CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

    Maximum Aggregate   Amount of Registration
Title of Each Class of Securities Offered   Offering Price   Fee
Fixed Income Buffered Securities due 2022   $538,000   $65.21

 

October 2018

 

Pricing Supplement No. 1,123
Registration Statement Nos. 333-221595; 333-221595-01
Dated October 26, 2018
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC 

Structured Investments 

Opportunities in U.S. Equities

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022

Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Principal at Risk Securities

The securities are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The securities have the terms described in the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus, as supplemented or modified by this document. The securities provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of the stated principal amount. The securities will pay a fixed quarterly coupon (including at maturity) at the rate specified below. At maturity, if the final level is greater than or equal to 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has not declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, investors will receive the stated principal amount of the securities. However, if the final level is less than 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, investors will lose 1% of the principal amount for every 1% decline beyond the buffer amount of 15%. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities, subject to the minimum payment at maturity of 15% of the stated principal amount. Accordingly, investors in the securities may lose up to 85% of the stated principal amount of the securities. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index. The securities are for investors who are willing to risk their principal and forgo the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the underlying index in exchange for the limited protection against loss and the opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate. The securities are notes issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program.

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

FINAL TERMS
Issuer: Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Guarantor: Morgan Stanley
Underlying index: S&P 500® Index
Aggregate principal amount: $538,000
Stated principal amount: $1,000 per security
Issue price: $1,000 per security (see “Commissions and issue price” below)
Pricing date: October 26, 2018
Original issue date: October 31, 2018 (3 business days after the pricing date)
Determination date: October 26, 2022, subject to adjustment for non-index business days and certain market disruption events
Maturity date: October 31, 2022
Quarterly coupon: A fixed quarterly coupon at an annual rate of 4.25% (corresponding to approximately $10.625 per quarter per security) is paid on each coupon payment date.
Coupon payment dates: Quarterly, on the last calendar day of each January, April, July and October, beginning January 31, 2019; provided that if any such day is not a business day, that quarterly coupon will be paid on the next succeeding business day, and no adjustment will be made to any quarterly coupon payment made on that succeeding business day.
Buffer amount: 15%. As a result of the buffer amount of 15%, the value at or above which the underlying index must close on the determination date so that investors do not suffer a loss on their initial investment in the securities is 2,259.887, which is approximately 85% of the initial level.
Minimum payment at maturity: $150 per security (15% of the stated principal amount)
Payment at maturity:

At maturity, in addition to the final quarterly coupon payment, investors will receive a payment at maturity determined as follows:

If the final level is greater than or equal to 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has not decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level:

the stated principal amount of $1,000 per security 

If the final level is less than 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x (index percent change + 15%)] 

Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities. However, under no circumstances will the securities pay less than the minimum payment at maturity of $150 per security.

  Terms continued on the following page
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: $949.50 per security.  See “Investment Overview” beginning on page 3.
Commissions and issue price: Price to public Agent’s commissions(1) Proceeds to us(2)
Per security $1,000 $35 $965
Total $538,000 $18,830 $519,170
(1)Selected dealers and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a fixed sales commission of $35 for each security they sell. See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.” For additional information, see “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

(2)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 23.

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 prospectus supplement, index 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 prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below. Please also see “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.

 

Prospectus Supplement dated November 16, 2017    Index Supplement dated November 16, 2017     Prospectus dated November 16, 2017

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

 

 

Terms continued from previous page:
Initial level: 2,658.69, which is the index closing value on the pricing date
Final level: The index closing value on the determination date
Index percent change: (final level – initial level) / initial level
CUSIP / ISIN: 61768DJL0 / US61768DJL01
Listing: The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

 

October 2018Page 2

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

 

Investment Overview

 

Fixed Income Buffered Securities

 

Principal at Risk Securities

 

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022 Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index (the “securities”) provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of the stated principal amount. The securities will pay a fixed quarterly coupon (including at maturity) at the rate specified below. At maturity, if the final level is greater than or equal to 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has not declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, investors will receive the stated principal amount of the securities. However, if the final level is less than 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, investors will lose 1% of the principal amount for every 1% decline beyond the buffer amount of 15%. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities, subject to the minimum payment at maturity of 15% of the stated principal amount. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index. Additionally, investors in the securities may lose up to 85% of the stated principal amount of the securities.

 

Maturity: 4 years
Quarterly coupon: A fixed quarterly coupon at an annual rate of 4.25% (corresponding to approximately $10.625 per quarter security) is paid on each coupon payment date.
Payment at maturity:

At maturity, in addition to the final quarterly coupon, investors will receive a payment at maturity determined as follows:

 

If the final level is greater than or equal to 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has not decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level:

 

the stated principal amount of $1,000 per security

 

If the final level is less than 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x (index percent change + 15%)]

 

Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount of the securities. However, under no circumstances will the securities pay less than $150 per security at maturity.

 

Morgan Stanley clients may contact their local Morgan Stanley branch office or our principal executive offices at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (telephone number (866) 477-4776). All other clients may contact their local brokerage representative. Third-party distributors may contact Morgan Stanley Structured Investment Sales at (800) 233-1087.

 

October 2018Page 3

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

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 is less than $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date is $949.50.

 

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 index. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlying index, instruments based on the underlying index, 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 quarterly coupon rate, the buffer amount and the minimum payment at maturity, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.

 

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

 

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

 

October 2018Page 4

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

Key Investment Rationale

 

The securities provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of the stated principal amount and will pay a fixed quarterly coupon (including at maturity) at the rate specified herein. These securities are for investors who are willing to risk their principal and forgo the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the underlying index in exchange for the opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate. The following scenarios are for illustration purposes only to demonstrate how the payment at maturity is calculated, and do not attempt to demonstrate every situation that may occur. Accordingly, investors in the securities may lose up to 85% of the stated principal amount of the securities.

