FWP 1 ms860_fwp-02470.htm AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PRELIMINARY TERMS NO. 860

 

March 2021

Amendment No. 1 dated March 5, 2021 relating to

Preliminary Terms No. 860

Registration Statement Nos. 333-250103; 333-250103-01

Dated February 23, 2021

Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Structured Investments

Opportunities in U.S. and International Equities

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Principal at Risk Securities

The Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities do not guarantee the payment of interest or the repayment of principal. Instead, the securities offer the opportunity for investors to earn a contingent monthly coupon at an annual rate of at least 12.75% (to be determined on the pricing date), but only with respect to each determination date on which the determination closing price of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial share price, which we refer to as the downside threshold price. In addition, if the determination closing price of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to the initial share price on any redemption determination date (beginning approximately six months after the original issue date), the securities will be automatically redeemed for an amount per security equal to the stated principal amount and the contingent monthly coupon. However, if the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, the payment at maturity due on the securities will be as follows: (i) if the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price, the stated principal amount and the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the final determination date, or (ii) if the final share price is less than the downside threshold price, investors will be exposed to the decline in the underlying shares on a 1-to-1 basis and will receive a payment at maturity that is less than 60% of the principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Moreover, if on any determination date the determination closing price of the underlying shares is less than the downside threshold price, you will not receive any contingent monthly coupon for that monthly period. As a result, investors must be willing to accept the risk of not receiving any contingent monthly coupons and also the risk of receiving a payment at maturity that is significantly less than the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Accordingly, investors could lose their entire initial investment in the securities. The securities are for investors who are willing to risk their principal and seek an opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate in exchange for the risk of receiving few or no contingent monthly coupons over the 2.25-year term of the securities. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares. The ARK Innovation ETF is actively managed and is subject to certain risks. Unlike a passively managed fund, an actively managed fund, such as the ARK Innovation ETF, does not attempt to track an index or other benchmark, and the investment decisions for an actively managed fund are instead made by its investment adviser. The securities are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The securities are issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program.

All payments are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. These securities are not secured obligations and you will not have any security interest in, or otherwise have any access to, any underlying reference asset or assets.

Summary Terms

Issuer:

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Guarantor:

Morgan Stanley

Underlying shares:

Shares of the ARK Innovation ETF (the “Fund”)

Aggregate principal amount:

$

Stated principal amount:

$1,000 per security

Issue price:

$1,000 per security

Pricing date:

March 12, 2021

Original issue date:

March 17, 2021 (3 business days after the pricing date)

Maturity date:

June 15, 2023

Early redemption:

The securities are not subject to automatic early redemption until six months after the original issue date. Following this six-month non-call period, if, on any redemption determination date, beginning September 13, 2021, the determination closing price of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to the initial share price, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment on the third business day following the related redemption determination date. No further payments will be made on the securities once they have been redeemed.

Early redemption payment:

The early redemption payment will be an amount equal to (i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the related redemption determination date.

Determination closing price:

The closing price of one share on any determination date other than the final determination date times the adjustment factor on such determination date.

Contingent monthly coupon:

If, on any determination date, the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price, we will pay a contingent monthly coupon at an annual rate of at least 12.75% (corresponding to approximately $10.625 per month per security) on the related contingent payment date. The actual contingent monthly coupon rate will be determined on the pricing date.

If, on any determination date, the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is less than the downside threshold price, no contingent monthly coupon will be paid with respect to that determination date.

Redemption determination dates:

Beginning after six months, monthly, as set forth under “Determination Dates, Redemption Determination Dates, Contingent Payment Dates and Early Redemption Dates” below, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events

Early redemption dates:

Starting on September 16, 2021, monthly. See “Determination Dates, Redemption Determination Dates, Contingent Payment Dates and Early Redemption Dates” below. If any such day is not a business day, that early redemption payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no adjustment will be made to any early redemption payment made on that succeeding business day.

Payment at maturity:

If the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price:

If the final share price is less than the downside threshold price:

(i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the final determination date

(i) the stated principal amount multiplied by (ii) the share performance factor

Share performance factor:

Final share price divided by the initial share price

Adjustment factor:

1.0, subject to adjustment in the event of certain events affecting the underlying shares

Downside threshold price:

$ , which is equal to 60% of the initial share price

 

Terms continued on the following page

Agent:

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL. See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.”

Estimated value on the pricing date:

Approximately $955.40 per security, or within $35.00 of that estimate. See “Investment Summary” on page 3.

Commissions and issue price:

Price to public

Agent’s commissions(1)

Proceeds to us(2)

Per security

$1,000

$

$

Total

$

$

$

(1)Selected dealers and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a fixed sales commission of $ for each security they sell. See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.” For additional information, see “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement.

(2)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 22.

The securities involve risks not associated with an investment in ordinary debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this document or the accompanying product supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The securities are not deposits or savings accounts and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

You should read this document together with the related product supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below. Please also see “Additional Terms of the Securities” and “Additional Information About the Securities” at the end of this document.

References to “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley or MSFL, or Morgan Stanley and MSFL collectively, as the context requires.

 Product Supplement for Auto-Callable Securities dated November 16, 2020 Prospectus dated November 16, 2020

 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

 

Terms continued from previous page:

Initial share price:

$ , which is equal to the closing price of one underlying share on the pricing date

Final share price:

The closing price of one underlying share on the final determination date times the adjustment factor on such date

Contingent payment dates:

Monthly, as set forth under “Determination Dates, Redemption Determination Dates, Contingent Payment Dates and Early Redemption Dates” below. If any such day is not a business day, that contingent monthly coupon will be paid on the next succeeding business day and no adjustment will be made to any contingent monthly coupon paid on that succeeding business day. The contingent monthly coupon, if any, with respect to the final determination date shall be paid on the maturity date.

Determination dates:

Monthly, as set forth under “Determination Dates, Redemption Determination Dates, Contingent Payment Dates and Early Redemption Dates” below, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events. We also refer to June 12, 2023 as the final determination date.

