FWP 1 ms2491_fwp-07976.htm PRELIMINARY TERMS NO. 2,491

September 2021

Preliminary Terms No. 2,491

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

Dated September 14, 2021

Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Structured Investments

Opportunities in U.S. Equities

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Principal at Risk Securities

Phoenix 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 coupon of $40.00 per period per security (plus any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates) 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 level. In addition, if the determination closing price of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to the initial share price on any determination date, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an amount per security equal to the stated principal amount, the related contingent coupon and any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates. However, if the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to maturity, the payment at maturity due on the securities will be determined as follows: (i) if the final share price, as determined on five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, investors will receive the stated principal amount, the related contingent coupon and any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates, or (ii) if the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, 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 stated principal amount of the securities and could be zero. Moreover, if the closing price of the underlying shares on any determination date or the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, you will not receive any contingent coupon for that period. Therefore, contingent coupons should not be viewed as guaranteed periodic interest payments. Investors must be willing to accept the risk of not receiving any contingent 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 coupons over the term of the securities. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares. The securities are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley, 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:

Peloton Interactive, Inc. class A common stock

Aggregate principal amount:

$

Stated principal amount:

$1,000 per security

Issue price:

$1,000 per security (see “Commissions and issue price” below)

Pricing date:

September 17, 2021

Original issue date:

September 22, 2021 (3 business days after the pricing date)

Maturity date:

October 5, 2022

Early redemption:

If, on any of the three determination dates, 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 related early redemption 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 coupon with respect to the related determination date and any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates.

Determination closing price:

The closing price of the underlying shares on any determination date times the adjustment factor on such determination date

Contingent coupon:

If the determination closing price on any determination date or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, we will pay a contingent coupon of $40.00 per period per security on the related contingent payment date plus any previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to any prior determination dates.

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

If the contingent coupon is not paid on any coupon payment date (because the closing price on any determination date is less than the downside threshold level), such unpaid contingent coupon will be paid on a later coupon payment date but only if the determination closing price on such later determination date is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level; provided, however, in the case of any such payment of a previously unpaid contingent coupon, that no additional interest shall accrue or be payable in respect of such unpaid contingent coupon from and after the end of the original interest period for such unpaid contingent coupon. You will not receive such unpaid contingent coupons if the closing price is less than the downside threshold level on each subsequent determination date. If the closing price is less than the downside threshold level on each determination date, you will not receive any contingent coupons for the entire term of the securities. 

Determination dates:

December 31, 2021, April 1, 2022 and July 1, 2022, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events

Early redemption dates:

January 5, 2022, April 6, 2022 and July 6, 2022; provided that if any such day is not a business day, the related payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no adjustment will be made to any payment made on that succeeding business day

Contingent payment dates:

January 5, 2022, April 6, 2022 and July 6, 2022. If any such day is not a business day, that contingent coupon, if payable, will be paid on the next succeeding business day and no adjustment will be made to any payment made on that succeeding business day. The payment of the contingent coupon, if any, with respect to the final period will be made on the maturity date.

Payment at maturity:

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

(i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent coupon with respect to the final period and any previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to the prior determination dates

 

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

(i) the stated principal amount multiplied by (ii) the share performance factor. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less than the stated principal amount, and will represent a loss of more than 40%, and up to all, of your investment.

Adjustment factor:

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

Share performance factor:

Final share price divided by the initial share price

Downside threshold level:

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

Initial share price:

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

Final share price:

The arithmetic average of the closing price of the underlying shares on each of the five averaging dates, each as multiplied by the adjustment factor on such date

Averaging dates:

September 26, 2022, September 27, 2022, September 28, 2022, September 29, 2022 and September 30, 2022, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events.

CUSIP / ISIN:

61773FG23 / US61773FG236

Listing:

The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

Agent:

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

Estimated value on the pricing date:

Approximately $967.70 per security, or within $25.00 of that estimate. See “Investment Summary” beginning on page 2.

