The information
in this pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. We may not deliver these securities until a final pricing supplement is
delivered. This pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell these
securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject
to Completion, Preliminary Pricing Supplement dated May 9, 2024
PROSPECTUS Dated April 12, 2024 |
Pricing Supplement No. 2,226 to |
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Dated November 16, 2023 |
Registration Statement Nos. 333-275587; 333-275587-01 |
|
Dated May , 2024 |
|
Rule 424(b)(2) |
$
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
GLOBAL MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES A
Senior Notes
Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June
12, 2025
Based on the Performance of the Common Stock
of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by
Morgan Stanley
Principal at Risk Securities
The Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 12, 2025 Based on
the Performance of the Common Stock of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., which we refer to as the securities, are unsecured obligations of
Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. Unlike ordinary debt
securities, the securities do not pay interest and do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. At maturity, you will receive
for each security that you hold an amount in cash that will vary depending on the price of the common stock of Advanced Micro Devices,
Inc. (“AMD Stock”) on the valuation date (the “final share price”). If the final share price is greater than
or equal to 60% of the initial share price, which we refer to as the downside threshold level, you will receive for each security that
you hold at maturity a positive return on the securities equal to 15.63%, which we refer to as the upside payment. However, if the final
share price is less than the downside threshold level, meaning that AMD Stock has depreciated by more than 40% from the initial share
price, the payment due at maturity will be significantly less than the stated principal amount of the securities by an amount that is
proportionate to the full percentage decrease in the final share price from the initial share price. Under these circumstances, the payment
at maturity will be less than $600 per security and could be zero. Accordingly, you could lose your entire investment in the securities.
The securities are for investors who seek an equity-based return and who are willing to risk their principal and forgo current income
and appreciation above the fixed upside payment in exchange for the opportunity to receive the upside payment and the limited protection
against loss that applies only if the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level. The securities are
notes issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program.
All payments are subject to our credit risk. If we default on
our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. These securities are not secured obligations and you will not have any
security interest in, or otherwise have any access to, any underlying reference asset or assets.
| • | The stated principal amount and issue price of each security is $1,000. |
| • | We will not pay interest on the securities. |
| • | At maturity, you will receive for each $1,000 stated principal amount of securities that you hold: |
| º | If the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level: |
$1,000 + the upside payment
| º | If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, meaning the value of AMD Stock
has declined by more than 40% from the initial share price: |
$1,000 × share performance
factor
Under these circumstances, the
payment at maturity will be significantly less than the stated principal amount of $1,000, and will represent a loss of more than 40%,
and possibly all, of your investment.
| • | The upside payment will be equal to $156.30 per security (15.63% of the stated principal amount).
|
| • | The downside threshold level is $91.90452, which is 60% of the initial share price. |
| • | The share performance factor will be equal to (i) the final share price divided by (ii) the initial
share price. |
| • | The initial share price is $153.1742 |
| • | The final share price will equal the closing price of one share of AMD Stock on June 9, 2025, which
we refer to as the valuation date, multiplied by the adjustment factor on such date. The adjustment factor will be initially set at 1.0
and is subject to change upon certain corporate events affecting AMD Stock. |
| • | Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in AMD Stock. |
| • | The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
| • | The estimated value of the securities on the pricing date is approximately $984.10 per security,
or within $25.00 of that estimate. See “Summary of Pricing Supplement” beginning on PS-2. |
| • | The CUSIP number for the securities is 61776L4B0. The ISIN number for the securities is US61776L4B02. |
You should read the more detailed description of the securities
in this pricing supplement. In particular, you should review and understand the descriptions in “Summary of Pricing Supplement,”
“Terms” and “Additional Information About the Securities.”
The securities are riskier than ordinary debt securities.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on PS-8.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities
regulators have not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this pricing supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.
PRICE $1,000 PER SECURITY
|
Price
to public(1) |
Agent’s
commissions and fees(2) |
Proceeds
to us(3) |
Per Security |
$1,000 |
$10.42 |
$989.58 |
Total |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| (1) | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as placement agents for the securities. The placement
agents will forgo fees for sales to certain fiduciary accounts. The total fees represent
the amount that the placement agents receive from sales to accounts other than such fiduciary
accounts. The placement agents will receive a fee from the Issuer or one of its affiliates
that will not exceed $10.42 per $1,000 principal amount of securities. |
| (2) | Please see “Additional Information
About the Securities—Supplemental Information Concerning Plan of Distribution; Conflicts
of Interest” in this preliminary pricing supplement for information about fees and
commissions. |
| (3) | See “Additional
Information About the Securities—Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on PS-27. |
The agent for this offering, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, is our
affiliate. See “Additional Information About the Securities—Supplemental Information Concerning Plan of Distribution; Conflicts
of Interest” in this pricing supplement.
The securities are not deposits or savings accounts and are
not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality, nor are they obligations
of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
When you read the accompanying prospectus supplement, please
note that all references in such supplement to the prospectus dated November 16, 2023, or to any sections therein, should refer instead
to the accompanying prospectus dated April 12, 2024 or to the corresponding sections of such prospectus, as applicable.
As used in this document, “we,” “us”
and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley or MSFL, or Morgan Stanley and MSFL collectively, as the context requires.
MORGAN STANLEY
SUMMARY OF PRICING SUPPLEMENT
The following summary describes the Enhanced
Trigger Jump Securities due June 12, 2025 Based on the Performance of the Common Stock of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., which we refer
to as the securities, we are offering to you in general terms only. You should read the summary together with the more detailed information
that is contained in the rest of this pricing supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement. You should carefully
consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors.”
The securities offered are medium-term debt
securities issued by MSFL and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The return on the securities at maturity is
based on the performance of the common stock of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., which we refer to as AMD Stock. The securities are for investors
who seek an equity-based return and who are willing to risk their principal and forgo current income and appreciation above the fixed
upside payment in exchange for the opportunity to receive the upside payment and the limited protection against loss that applies only
if the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level. The securities do not guarantee the return of any principal
at maturity, and all payments on the securities are subject to our credit risk.
Each security costs $1,000 |
We are offering the Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 12, 2025, Based on the Performance of the Common Stock of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., which we refer to as the securities. The stated principal amount and issue price of each security is $1,000. The original issue price of each security is $1,000. |
|
|
|
The original issue price includes costs associated with issuing, selling,
structuring and hedging the securities, which are borne by you, and, consequently, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing
date will be less than $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date will be approximately $984.10, or within
$25.00 of that estimate. Our estimate of the value of the securities as determined on the pricing date will be set forth in the final
pricing supplement.
What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?
In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account
that the securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to AMD Stock. The estimated value of the securities
is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to AMD Stock, instruments based on AMD
Stock, volatility and other factors including current and expected interest rates, as well as an interest rate related to our secondary
market credit spread, which is the implied interest rate at which our conventional fixed rate debt trades in the secondary market.
What determines the economic terms of the securities?
In determining the economic terms of the securities, including the
upside payment and the downside threshold level, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market
credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if
the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.
What is the relationship between the estimated value on the pricing
date and the secondary market price of the securities?
The price at which MS & Co. purchases the securities in the
secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to AMD Stock, may |
|
vary from, and be lower than, the estimated value on the pricing date,
because the secondary market price takes into account our secondary market credit spread as well as the bid-offer spread that MS &
Co. would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type and other factors. However, because the costs associated with issuing,
selling, structuring and hedging the securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 6 months following the issue
date, to the extent that MS & Co. may buy or sell the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including
those related to AMD Stock, and to our secondary market credit spreads, it would do so based on values higher than the estimated value.
We expect that those higher values will also be reflected in your brokerage account statements.
MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the
securities, and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time. |
|
|
No guaranteed return of principal; no interest |
Unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities do not pay interest and do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, we will pay to you an amount in cash per security that is less than the $1,000 stated principal amount of each security by an amount proportionate to the decrease in the share price of AMD Stock. This amount will be less than $600 per security, and, as there is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities, you could lose your entire investment. |
|
|
Your appreciation potential is fixed and limited |
Where the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, the appreciation potential of the securities is limited to the fixed upside payment of $156.30 per security (15.63% of the stated principal amount) even if the final share price is significantly greater than the initial share price. |
|
|
Payment at maturity |
At maturity, you will receive for each $1,000 stated principal amount
of securities that you hold an amount in cash based upon the final share price, determined as follows:
• If the final share
price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, you will receive for each $1,000 stated principal amount of securities
that you hold a payment at maturity equal to: |
|
$1,000 + the upside payment |
|
where, |
|
upside payment = $156.30 per security (15.63% of the stated principal amount) |
|
downside threshold level = $91.90452, which is 60% of the initial share price |
|
final share price = the closing price of one share of AMD Stock on the valuation date multiplied by the adjustment factor on such date |
|
initial share price = $153.1742 |
|
and |
|
adjustment factor = 1.0, subject to change upon certain corporate events |
|
affecting AMD Stock. |
|
|
|
• If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, meaning the value of AMD Stock has declined by more than 40% from the initial share price, you will receive for each $1,000 stated principal amount of securities that you hold a payment at maturity equal to: |
|
|
|
$1,000 × share performance factor |
|
|
|
where, |
share performance factor |
= |
final share price |
initial share price |
|
|
|
Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be significantly less than the stated principal amount of $1,000, and will represent a loss of more than 40%, and possibly all, of your investment. |
|
|
|
On PS-6, we have provided a graph titled “Hypothetical Payouts on the Securities at Maturity,” which illustrates the performance of the securities at maturity over a range of hypothetical percentage changes in the closing price of AMD Stock. The graph does not show every situation that may occur. |
|
|
|
You can review the historical prices of AMD Stock for the period from January 1, 2019 through May 8, 2024 in the section of this pricing supplement called “Additional Information About the Securities—Historical Information.” You cannot predict the future performance of AMD Stock based on its historical performance. |
|
|
The adjustment factor may be changed |
During the term of the securities, our affiliate, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or its successors, which we refer to as MS & Co., acting as calculation agent, may make changes to the adjustment factor, initially set at 1.0, to reflect the occurrence of certain corporate events relating to AMD Stock. You should read about these adjustments in the sections of this pricing supplement called “Risk Factors—The antidilution adjustments the calculation agent is required to make do not cover every event that could affect AMD Stock,” “Terms—Adjustment Factor” and “—Antidilution Adjustments.” |
|
|
You have no shareholder rights |
Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in AMD Stock. As an investor in the securities, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to AMD Stock. In addition, you do not have the right to exchange your securities for AMD Stock at any time. |
|
|
Postponement of maturity date |
If the scheduled valuation date is not a trading day or if a market disruption event occurs on that day so the valuation date falls less than two business days prior to the scheduled maturity date, the maturity date will be postponed to the second business day following the valuation date as postponed. |
|
|
You may revoke your offer to purchase the securities prior to our |
We are using this pricing supplement to solicit from you an offer to purchase the securities. You may revoke your offer to purchase the securities at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the relevant agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the securities prior to |
acceptance |
their issuance. In the event of any material changes to the terms of the securities, we will notify you. |
|
|
MS & Co. will be the calculation agent
|
We have appointed our affiliate, MS & Co., to act as calculation agent for The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, the trustee for our senior notes. As calculation agent, MS & Co. will determine the initial share price, the final share price, the share performance factor, the payment to you at maturity, if any, and whether a market disruption event has occurred. |
|
|
MS & Co. will be the agent; conflicts of interest |
The agent for the offering of the securities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, which we refer to as MS & Co., will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account. See “Additional Information About the Securities—Supplemental Information Concerning Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” on PS-28. |
|
|
No affiliation with
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., which we refer to as AMD, is not an affiliate of ours and is not involved with this offering in any way. The obligations represented by the securities are obligations of ours and not of AMD. |
|
|
Where you can find more information on the securities |
The securities are unsecured securities issued as part of our Series A medium-term note program. You can find a general description of our Series A medi
um-term note program in the accompanying prospectus supplement dated November 16, 2023 and prospectus dated April 12, 2024. When you read the accompanying prospectus supplement, please note that all references in such supplement to the prospectus dated November 16, 2023, or to any sections therein, should refer instead to the accompanying prospectus dated April 12, 2024 or to the corresponding sections of such prospectus, as applicable. We describe the basic features of this type of security in the section of the prospectus supplement called “Description of Notes—Notes Linked to Commodity Prices, Single Securities, Baskets of Securities or Indices” and in the section of the prospectus called “Description of Debt Securities—Fixed Rate Debt Securities.” |
|
|
|
Because this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a detailed description of the terms of the securities, you should read the section of this pricing supplement called “Terms.” You should also read the “Additional Information About the Securities” section. You should also read about some of the risks involved in investing in securities in the section of this pricing supplement called “Risk Factors.” The tax and accounting treatment of investments in securities such as these may differ from that of investments in ordinary debt securities or common stock. See the section of this pricing supplement called “Additional Information About the Securities—United States Federal Taxation.” We urge you to consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers with regard to any proposed or actual investment in the securities. |
HYPOTHETICAL PAYOUTS ON THE SECURITIES AT
MATURITY
For each security, the following graph illustrates
the payout on the securities at maturity for a range of hypothetical final share prices.
The graph is based on the following terms:
| • | Stated Principal Amount: $1,000 per security |
| • | Upside Payment: $156.30 per security (15.63% of the stated principal amount) |
| • | Downside Threshold Level: 60% of the initial share price (-40% change in final share price compared with initial share price) |
HOW THE SECURITIES WORK
Upside Scenario. If the final share
price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, the investor would receive the $1,000 stated principal amount plus the
upside payment of $156.30.
Downside Scenario. If the final
share price is less than the downside threshold level, the payment at maturity would be less than the stated principal amount of $1,000
by an amount that is proportionate to the full percentage decrease in the value of AMD Stock.
| · | For example, if the final share price declines by 50% from the initial share price, the payment at maturity would be $500 per security
(50% of the stated principal amount). |
The “Return on Securities” as used
in this preliminary pricing supplement is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per
$1,000 principal amount security to $1,000. The hypothetical returns set forth below reflect the upside payment of $156.30 per security
and the downside threshold level of 60% of the initial share price and assume an initial share price of $150.00. The actual initial share
price is set forth on the cover of this document. The hypothetical returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may
not reflect the actual returns applicable to a purchaser of the securities.
Final Share Price ($) |
Percentage Change from Initial Share Price |
Return on Securities |
225.00 |
50.00% |
15.63% |
210.00 |
40.00% |
15.63% |
195.00 |
30.00% |
15.63% |
180.00 |
20.00% |
15.63% |
165.00 |
10.00% |
15.63% |
160.50 |
7.00% |
15.63% |
157.50 |
5.00% |
15.63% |
153.75 |
2.50% |
15.63% |
150.00 |
0.00% |
15.63% |
142.50 |
-5.00% |
15.63% |
135.00 |
-10.00% |
15.63% |
127.50 |
-15.00% |
15.63% |
120.00 |
-20.00% |
15.63% |
105.00 |
-30.00% |
15.63% |
90.00 |
-40.00% |
15.63% |
88.50 |
-41.00% |
-41.00% |
60.00 |
-60.00% |
-60.00% |
30.00 |
-80.00% |
-80.00% |
0.00 |
-100.00% |
-100.00% |
Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at
Maturity
The following examples illustrate how the returns
on the securities set forth in the table are calculated.
Example 1: The price of the AMD Stock increases
from the initial share price of $150.00 to a final share price of $225.00. Because the final share price is greater than the downside
threshold level of 60% of the initial share price, the investor receives $1,000 plus the upside payment of $156.30, a return on
the securities of 15.63%, but does not participate in the appreciation of the AMD Stock.
Example 2: The price of the AMD Stock decreases
from the initial share price of $150.00 to a final share price of $60.00. Because the final share price is less than the downside
threshold level of 60% of the initial share price, the investor receives a payment at maturity that is less than the stated principal
amount of $1,000 by an amount proportionate to the full percentage decrease of the AMD Stock, calculated as follows:
$1,000 × share performance
factor
$1,000 × ($60.00 / $150.00)
= $400.00
Example 3: The price of the AMD Stock decreases
from the initial share price of $150.00 to a final share price of $135.00. Because the final share price is greater than the downside
threshold level of 60% of the initial share price, the investor receives $1,000 plus the upside payment of $156.30, a return on
the securities of 15.63%.
RISK FACTORS
The securities are not secured debt, are riskier
than ordinary debt securities, and, unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities do not pay interest or guarantee any return of principal
at maturity. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in AMD Stock. This section describes the material risks relating
to the securities. For a further discussion of risk factors, please see the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus. You should
carefully consider whether the securities are suited to your particular circumstances before you decide to purchase them.
Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities
The securities do not pay interest or guarantee the return of any of your principal |
The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that we will not pay you interest on the securities and do not guarantee the return of any of the stated principal amount of the securities at maturity. At maturity, you will receive for each $1,000 stated principal amount of securities that you hold an amount in cash based upon the final share price. If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, you will not receive the upside payment and you will instead receive an amount in cash that is significantly less than the $1,000 stated principal amount of each security by an amount proportionate to the full decline in the value of AMD Stock. Under these circumstances, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment. There is no minimum payment at maturity on the securities, and, accordingly, you could lose your entire initial investment in the securities. See “Hypothetical Payouts on the Securities at Maturity” on PS–8. |
|
|
Your appreciation potential is fixed and limited |
The appreciation potential of the securities is limited to the fixed upside payment of $156.30 per security (15.63% of the stated principal amount) even if the final share price is significantly greater than the initial share price. |
|
|
The market price of the securities may be influenced by many unpredictable factors |
Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence
the value of the securities in the secondary market and the price at which MS & Co. may be willing to purchase or sell the securities
in the secondary market. We expect that, generally, the trading price of AMD Stock on any day will affect the value of the securities
more than any other single factor. Other factors that may influence the value of the securities include:
• the volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes
in price) of AMD Stock;
• geopolitical conditions and economic, financial,
political, regulatory or judicial events that affect AMD Stock or stock markets generally and which may affect AMD and the price of AMD
Stock;
• interest and yield rates in the market;
• the dividend rate on AMD Stock, if any;
• the time remaining until the securities mature;
• the occurrence of certain events affecting AMD
Stock that may or may not require an adjustment to the adjustment factor; and
• any actual or anticipated changes in our credit
ratings or credit spreads.
Some or all of these factors will influence the price that you
will receive if you sell your securities prior to maturity. For example, you may have to sell your securities at a substantial discount
from the principal amount if the closing price of AMD |
|
Stock is near or below the downside threshold level.
You cannot predict the future performance of AMD Stock based on
its historical performance. The price of AMD Stock may decrease below 60% of the initial share price so that you will receive at maturity
an amount that is significantly less than the stated principal amount of the securities by an amount that is proportionate to the full
decline in the final share price of AMD Stock from the initial share price. |
|
|
The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities |
You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the securities at maturity and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations under the securities, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the securities prior to maturity will be affected by changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any actual or anticipated decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the securities. |
|
|
As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets |
As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of its securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of MSFL securities if they make claims in respect of such securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by Morgan Stanley and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Morgan Stanley. Holders will have recourse only to a single claim against Morgan Stanley and its assets under the guarantee. Holders of securities issued by MSFL should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of Morgan Stanley, including holders of Morgan Stanley-issued securities. |
|
|
The amount payable on the securities is not linked to the price of AMD Stock at any time other than the valuation date |
The final share price will be based on the closing price of one share of AMD Stock on the valuation date, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events. Even if the price of AMD Stock appreciates prior to the valuation date but then drops by the valuation date, the payment at maturity may be significantly less than it would have been had the payment at maturity been linked to the price of AMD Stock prior to such drop. Although the actual price of AMD Stock on the stated maturity date or at other times during the term of the securities may be higher than the final share price, the payment at maturity will be based solely on the final share price of AMD Stock, as determined on the valuation date. |
|
|
Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in AMD Stock |
Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in AMD Stock. As an investor in the securities, you will not have voting rights or the right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to AMD Stock. As a result, any return on the securities will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of AMD Stock and received the dividends paid or distributions made on them. |
|
|
The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both |
Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the prices, if any, at which dealers, including MS & Co., may be willing to purchase the securities in secondary market transactions will likely be significantly lower than the original issue price, because secondary market prices will exclude the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging-related costs that are included in the original issue price and borne by you and because the secondary market prices will reflect our secondary market credit spreads and the bid-offer spread that any dealer would charge in a |
the lower rate and the inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the securities, cause the estimated value of the securities to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices |
secondary market transaction of this type as well as other factors.
The inclusion of the costs of issuing, selling, structuring and hedging
the securities in the original issue price and the lower rate we are willing to pay as issuer make the economic terms of the securities
less favorable to you than they otherwise would be.
However, because the costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring
and hedging the securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 6 months following the issue date, to the extent
that MS & Co. may buy or sell the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related
to AMD Stock, and to our secondary market credit spreads, it would do so based on values higher than the estimated value, and we expect
that those higher values will also be reflected in your brokerage account statements. |
|
|
The estimated value of the securities is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price |
These pricing and valuation models are proprietary and rely in part on subjective views of certain market inputs and certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, because there is no market-standard way to value these types of securities, our models may yield a higher estimated value of the securities than those generated by others, including other dealers in the market, if they attempted to value the securities. In addition, the estimated value on the pricing date does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which dealers, including MS & Co., would be willing to purchase your securities in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your securities at any time after the date of this pricing supplement will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. See also “The market price of the securities may be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above. |
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The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited |
The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the securities. MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time. When it does make a market, it will generally do so for transactions of routine secondary market size at prices based on its estimate of the current value of the securities, taking into account its bid/offer spread, our credit spreads, market volatility, the notional size of the proposed sale, the cost of unwinding any related hedging positions, the time remaining to maturity and the likelihood that it will be able to resell the securities. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the securities easily. Since other broker-dealers may not participate significantly in the secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to trade your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which MS & Co. is willing to transact. If, at any time, MS & Co. were to cease making a market in the securities, it is likely that there would be no secondary market for the securities. Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities to maturity. |
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The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, will make determinations with respect to the securities |
As calculation agent, MS & Co. will determine the initial share price, the downside threshold level and the final share price and whether a market disruption event has occurred or any antidilution adjustment will be made, and will calculate the amount of cash you will receive at maturity, if any. Moreover, certain determinations made by MS & Co., in its capacity as calculation agent, may require it to exercise discretion and make subjective judgments, such as with respect to the occurrence or non-occurrence of market disruption events and the calculation of the final share price (and of any antidilution adjustments). These potentially subjective determinations may adversely affect the payout to you at maturity, if any. For |
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further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Terms—Closing Price,” “—Final Share Price,” “—Valuation Date,” “—Trading Day,” “—Calculation Agent,” “—Market Disruption Event,” “—Antidilution Adjustments” and “—Alternate Exchange Calculation in Case of an Event of Default.” In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date. |
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Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially adversely affect the value of the securities |
One or more of our affiliates and/or third-party dealers expect to carry out hedging activities related to the securities (and to other instruments linked to AMD Stock), including trading in AMD Stock and in options contracts on AMD Stock, as well as in other instruments related to AMD Stock. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the valuation date approaches. Some of our affiliates also trade AMD Stock and other financial instruments related to AMD Stock on a regular basis as part of their general broker-dealer and other businesses. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the day on which the initial share price is determined could potentially increase the initial share price, and, therefore, could increase the downside threshold level, which is the price at or above which AMD Stock must close on the valuation date so that investors do not suffer a substantial loss on their initial investment in the securities. Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities, including on the valuation date, could adversely affect the closing price of AMD Stock on the valuation date, and, accordingly, the amount of cash you will receive at maturity, if any. |
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The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the
securities are uncertain
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Please note that the discussions under “United States Federal
Taxation” in this pricing supplement concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities supersede
the discussions contained in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
There is uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of an investment in the securities due to the lack of governing authority. Our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, is unable to render
a definitive opinion on the tax treatment of the securities at this time as such opinion is dependent in part upon market conditions on
the pricing date. Our counsel’s opinion will therefore be provided only on the pricing date. However, under current law, and based
on current market conditions, our counsel believes that it is at least reasonable to treat a security as a single financial contract that
is an “open transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) were successful
in asserting an alternative treatment for the securities, the timing and character of income on the securities might differ significantly
from the tax treatment described herein. There is a risk that the IRS may seek to treat all or a portion of the gain on the securities
as ordinary income. For example, there is a risk (which, depending on the market conditions on the pricing date, could be substantial)
that the IRS could seek to recharacterize the securities as debt instruments. In that event, U.S. Holders (as defined below) would be
required to accrue into income original issue discount on the securities every year at a “comparable yield” determined at
the time of issuance and recognize all income and gain in respect of the securities as ordinary income. The risk that financial instruments
providing for buffers, triggers or similar downside protection features, such as the securities, would be recharacterized as debt is
greater than the risk of recharacterization for comparable financial instruments that do not have such features. We do not plan to request
a ruling from the IRS regarding the tax treatment of the securities, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax |
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treatment described in this pricing supplement.