CUSIP:

61771VCM0

ISIN:

US61771VCM00

Listing:

The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

 

 

Observation Dates, Redemption Determination Dates, Contingent Payment Dates and Early Redemption Dates

Determination Dates / Redemption Determination Dates

Contingent Payment Dates / Early Redemption Dates

April 12, 2021*

April 15, 2021*

May 12, 2021*

May 17, 2021*

June 14, 2021*

June 17, 2021*

July 12, 2021*

July 15, 2021*

August 12, 2021*

August 17, 2021*

September 13, 2021

September 16, 2021

October 12, 2021

October 15, 2021

November 12, 2021

November 17, 2021

December 13, 2021

December 16, 2021

January 12, 2022

January 18, 2022

February 14, 2022

February 17, 2022

March 14, 2022

March 17, 2022

April 12, 2022

April 15, 2022

May 12, 2022

May 17, 2022

June 13, 2022

June 16, 2022

July 12, 2022

July 15, 2022

August 12, 2022

August 17, 2022

September 12, 2022

September 15, 2022

October 12, 2022

October 17, 2022

November 14, 2022

November 17, 2022

December 12, 2022

December 15, 2022

January 12, 2023

January 18, 2023

February 13, 2023

February 16, 2023

March 13, 2023

March 16, 2023

April 12, 2023

April 17, 2023

May 12, 2023

May 17, 2023

June 12, 2023 (final determination date)

June 15, 2023 (maturity date)

 

* The securities are not subject to automatic early redemption until the sixth contingent payment date, which is September 16, 2021.

March 2021 Page 2 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Investment Summary

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities

Principal at Risk Securities

The Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF, which we refer to as the securities, provide an opportunity for investors to earn a contingent monthly coupon at an annual rate of at least 12.75% (to be determined on the pricing date) with respect to each monthly determination date on which the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial share price, which we refer to as the downside threshold price. It is possible that the closing price of the underlying shares could remain below the downside threshold price for extended periods of time or even throughout the term of the securities so that you may receive few or no contingent monthly coupons. If the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the initial share price on any redemption determination date, beginning September 13, 2021, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment equal to the stated principal amount plus the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the related determination date. If the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price, the payment at maturity will also be the sum of the stated principal amount and the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the related determination date. However, if the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final share price is less than the downside threshold price, investors will be exposed to the decline in the closing price of the underlying shares, as compared to the initial share price, on a 1-to-1 basis. In this case, the payment at maturity will be less than 60% of the stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Investors in the securities must be willing to accept the risk of losing their entire principal and also the risk of not receiving any contingent monthly coupon. In addition, investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares.

The original issue price of each security is $1,000. This price includes costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities, which are borne by you, and, consequently, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be less than $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date will be approximately $955.40, or within $35.00 of that estimate. Our estimate of the value of the securities as determined on the pricing date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.

What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?

In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account that the securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the underlying shares. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlying shares, instruments based on the underlying shares, volatility and other factors including current and expected interest rates, as well as an interest rate related to our secondary market credit spread, which is the implied interest rate at which our conventional fixed rate debt trades in the secondary market.

What determines the economic terms of the securities?

In determining the economic terms of the securities, including the contingent monthly coupon rate and the downside threshold price, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.

What is the relationship between the estimated value on the pricing date and the secondary market price of the securities?

The price at which MS & Co. purchases the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlying shares, may vary from, and be lower than, the estimated value on the pricing date, because the secondary market price takes into account our secondary market credit spread as well as the bid-offer spread that MS & Co. would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type and other factors. However, because the costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 6 months following the issue date, to the extent that MS & Co. may buy or sell the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlying shares, 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.

March 2021 Page 3 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Key Investment Rationale

The securities offer investors an opportunity to earn a contingent monthly coupon at an annual rate of at least 12.75% (to be determined on the pricing date) with respect to each determination date on which the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial share price, which we refer to as the downside threshold price. The securities may be redeemed prior to maturity for the stated principal amount per security plus the applicable contingent monthly coupon, and the payment at maturity will vary depending on the final share price, as follows:

 

 

Scenario 1

On any redemption determination date, beginning September 13, 2021, the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the initial share price.

The securities will be automatically redeemed for (i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the related determination date.

Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares from the initial share price.

Scenario 2

The securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, and the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price.

The payment due at maturity will be (i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the final determination date.

Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares from the initial share price.

Scenario 3

The securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, and the final share price is less than the downside threshold price.

The payment due at maturity will be equal to (i) the stated principal amount multiplied by (ii) the share performance factor. Investors will lose a significant portion, and may lose all, of their principal in this scenario.

 

March 2021 Page 4 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

How the Securities Work

The following diagrams illustrate the potential outcomes for the securities depending on (1) the determination closing price and (2) the final share price.

Diagram #1: Determination Dates / Redemption Determination Dates

 

Diagram #2: Payment at Maturity if No Automatic Early Redemption Occurs

 

 

March 2021 Page 5 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Hypothetical Examples

The below examples are based on the following terms:

Hypothetical Initial Share Price:

$130.00

Hypothetical Downside Threshold Price:

$78.00, which is 60% of the hypothetical initial share price

Hypothetical Adjustment Factor:

1.0

Hypothetical Contingent Monthly Coupon:

12.75% per annum (corresponding to approximately $10.625 per month per security)1

Stated Principal Amount:

$1,000 per security

1 The actual contingent monthly coupon will be an amount determined by the calculation agent based on the actual contingent monthly coupon rate and the number of days in the applicable payment period, calculated on a 30/360 day-count basis. The hypothetical contingent monthly coupon of $10.625 is used in these examples for ease of analysis.