 

Quarterly coupon: The securities will pay a fixed quarterly coupon at an annual rate of 4.25% (corresponding to approximately $10.625 per quarter per security) on each coupon payment date.
Scenario 1: Investors receive principal back at maturity. At maturity, the underlying index closes at or above 85% of the initial level, and investors receive, in addition to the final quarterly coupon payment, the stated principal amount.  Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index, and the return on the securities will be limited to the quarterly coupons that are paid on the securities.
Scenario 2: Investors suffer a loss of principal at maturity. At maturity, the underlying index has decreased by more than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level.  In this scenario, investors will receive the final quarterly coupon payment, but will lose 1% of principal for every 1% decline beyond the buffer amount of 15%.  The payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount.  Investors may lose up to 85% of their investment in the securities.

October 2018Page 5

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

Hypothetical Examples

 

The following hypothetical examples illustrate how to calculate the payment at maturity. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only. You will receive a fixed quarterly coupon (including at maturity) at a rate of 4.25% per annum regardless of the performance of the underlying index. The amount you will receive at maturity will be determined by reference to the final level on the determination date. The actual initial level is set forth on the cover of this document. All payments on the securities are subject to our credit risk. The below examples are based on the following terms:

 

Quarterly Coupon: A fixed quarterly coupon at an annual rate of 4.25% (corresponding to approximately $10.625 per quarter per security) is paid on the coupon payment dates.*
Payment at Maturity:

If the final level is greater than or equal to 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has not decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level:

 

the stated principal amount of $1,000 per security

 

If the final level is less than 85% of the initial level, meaning that the underlying index has decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x (index percent change + 15%)]

 

Stated Principal Amount: $1,000
Hypothetical Initial Level: 2,700
Buffer Amount: 15%
Minimum Payment at Maturity: $150

 

* The actual quarterly coupon will be an amount determined by the calculation agent based on the actual number of days in the applicable payment period, calculated on a 30/360 basis.

 

October 2018Page 6

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

How to calculate the payment at maturity:

 

  Final Level Index Percent Change Payment at Maturity (in addition to the final quarterly coupon payment)
Example 1: 3,000 (at or above 85% of the initial level) N/A $1,000 (the stated principal amount)
Example 2: 2,500 (at or above 85% of the initial level) N/A $1,000 (the stated principal amount)
Example 3: 945 (below 85% of the initial level) (945 – 2,700) / 2,700 = -65%

$500, calculated as follows:

 

= $1,000 + [$1,000 x (-65% + 15%)]
= $1,000 + ($1,000 x -50%) = $500

 

In example 1, the underlying index appreciates and the final level is therefore at or above 85% of the initial level. Therefore, investors receive at maturity the stated principal amount of the securities and the final quarterly coupon. However, investors do not participate in the appreciation of the underlying index.

 

In example 2, the underlying index has declined from the initial level but has not decreased by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level. Therefore, investors receive at maturity the stated principal amount of the securities and the final quarterly coupon.

 

In example 3, the underlying index has declined 65% from its initial level to its final level. Therefore, investors receive the final quarterly coupon and a payment at maturity calculated based on the index percent change of the underlying index. Investors will lose 1% of principal for every 1% decline beyond the buffer amount of 15%.

 

If the final level has declined from the initial level by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, your payment at maturity will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount, subject to the minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of the stated principal amount.

 

October 2018Page 7

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

Risk Factors

 

The following is a non-exhaustive list of certain key risk factors for investors in the securities. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus. We also urge you to consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the securities.

 

§The securities provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of your principal. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that the securities provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of the stated principal amount at maturity, subject to our credit risk. If the final level is less than 85% of the initial level, meaning the underlying index has decreased by more than the buffer amount of 15% from the initial level, you will lose 1% of your principal for every 1% decline beyond the buffer amount of 15%. Under this scenario, the value of the payment at maturity will be less, and could be significantly less, than the stated principal amount. You could lose up to 85% of the stated principal amount of the securities.

 

§Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index, and the return on the securities will be limited to the fixed quarterly coupons paid during the term of the securities.

 

§The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the securities at maturity or on any coupon payment date, and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations under the securities, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the securities prior to maturity will be affected by changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any actual or anticipated decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the securities.

 

§As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets. As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of its securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of MSFL securities if they make claims in respect of such securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by Morgan Stanley and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Morgan Stanley. Holders will have recourse only to a single claim against Morgan Stanley and its assets under the guarantee. Holders of securities issued by MSFL should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of Morgan Stanley, including holders of Morgan Stanley-issued securities.

 

§The market price will be influenced by many unpredictable factors. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of the securities in the secondary market and the price at which MS & Co. may be willing to purchase or sell the securities in the secondary market, including: the value, volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) and dividend yield of the underlying index, interest and yield rates, time remaining to maturity, geopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political and regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlying index or equities markets generally and which may affect the final level of the underlying index and any actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads. The value of the underlying index may be, and has recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. See “S&P 500® Index Overview” below. You may receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount per securities if you try to sell your securities prior to maturity.

 

§Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index or its component stocks. Investors in the securities will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index, and will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to stocks that constitute the underlying index.

 

October 2018Page 8

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

§The amount payable on the securities is not linked to the level of the underlying index at any time other than the determination date. The final level will be the index closing value on the determination date, subject to adjustment for non-index business days and certain market disruption events. Even if the value of the underlying index appreciates prior to the determination date but then drops by the determination date, the payment at maturity may be less, and may be significantly less, than it would have been had the payment at maturity been linked to the level of the underlying index prior to such drop. Although the actual level of the underlying index on the stated maturity date or at other times during the term of the securities may be higher than the final level, the payment at maturity will be based solely on the index closing value on the determination date.

