide a Form W-8ECI). We (or the applicable paying agent) will
not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. To
claim benefits under an income tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder must
obtain a taxpayer identification number and certify as to its
eligibility under the appropriate treaty’s limitations on benefits
article, if applicable. In addition, special rules may apply to
claims for treaty benefits made by Non-U.S. Holders that are
entities rather than individuals. The availability of a lower rate
of withholding under an applicable income tax treaty will depend on
whether such rate applies to the characterization of the payments
under U.S. federal income tax laws. A Non-U.S. Holder that is
eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax
pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess
amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the
IRS.
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 (not including, for the avoidance of doubt,
amounts representing any Contingent Coupon Payment which would be
subject to the rules discussed in the previous paragraph) upon the
sale, exchange, or redemption of the Notes or their settlement at
maturity, 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 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 any Contingent Coupon
Payment and 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
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-16 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
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 Contingent Coupon Payment and 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, 2025.
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 Underlying Stock 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
Underlying Stock 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 in addition to the
withholding tax described above, tax will be withheld at the
applicable statutory rate. 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 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 — General — 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.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-17 |
Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to the Common
Stock of Citigroup Inc.
Where You Can Find More Information
The terms and risks of the Notes are contained in this pricing
supplement and in the following related product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus, which can be accessed at the
following links:
This pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus have been filed as part of a
registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be
accessed on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or obtained from BofAS
by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus for information about us, BAC
and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and
any other written materials you may have received are superseded by
this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus. Certain terms used but not
defined in this pricing supplement have the meanings set forth in
the accompanying product supplement or prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires
otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or
similar references are to BofA Finance, and not to BAC.
The Notes are our senior debt securities. Any payments on the Notes
are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BAC. The Notes and the
related guarantee are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or secured by collateral. The Notes will rank equally
in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, except obligations that are subject to
any priorities or preferences by law. The related guarantee will
rank equally in right of payment with all of BAC’s other unsecured
and unsubordinated obligations, except obligations that are subject
to any priorities or preferences by law, and senior to its
subordinated obligations. Any payments due on the Notes, including
any repayment of the principal amount, will be subject to the
credit risk of BofA Finance, as issuer, and BAC, as guarantor.
|
CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD
NOTES | PS-18 |
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