Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-180488
(To Prospectus dated February 24, 2015, Prospectus
Supplement dated February 24, 2015 and Product
Supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1
dated February 24, 2015)
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Term Sheet dated February 27, 2015
The notes are being issued by Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks and certain additional costs. See “Risk Factors” and “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1.
The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is expected to be between $9.38 and $9.68 per unit, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13 of this term sheet for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Per Unit |
Total |
|||||||||
| Public offering price (1) (2) |
$10.00 | $ | ||||||||
| Underwriting discount (1) (2) |
$0.20 | $ | ||||||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to BAC |
$9.80 | $ | ||||||||
| (1) | For any purchase of 500,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor, the public offering price and the underwriting discount will be $9.95 per unit and $0.15 per unit, respectively. |
| (2) | For any purchase by certain fee-based trusts and discretionary accounts managed by U.S. Trust operating through Bank of America, N.A., the public offering price and underwriting discount will be $9.80 per unit and $0.00 per unit, respectively. |
The notes:
| Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not Bank Guaranteed | May Lose Value |
Merrill Lynch & Co.
March , 2015
Units
$10 principal amount per unit
CUSIP No.
Pricing Date* March , 2015 Settlement Date* April , 2015 Maturity Date* March , 2017 *Subject to change
based on tAutocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index
¡ Maturity of approximately two years if not called prior to maturity
¡
Automatic call of the notes per unit at $10 plus the Call Premium ([$1.20 to $1.40] on the Observation Date) if the Index is flat or increases above 100% of the Starting Value on the Observation Date
¡ The Observation Date will occur approximately one year after the pricing date
¡ If the notes are not called, at maturity:
¡ a return of 30% if the Index is flat or increases up to the Step Up Value
¡ a return equal to the percentage increase in the Index if the Index increases above the Step Up Value
¡ 1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Index beyond a 5.00% decline, with up to 95.00% of your principal at risk
¡ All payments are subject to the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation
¡ No periodic interest payments
¡ Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listinghe actual date the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the “pricing date”)
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
Summary
The Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of BAC. The notes will be automatically called at the Call Amount if the Observation Level of the Market Measure, which is the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index (the “Index”), is equal to or greater than the Call Level on the Observation Date. If not called, at maturity, the notes provide you with a Step Up Payment if the Ending Value of the Index is equal to or greater than its Starting Value, but is not greater than the Step Up Value. If the Ending Value is greater than the Step Up Value, you will participate on a 1-for-1 basis in the increase in the level of the Index above the Starting Value. If the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value but greater than or equal to the Threshold Value, you will receive the principal amount of your notes. If the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, you will lose a portion, which could be significant, of the principal amount of your notes. Payments on the notes, including the amount you receive at maturity or upon an automatic call, will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index, subject to our credit risk. See “Terms of the Notes” below.
The economic terms of the notes (including the Call Premiums and Call Amounts) are based on our internal funding rate, which is the rate we would pay to borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes and the economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements. Our internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities. This difference in funding rate, as well as the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge described below, will reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date. Due to these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the notes will be greater than the initial estimated value of the notes.
On the cover page of this term sheet, we have provided the initial estimated value range for the notes. This initial estimated value range was determined based on our and our affiliates’ pricing models, which take into consideration our internal funding rate and the market prices for the hedging arrangements related to the notes. The notes are subject to an automatic call, and the initial estimated value is based on an assumed tenor of the notes. The initial estimated value of the notes calculated on the pricing date will be set forth in the final term sheet made available to investors in the notes. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13.
Terms of the Notes
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-2 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
Determining Payment on the Notes
Automatic Call Provision
The notes will be called automatically on the Observation Date if the Observation Level on the Observation Date is equal to or greater than the Call Level. If the notes are called, you will receive $10 per unit plus the Call Premium.
Redemption Amount Determination
If the notes are not automatically called, on the maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per unit determined as follows:
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-3 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
The terms and risks of the notes are contained in this term sheet and in the following:
| § | Product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1 dated February 24, 2015: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312515060568/d878212d424b5.htm
| § | Series L MTN prospectus supplement dated February 24, 2015 and prospectus dated February 24, 2015: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312515060103/d875567d424b3.htm
These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated above or obtained from MLPF&S by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to BAC.
Investor Considerations
We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-4 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at Maturity
The below graph is based on hypothetical numbers and values. These hypothetical values show a payout profile at maturity, which would only apply if the notes are not called on the Observation Date.