In Examples 1 and 2, the closing price of the underlying shares fluctuates over the term of the securities and the determination closing price of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to the hypothetical initial share price of $130.00 on one of the redemption determination dates. Because the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the initial share price on one of the redemption determination dates, the securities are automatically redeemed following the relevant redemption determination date. In Examples 3 and 4, the determination closing price on each of the redemption determination dates is less than the initial share price, and, consequently, the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to, and remain outstanding until, maturity.

 

  Example 1

Example 2

Determination Dates (Redemption Determination Dates begin with #6)

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price

Contingent Monthly Coupon

Early Redemption Amount*

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price

Contingent Monthly Coupon

Early Redemption Amount

#1

$60.30

$0

N/A

$90.60

$10.625

N/A

#2

$58.00

$0

N/A

$62.75

$0

N/A

#3

$94.20

$10.625

N/A

$100.20

$10.625

N/A

#4

$90.00

$10.625

N/A

$64.00

$0

N/A

#5

$100.50

$10.625

N/A

$55.40

$0

N/A

#6

$130.00

—*

$1,010.625

$80.50

$10.625

N/A

#7

N/A

N/A

N/A

$52.40

$0

N/A

#8

N/A

N/A

N/A

$80.50

$10.625

N/A

#9

N/A

N/A

N/A

$156.00

—*

$1,010.625

#10

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

#11 through #26

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Final Determination Date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

* The Early Redemption Amount includes the unpaid contingent monthly coupon with respect to the determination date on which the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the initial share price and the securities are redeemed as a result.

In Example 1, the securities are automatically redeemed following the first redemption determination date (which is the sixth determination date), as the determination closing price on the first redemption determination date is equal to the initial share price. You receive the early redemption payment, calculated as follows:

stated principal amount + contingent monthly coupon = $1,000.00 + $10.625 = $1,010.625

In this example, the early redemption feature limits the term of your investment to approximately six months, and you may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns. If the securities are redeemed early, you will stop receiving contingent coupons.

March 2021 Page 6 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

In Example 2, the securities are automatically redeemed following the fourth redemption determination date (which is the ninth determination date), as the determination closing price on the fourth redemption determination date is greater than the initial share price. As the determination closing price on each of the first, third, sixth and eighth determination dates is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price, you receive the contingent coupon of $10.625 with respect to each such determination date. Following the fourth redemption determination date, you receive an early redemption amount of $1,010.625, which includes the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the ninth determination date.

 

In this example, the early redemption feature limits the term of your investment to approximately 9 months, and you may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns. If the securities are redeemed early, you will stop receiving contingent coupons. Further, although the underlying shares have appreciated by 20% from their initial share price as of the ninth determination date, you receive only $1,010.625 per security and do not benefit from such appreciation.

 

 

Example 3

Example 4

Determination Dates (Redemption Determination Dates begin with #6)

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price / Final Share Price

Contingent Monthly Coupon

Early Redemption Amount*

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price / Final Share Price

Contingent Monthly Coupon

Early Redemption Amount

#1

$61.80

$0

N/A

$52.75

$0

N/A

#2

$62.90

$0

N/A

$54.00

$0

N/A

#3

$55.15

$0

N/A

$56.40

$0

N/A

#4

$53.00

$0

N/A

$53.80

$0

N/A

#5

$53.10

$0

N/A

$53.70

$0

N/A

#6

$56.30

$0

N/A

$54.20

$0

N/A

#7

$52.00

$0

N/A

$54.30

$0

N/A

#8

$51.70

$0

N/A

$53.90

$0

N/A

#9

$52.40

$0

N/A

$52.00

$0

N/A

#10

$54.00

$0

N/A

$57.00

$0

N/A

#11 through #26

Below the downside threshold price

$0

N/A

Below the downside threshold price

$0

N/A

Final Determination Date

$65.00

$0

N/A

$110.50

—*

N/A

Payment at Maturity

$500.00

$1,010.625

*The final contingent monthly coupon, if any, will be paid at maturity.

Examples 3 and 4 illustrate the payment at maturity per security based on the final share price.

In Example 3, the closing price of the underlying shares remains below the downside threshold price on every determination date. As a result, you do not receive any contingent coupons during the term of the securities and, at maturity, you are fully exposed to the decline in the closing price of the underlying shares. As the final share price is less than the downside threshold price, investors will receive a payment at maturity equal to the stated principal amount multiplied by the share performance factor, calculated as follows:

stated principal amount × share performance factor = $1,000.00 × ($65.00 / $130.00) = $500.00

In this example, the payment at maturity is significantly less than the stated principal amount.

In Example 4, the closing price of the underlying shares reflects a final share price of $110.50. Although the final share price is less than the initial share price, because the final share price is still not less than the downside threshold price, you receive the stated principal amount plus a contingent monthly coupon with respect to the final determination date. Your payment at maturity is calculated as follows:

March 2021 Page 7 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

$1,000.00 + $10.625 = $1,010.625

In this example, although the final share price represents a 15% decline from the initial share price, you receive the stated principal amount per security plus the final contingent monthly coupon, equal to a total payment of $1,010.625 per security at maturity, because the final share price is not less than the downside threshold price.

March 2021 Page 8 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Risk Factors

This section describes the material risks relating to the securities. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement and prospectus. You should also consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the securities.

Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities

The securities do not guarantee the return of any principal. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that the securities do not guarantee the payment of regular interest or the return of any of the principal amount at maturity. Instead, if the securities have not been automatically redeemed prior to maturity and if the final share price is less than the downside threshold price, you will be exposed to the decline in the closing price of the underlying shares, as compared to the initial share price, on a 1-to-1 basis and you will receive a payment that will be less than 60% of the stated principal amount and could be zero.

You will not receive any contingent monthly coupon for any monthly period where the determination closing price is less than the downside threshold price. A contingent monthly coupon will be paid with respect to a monthly period only if the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price. If the determination closing price remains below the downside threshold price on each determination date over the term of the securities, you will not receive any contingent monthly coupons.