Commissions and issue price:

 

Price to public(1)

Agent’s commissions(1)(2)

Proceeds to us(3)

Per security

 

$1,000

$10

$990

Total

 

$

$

$

(1)J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as placement agents for the securities. The placement agents will forgo fees for sales to certain fiduciary accounts. The total fees represent the amount that the placement agents receive from sales to accounts other than such fiduciary accounts. The placement agents will receive a fee from the Issuer or one of its affiliates that will not exceed $10 per $1,000 stated principal amount of securities.

(2)Please see “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest” in these preliminary terms for information about fees and commissions.

(3)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 21.

The securities involve risks not associated with an investment in ordinary debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8.

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.

As used in this document, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley or MSFL, or Morgan Stanley and MSFL collectively, as the context requires.

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

Morgan Stanley  

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

Investment Summary

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities

Principal at Risk Securities

The Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022 Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc., which we refer to as the securities, provide an opportunity for investors to earn a contingent coupon of $40.00 per period per security (plus any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates) with respect to each determination date or the averaging dates, as applicable, 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 level. It is possible that the closing price of the underlying shares could remain below the downside threshold level for extended periods of time or even throughout the term of the securities so that you may receive few or no contingent coupons.

If the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the initial share price on any of the three determination dates, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment equal to the stated principal amount plus the contingent coupon with respect to the related determination date and any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates. No further payments will be made on the securities once they have been redeemed. If the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final share price, as determined on the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, the payment at maturity will be the sum of the stated principal amount, the contingent coupon with respect to the final period and any previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to the prior determination dates. However, if the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, investors will be exposed to the decline in the final share price, 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 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 $967.70, or within $25.00 of that estimate. Our estimate of the value of the securities as determined on the pricing date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.

What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?

In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account that the securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the 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 coupon rate and the downside threshold level, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.

September 2021 Page 2

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

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 4 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.

 

September 2021 Page 3

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

Key Investment Rationale

The securities offer investors an opportunity to earn a contingent coupon of $40.00 per period per security (plus any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates) with respect to each determination date or the averaging dates, as applicable, 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 level. The securities may be redeemed prior to maturity for the stated principal amount per security plus the applicable contingent coupon and any previously unpaid contingent coupons, and the payment at maturity will vary depending on the final share price, as follows:

Scenario 1

On any of the three determination dates, 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 coupon with respect to the related determination date and any previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to any prior determination dates.

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, as determined on the five averaging dates, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level.

The payment due at maturity will be (i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent coupon with respect to the final period and any previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to the prior determination dates.

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 level.

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.

 

September 2021 Page 4

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

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: Three Determination Dates

 

 

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

September 2021 Page 5

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

Hypothetical Examples

The below examples are based on the following terms:

Hypothetical Initial Share Price:

$120.00

Hypothetical Downside Threshold Level:

$72.00, which is 60% of the hypothetical initial share price

Hypothetical Adjustment Factor:

1.0

Contingent Coupon:

$40.00 per period per security

Stated Principal Amount:

$1,000 per security

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 $120.00 on one of the determination dates. Because the determination closing price is greater than or equal to the initial share price on one of the determination dates, the securities are automatically redeemed following the relevant determination date. In Examples 3 and 4, the determination closing price on the 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 / Averaging Dates

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price / Final Share Price

Hypothetical Contingent Coupon

Early Redemption Amount*

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price / Final Share Price

Hypothetical Contingent Coupon

Early Redemption Amount*

#1

$120.00

—*

$1,040.00

$110.00

$40.00

N/A

#2

N/A

N/A

N/A

$50.00

$0

N/A

#3

N/A

N/A

N/A

$138.00

—*

$1,080.00

Averaging Dates

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

* The Early Redemption Amount includes the unpaid contingent 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 determination date, as the determination closing price on the first determination date is equal to the initial share price. You receive the early redemption payment, calculated as follows:

stated principal amount + contingent coupon = $1,000.00 + $40.00 = $1,040.00

In this example, the early redemption feature limits the term of your investment to approximately 3 months, and you may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns. If the securities are redeemed early, you will receive no further payments. Additionally, you will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares.