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This graph reflects the returns on the notes, based on a Threshold Value of 95% of the Starting Value, the Step Up Payment of $3.00 per unit, and the Step Up Value of 130% of the Starting Value. The green line reflects the returns on the notes, while the dotted gray line reflects the returns of a direct investment in the stocks included in the Index, excluding dividends.
This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. |
The following table and examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes, assuming the notes are not called on the Observation Date. They illustrate the calculation of the Redemption Amount and total rate of return based on a hypothetical Starting Value of 100, a Threshold Value of 95, a Step Up Value of 130, the Step Up Payment of $3.00 per unit and a range of hypothetical Ending Values. The actual amount you receive and the resulting total rate of return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Ending Value, Step Up Value, whether the notes are called on the Observation Date, and whether you hold the notes until maturity. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes.
For recent actual levels of the Market Measure, see “The Index” section below. The Index is a price return index and as such the Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends paid on the stocks included in the Index, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in those stocks directly. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.
| Ending Value |
Percentage Change from Value to the Ending Value |
Redemption |
Total Rate | |||||||||||||||
| 0.00 | -100.00 | % | $0.50 | -95.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 50.00 | -50.00 | % | $5.50 | -45.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 80.00 | -20.00 | % | $8.50 | -15.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 85.00 | -15.00 | % | $9.00 | -10.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 90.00 | -10.00 | % | $9.50 | -5.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 94.00 | -6.00 | % | $9.90 | -1.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 95.00 | (1) | -5.00 | % | $10.00 | 0.00 | % | ||||||||||||
| 96.00 | -4.00 | % | $10.00 | 0.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 97.00 | -3.00 | % | $10.00 | 0.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 100.00 | (2) | 0.00 | % | $13.00 | (3) | 30.00 | % | |||||||||||
| 102.00 | 2.00 | % | $13.00 | 30.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 105.00 | 5.00 | % | $13.00 | 30.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 110.00 | 10.00 | % | $13.00 | 30.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 120.00 | 20.00 | % | $13.00 | 30.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 130.00 | (4) | 30.00 | % | $13.00 | 30.00 | % | ||||||||||||
| 140.00 | 40.00 | % | $14.00 | 40.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 150.00 | 50.00 | % | $15.00 | 50.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| 160.00 | 60.00 | % | $16.00 | 60.00 | % | |||||||||||||
| (1) | This is the hypothetical Threshold Value. |
| (2) | The hypothetical Starting Value of 100 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent a likely actual Starting Value for the Market Measure. |
| (3) | This amount represents the sum of the principal amount and the Step Up Payment of $3.00. |
| (4) | This is the hypothetical Step Up Value. |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-5 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
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Redemption Amount Calculation Examples
Example 1
The Ending Value is 85.00, or 85.00% of the Starting Value:
| Starting Value: | 100.00 | |
| Threshold Value: | 95.00 | |
| Ending Value: | 85.00 |
| $10 – |
[ | $10 × | ( | 95 – 85 | ) | ] | = $9.00 Redemption Amount per unit | |||||||||||
| 100
|
Example 2
The Ending Value is 96.00, or 96.00% of the Starting Value:
| Starting Value: | 100.00 | |
| Threshold Value: | 95.00 | |
| Ending Value: | 96.00 |
Redemption Amount per unit = $10.00, the principal amount, since the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value, but is equal to or greater than the Threshold Value.
Example 3
The Ending Value is 110.00, or 110.00% of the Starting Value:
| Starting Value: | 100.00 | |
| Step Up Value: | 130.00 | |
| Ending Value: | 110.00 |
| $10.00 + $3.00 = $13.00 | Redemption Amount per unit, the principal amount plus the Step Up Payment, since the Ending Value is equal to or greater than the Starting Value, but less than the Step Up Value. |
Example 4
The Ending Value is 140.00, or 140.00% of the Starting Value:
| Starting Value: | 100.00 | |
| Step Up Value: | 130.00 | |
| Ending Value: | 140.00 |
| $10 + |
[ | $10 × | ( | 140 – 100 | ) | ] | = $14.00 Redemption Amount per unit | |||||||||||
| 100
|
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-6 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
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Risk Factors
There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security. An investment in the notes involves significant risks, including those listed below. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1, page S-5 of the Series L MTN prospectus supplement, and page 9 of the prospectus identified above. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.