 

§The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited. Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities for the entire four-year term of the securities. The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the securities. MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time. When it does make a market, it will generally do so for transactions of routine secondary market size at prices based on its estimate of the current value of the securities, taking into account its bid/offer spread, our credit spreads, market volatility, the notional size of the proposed sale, the cost of unwinding any related hedging positions, the time remaining to maturity and the likelihood that it will be able to resell the securities. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the securities easily. Since other broker-dealers may not participate significantly in the secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to trade your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which MS & Co. is willing to transact. If, at any time, MS & Co. were to cease making a market in the securities, it is likely that there would be no secondary market for the securities. Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities to maturity.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

October 2018Page 9

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

§Adjustments to the underlying index could adversely affect the value of the securities. The underlying index publisher may add, delete or substitute the stocks constituting the underlying index or make other methodological changes that could change the value of the underlying index. The underlying index publisher may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the underlying index at any time. In these circumstances, the calculation agent will have the sole discretion to substitute a successor index that is comparable to the discontinued underlying index and is permitted to consider indices that are calculated and published by the calculation agent or any of its affiliates. If the calculation agent determines that there is no appropriate successor index, the payment at maturity on the securities will be an amount based on the closing prices at maturity of the securities composing the underlying index at the time of such discontinuance, without rebalancing or substitution, computed by the calculation agent in accordance with the formula for calculating the underlying index last in effect prior to discontinuance of the underlying index.

 

§Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially affect the value of the securities. One or more of our affiliates and/or third-party dealers have carried out, and will continue to carry out, hedging activities related to the securities (and possibly to other instruments linked to the underlying index or its component stocks), including trading in the stocks that constitute the underlying index as well as in other instruments related to the underlying index. 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 determination date approaches. Some of our affiliates also trade the stocks that constitute the underlying index and other financial instruments related to the underlying index 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 have increased the initial level, and, therefore, could have increased the value at or above which the underlying index must close on the determination date so that investors do not suffer a loss on their initial investment in the securities. Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities, including on the determination date, could adversely affect the value of the underlying index on the determination date, and, accordingly, the amount of cash an investor will receive at maturity.

 

§The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of the issuer, will make determinations with respect to the securities. As calculation agent, MS & Co. has determined the initial level, will determine the final level and will calculate the amount of cash you receive at maturity. Moreover, certain determinations made by MS & Co. in its capacity as calculation agent, may require it to exercise discretion and make subjective judgments, such as with respect to the occurrence or non-occurrence of market disruption events and the selection of a successor index or calculation of the final level in the event of a market disruption event or discontinuance of the underlying index. These potentially subjective determinations may adversely affect the payout to you at maturity. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Additional Information About the Securities—Additional Provisions—Calculation agent,” “—Closing value,” “—Market disruption event,” “—Postponement of the determination date,” “—Discontinuance of the underlying index; alteration of method of calculation” and “—Alternate exchange calculation in case of an event of default” below. 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 Provisions―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 unit consisting of (i) a Put Right (as defined below under “Additional Provisions―Tax considerations”) written by you to us that, if exercised, requires you to pay to us an amount equal to the Deposit (as defined below under “Additional Provisions―Tax considerations”), in exchange for a cash amount based on the performance of the underlying index, and (ii) a Deposit with us of a fixed amount of cash to secure your obligation under the Put Right. Alternative U.S. federal income tax treatments of the securities are possible, and if the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) were successful in asserting such an alternative tax treatment for the securities the timing and the character of income on the securities might differ significantly from the tax treatment described herein. We do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the tax treatment of the securities, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described herein.

 

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

 

October 2018Page 10

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, it is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance issued 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 (including whether the entire coupon on the securities should be required to be included currently as ordinary income) and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax.

 

Non-U.S. Holders should note that we currently do not intend to withhold on any payments made with respect to the securities to Non-U.S. Holders (subject to compliance by such holders with certification necessary to establish an exemption from withholding and to the discussion under “Additional Provisions―Tax considerations—FATCA”). However, in the event of a change of law or any formal or informal guidance by the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Department or Congress, we may decide to withhold on payments made with respect to the securities to Non-U.S. Holders and 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 U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including possible alternative treatments, the issues presented by the IRS notice and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

October 2018Page 11

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Fixed Income Buffered Securities due October 31, 2022
Based on the Performance of the S&P 500® Index
Principal at Risk Securities 

 

 

S&P 500® Index Overview

 

The S&P 500® Index, which is calculated, maintained and published by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”), consists of stocks of 500 component companies selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. The calculation of the S&P 500® Index is based on the relative value of the float adjusted aggregate market capitalization of the 500 component companies as of a particular time as compared to the aggregate average market capitalization of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. For additional information about the S&P 500® Index, see the information set forth under “S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

Information as of market close on October 26, 2018:

 

Bloomberg Ticker Symbol: SPX
Current Index Value: 2,658.69
52 Weeks Ago: 2,560.40
52 Week High (on 9/20/2018): 2,930.75
52 Week Low (on 10/26/2017): 2,560.40

 

The following table sets forth the published high and low closing values, as well as end-of-quarter closing values, of the underlying index for each quarter for the period from January 1, 2013 through October 26, 2018. The related graph sets forth the daily closing values of the underlying index in the same period. The closing value of the underlying index on October 26, 2018 was 2,658.69. We obtained the information in the table and graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The underlying index has at times experienced periods of high volatility, and you should not take the historical values of the underlying index as an indication of its future performance. No assurance can be given as to the closing level of the underlying index on the determination date.

 

S&P 500® Index 

Daily Index Closing Values

January 1, 2013 to October 26, 2018

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S&P 500® Index High Low Period End
2013      
First Quarter 1,569.19 1,457.15 1,569.19
Second Quarter 1,669.16 1,541.61 1,606.28
Third Quarter 1,725.52 1,614.08 1,681.55
Fourth Quarter 1,848.36 1,655.45 1,848.36
2014      
First Quarter 1,878.04 1,741.89 1,872.34
Second Quarter 1,962.87 1,815.69 1,960.23
Third Quarter 2,011.36 1,909.57 1,972.29
Fourth Quarter 2,090.57 1,862.49 2,058.90
2015      
First Quarter 2,117.39 1,992.67 2,067.89
Second Quarter 2,130.82 2,057.64 2,063.11
Third Quarter 2,128.28 1,867.61 1,920.03
Fourth Quarter 2,109.79 1,923.82 2,043.94
2016      
First Quarter 2,063.95 1,829.08 2,059.74
Second Quarter 2,119.12 2,000.54 2,098.86
Third Quarter 2,190.15 2,088.55 2,168.27
Fourth Quarter 2,271.72 2,085.18 2,238.83
2017      
First Quarter 2,395.96 2,257.83 2,362.72
Second Quarter 2,453.46 2,328.95 2,423.41
Third Quarter 2,519.36 2,409.75 2,519.36
Fourth Quarter  2,690.16  2,529.12  2,673.61
2018      
First Quarter 2,872.87 2,581.00 2,640.87
Second Quarter 2,786.85 2,581.88 2,718.37
Third Quarter 2,930.75 2,713.22 2,913.98
Fourth Quarter (through October 26, 2018) 2,925.51 2,656.10 2,658.69