The contingent monthly coupon, if any, is based solely on the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable. Whether the contingent monthly coupon will be paid with respect to a determination date will be based on the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable. As a result, you will not know whether you will receive the contingent monthly coupon until the related determination date. Moreover, because the contingent monthly coupon is based solely on the determination closing price on a specific determination date or the final share price, as applicable, if such determination closing price or final share price is less than the downside threshold price, you will not receive any contingent monthly coupon with respect to such determination date, even if the closing price of the underlying shares was higher on other days during the term of the securities.

Investors will not participate in any appreciation in the price of the underlying shares. Investors will not participate in any appreciation in the price of the underlying shares from the initial share price, and the return on the securities will be limited to the contingent monthly coupon, if any, that is paid with respect to each determination date on which the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold price. It is possible that the closing price of the underlying shares could be below the downside threshold price on most or all of the determination dates so that you will receive few or no contingent monthly coupons. If you do not earn sufficient contingent monthly coupons over the term of the securities, the overall return on the securities may be less than the amount that would be paid on a conventional debt security of ours of comparable maturity.

The automatic early redemption feature may limit the term of your investment to approximately six months. If the securities are redeemed early, you may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns. The term of your investment in the securities may be limited to as short as approximately six months by the automatic early redemption feature of the securities. If the securities are redeemed prior to maturity, you will receive no more contingent monthly coupons and may be forced to invest in a lower interest rate environment and may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns. However, under no circumstances will the securities be redeemed in the first six months of the term of the securities.

The market price will be influenced by many unpredictable factors. Several factors 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. Although we expect that generally the closing price of the underlying shares 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:

othe trading price, volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) and dividends of the underlying shares,

owhether the determination closing price has been below the downside threshold price on any determination date,

ointerest and yield rates in the market,

otime remaining until the securities mature,

ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlying shares or the securities markets generally and which may affect the final share price of the underlying shares,

othe occurrence of certain events affecting the underlying shares that may or may not require an adjustment to the adjustment factor, and

March 2021 Page 9 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

oany actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.

The price of the underlying shares may be, and has recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. See “ARK Innovation ETF Overview” below. You may receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount per security if you try to sell your securities prior to maturity.

Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying shares. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying shares. Investors in the securities will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the underlying shares.

The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the securities on each contingent payment date, upon automatic redemption or 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.

No dividend payments or voting rights. Owning the securities is not the same as owning the underlying shares or its component securities. As a holder of the securities, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of shares of the underlying shares or stocks held by the Fund would have.

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.

The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both the lower rate and the inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the securities, cause the estimated value of the securities to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the prices, if any, at which dealers, including MS & Co., may be willing to purchase the securities in secondary market transactions will likely be significantly lower than the original issue price, because secondary market prices will exclude the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging-related costs that are included in the original issue price and borne by you and because the secondary market prices will reflect our secondary market credit spreads and the bid-offer spread that any dealer would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type as well as other factors.

The inclusion of the costs of issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price and the lower rate we are willing to pay as issuer make the economic terms of the securities less favorable to you than they otherwise would be.

However, because the costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 6 months following the issue date, to the extent that MS & Co. may buy or sell the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlying shares, 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.

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

The estimated value of the securities is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price. These pricing and valuation models are proprietary and rely in part on subjective views of certain market inputs and certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, because there is no market-standard way to value these types of securities, our models may yield a higher estimated value of the securities than those generated by others, including other dealers in the market, if they attempted to value the securities. In addition, the estimated value on the pricing date does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which dealers, including MS & Co., would be willing to purchase your securities in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your securities at any time after the date of this document will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. See also “The market price will be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above.

Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially 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 the underlying shares), including trading in the underlying shares and in other instruments related to the underlying shares. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the final determination date approaches. Some of our affiliates also trade the underlying shares and/or other financial instruments related to the underlying shares 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 pricing date could potentially increase the initial share price, and, as a result, could potentially increase the downside threshold price, which is the price at or above which the underlying shares must close on each determination date in order for you to earn a contingent monthly coupon, and, if the securities are not called prior to maturity, in order for you to avoid being exposed to the negative price performance of the underlying shares at maturity. Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities could potentially affect the price of the underlying shares on the redemption determination dates and determination dates, and, accordingly, whether the securities are automatically called prior to maturity, and, if the securities are not called prior to maturity, the payout to you at maturity, if any.

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 price, the final share price, whether the contingent monthly coupon will be paid on each contingent payment date, whether the securities will be redeemed following any redemption determination date, whether a market disruption event has occurred, whether to make any adjustments to the adjustment factor and the payment that you will receive upon an automatic early redemption or 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 nonoccurrence of market disruption events and certain adjustments to the adjustment factor. These potentially subjective determinations may affect the payout to you upon an automatic early redemption or at maturity, if any. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Description of Auto-Callable Securities—Auto-Callable Securities Linked to Underlying Shares” and “—Calculation Agent and Calculations” in the accompanying product supplement. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities are uncertain. There is no direct legal authority as to the proper treatment of the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and, therefore, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the securities are uncertain.

Please read the discussion under “Additional Information—Tax considerations” in this document concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities. We intend to treat a security for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a single financial contract that provides for a coupon that will be treated as gross income to you at the time received or accrued, in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting. Under this treatment, the ordinary income treatment of the coupon payments, in conjunction with the capital loss treatment of any loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or settlement of the securities, could result in adverse tax consequences to holders of the securities because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. We do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding the tax treatment of the securities, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described herein. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the securities, the timing and character of income or loss on the securities might differ significantly from the tax treatment described herein. For example, under one possible treatment, 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 (as adjusted based on the difference, if any, between the actual and the projected amount of any contingent payments on the securities) 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.

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) should note that we currently intend to withhold on any coupon paid to Non-U.S. Holders generally at a rate of 30%, or at a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty under an “other income” or similar provision, and will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.