| § | If the notes are not automatically called, depending on the performance of the Index as measured shortly before the maturity date, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. |
| § | Your return on the notes may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. |
| § | Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. If we become insolvent or are unable to pay our obligations, you may lose your entire investment. |
| § | If the notes are called, your investment return is limited to the return represented by the Call Premium. |
| § | Your investment return may be less than a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index. |
| § | The initial estimated value of the notes is an estimate only, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our and our affiliates’ pricing models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and variables, including our credit spreads, our internal funding rate on the pricing date, mid-market terms on hedging transactions, expectations on interest rates and volatility, price-sensitivity analysis, and the expected term of the notes. These pricing models rely in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. |
| § | The public offering price you pay for the notes will exceed the initial estimated value. If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the level of the Index, our internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge, all as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways. |
| § | The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, MLPF&S or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your notes at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including the performance of the Index, our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. |
| § | A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. Neither we nor MLPF&S is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market. |
| § | Our business activities as a full service financial institution, including our commercial and investment banking activities, our hedging and trading activities (including trades in shares of companies included in the Index) and any hedging and trading activities we engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you. |
| § | The Index sponsor may adjust the Index in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests. |
| § | You will have no rights of a holder of the securities represented by the Index, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities. |
| § | While we or our affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in the Index we do not control any company included in the Index, and are not responsible for any disclosure made by any other company. |
| § | There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent. |
| § | The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See “Summary Tax Consequences” below and “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” beginning on page PS-26 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1. |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-7 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
Additional Risk Factors
The stocks included in the Index are concentrated in one sector.
All of the stocks included in the Index are issued by companies in the oil and gas exploration and production sector. As a result, the stocks that will determine the performance of the notes are concentrated in one sector. Although an investment in the notes will not give holders any ownership or other direct interests in the stocks underlying the Index, the return on an investment in the notes will be subject to certain risks associated with a direct equity investment in companies in this sector, including those discussed below. Accordingly, by investing in the notes, you will not benefit from the diversification which could result from an investment linked to companies that operate in multiple sectors.
The stocks of companies in the oil and gas sector are subject to swift price fluctuations.
The issuers of the stocks included in the Index develop and produce, among other things, crude oil and natural gas, and provide, among other things, drilling services and other services related to oil and gas production and distribution. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for oil and gas products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, the stocks of companies in this sector are subject to swift price fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies’ products or services or for oil and gas products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact the value of the stocks included in the Index and, therefore, the level of the Index and the value of the notes.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-8 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
The Index
All disclosures contained in this term sheet regarding the Index, including, without limitation, its make up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index sponsor”). The Index sponsor, which owns the copyright and all other rights to the Index, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Index. The consequences of the Index sponsor discontinuing publication of the Index are discussed in the section entitled “Description of the Notes — Discontinuance of an Index” on page PS-21 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1. None of us, the calculation agent, or MLPF&S accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance, or publication of the Index or any successor index.
The Index
The Index is an equally-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry portion of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”), an index that measures the performance of the U.S. equity market. The S&P TMI includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE (including NYSE Arca), the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and the NASDAQ Capital Market. Each of the component stocks in the Index is a constituent company within the oil and gas sub-industry portion of the S&P TMI.
To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, companies must be in the S&P TMI, and must be included in the relevant Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) sub-industry. The GICS was developed to establish a global standard for categorizing companies into sectors and industries. In addition, companies must satisfy one of the two following combined size and liquidity criteria:
| 1. | float-adjusted market capitalization above US$500 million and float-adjusted liquidity ratio above 90%; or |
| 2. | float-adjusted market capitalization above US$400 million and float-adjusted liquidity ratio above 150%. |
All U.S. companies satisfying these requirements are included in the Index. The total number of companies in the Index should be at least 35. If there are fewer than 35 stocks, stocks from a supplementary list of highly correlated sub-industries that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds above are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization to reach 35 constituents. Minimum market capitalization requirements may be relaxed to ensure there are at least 22 companies in the Index as of each rebalancing effective date.
Eligibility factors include:
Market Capitalization: Float-adjusted market capitalization should be at least US$400 million for inclusion in the Index. Existing index components must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of US$300 million to remain in the Index at each rebalancing.
Liquidity: The liquidity measurement used is a liquidity ratio, defined as dollar value traded over the previous 12-months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the Index rebalancing reference date. Stocks having a float-adjusted market capitalization above US$500 million must have a liquidity ratio greater than 90% to be eligible for addition to the Index. Stocks having a float-adjusted market capitalization between US$400 and US$500 million must have a liquidity ratio greater than 150% to be eligible for addition to the Index. Existing index constituents must have a liquidity ratio greater than 50% to remain in the Index at the quarterly rebalancing. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for IPOs or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history.