In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice
requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice
focuses in particular on whether to require holders of these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks
for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; whether short-term
instruments should be subject to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange-traded status of the instruments
and the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated
accruals) realized by Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should
be subject to the “constructive ownership” rule, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital
gain as ordinary income and impose an interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective
dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect
the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, possibly with retroactive effect.
Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should read carefully the discussion
under “United States Federal Taxation” in this pricing supplement and consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of
the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state,
local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction. |
Risks Relating to AMD Stock
We are not affiliated with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., which we refer to as AMD, is not an affiliate of ours and is not involved with this offering in any way. Consequently, we have no ability to control the actions of AMD, including any corporate actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payout to you at maturity. AMD has no obligation to consider your interests as an investor in the securities in taking any corporate actions that might affect the value of your securities. None of the money you pay for the securities will go to AMD. |
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We may engage in business with or involving AMD without regard to your interests |
We or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with AMD without regard to your interests, including extending loans to, or making equity investments in, AMD or its affiliates or subsidiaries or providing advisory services to AMD, such as merger and acquisition advisory services. In the course of our business, we or our affiliates may acquire non-public information about AMD. Neither we nor any of our affiliates undertakes to disclose any such information to you. In addition, we or our affiliates from time to time have published and in the future may publish research reports with respect to AMD Stock. These research reports may or may not recommend that investors buy or hold AMD Stock. |
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The antidilution adjustments the calculation agent is required to make do not cover every corporate event that could affect AMD Stock |
MS & Co., as calculation agent, will adjust the adjustment factor for certain corporate events affecting AMD Stock, such as stock splits, stock dividends and extraordinary dividends, and for certain other corporate actions involving AMD Stock. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment for every corporate event or every distribution that could affect AMD Stock. In addition, no adjustments will be made for regular cash dividends, which are expected to reduce the price of AMD Stock by the amount of such dividends. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the adjustment factor, such as a regular cash dividend, the market price of the securities and your return on the |
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securities may be materially and adversely affected. The determination by the calculation agent to adjust, or not to adjust, an adjustment factor may materially and adversely affect the market price of the securities. For example, if the record date for a regular cash dividend were to occur on or shortly before the valuation date, this may decrease the final share price to be less than the downside threshold level (resulting in a loss of a significant portion of all of your investment in the securities), materially and adversely affecting your return. |
TERMS
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
given to such terms in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The term “Security” refers to each $1,000 Stated Principal
Amount of the Enhanced Trigger Jump Securities due June 12, 2025, Based on the Performance of the Common Stock of Advanced Micro Devices,
Inc. (“AMD Stock”).
Aggregate Principal Amount |
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$ |
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Pricing Date |
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May 9, 2024 |
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Original Issue Date (Settlement Date) |
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May 13, 2024 (2 Business Days after the Pricing Date) |
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Maturity Date |
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June 12, 2025, provided that, if, due to a Market Disruption Event or otherwise, the Valuation Date is postponed so that it falls less than two Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date, the Maturity Date will be postponed to the second Business Day following the Valuation Date as postponed. See “—Valuation Date” below. |
In the event that
the Maturity Date of this Security is postponed due to postponement of the Valuation Date, as described in the immediately preceding
paragraph, the Issuer shall give notice of such postponement and, once it has been determined, of the date to which the Maturity Date
has been rescheduled (i) to the holder of this Security by mailing notice of such postponement by first class mail, postage prepaid,
to the holder’s last address as it shall appear upon the registry books, (ii) to the Trustee by facsimile, confirmed by mailing
such notice to the Trustee by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its New York office and (iii) to The Depository Trust Company (the
“Depositary”) by telephone or facsimile confirmed by mailing such notice to the Depositary by first class mail, postage prepaid.
Any notice that is mailed to the holder of this Security in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly
given to such holder, whether or not such holder receives the notice. The Issuer shall give such notice as promptly as possible, and
in no case later than (i) with respect to notice of postponement of the Maturity Date, the Business Day immediately preceding the scheduled
Maturity Date and (ii) with respect to notice of the date to which the Maturity Date has been rescheduled, the Business Day immediately
following the Valuation Date as postponed.
Issue Price |
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$1,000 per Security |
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Stated Principal Amount |
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$1,000 per Security |
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Denominations |
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$1,000 and integral multiples thereof |
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CUSIP Number |
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61776L4B0 |
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ISIN Number |
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US61776L4B02 |
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Interest Rate |
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None |
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Specified Currency |
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U.S. dollars |
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Payment at Maturity |
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At maturity, we will pay with respect to each $1,000 Stated Principal Amount of Securities an amount in cash equal to: |
· If
the Final Share Price is greater than or equal to the Downside Threshold Level:
$1,000 + the
Upside Payment
· If
the Final Share Price is less than the Downside Threshold Level:
$1,000 × Share
Performance Factor
We shall, or shall
cause the Calculation Agent to, (i) provide written notice to the Trustee and to The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to as DTC,
of the amount of cash to be delivered with respect to each $1,000 Stated Principal Amount of the Securities, on or prior to 10:30 a.m.
(New York City time) on the Business Day preceding the Maturity Date, and (ii) deliver the aggregate cash amount, if any, due with respect
to the Securities to the Trustee for delivery to DTC, as holder of the Securities, on the Maturity Date. We expect such amount of cash,
if any, will be distributed to investors on the Maturity Date in accordance with the standard rules and procedures of DTC and its direct
and indirect participants. See “Additional Information About the Securities—Book Entry Note or Certificated Note” below,
and see “Forms of Securities—The Depositary” in the accompanying prospectus.
Upside Payment |
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$156.30 per Security (15.63% of the Stated Principal Amount). |
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Share Performance Factor |
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A fraction, the numerator of which is the Final Share Price and the denominator of which is the Initial Share Price, as expressed by the following formula: |
Share Performance Factor |
= |
Final Share Price |
Initial Share Price |
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Initial Share Price |
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$153.1742 |
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Downside Threshold Level |
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$91.90452, which is 60% of the Initial Share Price. |
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Closing Price |
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Subject to the provisions set out under “—Antidilution Adjustments” below, the Closing Price for one share of AMD Stock (or one unit of any other security for which a Closing Price must be determined) on any Trading Day (as defined below) means: |
| • | if AMD Stock (or any such other security) is listed on a national securities exchange (other than The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq”)), the last reported sale price, regular way, of the principal trading session on such
day on the principal national securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), on which AMD Stock (or any such other security) is listed, |
| • | if AMD Stock (or any such other security) is a security of the Nasdaq, the official closing price published
by the Nasdaq on such day, or |
| • | if AMD Stock (or any such other security) is not listed on any national securities exchange but is included
in the OTC Bulletin Board Service (the “OTC Bulletin Board”) operated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(“FINRA”), the last reported sale price of the principal trading session on the OTC Bulletin Board on such day. |
If AMD Stock (or
any such other security) is listed on any national securities exchange but the last reported sale price or the official closing price
published by the Nasdaq, as applicable, is not available pursuant to the preceding sentence, then the Closing Price for one share of AMD
Stock (or one unit of any such other security) on any Trading Day will mean the last reported sale price of the principal trading session
on the over-the-counter market as reported on the Nasdaq or the OTC Bulletin Board on such day. If a Market Disruption Event (as defined
below) occurs with respect to AMD Stock (or any such other security) or the last reported sale price or the official closing price published
by the Nasdaq, as applicable, for AMD Stock (or any such other security) is not available pursuant to either of the two preceding sentences,
then the Closing Price for any Trading Day will be the mean, as determined by the Calculation Agent, of the bid prices for AMD Stock (or
any such other security) for such Trading Day obtained from as many recognized dealers in such security, but not exceeding three, as will
make such bid prices available to the Calculation Agent. Bids of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”) and its successors
or any of its affiliates may be included in the calculation of such mean, but only to the extent that any such bid is the highest of the
bids obtained. If no bid prices are provided from any third-party dealers, the Closing Price shall be determined by the Calculation Agent
in its sole and absolute discretion (acting in good faith) taking into account any information that it deems relevant. The term “OTC
Bulletin Board Service” will include any successor service thereto, or, if applicable, the OTC Reporting Facility operated by FINRA.
See “—Alternate Exchange Calculation in Case of an Event of Default” and “—Antidilution Adjustments”
below.