 

“Standard & Poor’s®,” “S&P®,” “S&P 500®,” “Standard & Poor’s 500” and “500” are trademarks of Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC. See “S&P 500® Index” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

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Additional Information About the Securities

 

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

 

Additional Provisions:  
Day count convention: 30/360
Underlying index publisher: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC
Denominations: $1,000 per security and integral multiples thereof
Interest period: Quarterly
Book entry security or certificated security: Book entry.  The securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary and will be registered in the name of a nominee of the depositary.  The depositary’s nominee will be the only registered holder of the securities.  Your beneficial interest in the securities will be evidenced solely by entries on the books of the securities intermediary acting on your behalf as a direct or indirect participant in the depositary.  In this pricing supplement, all references to payments or notices to you will mean payments or notices to the depositary, as the registered holder of the securities, for distribution to participants in accordance with the depositary’s procedures.  For more information regarding the depositary and book entry notes, please read “The Depositary” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and “Forms of Securities—Global Securities—Registered Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.
Senior security or subordinated security: Senior
Specified currency: U.S. dollars
Record date: One business day prior to the related scheduled coupon payment date; provided that the quarterly coupon payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom the payment at maturity will be payable.
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 prospectus 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 ownership and disposition of the securities. This discussion applies only to initial investors in the securities who:

 

    purchase the securities at their “issue price,” which will equal the first price at which a substantial amount of the securities is sold to the public (not including bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers); 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,

 

 

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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 lack of any controlling legal authority, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities. We intend to treat a security, under current law, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a unit consisting of the following:

 

(i)  a put right (the “Put Right”) written by you to us that, if exercised, requires you to pay us an amount equal to the Deposit (as defined below) in exchange for a cash amount based on the performance of the underlying index; and

 

(ii) a deposit with us of a fixed amount of cash, equal to the issue price, to secure your obligation under the Put Right (the “Deposit”) that pays interest based on our cost of borrowing at the time of issuance (the “Yield on the Deposit”).

 

Based on the treatment set forth above, we have determined that the Yield on the Deposit is 3.7818% per annum, paid quarterly, and that the remaining portion of the coupon payments on the securities is attributable to the premium on the Put Right (the “Put Premium”) as set forth below:

 

  Underlying Index Coupon Rate Yield on the Deposit Put Premium
  SPX Index 4.25% p.a. 3.7818% p.a. 0.4682% p.a.

 

 

We will allocate 100% of the issue price of the securities to the Deposit and none to the Put Right. Our allocation of the issue price between the Put Right and the Deposit will be binding on you, unless you timely and explicitly disclose to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that your allocation is different from ours. This allocation is not, however, binding on the IRS or a court.

 

No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addresses the treatment of the securities or instruments similar to the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no ruling is being requested from the IRS with respect to the securities. Significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities are uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court will agree with the tax treatment described herein. In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the treatment of the securities described above 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. Accordingly, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities (including alternative treatments of the securities). Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the treatment and the allocation described above.

 

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

 

 

 

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source.

 

Tax Treatment of the Securities

 

Assuming the treatment of the securities and allocation of the issue price as set forth above are respected, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result.

 

Coupon Payments on the Securities. Under the characterization described above under “—General,” only a portion of the coupon payments on the securities will be attributable to the Yield on the Deposit. The remainder of the coupon payments will represent payments attributable to the Put Premium. To the extent attributable to the Yield on the Deposit, coupon payments on the securities should generally be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time accrued or received, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

The Put Premium will not be taxable to a U.S. Holder upon receipt but will be accounted for as described below.

 

Tax Basis. Based on our determination set forth above, the U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Deposit will be 100% of the issue price. The determination of gain or loss with respect to the Put Right is described below.

 

Receipt of Stated Principal Amount in Cash upon Settlement of the Securities. If a U.S. Holder receives the stated principal amount of a security in cash (excluding cash attributable to coupon payments on the security, which would be taxed as described above under “—Coupon Payments on the Securities”), the Put Right will be deemed to have expired unexercised. In such case, the U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain upon the return of the Deposit, but will recognize the total amount of Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the securities (including Put Premium received upon settlement) as short-term capital gain at such time.

 

Receipt of a Cash Amount Based on the Performance of the Underlying Index upon Maturity of the Securities. If a U.S. Holder receives an amount of cash (excluding cash attributable to coupon payments on the securities, which would be taxed as described above under “—Coupon Payments on the Securities”) that is less than the stated principal amount of the securities, the Put Right will be deemed to have been exercised and the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have applied the Deposit toward the cash settlement of the Put Right. In such case, the U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain or loss in respect of the Deposit, but will recognize short-term capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash received by the U.S. Holder at maturity (excluding cash attributable to coupon payments on the securities), plus the total Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the securities (including the Put Premium received at maturity) and (ii) the Deposit.

 

Sale or Exchange of the Securities Prior to Settlement. Upon the sale or exchange of a security, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize long-term capital gain or loss with respect to the Deposit if the U.S. Holder has held the securities for more than one year at the time of such sale or exchange and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. The U.S. Holder will also generally recognize short-term capital gain or loss with respect to the Put Right. For the purpose of determining such gain or loss, a U.S. Holder should apportion the amount realized on the sale or exchange of a security (excluding any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid Yield on the Deposit, which would be taxed as described under “—Coupon Payments on the Securities”) between the Deposit and the Put Right based on their respective values on the date of such sale or exchange. The amount of capital gain or loss on the Deposit will equal the amount realized that is attributable to the Deposit, less the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Deposit. The amount realized that is attributable to the Put Right, together with the total Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the security, will be treated as short-term capital gain.