Domicile: U.S. companies only.
Takeover Restrictions: At the discretion of the Index sponsor, constituents with shareholder ownership restrictions defined in company organizational documents may be deemed ineligible for inclusion in the Index. Ownership restrictions preventing entities from replicating the index weight of a company may be excluded from the eligible universe or removed from the Index.
Turnover: At times a company may appear to temporarily violate one or more of the addition criteria. However, the addition criteria are for addition to the Index, not for continued membership. As a result, an index constituent that appears to violate the criteria for addition to the Index will not be deleted unless ongoing conditions warrant a change in the composition of the Index.
Computation of the Index
The Index is equally-weighted, with adjustments to constituent weights to ensure concentration and liquidity requirements, and calculated by the divisor methodology used in all of the Index sponsor’s equity indices.
The initial divisor is set to have a base index value of 1,000 on December 17, 1999. The index value is calculated as the index market value divided by the index divisor:
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-9 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
|
Index Value = Index Market Value / Divisor
In order to maintain index series continuity, the divisor is also adjusted at each rebalancing.
(Index Value) before rebalancing = (Index Value) after rebalancing
Therefore,
(Divisor) after rebalancing = (Index Market Value) after rebalancing / (Index Value) before rebalancing
At each quarterly rebalancing, the stocks underlying the Index are initially equally-weighted using closing prices as of the second Friday of the last month of the quarter as the reference price. Adjustments are then made to ensure that there are no stocks whose weight in the Index is more than can be traded in a single day for a US$ 500 million portfolio.
The Index sponsor calculates a maximum basket liquidity weight for each stock in the Index using the ratio of its three-month average daily value traded to US$500 million. Each stock’s weight in the Index is then compared to its maximum basket liquidity weight and is set to the lesser of its maximum basket liquidity weight or its initial equal weight. All excess weight is redistributed across the Index to the uncapped component stocks. If necessary, a final adjustment is made to ensure that no stock in the Index has a weight greater that 4.5%. This step of the iterative weighting process may force the weight of those stocks limited to their maximum basket liquidity weight to exceed that weight. In such cases, the Index sponsor will make no further adjustments. If the Index contains exactly 22 companies as of the rebalancing effective date, the Index will be equally weighted without basket liquidity constraints.
Index Maintenance
Index maintenance will follow that of the S&P TMI. The membership of the Index is reviewed quarterly. Rebalancing occurs after the closing on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The reference date for additions and deletions is after the closing of the last trading date of the previous month. However, a company will be deleted from the Index if the S&P TMI drops the constituent. Unless a constituent deletion causes the number of companies in the Index to fall below 22, no addition will be made to the Index until the next rebalancing. At that time, the entire Index will be rebalanced based on all eligibility criteria, including the minimum number of companies. If a constituent deletion causes the number of companies in the Index to fall below 22, an addition is made assuming the weight of the dropped stock. When a stock is removed from the Index at a price of $0.00, the stock’s replacement will be added to the Index at the weight using the previous day’s closing value, or the most immediate prior business day that the deleted stock was not valued at $0.00. No Index adjustment will be made when there are share changes between quarterly share adjustments. In case of GICS changes, where a company does not belong to the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry after the classification change, it is removed from the Index at the next rebalancing.
The treatment of corporate actions is the same as in the S&P TMI. In case of a spin-off, generally both the parent company and spin-off companies will remain in the Index until the next rebalancing, regardless of whether they conform to the theme of the Index. When there is no market-determined price available for the spin-off company, the spin-off company is added to the Index at zero price at the close of the day before the ex-date. In the case of a rights offering, the price is adjusted to the price of the parent company minus (the price of the rights subscription/rights ratio). The Index Shares change so that the company’s weight remains the same as its weight before the spin-off. In case of stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split, the Index Shares are multiplied by and price is divided by the split factor. Share issuance, share repurchase, equity offering or warrant conversion will not cause an Index adjustment. When special dividends are paid, the price of the stock making the special dividend payment is reduced by the per share special dividend amount after the close of trading on the day before the dividend ex-date.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-10 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
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The following graph shows the monthly historical performance of the Index in the period from January 2008 through January 2015. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. On February 20, 2015, the closing level of the Index was 7,935.51.