In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. While it is not clear whether the securities would be viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, it is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, possibly with retroactive effect. The notice focuses on a number of issues, the most relevant of which for holders of the securities are the character and timing of income or loss and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including possible alternative treatments, the issues presented by this notice and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

Risks Relating to the Underlying Shares

An investment in the securities is subject to risks associated with actively managed funds. The Fund is actively managed. Unlike a passively managed fund, an actively managed fund does not attempt to track an index or other benchmark, and the investment decisions for an actively managed fund are instead made by its investment adviser. The investment adviser of an actively managed fund may adopt a strategy or strategies that pose significantly greater risks than the indexing strategy that would have been employed by a passively managed fund. As an actively managed fund, the Fund is subject to management risk. In managing an actively managed fund, the investment adviser of a fund applies investment strategies, techniques and analyses in making investment decisions for that fund, but there can be no guarantee that these actions will produce the intended results. The ability of the investment adviser to the Fund, ARK Investment Management LLC (the “Investment Adviser”) to potentially successfully implement the Fund’s investment strategy, and decisions made by the Investment Adviser pursuant to its investment strategy, will significantly influence the market price of the underlying shares and, consequently, the value of the securities.

Risks associated with disruptive innovation companies. The Fund’s investment strategy involves exposure to companies that the Investment Adviser determines to be consistent with the investment theme of disruptive innovation and technology. However, the companies selected by the Investment Adviser may not in fact do so. Companies that initially develop a novel technology may not be able to capitalize on that technology. Additionally, companies that develop disruptive technologies may face political or legal roadblocks from competitors, industry groups or local and national governments. These companies may also be exposed to risks applicable to sectors other than the disruptive innovation sector for which they are chosen, and the securities issued by these companies may underperform the securities of other companies that are primarily focused on a particular goal. The Fund may invest in companies that do not currently derive any revenue from disruptive innovations or technologies, and there is no assurance that any company will derive any revenue from disruptive innovations or technologies in the future. A disruptive innovation or technology may constitute a small portion of any company’s overall business. As a result, the success of a disruptive innovation or technology may not affect the value of the equity securities issued by that company.

An investment in the securities is subject to risks associated with small-capitalization and micro-capitalization companies. Some of the equity securities held by the Fund have been issued by companies with small-capitalization or micro-capitalization. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and therefore the Fund may be more volatile than a fund in which a greater percentage of the underlying components are issued by large-capitalization companies. Stock prices of small-capitalization and micro-capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization and micro-capitalization companies may be thinly traded. In addition, small-capitalization and micro-capitalization companies are typically less well-established and less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Such companies tend to have smaller revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products.

There are risks associated with investments in securities linked to the value of foreign (and especially emerging markets) equity securities. The underlying shares are linked to the value of foreign (and especially emerging markets) equity securities. Investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve risks associated with the securities markets in those countries, including risks of volatility in those markets, governmental intervention in those markets and cross-shareholdings in companies in certain countries. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements different from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. The prices of securities issued in foreign markets may be affected by political, economic, financial and social factors in those countries, or global regions, including changes in government, economic

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Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

and fiscal policies and currency exchange laws. In addition, the stocks that are generally tracked by the underlying shares have been issued by companies in various emerging markets countries, which pose further risks in addition to the risks associated with investing in foreign equity markets generally. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. Moreover, the economies in such countries may differ unfavorably from the economy in the United States in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions between countries.

The performance and market price of the Fund, particularly during periods of market volatility, may not correlate with the performance of the Fund’s net asset value per share. Because the underlying shares are traded on a securities exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market price of one share of the Fund may differ from the net asset value per share of the Fund. During periods of market volatility, securities underlying the Fund may be unavailable in the secondary market, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of the Fund and the liquidity of the Fund may be adversely affected. This kind of market volatility may also disrupt the ability of market participants to create and redeem the underlying shares. Further, market volatility may adversely affect, sometimes materially, the prices at which market participants are willing to buy and sell the underlying shares. As a result, under these circumstances, the market value of the underlying shares may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the Fund. For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the Fund may not correlate with the net asset value per share of the Fund, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the securities in the secondary market and/or reduce any payment on the securities.

The antidilution adjustments the calculation agent is required to make do not cover every event that could affect the underlying shares. MS & Co., as calculation agent, will adjust the adjustment factor for certain events affecting the underlying shares. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment for every event that could affect the underlying shares. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the adjustment factor, the market price of the securities may be materially and adversely affected. The determination by the calculation agent to adjust, or not to adjust, the adjustment factor may materially and adversely affect the value of the securities.

 

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

ARK Innovation ETF Overview

The ARK Innovation ETF is an actively managed exchange-traded fund of ARK ETF Trust (the “Trust”), a registered investment company, that primarily invests in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies that are deemed to be consistent with the Fund’s investment theme of “disruptive innovation.” The Fund is managed by ARK Investment Management LLC (“ARK LLC”), the investment adviser to the Fund. As an actively managed fund, the Fund is subject to management risk. In managing the Fund, ARK LLC applies investment strategies, techniques and analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these actions will produce the intended results. The ability of ARK LLC to potentially successfully implement the Fund’s investment strategy, and decisions made by the ARK LLC pursuant to its investment strategy, will significantly influence the Fund’s performance.

The Fund will invest under normal circumstances at least 65% of its assets in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies that are deemed to be consistent with the Fund’s investment theme of disruptive innovation. ARK LLC defines “disruptive innovation” as the introduction of a technologically enabled new product or service that potentially changes the way the world works. ARK LLC believes that companies included within this theme are those that rely on or benefit from the development of new products or services, technological improvements and advancements in scientific research relating to the areas of genomics; innovation in automation and manufacturing, transportation, energy, artificial intelligence and materials; the increased use of shared technology, infrastructure and services; and technologies that make financial services more efficient. ARK LLC defines “genomics” as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques (e.g., genomic sequencing).