 

If the value of the Deposit on the date of such sale or exchange exceeds the total amount realized on the sale or exchange of the security, the U.S. Holder will be treated as having (i) sold or exchanged the Deposit for an amount equal to its value on that date and (ii) made a payment (the “Put Right Assumption Payment”) to the purchaser of the security equal to the amount of such excess, in exchange for the purchaser’s assumption of the U.S. Holder’s rights and obligations under the Put Right. In such a case, the U.S. Holder will recognize short-term capital gain or loss in respect of the Put Right in an amount equal to the total Put Premium received by the U.S. Holder over the term of the security, less the amount of the Put Right Assumption Payment deemed to be made by the U.S. Holder.

 

 

 

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Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities

 

Due to the absence of authorities that directly address the proper characterization 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 treat a security or the Deposit as a debt instrument subject to 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 or to the Deposit, the timing and character of income thereon would be significantly affected. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be required to accrue interest income every year as original issue discount, subject to adjustments, at a “comparable yield” based on our cost of borrowing. Furthermore, if the securities or Deposit were treated as contingent payment debt instruments, any gain realized with respect to the securities or the Deposit would generally be treated 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.

 

Even if the Contingent Debt Regulations do not apply to the securities, other alternative U.S. federal income tax characterizations or treatments of the securities are also possible, which if applied could significantly affect the timing and character of the income or loss with respect to the securities. It is possible, for example, that a security could be treated as constituting an “open transaction” with the result that the coupon payments on the securities might not be accounted for separately as giving rise to income to U.S. Holders until the sale, exchange or settlement of the securities. Alternatively, the entire coupon on the securities could be required to be included in income by a U.S. Holder at the time received or accrued. Other alternative characterizations are also possible. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in 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. 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 U.S. Holders of the securities is the character and timing of income or loss realized with respect to these instruments (including whether the Put Premium might be required to be included currently as ordinary income). Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including the possible implications of 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 trust or estate.

 

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

 

 

 

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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.

 

General

 

Assuming the treatment of the securities as set forth above is respected and subject to the discussions below regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) of the Code and FATCA, payments with respect to a security, and gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of such security, should not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax under current law, provided that:

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder does not own, directly or by attribution, ten percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership;

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest under Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and

 

    the certification requirement described below has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner.

 

Certification Requirement. The certification requirement referred to in the preceding paragraph will be fulfilled if the beneficial owner of a security (or a financial institution holding a security on behalf of the beneficial owner) furnishes to the applicable withholding agent an IRS Form W-8BEN (or other appropriate form), on which the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person.

 

Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities

 

As described above under “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities,” the IRS may seek to apply a different characterization and tax treatment from the treatment described herein. While the U.S. federal income and withholding tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder of ownership and disposition of a security under current law should generally be the same as those described immediately above, it is possible that a Non-U.S. Holder could be subject to withholding tax under certain recharacterizations of the securities.

 

Moreover, among the issues addressed in the IRS notice described in “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders” is the degree, if any, to which income realized by Non-U.S. Holders should be subject to withholding tax. It is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance issued after consideration of this issue could materially and adversely affect the withholding tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the securities, possibly with retroactive effect. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including the possible implications of the notice discussed above. Prospective investors should note that we currently do not intend to withhold on any of the payments made with respect to the securities to Non-U.S. Holders (subject to compliance by such holders with the certification requirement described above and to the discussion below regarding FATCA). However, in the event of a change of law or any formal or informal guidance by the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Department or Congress, we (or any financial intermediary) may decide to withhold on payments made with respect to the securities to Non-U.S. Holders and we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.

 

Section 871(m) Withholding Tax on Dividend Equivalents

 

Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities (each, an “Underlying Security”). Subject to certain exceptions, Section 871(m) generally applies to securities that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more Underlying Securities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “Specified

 

 

 

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Security”). However, pursuant to an IRS notice, Section 871(m) will not apply to securities issued before January 1, 2021 that do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security. Based on our determination 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 of the securities. A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding in respect of amounts paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, unless such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise establishes an exemption. Compliance with the certification procedures described under “—General—Certification Requirement” will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

FATCA

 

Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. FATCA generally applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest or other U.S.-source “fixed or determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). Withholding (if applicable) applies to payments of U.S.-source FDAP income and, for dispositions after December 31, 2018, 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. While the treatment of the securities is unclear, you should assume that, to the extent attributable to the Deposit, the gross proceeds of a disposition (including upon retirement) after 2018 and the yield on the Deposit with respect to the securities will be subject to the FATCA rules. It is also possible in light of this uncertainty that an applicable withholding agent will treat the entire amount of the gross proceeds of a disposition (including upon retirement) of the securities after 2018 and the coupon on the securities, in whole or in part, as being 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 an investment in the securities.

Trustee: The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation
Calculation agent:

The calculation agent for the securities will be MS & Co. All determinations made by the calculation agent will be at the sole discretion of the calculation agent and will, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for

 

 

 

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all purposes and binding on you, the trustee and us.

 

All calculations with respect to the quarterly coupon and payment at maturity will be made by the calculation agent and will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth, with five one-millionths rounded upward (e.g., .876545 would be rounded to .87655); all dollar amounts related to determination of the amount of cash payable per stated principal amount will be rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth, with five one hundred-thousandths rounded upward (e.g., .76545 would be rounded up to .7655); and all dollar amounts paid on the aggregate principal amount of the securities will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward.

 

Because the calculation agent is our affiliate, the economic interests of the calculation agent and its affiliates may be adverse to your interests as an investor in the securities, including with respect to certain determinations and judgments that the calculation agent must make in determining the payment that you will receive on each coupon payment date and at maturity or whether a market disruption event has occurred. See “Market disruption event” and “Discontinuance of the underlying index; alteration of method of calculation” below. MS & Co. is obligated to carry out its duties and functions as calculation agent in good faith and using its reasonable judgment.