Final Share Price |
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The Closing Price of one share of AMD Stock on the Valuation Date multiplied by the Adjustment Factor on such date, each as determined by the Calculation Agent on the Valuation Date. |
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Adjustment Factor |
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1.0, subject to adjustment in the event of certain corporate events affecting AMD Stock. See “—Antidilution Adjustments” below. |
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Valuation Date |
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June 9, 2025, subject to adjustment for non-Trading Days and Market Disruption Events, as described in the following paragraph. |
If a Market Disruption Event occurs on the scheduled Valuation Date, or if such Valuation Date is not a Trading
Day, the Final
Share Price will
be determined on the immediately succeeding Trading Day on which no Market Disruption Event shall have occurred; provided that the Final
Share Price will not be determined on a date later than the fifth scheduled Trading Day after the scheduled Valuation Date, and if such
date is not a Trading Day or if there is a Market Disruption Event on such date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Final Share
Price as the mean, as determined by the Calculation Agent, of the bid prices for AMD Stock for such date obtained from as many recognized
dealers in such security, but not exceeding three, as will make such bid prices available to the Calculation Agent. Bids of MS & Co.
or any of its affiliates may be included in the calculation of such mean, but only to the extent that any such bid is the highest of the
bids obtained. If no bid prices are provided from any third-party dealers, the Closing Price on such date shall be determined by the Calculation
Agent in its sole and absolute discretion (acting in good faith), taking into account any information that it deems relevant.
Trading Day |
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A day, as determined by the Calculation Agent, on which trading is generally conducted on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and in the over-the-counter market for equity securities in the United States. |
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Trustee |
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The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation |
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Agent |
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MS & Co. and its successors |
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Calculation Agent |
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MS & Co. and its successors |
All determinations
made by the Calculation Agent will be at the sole discretion of the Calculation Agent and will, in the absence of manifest error, be
conclusive for all purposes and binding on you, the Trustee and us.
All calculations
and determinations with respect to the Payment at Maturity, if any, will be made by the Calculation Agent and will be rounded to the
nearest one hundred-thousandth, with five one-millionths rounded upward (e.g., .876545 would be rounded to .87655); all dollar amounts
related to determination of the amount of cash payable per Security, if any, will be rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth, with five
one hundred-thousandths rounded upward (e.g., .76545 would be rounded up to .7655); and all dollar amounts paid on the aggregate
number of Securities will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward.
Because the Calculation
Agent is our affiliate, the economic interests of the Calculation Agent and its affiliates may be adverse to your interests as an investor
in the Securities, including with respect to certain determinations and judgments that the Calculation Agent must make in determining
the Initial Share Price, the Downside Threshold Level, the Final Share Price, the Share Performance Factor, the Payment at Maturity,
whether to make any adjustments to the Adjustment Factor or whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred. See “—Alternate
Exchange Calculation in Case of an Event of Default,” “—Market Disruption Event” and “—Antidilution
Adjustments.” MS & Co. is obligated to carry out its duties and functions as Calculation Agent in good faith and using its
reasonable judgment.
Market Disruption Event |
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Market Disruption Event means, with respect to AMD Stock: |
(i) the occurrence
or existence of:
(a) a suspension,
absence or material limitation of trading of AMD Stock on the primary market for AMD Stock for more than two hours of trading or during
the one-half hour period preceding the close of the principal trading session in such market, or
(b) a breakdown or
failure in the price and trade reporting systems of the primary market for AMD Stock as a result of which the reported trading prices
for AMD Stock during the last one-half hour preceding the close of the principal trading session in such market are materially inaccurate,
or
(c) the suspension,
absence or material limitation of trading on the primary market for trading in futures or options contracts related to AMD Stock, if
available, during the one-half hour period preceding the close of the principal trading session in the applicable market,
in each case as determined
by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion; and
(ii) a determination
by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion that any event described in clause (i) above materially interfered with our ability or
the ability of any of our affiliates to unwind or adjust all or a material portion of the hedge position with respect to the Securities.
For purposes of determining
whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred: (1) a limitation on the hours or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market
Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the relevant exchange or market, (2) a decision
to permanently discontinue trading in the relevant futures or options contract will not constitute a Market Disruption Event, (3) a suspension
of trading in options contracts on AMD Stock by the primary securities market trading in such options, if available, by reason of
(x) a price change
exceeding limits set by such securities exchange or market, (y) an imbalance of orders relating to such contracts or (z) a disparity
in bid and ask quotes relating to such contracts will constitute a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in options contracts
related to AMD Stock and (4) a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading on the primary securities market on which options
contracts related to AMD Stock are traded will not include any time when such securities market is itself closed for trading under ordinary
circumstances.
Antidilution Adjustments |
|
The Adjustment Factor will be adjusted as follows: |
1. If
AMD Stock is subject to a stock split or reverse stock split, then once such split has become effective, the Adjustment Factor will be
adjusted to equal the product of the prior Adjustment Factor and the number of shares issued in such stock split or reverse stock split
with respect to one share of AMD Stock.
2. If
AMD Stock is subject (i) to a stock dividend (issuance of additional shares of AMD Stock) that is given ratably to all holders of shares
of AMD Stock or (ii) to a distribution of AMD Stock as a result of the triggering of any provision of the corporate charter of Advanced
Micro Devices, Inc. (“AMD”) then once the dividend has become effective and AMD Stock is trading ex-dividend, the Adjustment
Factor will be adjusted so that the new Adjustment Factor shall equal the prior Adjustment Factor plus the product of (i) the number
of shares issued with respect to one share of AMD Stock and (ii) the prior Adjustment Factor.
3. If
AMD issues rights or warrants to all holders of AMD Stock to subscribe for or purchase AMD Stock at an exercise price per share less
than the Closing Price of AMD Stock on both (i) the date the exercise price of such rights or warrants is determined and (ii) the expiration
date of such rights or warrants, and if the expiration date of such rights or warrants precedes the maturity of the Securities, then
the Adjustment Factor will be adjusted to equal the product of the prior Adjustment Factor and a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the number of shares of AMD Stock outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of additional
shares of AMD Stock offered for subscription or purchase pursuant to such rights or warrants and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of AMD Stock outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of additional
shares of AMD Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of AMD Stock so offered for subscription or purchase
pursuant to such rights or warrants would purchase at the Closing Price on the expiration date of such rights or warrants, which shall
be determined by multiplying such total number of shares offered by the exercise price of such rights or warrants and dividing the product
so obtained by such Closing Price.
4. There will
be no required adjustments to the Adjustment Factor to reflect cash dividends or other distributions paid with
respect to AMD Stock
other than distributions described in paragraph 2, paragraph 3 and clauses (i), (iv) and (v) of paragraph 5 and Extraordinary Dividends
as described below. A cash dividend or other distribution with respect to AMD Stock will be deemed to be an “Extraordinary Dividend”
if such cash dividend or distribution exceeds the immediately preceding non-Extraordinary Dividend for AMD Stock by an amount equal to
at least 10% of the Closing Price of AMD Stock (as adjusted for any subsequent corporate event requiring an adjustment hereunder, such
as a stock split or reverse stock split) on the Trading Day preceding the ex-dividend date (that is, the day on and after which transactions
in AMD Stock on the primary U.S. organized securities exchange or trading system on which AMD Stock is traded no longer carry the right
to receive that cash dividend or that cash distribution) for the payment of such Extraordinary Dividend (such closing price, the “Base
Closing Price”). If an Extraordinary Dividend occurs with respect to AMD Stock, the Adjustment Factor with respect to AMD Stock
will be adjusted on the ex-dividend date with respect to such Extraordinary Dividend so that the new Adjustment Factor will equal the
product of (i) the then current Adjustment Factor and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Base Closing Price, and the denominator
of which is the amount by which the Base Closing Price exceeds the Extraordinary Dividend Amount. The “Extraordinary Dividend Amount”
with respect to an Extraordinary Dividend for AMD Stock will equal (i) in the case of cash dividends or other distributions that constitute
regular dividends, the amount per share of such Extraordinary Dividend minus the amount per share of the immediately preceding non-Extraordinary
Dividend for AMD Stock or (ii) in the case of cash dividends or other distributions that do not constitute regular dividends, the amount
per share of such Extraordinary Dividend. To the extent an Extraordinary Dividend is not paid in cash, the value of the non-cash component
will be determined on the ex-dividend date for such distribution by the Calculation Agent, whose determination shall be conclusive. A
distribution on AMD Stock described in clause (i), (iv) or (v) of paragraph 5 shall cause an adjustment to the Adjustment Factor pursuant
only to clause (i), (iv) or (v) of paragraph 5, as applicable.