Information provided to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Trust pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 can be located by reference to Commission file numbers 333-191019 and 811-22883, respectively, through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other publicly available sources. Neither the issuer nor the agent makes any representation that any such publicly available information regarding the ARK Innovation ETF is accurate or complete.

Information as of market close on February 22, 2021:

Bloomberg Ticker Symbol:

ARKK UP

Current Share Price:

$143.78

52 Weeks Ago:

$56.02

52 Week High (on 2/12/2021):

$156.58

52 Week Low (on 3/18/2020):

$34.69

The following graph sets forth the daily closing values of the underlying shares for the period from January 1, 2016 through February 22, 2021. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing prices, as well as the end-of-quarter closing prices, of the underlying shares for each quarter in the same period. The closing price of the underlying shares on February 22, 2021 was $143.78. We obtained the information in the table and graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets without independent verification. The historical closing prices of the underlying shares should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the price of the underlying shares at any time, including on the determination dates and the redemption determination dates.

ARK Innovation ETF (CUSIP 00214Q104)

High ($)

Low ($)

Period End ($)

2016

 

 

 

First Quarter

20.17

14.78

19.13

Second Quarter

20.02

17.94

19.29

Third Quarter

22.18

19.19

22.18

Fourth Quarter

22.39

19.20

20.05

2017

 

 

 

First Quarter

23.96

20.44

23.96

Second Quarter

30.30

23.66

28.95

Third Quarter

34.36

28.40

34.29

Fourth Quarter

39.94

33.73

37.08

2018

 

 

 

First Quarter

44.98

38.10

39.07

Second Quarter

48.37

37.81

44.98

Third Quarter

49.70

43.60

47.34

Fourth Quarter

47.41

35.34

37.19

2019

 

 

 

First Quarter

48.07

36.19

46.73

Second Quarter

48.98

40.14

47.98

Third Quarter

49.92

42.64

42.89

March 2021 Page 14 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

ARK Innovation ETF (CUSIP 00214Q104)

High ($)

Low ($)

Period End ($)

Fourth Quarter

51.82

40.62

50.05

2020

 

 

 

First Quarter

60.37

34.69

44.00

Second Quarter

72.40

40.20

71.31

Third Quarter

97.21

73.50

92.00

Fourth Quarter

135.05

90.79

124.49

2021

 

 

 

First Quarter (through February 22, 2021)

156.58

124.69

143.78

 

 

Shares of the ARK Innovation ETF – Daily Closing Prices

January 1, 2016 to February 22, 2021

 

*The red solid line indicates the hypothetical downside threshold price, assuming the closing price of the underlying shares on February 22, 2021 was the initial share price.

This document relates only to the securities offered hereby and does not relate to the underlying shares. We have derived all disclosures contained in this document regarding the Trust from the publicly available documents described above. In connection with the offering of the securities, neither we nor the agent has participated in the preparation of such documents or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Trust. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the Trust is accurate or complete. Furthermore, we cannot give any assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof (including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described above) that would affect the trading price of the underlying shares (and therefore the price of the underlying shares at the time we price the securities) have been publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any such events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Trust could affect the value received with respect to the securities and therefore the value of the securities.

Neither the issuer nor any of its affiliates makes any representation to you as to the performance of the underlying shares.

We and/or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with the Trust. In the course of such business, we and/or our affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to the Trust, and neither we nor any of our affiliates undertakes to disclose any such information to you. In addition, one or more of our affiliates may publish research reports with respect to the underlying shares. The statements in the preceding two sentences are not intended to affect the rights of investors in the securities

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

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under the securities laws. As a prospective purchaser of the securities, you should undertake an independent investigation of the Trust as in your judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to an investment linked to the underlying shares.

March 2021 Page 16 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

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Additional Terms of the Securities

Please read this information in conjunction with the summary terms on the front cover of this document.

Additional Terms:

If the terms described herein are inconsistent with those described in the accompanying product supplement or prospectus, the terms described herein shall control.

Interest period:

The monthly period from and including the original issue date (in the case of the first interest period) or the previous scheduled contingent payment date, as applicable, to but excluding the following scheduled coupon payment date, with no adjustment for any postponement thereof.

Record date:

The record date for each contingent payment date shall be the date one business day prior to such scheduled contingent payment date; provided, however, that any contingent monthly coupon payable at maturity (or upon early redemption) shall be payable to the person to whom the payment at maturity or early redemption payment, as the case may be, shall be payable.

Downside threshold price:

The accompanying product supplement refers to the downside threshold price as the “trigger level.”

Day-count convention:

Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Postponement of contingent payment dates (including the maturity date) and early redemption dates:

If any determination date or redemption determination date is postponed due to a non-trading day or certain market disruption events with respect to the underlying shares so that it falls less than two business days prior to the relevant scheduled contingent payment date (including the maturity date) or early redemption date, as applicable, the contingent payment date (or the maturity date) or the early redemption date will be postponed to the second business day following that determination date or redemption determination date as postponed, and no adjustment will be made to any coupon payment or early redemption payment or payment at maturity made on that postponed date.

Market disruption event:

The following replaces in its entirety the section entitled “Market Disruption Event” in the accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities:

With respect to the underlying shares, market disruption event means:

(i) the occurrence or existence of any of:

(a) a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading of the underlying shares on the primary market for the underlying shares 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 the underlying shares as a result of which the reported trading prices for the underlying shares 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 the underlying shares, 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 the purpose of determining whether a market disruption event has occurred with respect to the underlying shares: (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 primary market, (2) a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the underlying shares or in the futures or options contract related to the underlying shares will not constitute a market disruption event, (3) a suspension of trading in futures or options contracts on the underlying shares by the primary securities market trading in such contracts by reason of (a) a price change exceeding limits set by such securities exchange or market, (b) an imbalance of orders relating to such contracts or (c) a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to such contracts will constitute a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in futures or options contracts related to the underlying shares and (4) a “suspension, absence or material limitation of trading” on the relevant exchange or primary market on which futures or options contracts related to the underlying shares are traded will not include any time when such securities market is itself closed for trading under ordinary circumstances. Regarding any permanent discontinuance of trading in the underlying shares, see “Discontinuance of the underlying shares; alteration of method of calculation” below.