Business day: Any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York.
Index business day: A day, as determined by the calculation agent, on which trading is generally conducted on each of the relevant exchange(s) for the underlying index, other than a day on which trading on such exchange(s) is scheduled to close prior to the time of the posting of its regular final weekday closing price.
Index closing value: Index closing value on any index business day means the official closing value of the underlying index, or any successor index (as defined under “Discontinuance of the underlying index; alteration of method of calculation” below), published at the regular official weekday close of trading on such index business day by the underlying index publisher, as determined by the calculation agent.  In certain circumstances, the index closing value for the underlying index will be based on the alternate calculation of the underlying index described under “Discontinuance of the underlying index; alteration of method of calculation.”
Market disruption event:

Market disruption event means, with respect to the underlying index,

 

(i) the occurrence or existence of any of:

 

(a)   a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading of securities then constituting 20 percent or more of the value of the underlying index (or the successor index) on the relevant exchange(s) for such securities for more than two hours of trading or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of the principal trading session on such relevant exchange(s); or

 

(b)   a breakdown or failure in the price and trade reporting systems of any relevant exchange as a result of which the reported trading prices for securities then constituting 20 percent or more of the value of the underlying index (or the successor index) during the last one-half hour preceding the close of the principal trading session on such relevant exchange(s) are materially inaccurate; or

 

(c)   the suspension, material limitation or absence of trading on any major U.S. securities market for trading in futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds related to the underlying index (or the successor index) for more than two hours of trading or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of the principal trading session on such market,

 

in each case as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion; and

 

(ii)   a determination by the calculation agent in its sole discretion that any event described in clause (i) above materially interfered with our ability or the ability of any of our affiliates to unwind or adjust all or a material portion of the hedge position with respect to the securities.

 

For the purpose of determining whether a market disruption event exists at any time, if trading in a security included in the underlying index is materially suspended or materially limited at that time, then the relevant percentage contribution of that security to the value of the underlying index will be based on a comparison of (x) the portion of the value of the underlying index attributable to that security relative to (y) the overall value of the underlying index, in each case immediately before that suspension or limitation.

 

For the purpose of determining whether a market disruption event exists at any time: (1) a limitation on the hours or number of days of trading will not constitute a market disruption event if it results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the relevant exchange or market, (2) a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the relevant futures or options contract or exchange-traded fund will not constitute a market disruption event, (3) a suspension of trading in futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds on the underlying index by the primary securities market trading in such contracts or funds by reason of (a) a price change exceeding limits set by such securities exchange or market, (b) an imbalance of orders relating

 

 

 

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  to such contracts or funds, or (c) a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to such contracts or funds will constitute a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds related to the underlying index and (4) a “suspension, absence or material limitation of trading” on any relevant exchange or on the primary market on which futures or options contracts or exchange-traded funds related to the underlying index are traded will not include any time when such securities market is itself closed for trading under ordinary circumstances.
Relevant exchange: With respect to the underlying index or its successor index, the primary exchange(s) or market(s) of trading for (i) any security then included in such index and (ii) any futures or options contracts related to such index or to any security then included in such index.

Postponement of the determination date:

 

The determination date is subject to postponement due to non-index business days or certain market disruption events, as described in the following paragraph.

 

If a market disruption event with respect to the underlying index occurs on the scheduled determination date, or if such determination date is not an index business day, the index closing value for such date will be determined on the immediately succeeding index business day on which no market disruption event will have occurred; provided that the final level will not be determined on a date later than the fifth scheduled index business day after the scheduled determination date and if such date is not an index business day or if there is a market disruption event on such date, the calculation agent will determine the index closing value of the underlying index on such date in accordance with the formula for calculating the underlying index last in effect prior to the commencement of the market disruption event (or prior to the non-index business day), without rebalancing or substitution, using the closing price (or, if trading in the relevant securities has been materially suspended or materially limited, its good faith estimate of the closing price that would have prevailed but for such suspension, limitation or non-index business day) on such date of each security most recently constituting the underlying index.

Postponement of coupon payment dates and maturity date:

 

If any scheduled coupon payment date is not a business day, that quarterly coupon will be paid on the next succeeding business day. If, due to a market disruption event or otherwise, the determination date is postponed so that it falls less than two business days prior to the maturity date, the maturity date will be postponed to the second business day following the determination date as postponed, by which date the index closing value has been determined.  In any of these cases, no adjustment will be made to any payment made on that postponed date.
Discontinuance of the underlying index; alteration of method of calculation:

If the underlying index publisher discontinues publication of the underlying index and the underlying index publisher or another entity (including MS & Co.) publishes a successor or substitute index that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the discontinued index (such index being referred to herein as the “successor index”), then any subsequent index closing value will be determined by reference to the published value of such successor index at the regular weekday close of trading on any index business day on which the index closing value is to be determined, and, to the extent the index closing value of the successor index differs from the index closing value of the underlying index at the time of such substitution, a proportionate adjustment will be made by the calculation agent to the initial level.

 

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

 

If the underlying index publisher discontinues publication of the underlying index or the successor index prior to, and such discontinuance is continuing on, the determination date and the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, that no successor index is available at such time, then the calculation agent will determine the index closing value for the determination date. The index closing value of the underlying index or the successor index will be computed by the calculation agent in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating such index last in effect prior to such discontinuance, using the closing price (or, if trading in the relevant securities has been materially suspended or materially limited, its good faith estimate of the closing price that would have prevailed but for such suspension or limitation) at the close of the principal trading session of the relevant exchange on the determination date of each security most recently constituting such index without any rebalancing or substitution of such securities following such discontinuance. Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, discontinuance of the publication of the underlying index may adversely affect the value of the securities.