In Example 2, the securities are automatically redeemed following the third determination date, as the determination closing price on the third determination date is greater than the initial share price. As the determination closing price on the first determination date is greater than the downside threshold level, you receive the contingent coupon of $40.00 with respect to such determination date. Following the third determination date, you receive an early redemption amount of $1,040.00, which includes the contingent coupon with respect to the third determination date and the previously unpaid contingent coupon with respect to the second 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 receive no further payments. Further, although the underlying shares have appreciated by 15% from the initial share price as of the third determination date, you receive only $1,080.00 per security and do not benefit from such appreciation.

 

 

 

 

 

September 2021 Page 6

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

 

 

Example 3

Example 4

Determination Dates / Averaging Dates

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price / Final Share Price

Hypothetical Contingent Coupon

Early Redemption Amount

Hypothetical Determination Closing Price / Final Share Price

Hypothetical Contingent Coupon

Early Redemption Amount

#1

$55.50

$0

N/A

$45.00

$0

N/A

#2

$50.00

$0

N/A

$50.75

$0

N/A

#3

$45.25

$0

N/A

$55.80

$0

N/A

Averaging Dates

$48.00

$0

N/A

$108.00

—*

N/A

Payment at Maturity

$400.00

$1,160.00

* The final contingent 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 level 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 level, investors will receive a payment at maturity equal to the stated principal amount times the share performance factor, calculated as follows:

stated principal amount × share performance factor = $1,000.00 × ($48.00 / $120.00) = $1,000.00 × 40% = $400.00

In this example, the amount of cash you receive at maturity is significantly less than the stated principal amount.

In Example 4, the closing price of the underlying shares decreases to a final share price of $108.00. 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 level, you receive the stated principal amount plus a contingent coupon with respect to the final period and the previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to the prior determination dates. Your payment at maturity is calculated as follows:

$1,040.00 + $120.00 = $1,160.00

In this example, although the final share price represents a 10% decline from the initial share price, you receive the stated principal amount per security plus the final contingent coupon and the previously unpaid contingent coupons with respect to the prior determination dates, equal to a total payment of $1,160.00 per security at maturity, because the final share price is not less than the downside threshold level.

 

September 2021 Page 7

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

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 level, you will be exposed to the decline in the final share price, as compared to the initial share price, on a 1-to-1 basis. In this case, you will receive for each security that you hold at maturity a payment that will be less than 60% of the stated principal amount and could be zero.

You will not receive any contingent coupon for any period when the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is less than the downside threshold level. Contingent coupons should not be viewed as guaranteed periodic interest payments. A contingent coupon will be paid with respect to a period only if the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level. If the determination closing price remains below the downside threshold level on each determination date over the term of the securities and the final share price is also below the downside threshold level, you will not receive any contingent coupons.

The contingent coupon, if any, is based solely on the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable. Whether the contingent coupon will be paid with respect to a determination date or the averaging dates 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 coupon until near the end of the relevant period. Moreover, because the contingent 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 level, you will not receive any contingent coupon with respect to such determination date or the averaging dates, as applicable, 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 coupon, if any, that is paid with respect to each determination date or the averaging dates, as applicable, on which the determination closing price or the final share price, as applicable, is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level. It is possible that the closing price of the underlying shares could be below the downside threshold level on most or all of the determination dates and/or that the final share price is below the downside threshold level so that you will receive few or no contingent coupons and/or lose a significant portion or all of your investment. If you do not earn sufficient contingent 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 as short as approximately three 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 three months by the automatic early redemption feature of the securities. If the securities are redeemed prior to maturity, you will receive no more contingent 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the costs borne by investors in the securities, including the fees and commissions described on the cover page of this document, will not be rebated if the securities are redeemed early.

September 2021 Page 8

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk 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 and volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the underlying shares,

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

odividend rates on the underlying shares,

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 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

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. The underlying shares began trading on September 26, 2019 and therefore have limited historical performance. See “Peloton Interactive, Inc. 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.

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 of Morgan Stanley. 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 Morgan Stanley 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.

Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the class A common stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc. Investors in the securities will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying shares, and will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the underlying shares. As a result, any return on the securities will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of the underlying shares and received the dividends paid or distributions made on them.

The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both 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

September 2021 Page 9

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

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 4 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.

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.

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.