Discontinuance of the underlying shares; alteration of method of calculation:

The following replaces in its entirety the section entitled “Discontinuance of the Underlying Shares of an Exchange-Traded Fund and/or Share Underlying Index; Alteration of Method of Calculation” in the

March 2021 Page 17 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

 

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities:

If trading in the underlying shares on every applicable national securities exchange, on the OTC Bulletin Board and in the over-the-counter market is permanently discontinued or the Fund is liquidated or otherwise terminated (a “discontinuance or liquidation event”), the calculation agent will, in its discretion, either (i) substitute an exchange-traded fund that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the discontinued Fund (the “successor fund”), after which any subsequent closing price for the underlying shares on any trading day following a discontinuance or liquidation event will be determined by reference to the published price of such successor fund at the regular weekday close of trading on such trading day, or (ii) accelerate the securities on the fifth business day following the date notice of such liquidation event is provided to holders of the underlying shares (the date of such notice, the “liquidation announcement date,” and the fifth business day following the liquidation announcement date, the “acceleration date”), after which the payment to you on the acceleration date will be equal to the fair market value of the securities on the trading day immediately following the liquidation announcement date, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion based on its internal models, which will take into account the reasonable costs incurred by us or any of our affiliates in unwinding any related hedging arrangements.

 

Upon any selection by the calculation agent of a successor fund, the calculation agent will cause written notice thereof to be furnished to the trustee, to us and to the depositary, as holder of the securities, within three business days of such selection. We expect that such notice will be made available to you, as a beneficial owner of the securities, in accordance with the standard rules and procedures of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants.

Trustee:

The Bank of New York Mellon

Calculation agent:

MS & Co.

Issuer notices to registered security holders, the trustee and the depositary:

In the event that the maturity date is postponed due to postponement of the final determination date, the issuer shall give notice of such postponement and, once it has been determined, of the date to which the maturity date has been rescheduled (i) to each registered holder of the securities by mailing notice of such postponement by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such registered holder’s last address as it shall appear upon the registry books, (ii) to the trustee by facsimile, confirmed by mailing such notice to the trustee by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its New York office and (iii) to The Depository Trust Company (the “depositary”) by telephone or facsimile confirmed by mailing such notice to the depositary by first class mail, postage prepaid. Any notice that is mailed to a registered holder of the securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given to such registered holder, whether or not such registered holder receives the notice. The issuer shall give such notice as promptly as possible, and in no case later than (i) with respect to notice of postponement of the maturity date, the business day immediately preceding the scheduled maturity date, and (ii) with respect to notice of the date to which the maturity date has been rescheduled, the business day immediately following the final determination date as postponed.

In the event that the securities are subject to early redemption, the issuer shall, (i) on the business day following the applicable redemption determination date, give notice of the early redemption and the early redemption payment, including specifying the payment date of the amount due upon the early redemption, (x) to each registered holder of the securities by mailing notice of such early redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such registered holder’s last address as it shall appear upon the registry books, (y) to the trustee by facsimile confirmed by mailing such notice to the trustee by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its New York office and (z) to the depositary by telephone or facsimile confirmed by mailing such notice to the depositary by first class mail, postage prepaid, and (ii) on or prior to the early redemption date, deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the securities to the trustee for delivery to the depositary, as holder of the securities. Any notice that is mailed to a registered holder of the securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given to such registered holder, whether or not such registered holder receives the notice. This notice shall be given by the issuer or, at the issuer’s request, by the trustee in the name and at the expense of the issuer, with any such request to be accompanied by a copy of the notice to be given.

The issuer shall, or shall cause the calculation agent to, (i) provide written notice to the trustee, on which notice the trustee may conclusively rely, and to the depositary of the amount of cash to be delivered as contingent monthly coupon, if any, with respect to each security on or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the business day preceding each contingent payment date, and (ii) deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the contingent monthly coupon to the trustee for delivery to the depositary, as holder of the securities, on the applicable contingent payment date.

The issuer shall, or shall cause the calculation agent to, (i) provide written notice to the trustee, on which notice the trustee may conclusively rely, and to the depositary of the amount of cash to be delivered with respect to each stated principal amount of the securities, on or prior to 10:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the business day preceding the maturity date, and (ii) deliver the aggregate cash amount due with respect to the securities to the trustee for delivery to the depositary, as holder of the securities, on the maturity date.

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Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Additional Information About the Securities

Additional Information: 

 

Listing:

The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

Minimum ticketing size:

$1,000 / 1 security

Tax considerations:

Prospective investors should note that the discussion under the section called “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement does not apply to the securities issued under this document and is superseded by the following discussion.

The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain estate tax consequences of 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;

insurance companies;

certain dealers and traders in securities or commodities;

investors holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” wash sale, conversion transaction, integrated transaction or constructive sale transaction;

U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

regulated investment companies;

real estate investment trusts; or

tax-exempt entities, including “individual retirement accounts” or “Roth IRAs” as defined in Section 408 or 408A of the Code, respectively.

If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding the securities or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult your tax adviser as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of the securities to you.

As the law applicable to the U.S. federal income taxation of instruments such as the securities is technical and complex, the discussion below necessarily represents only a general summary. The effect of any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws is not discussed, nor are any alternative minimum tax consequences or consequences resulting from the Medicare tax on investment income. Moreover, the discussion below does not address the consequences to taxpayers subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code.