This historical data on the Index is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Index during any period set forth above is not an indication that the level of the Index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the notes.
Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available sources for the levels and trading pattern of the Index.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-11 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
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License Agreement
S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). These trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. “Standard & Poor’s®”, “S&P 500®” and “S&P®” are trademarks of S&P. These trademarks have been sublicensed for certain purposes by our subsidiary, MLPF&S. The Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by MLPF&S.
The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the notes particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to MLPF&S with respect to the Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to us, MLPF&S, or the notes. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take our needs or the needs of MLPF&S or holders of the notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the notes are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its subsidiaries are not investment advisors. Inclusion of a security or futures contract within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security or futures contract, nor is it considered to be investment advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the notes currently being issued by us, but which may be similar to and competitive with the notes. In addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the Index. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the notes.
S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, MLPF&S, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBLITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND MLPF&S, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-12 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
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Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest
Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.
MLPF&S, a broker-dealer subsidiary of BAC, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and will participate as selling agent in the distribution of the notes. Accordingly, offerings of the notes will conform to the requirements of Rule 5121 applicable to FINRA members. MLPF&S may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder.
We may deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than three business days following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement of the notes occurs more than three business days from the pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than three business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units. If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account.
MLPF&S will not receive an underwriting discount for notes sold to certain fee-based trusts and fee-based discretionary accounts managed by U.S. Trust operating through Bank of America, N.A.
MLPF&S may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, and these will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however, it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions. At MLPF&S’s discretion, for a short, undetermined initial period after the issuance of the notes, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial estimated value of the notes. Any price offered by MLPF&S for the notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Index and the remaining term of the notes. However, neither we nor any of our affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price, or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we or any of our affiliates will purchase your notes at a price that equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the notes.
The value of the notes shown on your account statement will be based on MLPF&S’s estimate of the value of the notes if MLPF&S or another of our affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated to do. That estimate will be based upon the price that MLPF&S may pay for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, as mentioned above, and will include transaction costs. At certain times, this price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value of the notes.
Structuring the Notes
The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Index. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under these notes at a rate that is more favorable to us than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security. This rate, which we refer to in this term sheet as our internal funding rate, is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities. This generally relatively lower internal funding rate, which is reflected in the economic terms of the notes, along with the fees and charges associated with market-linked notes, typically results in the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date being less than their public offering price.
Payments on the notes, including the amount you receive at maturity or upon an automatic call, will be calculated based on the $10 per unit principal amount and will depend on the performance of the Index. In order to meet these payment obligations, at the time we issue the notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with MLPF&S or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, including MLPF&S and its affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Index, the tenor of the notes and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.
MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by MLPF&S or any third party hedge providers.
For further information, see “Risk Factors — General Risks Relating to the Notes” beginning on page PS-7 and “Use of Proceeds” on page PS-16 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-13 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry Index, due March , 2017 |
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Summary Tax Consequences
You should consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including the following:
| • | There is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addressing the characterization of the notes. |
| • | You agree with us (in the absence of an administrative determination, or judicial ruling to the contrary) to characterize and treat the notes for all tax purposes as a callable single financial contract with respect to the Index. |
| • | Under this characterization and tax treatment of the notes, a U.S. Holder (as defined beginning on page 96 of the prospectus) generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes prior to maturity. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the notes for more than one year. |
| • | No assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with this characterization and tax treatment. |
You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws. You should review carefully the discussion under the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” beginning on page PS-26 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-1.
Where You Can Find More Information
We have filed a registration statement (including a product supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC, for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we, any agent, or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you these documents if you so request by calling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-800-294-1322.
Market-Linked Investments Classification
MLPF&S classifies certain market-linked investments (the “Market-Linked Investments”) into categories, each with different investment characteristics. The following description is meant solely for informational purposes and is not intended to represent any particular Enhanced Return Market-Linked Investment or guarantee any performance.
Enhanced Return Market-Linked Investments are short- to medium-term investments that offer you a way to enhance exposure to a particular market view without taking on a similarly enhanced level of market downside risk. They can be especially effective in a flat to moderately positive market (or, in the case of bearish investments, a flat to moderately negative market). In exchange for the potential to receive better-than market returns on the linked asset, you must generally accept market downside risk and capped upside potential. As these investments are not market downside protected, and do not assure full repayment of principal at maturity, you need to be prepared for the possibility that you may lose all or part of your investment.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-14 |