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. 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 averaging dates approach. Some of our affiliates also trade the underlying shares and 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, the downside threshold level, 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 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

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underlying shares on the 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 level, the final share price, whether the contingent coupon will be paid on each contingent payment date, whether you will receive any previously unpaid contingent coupons, whether the securities will be redeemed following any 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.

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.

 

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Principal at Risk Securities

 

Risks Relating to the Underlying Shares

No affiliation with Peloton Interactive, Inc. Peloton Interactive, Inc. is not an affiliate of ours, is not involved with this offering in any way, and has no obligation to consider your interests in taking any corporate actions that might affect the value of the securities. We have not made any due diligence inquiry with respect to Peloton Interactive, Inc. in connection with this offering.

We may engage in business with or involving Peloton Interactive, Inc. without regard to your interests. We or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with Peloton Interactive, Inc. without regard to your interests and thus may acquire non-public information about Peloton Interactive, Inc. Neither we nor any of our affiliates undertakes to disclose any such information to you. In addition, we or our affiliates from time to time have published and in the future may publish research reports with respect to Peloton Interactive, Inc., which may or may not recommend that investors buy or hold the underlying shares.

The antidilution adjustments the calculation agent is required to make do not cover every corporate event that could affect the underlying shares. MS & Co., as calculation agent, will adjust the adjustment factor for certain corporate events affecting the underlying shares, such as stock splits, stock dividends and extraordinary dividends, and certain other corporate actions involving the issuer of the underlying shares, such as mergers. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment for every corporate event that can affect the underlying shares. For example, the calculation agent is not required to make any adjustments if the issuer of the underlying shares or anyone else makes a partial tender or partial exchange offer for the underlying shares, nor will adjustments be made following the last averaging date. In addition, no adjustments will be made for regular cash dividends, which are expected to reduce the price of the underlying shares by the amount of such dividends. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the adjustment factor, such as a regular cash dividend, the market price of the securities and your return on the securities may be materially and adversely affected. For example, if the record date for a regular cash dividend were to occur on or shortly before a determination date, this may decrease the determination closing price to be less than the downside threshold level (resulting in no contingent coupon being paid with respect to such date) or the final share price to be less than the downside threshold level (resulting in a loss of a significant portion of all of your investment in the securities), materially and adversely affecting your return.

 

 

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

Peloton Interactive, Inc. Overview

Peloton Interactive, Inc. operates an interactive fitness platform. The underlying shares are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Information provided to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Peloton Interactive, Inc. pursuant to the Exchange Act can be located by reference to the Securities and Exchange Commission file number 001-39058 through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information regarding Peloton Interactive, Inc. may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly disseminated documents. Neither the issuer nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the issuer of the underlying shares is accurate or complete.

Information as of market close on September 10, 2021:

Bloomberg Ticker Symbol:

PTON

Exchange:

Nasdaq

Current Share Price:

$114.39

52 Weeks Ago:

$87.75

52 Week High (on 1/13/2021):

$167.42

52 Week Low (on 9/14/2020):

$82.01

 

The following graph shows the closing prices from September 26, 2019 through September 10, 2021. The closing price of the underlying shares on September 10, 2021 was $114.39. The underlying shares began trading on September 26, 2019 and therefore have limited historical performance. We obtained the information in the graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical closing prices of the underlying shares may have been adjusted for stock splits and other corporate events. The historical performance of the underlying shares should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the price of the underlying shares at any time, including on the determination dates or averaging dates.

Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc. – Daily Closing Prices
September 25, 2019** to September 10, 2021

 

*The red solid line indicates the hypothetical downside threshold level, assuming the closing price of the underlying shares on September 10, 2021 were the initial share price.

** The underlying shares began trading on September 26, 2019 and therefore have limited historical performance.

This document relates only to the securities offered hereby and does not relate to the underlying shares or other securities of Peloton Interactive, Inc. We have derived all disclosures contained in this document regarding Peloton Interactive, Inc. from the publicly available documents described above. In connection with the offering

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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 Peloton Interactive, Inc. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding Peloton Interactive, Inc. is accurate or complete. Furthermore, we cannot give any assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof (including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described in the preceding paragraph) that would affect the trading price of 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 Peloton Interactive, Inc. could affect the amount 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.