5. If (i) there
occurs any reclassification or change of AMD Stock, including, without limitation, as a result of the issuance of any tracking stock
by AMD, (ii) AMD or any surviving entity or subsequent surviving entity of AMD (the “Successor Corporation”) has been subject
to a merger, combination or consolidation and is not the surviving entity, (iii) any statutory exchange of securities of AMD or any Successor
Corporation with another corporation occurs (other than pursuant to clause (ii) above), (iv) AMD is liquidated, (v) AMD issues to all
of its shareholders equity securities of an issuer other than AMD (other than in a transaction described in clause (ii), (iii) or (iv)
above) (a “Spin-Off Event”) or (vi) a tender or exchange offer or going-private transaction is consummated for all the outstanding
shares of AMD Stock (any such event in clauses (i) through (vi), a
“Reorganization
Event”), the method of determining the Payment at Maturity for each Stated Principal Amount shall be determined in accordance with
“—Payment at Maturity” above, except that all references to the “Final Share Price” therein shall be deemed
to refer to the “Final Exchange Property Value” (as defined below).
“Final Exchange
Property Value” means the Exchange Property Value as of the Valuation Date.
“Exchange Property
Value” means (x) for any cash received in any Reorganization Event, the value, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole
discretion, as of the date of receipt, of such cash received for one share of AMD Stock, as adjusted by the Adjustment Factor at the
time of such Reorganization Event, (y) for any property other than cash or securities received in any such Reorganization Event, the
market value, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion, as of the date of receipt, of such Exchange Property received
for one share of AMD Stock, as adjusted by the Adjustment Factor at the time of such Reorganization Event and (z) for any security received
in any such Reorganization Event, an amount equal to the closing price, as of the day on which the Exchange Property Value is determined,
per share of such security multiplied by the quantity of such security received for each share of AMD Stock, as adjusted by the Adjustment
Factor at the time of such Reorganization Event.
“Exchange Property”
means securities, cash or any other assets distributed to holders of AMD Stock in or as a result of any such Reorganization Event, including
(A) in the case of the issuance of tracking stock, the reclassified share of AMD Stock, (B) in the case of a Spin-Off Event, the share
of AMD Stock with respect to which the spun-off security was issued, and (C) in the case of any other Reorganization Event where AMD
Stock continues to be held by the holders receiving such distribution, AMD Stock.
For purposes of paragraph
5 above, in the case of a consummated tender or exchange offer or going-private transaction involving consideration of particular types,
Exchange Property shall be deemed to include the amount of cash or other property delivered by the offeror in the tender or exchange
offer (in an amount determined on the basis of the rate of exchange in such tender or exchange offer or going-private transaction). In
the event of a tender or exchange offer or a going-private transaction with respect to Exchange Property in which an offeree may elect
to receive cash or other property, Exchange Property shall be deemed to include the kind and amount of cash and other property received
by offerees who elect to receive cash.
Following the occurrence
of any Reorganization Event referred to in paragraph 5 above, all references herein to “AMD Stock” shall be deemed to refer
to the Exchange Property and references to a “share” or “shares” of AMD Stock shall be deemed to refer to the
applicable unit or units of such Exchange Property, unless the context otherwise requires.
No adjustment to
the Adjustment Factor shall be required unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 0.1% in the Adjustment Factor then
in effect. The Adjustment Factor resulting from any of the adjustments specified above shall be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth,
with five one-millionths rounded upward. Adjustments to the Adjustment Factor shall be made up to the close of business on the Valuation
Date.
No adjustments to
the Adjustment Factor or method of calculating the Adjustment Factor will be required other than those specified above. The adjustments
specified above do not cover all events that could affect the closing price of AMD Stock, including, without limitation, a partial tender
or exchange offer for AMD Stock.
The Calculation Agent
shall be solely responsible for the determination and calculation of any adjustments to the Adjustment Factor or method of calculating
the Exchange Property Value and of any related determinations and calculations with respect to any distributions of stock, other securities
or other property or assets (including cash) in connection with any corporate event described in paragraphs 1 through 5 above, and its
determinations and calculations with respect thereto shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
The Calculation Agent
will provide information as to any adjustments to the Adjustment Factor, or to the method of calculating the amount payable at maturity
of the Securities made pursuant to paragraph 5 above, upon written request by any investor in the Securities.
Alternate Exchange
Calculation
in Case of an Event of Default |
|
If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities will have occurred and be continuing, the amount declared due and payable upon any acceleration of the Securities (the “Acceleration Amount”) will be an amount, determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion, that is equal to the cost of having a Qualified Financial Institution, of the kind and selected as described below, expressly assume all our payment and other obligations with respect to the Securities as of that day and as if no default or acceleration had occurred, or to undertake other obligations providing substantially equivalent economic value to you with respect to the Securities. That cost will equal: |
| • | the lowest amount that a Qualified Financial Institution would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking,
plus |
| • | the reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the holders of the Securities
in preparing any documentation necessary for this assumption or undertaking. |
During the Default
Quotation Period for the Securities, which we describe below, the holders of the Securities and/or we may request a Qualified Financial
Institution to provide a quotation of the amount it would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking. If either party obtains a quotation,
it must notify the other party in writing of the quotation. The amount referred to in the first bullet point above will equal the lowest—or,
if there is only one, the only—quotation obtained, and as to which notice is so given, during the Default Quotation Period. With
respect to any quotation, however, the party not obtaining the quotation may object, on reasonable and significant grounds, to the assumption
or undertaking by the Qualified Financial Institution providing the quotation and notify the other party in writing of those grounds within
two Business Days after the last day of the Default Quotation Period, in which case that quotation will be disregarded in determining
the Acceleration Amount.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of, or any analogous proceeding is filed with respect
to MSFL or Morgan Stanley, then depending on applicable bankruptcy law, your claim may be limited to an amount that could be less than
the Acceleration Amount.
If the maturity
of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default as described above, we will, or will cause the Calculation Agent to, provide
written notice to the Trustee at its New York office, on which notice the Trustee may conclusively rely, and to DTC of the Acceleration
Amount and the aggregate cash amount due, if any, with respect to the Securities as promptly as possible and in no event later than two
Business Days after the date of such acceleration.
Default Quotation
Period
The Default Quotation
Period is the period beginning on the day the Acceleration Amount first becomes due and ending on the third Business Day after that day,
unless:
| • | no quotation of the kind referred to above is obtained, or |
| • | every quotation of that kind obtained is objected to within five Business Days after the due date as described
above. |
If either of these
two events occurs, the Default Quotation Period will continue until the third Business Day after the first Business Day on which prompt
notice of a quotation is given as described above. If that quotation is objected to as described above within five Business Days after
that first Business Day, however, the Default Quotation Period will continue as described in the prior sentence and this sentence.
In any event, if
the Default Quotation Period and the subsequent two Business Day objection period have not ended before the
Valuation Date,
then the Acceleration Amount will equal the principal amount of the Securities.
Qualified Financial
Institutions
For the purpose
of determining the Acceleration Amount at any time, a Qualified Financial Institution must be a financial institution organized under
the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or Europe, which at that time has outstanding debt obligations with a stated maturity
of one year or less from the date of issue and rated either:
| • | A-2 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor, or any other comparable
rating then used by that rating agency, or |
| • | P-2 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service or any successor, or any other comparable rating then
used by that rating agency. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ABOUT THE SECURITIES
Interest |
|
None |
|
|
|
Book Entry Note or Certificated Note |
|
Book Entry. The Securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. DTC’s nominee will be the only registered holder of the Securities. Your beneficial interest in the Securities will be evidenced solely by entries on the books of the securities intermediary acting on your behalf as a direct or indirect participant in DTC. In this pricing supplement, all references to actions taken by “you” or to be taken by “you” refer to actions taken or to be taken by DTC and its participants acting on your behalf, and all references to payments or notices to you will mean payments or notices to DTC, as the registered holder of the Securities, for distribution to participants in accordance with DTC’s procedures. For more information regarding DTC and book-entry securities, please read “Forms of Securities—The Depositary” and “Forms of Securities—Global Securities—Registered Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus. |
|
|
|
AMD Stock; Public Information |
|
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. manufactures semiconductor products. AMD Stock is registered under the Exchange Act. Companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act are required to file periodically certain financial and other information specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Information provided to or filed with the Commission can be accessed through a website maintained by the Commission. The address of the Commission’s website is www.sec.gov. Information provided to or filed with the Commission by Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. pursuant to the Exchange Act can be located by reference to the Commission file number 001-07882. In addition, information regarding Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly disseminated documents. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. |
This pricing supplement
relates only to the Securities offered hereby and does not relate to AMD Stock or other securities of AMD. We have derived all disclosures
contained in this pricing supplement regarding AMD from the publicly available documents described in the preceding paragraph. In connection
with the offering of the Securities, neither we nor the Agent has participated in the preparation of such documents or made any due diligence
inquiry with respect to AMD in connection with the offering of the Securities. Neither we nor the Agent makes any representation that
such publicly available documents are or any other publicly available information regarding AMD is accurate or complete. Furthermore,
we cannot give any assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof (including events
that would affect
the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described in the preceding paragraph) that would affect the trading
price of AMD Stock (and therefore the price of AMD Stock at the time we price the Securities) have been publicly disclosed. Subsequent
disclosure of any such events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning AMD could affect the value
received at maturity with respect to the Securities and therefore the value of the Securities.