 

If at any time, the method of calculating the underlying index or the successor index, or the value thereof, is changed in a material respect, or if the underlying index or the successor index is in any other way modified so that such index does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the value of such index had such changes or modifications not been made, then, from and after such time, the calculation agent will,

 

 

 

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  at the close of business in New York City on each date on which the index closing value is to be determined, make such calculations and adjustments as, in the good faith judgment of the calculation agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a value of a stock index comparable to the underlying index or the successor index, as the case may be, as if such changes or modifications had not been made, and the calculation agent will calculate the index closing value with reference to the underlying index or the successor index, as adjusted.  Accordingly, if the method of calculating the underlying index or the successor index is modified so that the value of such index is a fraction of what it would have been if it had not been modified (e.g., due to a split in the underlying index), then the calculation agent will adjust such index in order to arrive at a value of the underlying index or the successor index as if it had not been modified (e.g., as if such split had not occurred).
Alternate exchange calculation in case of an event of default:

If an event of default with respect to the securities will have occurred and be continuing, the amount declared due and payable upon any acceleration of the securities (the “Acceleration Amount”) will be an amount, determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion, that is equal to the cost of having a qualified financial institution, of the kind and selected as described below, expressly assume all our payment and other obligations with respect to the securities as of that day and as if no default or acceleration had occurred, or to undertake other obligations providing substantially equivalent economic value to you with respect to the securities. That cost will equal:

 

·     the lowest amount that a qualified financial institution would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking, plus

 

·     the reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the holders of the securities in preparing any documentation necessary for this assumption or undertaking.

 

During the default quotation period for the securities, which we describe below, the holders of the securities and/or we may request a qualified financial institution to provide a quotation of the amount it would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking. If either party obtains a quotation, it must notify the other party in writing of the quotation. The amount referred to in the first bullet point above will equal the lowest—or, if there is only one, the only—quotation obtained, and as to which notice is so given, during the default quotation period. With respect to any quotation, however, the party not obtaining the quotation may object, on reasonable and significant grounds, to the assumption or undertaking by the qualified financial institution providing the quotation and notify the other party in writing of those grounds within two business days after the last day of the default quotation period, in which case that quotation will be disregarded in determining the Acceleration Amount.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, bankruptcy or insolvency of, or any analogous proceeding is filed with respect to MSFL or Morgan Stanley, then depending on applicable bankruptcy law, your claim may be limited to an amount that could be less than the Acceleration Amount.

 

If the maturity of the securities is accelerated because of an event of default as described above, we will, or will cause the calculation agent to, provide written notice to the trustee at its New York office, on which notice the trustee may conclusively rely, and to the depositary of the Acceleration Amount and the aggregate cash amount due, if any, with respect to the securities as promptly as possible and in no event later than two business days after the date of such acceleration.

 

Default quotation period

 

The default quotation period is the period beginning on the day the Acceleration Amount first becomes due and ending on the third business day after that day, unless:

 

·     no quotation of the kind referred to above is obtained, or

 

·     every quotation of that kind obtained is objected to within five business days after the due date as described above.

 

If either of these two events occurs, the default quotation period will continue until the third business day after the first business day on which prompt notice of a quotation is given as described above. If that quotation is objected to as described above within five business days after that first business day, however, the default quotation period will continue as described in the prior sentence and this sentence.

 

In any event, if the default quotation period and the subsequent two business day objection period have not ended before the determination date, then the Acceleration Amount will equal the principal amount of the securities.

 

Qualified financial institutions

 

For the purpose of determining the Acceleration Amount at any time, a qualified financial institution must be a financial institution organized under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or Europe, which at that time has outstanding debt obligations with a stated maturity of one year or less from the date of issue and rated either:

 

·     A-2 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency, or

 

·     P-2 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service or any successor, or any other comparable rating

 

 

 

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  then used by that rating agency.
Use of proceeds and hedging:

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

 

On or prior to the pricing date, we hedged 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 have taken positions in stocks of the underlying index and in futures and options contracts on the underlying index, and any component stocks of the underlying index listed on major securities markets. Such purchase activity could have increased the value of the underlying index on the pricing date, and therefore could have increased the value at or above which the underlying index must close on the determination date so that investors do not suffer a loss on their initial investment in the securities. In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify our hedge position throughout the term of the securities, including on the determination date, by purchasing and selling the stocks constituting the underlying index, futures or options contracts on the underlying index or its component stocks listed on major securities markets or positions in any other available securities or instruments that we may wish to use in connection with such hedging activities. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the determination date approaches. We cannot give any assurance that our hedging activities will not affect the level of the underlying index, and, therefore, adversely affect the value of the securities or the payment you will receive at maturity. For further information on our use of proceeds and hedging, see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Benefit plan investor considerations:

Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (a “Plan”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.

 

In addition, we and certain of our affiliates, including MS & Co., may each be considered a “party in interest” within the meaning of ERISA, or a “disqualified person” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to many Plans, as well as many individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans (such accounts and plans, together with other plans, accounts and arrangements subject to Section 4975 of the Code, also “Plans”). ERISA Section 406 and Code Section 4975 generally prohibit transactions between Plans and parties in interest or disqualified persons. Prohibited transactions within the meaning of ERISA or the Code would likely arise, for example, if the securities are acquired by or with the assets of a Plan with respect to which MS & Co. or any of its affiliates is a service provider or other party in interest, unless the securities are acquired pursuant to an exemption from the “prohibited transaction” rules. A violation of these “prohibited transaction” rules could result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the securities. Those class exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts) and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Code Section 4975(d)(20) provide an exemption for the purchase and sale of securities and the related lending transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities nor any of its affiliates has or exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders any investment advice with respect to the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the Plan pays no more, and receives no less, than “adequate consideration” in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider” exemption). There can be no assurance that any of these class or statutory exemptions will be available with respect to transactions involving the securities.

 

Because we may be considered a party in interest with respect to many Plans, the securities may not be purchased, held or disposed of by any Plan, any entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by

 

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reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “Plan Asset Entity”) or any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase, holding or disposition is eligible for exemptive relief, including relief available under PTCEs 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1, 84-14 or the service provider exemption or such purchase, holding or disposition is otherwise not prohibited. Any purchaser, including any fiduciary purchasing on behalf of a Plan, transferee or holder of the securities will be deemed to have represented, in its corporate and its fiduciary capacity, by its purchase and holding of the securities that either (a) it is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not purchasing such securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan or with any assets of a governmental, non-U.S. or church plan that is subject to any federal, state, local or non-U.S. law that is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (“Similar Law”) or (b) its purchase, holding and disposition of these securities will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or violate any Similar Law.