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Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

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.

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 coupon payable at maturity or upon 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.

Underlying shares issuer:

Peloton Interactive, Inc. The accompanying product supplement refers to the underlying shares issuer as the “underlying company.”

Denominations:

$1,000 per security and integral multiples thereof

Interest period:

The 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 contingent payment date, with no adjustment for any postponement thereof.

Postponement of contingent payment dates and early redemption dates:

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

Postponement of averaging dates:

If a market disruption event with respect to the underlying shares occurs on any scheduled averaging date or if any such scheduled averaging date is not a trading day, the closing price for such scheduled averaging date will be determined on the immediately succeeding trading day on which no market disruption event shall have occurred. Each succeeding averaging date will then be the next trading day following the preceding averaging date as postponed. The final share price will be determined on the date on which the closing prices for all scheduled averaging dates have been determined; provided that (i) the closing price for any averaging date will not be determined on a date later than the tenth business day after the last scheduled averaging date, (ii) the closing price for any remaining averaging dates that would otherwise fall after such tenth business day will be the closing price on such tenth business day and (iii) if such tenth business day is not a trading day or if there is a market disruption event on such date, the calculation agent will determine the closing price of the underlying shares on such date as the mean of the bid prices for the underlying shares for such date obtained from as many recognized dealers in such underlying shares, but not exceeding three, as will make such bid prices available to the calculation agent. Bids of MS & Co. or any of its affiliates may be included in the calculation of such mean, but only to the extent that any such bid is the highest of the bids obtained. If no bid prices are provided from any third-party dealers, the closing price will be determined by the calculation agent in its sole and absolute discretion (acting in good faith), taking into account any information that it deems relevant.

Postponement of maturity date:

If due to a market disruption event or otherwise, the last averaging date is postponed so that it falls less than two business days prior to the scheduled maturity date, the maturity date of the securities will be postponed to the second business day following that last averaging date as postponed.

Antidilution adjustments:

The following replaces in its entirety the portion of the section entitled “Antidilution Adjustments” in the accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities from the start of paragraph 5 to the end of such section.

5. If (i) there occurs any reclassification or change of the underlying ordinary shares represented by the underlying shares (the “underlying ordinary shares”), including, without limitation, as a result of the issuance of any tracking stock by the underlying shares issuer, (ii) the underlying shares issuer or any surviving entity or subsequent surviving entity of the underlying shares issuer (the “successor corporation”) has been subject to a merger, combination or consolidation and is not the surviving entity, (iii) any statutory exchange of securities of the underlying shares issuer or any successor corporation with another corporation occurs (other than pursuant to clause (ii) above), (iv) the underlying shares issuer is liquidated, (v) the underlying shares issuer issues to all of its shareholders equity securities of an issuer other than the underlying shares issuer (other than in a transaction described in clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) above) (a “spin-off event”) or (vi) a tender or exchange offer or going-private transaction is consummated for all the outstanding shares of the underlying ordinary shares (any such event in clauses (i) through (vi), a “reorganization event”), the method of determining whether an early redemption has occurred and the amount payable upon an early redemption date or at maturity for each security will be as follows:

Upon any determination date following the effective date of a reorganization event: If the exchange property value (as defined below) is greater than or equal to the initial share price, the securities will be automatically redeemed for an early redemption payment.

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Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

Upon the last averaging date, if the securities have not previously been automatically redeemed: You will receive for each security that you hold a payment at maturity equal to:

If the final exchange property value (as defined below) is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level: (i) the stated principal amount plus (ii) the contingent coupon with respect to the final period and any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates.

If the final exchange property value (as defined below) is less than the downside threshold level: (i) the stated principal amount multiplied by (ii) the share performance factor. For purposes of calculating the share performance factor, the “final share price” will be deemed to equal the final exchange property value (as defined below).

Following the effective date of a reorganization event, the contingent coupon (and any previously unpaid contingent coupons from prior determination dates) will be payable for each determination date on which the exchange property value is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level.

In the event exchange property consists of securities, those securities will, in turn, be subject to the antidilution adjustments set forth in paragraphs 1 through 5.