Neither we nor
any of our affiliates makes any representation to you as to the performance of AMD Stock.
We and/or our
affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with AMD, including extending loans to, or making equity investments
in, AMD or providing advisory services to AMD, including merger and acquisition advisory services. In the course of such business, we
and/or our affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to AMD, and neither we nor any of our affiliates undertakes to
disclose any such information to you. In addition, one or more of our affiliates may publish research reports with respect to AMD, and
the reports may or may not recommend that investors buy or hold AMD Stock. As a prospective purchaser of the Securities, you should undertake
an independent investigation of AMD as in your judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to an investment in
AMD Stock.
Historical Information |
|
The following table sets forth the published high and low Closing Prices of AMD Stock for each quarter in the period from January 1, 2021 through May 8, 2024. The Closing Price of AMD Stock on May 8, 2024 was $153.62. We obtained the information in the table below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical prices of AMD Stock should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Closing Price of AMD Stock on the Valuation Date. |
If the Final Share
Price is less than the Downside Threshold Level, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment.
Advanced Micro
Devices, Inc.
Historical
High, Low and Period End Closing Prices
January 1,
2021 through May 8, 2024
|
High ($) |
Low ($) |
2021 |
|
|
First Quarter |
97.25 |
73.96 |
Second Quarter |
93.93 |
73.09 |
Third Quarter |
118.77 |
85.89 |
Fourth Quarter |
161.91 |
100.34 |
2022 |
|
|
First Quarter |
150.24 |
102.25 |
Second Quarter |
110.53 |
76.47 |
Third Quarter |
103.91 |
63.36 |
Fourth Quarter |
77.63 |
55.94 |
2023 |
|
|
First Quarter |
100.28 |
62.33 |
Second Quarter |
129.19 |
81.62 |
Third Quarter |
118.32 |
95.96 |
Fourth Quarter |
148.76 |
93.67 |
2024 |
|
|
First Quarter |
211.38 |
135.32 |
Second Quarter (through May 8, 2024) |
183.34 |
144.27 |
The following graph shows the daily Closing Prices of AMD
Stock from January 1, 2019 through May 8, 2024. We obtained the information in the graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without
independent verification. The historical Closing Prices should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can
be given as to the Closing Price on the Valuation Date.
Historical Daily
Closing Prices of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
January
1, 2019 through May 8, 2024
*The red solid line
indicates the downside threshold level, which is 60% of the initial share price.
Use of Proceeds and Hedging |
|
The proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be used by us for general corporate purposes. We will receive, in aggregate, $1,000 per Security issued, because, when we enter into hedging transactions in order to meet our obligations under the Securities, our hedging counterparty will reimburse the cost of the Agent’s commissions. The costs of the Securities borne by you and described beginning on PS-2 above comprise the Agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the Securities. See also “Use of Proceeds” in the accompanying prospectus. |
On or prior to the
day on which the Initial Share Price is determined, we will hedge our anticipated exposure in connection with the Securities by entering
into hedging transactions with our affiliates and/or third party dealers. We expect our hedging counterparties to take positions in AMD
Stock, in futures and/or options contracts on AMD Stock listed on major securities
markets, or positions
in any other available securities or instruments that they may wish to use in connection with such hedging. Such purchase activity could
potentially increase the price of AMD Stock on the day on which the Initial Share Price is determined, and, therefore, could increase
the Downside Threshold Level, which is the price at or above which AMD Stock must close on the Valuation Date so that investors do not
suffer a substantial loss on their initial investment in the Securities. In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify
our hedge position throughout the term of the Securities, including on the Valuation Date, by purchasing and selling AMD Stock, futures
or options contracts on AMD Stock listed on major securities markets or positions in any other available securities or instruments that
we may wish to use in connection with such hedging activities. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions
during the term of the Securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as
the Valuation Date approaches. We cannot give any assurance that our hedging activities will not affect the price of AMD Stock, and, therefore,
adversely affect the value of the Securities or the payment you will receive at maturity, if any.
Supplemental Information Concerning
Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest |
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and their affiliates will act as placement agents for the Securities and will receive a fee from us or one of our affiliates that will not exceed $10.42 per $1,000 stated principal amount of Securities, but will forgo any fees for sales to certain fiduciary accounts. |
MS & Co. is an
affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and it and other affiliates of ours expect to make a profit by selling,
structuring and, when applicable, hedging the Securities. When MS & Co. prices this offering of securities, it will determine the
economic terms of the Securities such that for each Security the estimated value on the Pricing Date will be no lower than the minimum
level described in “Summary of Pricing Supplement” beginning on PS-2.
MS & Co. will
conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which
is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts
of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account.
In order to facilitate
the offering of the Securities, the Agent may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Securities.
Specifically, the Agent may sell more Securities than it is obligated to purchase in connection with the offering, creating a naked short
position in the Securities, for its own account. The Agent must close out any naked short position by purchasing the Securities in the
open market after the offering. A naked short position in the Securities is more likely to be
created if the Agent
is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely
affect investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means of facilitating the offering, the Agent may bid for, and purchase,
the Securities or AMD Stock in the open market to stabilize the price of the Securities. Any of these activities may raise or maintain
the market price of the Securities above independent market prices or prevent or retard a decline in the market price of the Securities.
The Agent is not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time. An affiliate of the Agent has
entered into a hedging transaction with us in connection with this offering of Securities. See “—Use of Proceeds and Hedging”
above.
United States Federal Taxation |
|
Prospective investors should note that the discussion under the section called “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus supplement does not apply to the Securities issued under this pricing supplement and is superseded by the following discussion. |
The following is a general discussion
of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Securities.
This discussion applies only to investors in the Securities who:
| · | purchase the Securities in the original offering; and |
| · | hold the Securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). |
This discussion does not describe
all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject
to special rules, such as:
| · | certain financial institutions; |
| · | dealers and certain traders in securities or commodities; |
| · | investors holding the Securities as part of a “straddle,” wash sale, conversion transaction, integrated transaction or
constructive sale transaction; |
| · | U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| · | partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| · | regulated investment companies; |
| · | real estate investment trusts; or |
| · | tax-exempt entities, including “individual retirement accounts” or “Roth IRAs” as defined in Section 408 or
408A of the Code, respectively. |
If an entity that is classified as
a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the Securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally
depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding the Securities or a partner
in such a
partnership, you should consult your
tax adviser as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of the Securities to you.
In addition, we will not attempt to
ascertain whether any issuer of any shares to which a Security relates (such shares hereafter referred to as “Underlying Shares”)
is treated as a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code.
If any issuer of Underlying Shares were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply to a Non-U.S. Holder
(as defined below) upon the sale, exchange or settlement of the Securities. You should refer to information filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission or other governmental authorities by the issuers of the Underlying Shares and consult your tax adviser regarding
the possible consequences to you if any issuer is or becomes a USRPHC.
As the law applicable to the U.S.
federal income taxation of instruments such as the Securities is technical and complex, the discussion below necessarily represents only
a general summary. Moreover, the effect of any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws is not discussed, nor are any alternative
minimum tax consequences or consequences resulting from the Medicare tax on investment income.