This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date hereof may affect the tax consequences described herein. Persons considering the purchase of the securities should consult their tax advisers with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

General

Due to the 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 IRS or a court will agree with the tax treatment described herein. We intend to treat a security for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a single financial contract that provides for a coupon that will be treated as gross income to you at the time received or accrued in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting. In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, this treatment of the securities is reasonable under current law; however, our counsel has advised us that it is unable to conclude affirmatively that this treatment is more likely than not to be upheld, and that alternative treatments are possible. Moreover, our counsel’s opinion is based on market conditions as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement and is subject to confirmation on the pricing date.

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 each security 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;

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Principal at Risk Securities

 

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 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.

 Tax Treatment of Coupon Payments. Any coupon payment on the securities should be taxable as ordinary income to a U.S. Holder at the time received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 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. For this purpose, the amount realized does not include any coupon paid at settlement and may not include sale proceeds attributable to an accrued coupon, which may be treated as a coupon payment. Any such gain or loss recognized should be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the securities for more than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or settlement, and should be short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. The ordinary income treatment of the coupon payments, in conjunction with the capital loss treatment of any loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or settlement of the securities, could result in adverse tax consequences to holders of the securities because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

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. In particular, 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 any contingent payments 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 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 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 on whether to require holders of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar 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; 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; and appropriate transition rules and effective dates. While it is not clear whether instruments such as the securities would be viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, 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 payments on the securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities, unless a U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional tax and may be refunded, or credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.  In addition, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption from the information reporting rules.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

This section applies to you only if you are a Non-U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a security that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

an individual who is classified as a nonresident alien;

a foreign corporation; or

a foreign estate or trust.

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Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

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.

Although significant aspects of the tax treatment of each security are uncertain, we intend to withhold on any coupon paid to a Non-U.S. Holder generally at a rate of 30% or at a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty under an “other income” or similar provision. We will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. In order to claim an exemption from, or a reduction in, the 30% withholding tax, a Non-U.S. Holder of the securities must comply with certification requirements to establish that it is not a U.S. person and is eligible for such an exemption or reduction under an applicable tax treaty. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax treatment of the securities, including the possibility of obtaining a refund of any withholding tax and the certification requirement described 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, 2023 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 pricing supplement. Assuming that the securities do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security, our counsel is of the opinion that the securities should not be Specified Securities and, therefore, should not be subject to Section 871(m).

Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If Section 871(m) withholding is required, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the securities.

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

Individual Non-U.S. Holders and entities the property of which is potentially includible in such an individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example, a trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the individual has retained certain interests or powers) should note that, absent an applicable treaty exemption, the securities may be treated as U.S.-situs property subject to U.S. federal estate tax. Prospective investors that are non-U.S. individuals, or are entities of the type described above, should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of an investment in the securities.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with any coupon payment and may be filed with the IRS in connection with the payment at maturity on the securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition. 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. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

FATCA

Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. FATCA generally applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest or other U.S.-source “fixed or determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). Withholding (if applicable) applies to payments of U.S.-source FDAP income and to payments of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement) of certain financial instruments treated as providing for U.S.-source interest or dividends. Under recently 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). While the treatment of the securities is unclear, you should assume that any coupon payment with respect to the securities will be subject to the FATCA rules. If withholding applies to the securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of FATCA to the securities.

The discussion in the preceding paragraphs, insofar as it purports to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk &

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Contingent Income Auto-Callable Securities due June 15, 2023, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

Based on the Performance of the ARK Innovation ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities.

Use of proceeds and hedging:

The proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used by us for general corporate purposes. We will receive, in aggregate, $1,000 per security issued, because, when we enter into hedging transactions in order to meet our obligations under the securities, our hedging counterparty will reimburse the cost of the agent’s commissions. The costs of the securities borne by you and described beginning on page 3 above comprise the agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the securities.

On or prior to the pricing date, we expect to hedge our anticipated exposure in connection with the securities by entering into hedging transactions with our affiliates and/or third-party dealers. We expect our hedging counterparties to take positions in the underlying shares, in futures and/or options contracts on the underlying shares listed on major securities markets, or positions in any other available securities or instruments that they may wish to use in connection with such hedging. Such purchase activity could potentially increase the initial share price, and, as a result, the downside threshold price, which is the price at or above which the underlying shares must close on each determination date in order for you to earn a contingent monthly coupon, and, if the securities are not redeemed prior to maturity, in order for you to avoid being exposed to the negative price performance of the underlying shares at maturity. In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify our hedge position throughout the term of the securities, including on the determination dates, by purchasing and selling the underlying shares, options contracts relating to the underlying shares or any other available securities or instruments that we may wish to use in connection with such hedging activities, including by purchasing or selling any such securities or instruments on one or more determination dates. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the final determination date approaches. We cannot give any assurance that our hedging activities will not affect the value of the underlying shares, and, therefore, adversely affect the value of the securities or the payment you will receive at maturity, if any. For further information on our use of proceeds and hedging, see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities.

Additional considerations:

Client accounts over which Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or any of their respective subsidiaries have investment discretion are not permitted to purchase the securities, either directly or indirectly.

Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest:

Selected dealers, which may include our affiliates, and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent a fixed sales commission of $ for each security they sell.

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, including the contingent monthly coupon rate, such that for each security the estimated value on the pricing date will be no lower than the minimum level described in “Investment Summary” beginning on page 3.

MS & Co. will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities.

Where you can find more information:

Morgan Stanley and MSFL have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by the product supplement for auto-callable securities) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this communication relates. You should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the product supplement for auto-callable securities and any other documents relating to this offering that Morgan Stanley and MSFL have filed with the SEC for more complete information about Morgan Stanley, MSFL and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at.www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Morgan Stanley, MSFL, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the product supplement for auto-callable securities and prospectus if you so request by calling toll-free 1-(800)-584-6837.

 

You may access these documents on the SEC web site at.www.sec.gov as follows:

Product Supplement for Auto-Callable Securities dated November 16, 2020

Prospectus dated November 16, 2020

Terms used but not defined in this document are defined in the product supplement for auto-callable securities or in the prospectus.

 

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