For purposes of determining whether or not the exchange property value is less than the initial share price or less than the downside threshold level, “exchange property value” means (x) for any cash received in any reorganization event, the value, as determined by the Calculation Agent, as of the date of receipt, of such cash received for one share of the underlying shares, as adjusted by the adjustment factor at the time of such reorganization event, (y) for any property other than cash or securities received in any such reorganization event, the market value, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion, as of the date of receipt, of such exchange property received for one share of the underlying shares, as adjusted by the adjustment factor at the time of such reorganization event and (z) for any security received in any such reorganization event, an amount equal to the closing price, as of the day on which the exchange property value is determined, per share of such security multiplied by the quantity of such security received for each share of the underlying shares, as adjusted by the adjustment factor at the time of such reorganization event.

“Final exchange property value” means the arithmetic average of the exchange property values as of each of the five averaging dates.

For purposes of paragraph 5 above, in the case of a consummated tender or exchange offer or going-private transaction involving consideration of particular types, exchange property shall be deemed to include the amount of cash or other property delivered by the offeror in the tender or exchange offer (in an amount determined on the basis of the rate of exchange in such tender or exchange offer or going-private transaction). In the event of a tender or exchange offer or a going-private transaction with respect to exchange property in which an offeree may elect to receive cash or other property, exchange property shall be deemed to include the kind and amount of cash and other property received by offerees who elect to receive cash.

Following the occurrence of any reorganization event referred to in paragraph 5 above, all references in this offering document and in the related product supplement with respect to the securities to “the underlying shares” shall be deemed to refer to the exchange property and references to a “share” or “shares” of the underlying shares shall be deemed to refer to the applicable unit or units of such exchange property, unless the context otherwise requires.

No adjustment to the adjustment factor will be required unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 0.1% in the adjustment factor then in effect. The adjustment factor resulting from any of the adjustments specified above will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth, with five one-millionths rounded upward. Adjustments to the adjustment factor will be made up to the close of business on the last averaging date.

No adjustments to the adjustment factor or method of calculating the adjustment factor will be required other than those specified above. The adjustments specified above do not cover all events that could affect the determination closing price or the final share price of the underlying shares, including, without limitation, a partial tender or exchange offer for the underlying ordinary shares.

The Calculation Agent shall be solely responsible for the determination and calculation of any adjustments to the adjustment factor or method of calculating the adjustment factor and of any related determinations and calculations with respect to any distributions of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash) in connection with any corporate event described in paragraphs 1 through 5 above, and its determinations and calculations with respect thereto shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

The Calculation Agent will provide information as to any adjustments to the adjustment factor or to the method of calculating the amount payable at maturity of the securities made pursuant to paragraph 5 above upon written request by any investor in the securities.

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 last averaging 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

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Principal at Risk Securities

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 last averaging 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 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 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, if any, with respect to the contingent 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, if any, to be delivered with respect to 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, if any, to the trustee for delivery to the depositary, as holder of the securities, on the maturity date.

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

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 &

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Phoenix Auto-Callable Securities due October 5, 2022

Based on the Performance of the Class A Common Stock of Peloton Interactive, Inc.

Principal at Risk Securities

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;

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.

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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.

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)”)

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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 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 & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of

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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 2 above comprise the Agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the securities.

On or prior to the pricing date, we will hedge our anticipated exposure in connection with the securities by entering into hedging transactions with our affiliates and/or third-party dealers. We expect our hedging counterparties to take positions in the underlying shares, in futures and/or options contracts on the underlying shares, 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 level, 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 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 averaging 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. 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 averaging dates approach. 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.

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:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and its affiliates will act as placement agents for the securities and will receive a fee from the Issuer or one of its affiliates that will not exceed $10 per $1,000 stated principal amount of securities, but will forgo any fees for sales to certain fiduciary accounts.

MS & Co. is an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and it and other affiliates of ours expect to make a profit by selling, structuring and, when applicable, hedging the securities. When MS & Co. prices this offering of securities, it will determine the economic terms of the securities such that for each security the estimated value on the pricing date will be no lower than the minimum level described in “Investment Summary” beginning on page 2.

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