This discussion is based on the Code,
administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date of this pricing
supplement, changes to any of which subsequent to the date hereof may affect the tax consequences described herein. Persons considering
the purchase of the Securities should consult their tax advisers with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to
their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
General
There is uncertainty regarding the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities due to the lack of governing authority. Our counsel, Davis Polk
& Wardwell LLP, is unable to render a definitive opinion on the tax treatment of the Securities at this time as such opinion is dependent
in part upon market conditions on the pricing date. Our counsel’s opinion will therefore be provided only on the pricing date. However,
under current law, and based on current market conditions, our counsel believes that it is at least reasonable to treat a Security as
a single financial contract that is an “open transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Due to the absence of statutory,
judicial or administrative authorities that directly address the treatment of the Securities or instruments that are similar to the Securities
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, no assurance can be given
that the Internal Revenue Service
(the “IRS”) or a court will agree with the tax treatment described herein. Accordingly, you should consult your tax adviser
regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the Securities (including possible alternative treatments
of the Securities). Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the treatment of the Securities as described in the
previous paragraph.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
This section applies to you only if
you are a U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Security that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes:
| · | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
| · | a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia; or |
| · | an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
Tax Treatment of the Securities
Assuming the treatment of the Securities
as set forth above is respected, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result.
Tax Treatment Prior to Settlement.
A U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize taxable income over the term of the Securities prior to settlement, other than pursuant
to a sale or exchange as described below.
Tax Basis. A U.S. Holder’s
tax basis in the Securities should equal the amount paid by the U.S. Holder to acquire the Securities.
Sale, Exchange or Settlement of
the Securities. Upon a sale, exchange or settlement of the Securities, a U.S. Holder should recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or settlement and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Securities sold, exchanged
or settled. Any gain or loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or settlement of the Securities should be long-term capital gain or loss
if the U.S. Holder has held the Securities for more than one year at such time, and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise.
Possible Alternative Tax Treatments
of an Investment in the Securities
Due to the absence of authorities
that directly address the proper tax treatment of the Securities, no assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or that a court
will uphold, the treatment described above. There is a risk that the IRS may seek to treat all or a portion of the gain on the Securities
as ordinary income. For
example, there is a risk (which, depending
on the market conditions on the pricing date, could be substantial) that the IRS could seek to analyze the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of owning the Securities under Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (the “Contingent Debt Regulations”).
If the IRS were successful in asserting that the Contingent Debt Regulations applied to the Securities, the timing and character of income
thereon would be significantly affected. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be required to accrue into income original issue discount
on the Securities every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time of their issuance, adjusted upward or downward
to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and the projected amount of the contingent payment on the Securities. Furthermore,
any gain realized by a U.S. Holder at maturity or upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Securities would generally be treated
as ordinary income, and any loss realized 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. The risk that financial instruments providing for buffers, triggers or similar
downside protection features, such as the Securities, would be recharacterized as debt is greater than the risk of recharacterization
for comparable financial instruments that do not have such features.
Other alternative federal income tax
treatments of the Securities are also possible, which, if applied, could significantly affect the timing and character of the income or
loss with respect to the Securities. In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S.
federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether
to require holders of these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related
topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; whether short-term instruments should be subject
to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange-traded status of the instruments and the nature of the underlying
property to which the instruments are linked; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership”
rule, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose an interest charge.
While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated
after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, possibly
with retroactive effect. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment
in the Securities, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting
Backup withholding may apply in respect
of the payment on the Securities at maturity and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Securities,
unless a U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with
applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional
tax and may be refunded, or credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information
is timely furnished to the IRS. In addition, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with the payment on the Securities
and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Securities, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an
applicable exemption from the information reporting rules.
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S.
Holders
This section applies to you only if
you are a Non-U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Security that is, for
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | an individual who is classified as a nonresident alien; |
| · | a foreign corporation; or |
| · | a foreign estate or trust. |
The term “Non-U.S. Holder”
does not include any of the following holders:
| · | a holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and who is not
otherwise a resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| · | certain former citizens or residents of the United States; or |
| · | a holder for whom income or gain in respect of the Securities is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in
the United States. |
Such holders should consult their
tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.
Tax Treatment upon Sale, Exchange
or Settlement of the Securities
In general. Assuming the treatment
of the Securities as set forth above is respected, and subject to the discussions below concerning backup withholding and the possible
application of Section 871(m) of the Code and the discussion above concerning the possible application of Section 897 of the Code, a Non-U.S.
Holder of the Securities generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of amounts paid to the Non-U.S.
Holder.
Subject to the discussions regarding
the possible application of Sections 871(m) and 897 of the Code and FATCA, if all or any portion of a Security were recharacterized as
a debt instrument, any payment made to a Non-U.S. Holder with respect to the Securities would not be subject to U.S. federal withholding
tax, provided that:
| · | the Non-U.S. Holder does not own, directly or by attribution, ten percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes
of Morgan Stanley stock entitled to vote; |
| · | the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to Morgan Stanley through stock ownership; |
| · | the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest under Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, and |
| · | the certification requirement described below has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner. |
Certification Requirement.
The certification requirement referred to in the preceding paragraph will be fulfilled if the beneficial owner of a Security (or a financial
institution holding a Security on behalf of the beneficial owner) furnishes to the applicable withholding agent an IRS Form W-8BEN (or
other appropriate form) on which the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person.
In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department
and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts”
and similar instruments. Among the issues addressed in the notice is the degree, if any, to which any income with respect to instruments
such as the Securities should be subject to U.S. withholding tax. It is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated
after consideration of this issue could materially and adversely affect the withholding tax consequences of ownership and disposition
of the Securities, possibly on a retroactive basis. Non-U.S. Holders should note that we currently do not intend to withhold on any payment
made with respect to the Securities to Non-U.S. Holders (subject to compliance by such holders with the certification requirement described
above and to the discussions below regarding Sections 871(m) and 897 of the Code and FATCA). However, in the event of a change of law
or any formal or informal guidance by the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Department or Congress, we may decide to withhold on payments made with
respect to the Securities to Non-U.S. Holders, and we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.
Accordingly, Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an
investment in the Securities, including the possible implications of the notice referred to above.
Section 871(m) Withholding Tax
on Dividend Equivalents
Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury
regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) withholding
tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities
or indices that include U.S. equities (each, an “Underlying Security”). Subject to certain exceptions, Section 871(m) generally
applies to securities that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more Underlying Securities, as determined based
on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “Specified Security”). However, pursuant to an IRS notice, Section
871(m) will not apply to securities issued before January 1, 2025 that do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security.
Based on the terms of the Securities and current market conditions, we expect that the Securities will not have a delta of one with respect
to any Underlying Security on the pricing date. However, we will provide an updated determination in the final pricing supplement. Assuming
that the Securities do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security, our counsel is of the opinion that the Securities
should not be Specified Securities and, therefore, should not be subject to Section 871(m).
Our determination is not binding on
the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular
circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If Section 871(m) withholding
is required, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld. You should consult your tax
adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the Securities.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax
Individual Non-U.S. Holders and entities
the property of which is potentially includible in such an individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example,
a trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the individual has retained certain interests or powers), should note that,
absent an applicable treaty exemption, the Securities may be treated as U.S. situs property subject to U.S. federal estate tax. Prospective
investors that are non-U.S. individuals, or are entities of the type described above, should consult their tax advisers regarding the
U.S. federal estate tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.
Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting
Information returns may be filed with
the IRS in connection with the payment on the Securities at maturity as well as in connection with the payment of proceeds from a sale,
exchange or other disposition of the Securities. A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding in respect of amounts paid to
the Non-U.S. Holder, unless such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person for
U.S. federal
income tax purposes or otherwise establishes
an exemption. Compliance with the certification procedures described above under “―Tax Treatment upon Sale, Exchange or Settlement
of the Securities – Certification Requirement” will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding
as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s
U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished
to the IRS.
FATCA
Legislation commonly referred to as
“FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries)
with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied.
An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. FATCA
generally applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest or other U.S.-source “fixed or
determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). If the Securities were recharacterized as debt instruments,
FATCA would apply to any payment of amounts treated as interest and to payments of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement)
of the Securities. However, under proposed regulations (the preamble to which specifies that taxpayers are permitted to rely on them pending
finalization), no withholding will apply on payments of gross proceeds (other than amounts treated as FDAP income). If withholding were
to apply to the Securities, we would not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. Both U.S. and Non-U.S.
Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of FATCA to the Securities.
The discussion in the preceding
paragraphs under “United States Federal Taxation,” insofar as it purports to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax
laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S.
federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.
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