 

Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan consult with their counsel regarding the availability of exemptive relief.

 

The securities are contractual financial instruments. The financial exposure provided by the securities is not a substitute or proxy for, and is not intended as a substitute or proxy for, individualized investment management or advice for the benefit of any purchaser or holder of the securities. The securities have not been designed and will not be administered in a manner intended to reflect the individualized needs and objectives of any purchaser or holder of the securities.

 

Each purchaser or holder of any securities acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(i)    the purchaser or holder or its fiduciary has made and shall make all investment decisions for the purchaser or holder and the purchaser or holder has not relied and shall not rely in any way upon us or our affiliates to act as a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder with respect to (A) the design and terms of the securities, (B) the purchaser or holder’s investment in the securities, or (C) the exercise of or failure to exercise any rights we have under or with respect to the securities;

 

(ii)   we and our affiliates have acted and will act solely for our own account in connection with (A) all transactions relating to the securities and (B) all hedging transactions in connection with our obligations under the securities;

 

(iii)  any and all assets and positions relating to hedging transactions by us or our affiliates are assets and positions of those entities and are not assets and positions held for the benefit of the purchaser or holder;

 

(iv)  our interests are adverse to the interests of the purchaser or holder; and

 

(v)   neither we nor any of our affiliates is a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder in connection with any such assets, positions or transactions, and any information that we or any of our affiliates may provide is not intended to be impartial investment advice.

 

Each purchaser and holder of the securities has exclusive responsibility for ensuring that its purchase, holding and disposition of the securities do not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any Similar Law. The sale of any securities to any Plan or plan subject to Similar Law is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by plans generally or any particular plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for plans generally or any particular plan. In this regard, neither this discussion nor anything provided in this document is or is intended to be investment advice directed at any potential Plan purchaser or at Plan purchasers generally and such purchasers of these securities should consult and rely on their own counsel and advisers as to whether an investment in these securities is suitable.

 

However, individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities and Keogh plans, as well as employee benefit plans that permit participants to direct the investment of their accounts, will not be permitted to purchase or hold the securities if the account, plan or annuity is for the benefit of an employee of Morgan Stanley or Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or a family member and the employee receives any compensation (such as, for example, an addition to bonus) based on the purchase of the securities by the account, plan or annuity.

Additional considerations: Client accounts over which Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or any of their respective

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  subsidiaries have investment discretion are not permitted to purchase the securities, either directly or indirectly.
Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest:

Selected dealers, which may include our affiliates, and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent a fixed sales commission of $35 for each security they sell.

 

MS & Co. is an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and it and other affiliates of ours expect to make a profit by selling, structuring and, when applicable, hedging the securities.

 

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

 

In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, the agent may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. Specifically, the agent may sell more securities than it is obligated to purchase in connection with the offering, creating a naked short position in the securities, for its own account. The agent must close out any naked short position by purchasing the securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the agent is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means of facilitating the offering, the agent may bid for, and purchase, the securities or the securities underlying the underlying index in the open market to stabilize the price of the securities. Any of these activities may raise or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels or prevent or retard a decline in the market price of the securities. The agent is not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time. An affiliate of the agent has entered into a hedging transaction with us in connection with this offering of securities. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” above.

Validity of the securities: In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as special counsel to MSFL and Morgan Stanley, when the securities offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by MSFL, authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such securities will be valid and binding obligations of MSFL and the related guarantee will be a valid and binding obligation of Morgan Stanley, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to (i) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above and (ii) any provision of the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture that purports to avoid the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law by limiting the amount of Morgan Stanley’s obligation under the related guarantee.  This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.  In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture and its authentication of the securities and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated November 16, 2017, which is Exhibit 5-a to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by Morgan Stanley on November 16, 2017.
Selling restrictions:

General

 

No action has been or will be taken by us, the agent or any dealer that would permit a public offering of the securities or possession or distribution of this pricing supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement or prospectus in any jurisdiction, other than the United States, where action for that purpose is required. No offers, sales or deliveries of the securities, or distribution of this pricing supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement or prospectus or any other offering material relating to the securities, may be made in or from any jurisdiction except in circumstances which will result in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations and will not impose any obligations on us, the agent or any dealer.

 

The agent has represented and agreed, and each dealer through which we may offer the securities has represented and agreed, that it (i) will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in force in each non-U.S. jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers the securities or possesses or distributes this pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement and prospectus and (ii) will obtain any consent, approval or permission required by it for the purchase, offer or sale by it of the

 

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securities under the laws and regulations in force in each non-U.S. jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes purchases, offers or sales of the securities. We will not have responsibility for the agent’s or any dealer’s compliance with the applicable laws and regulations or obtaining any required consent, approval or permission.

 

In addition to the selling restrictions set forth in “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the following selling restrictions also apply to the securities:

 

Brazil

 

The securities have not been and will not be registered with the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (The Brazilian Securities Commission). The securities may not be offered or sold in the Federative Republic of Brazil except in circumstances which do not constitute a public offering or distribution under Brazilian laws and regulations.

 

Chile

 

The securities have not been registered with the Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros in Chile and may not be offered or sold publicly in Chile. No offer, sales or deliveries of the securities or distribution of this pricing supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement, index supplement or prospectus, may be made in or from Chile except in circumstances which will result in compliance with any applicable Chilean laws and regulations.

 

Mexico

 

The securities have not been registered with the National Registry of Securities maintained by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. This pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the accompanying index supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be publicly distributed in Mexico.

Where you can find more information:

Morgan Stanley and MSFL have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement and index supplement) 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 prospectus supplement, the index supplement 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, the prospectus supplement and the index supplement if you so request by calling toll-free 800-584-6837.

 

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

 

Prospectus Supplement dated November 16, 2017

 

Index Supplement dated November 16, 2017

 

Prospectus dated November 16, 2017

 

Terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement are defined in the prospectus supplement, in the index supplement or in the prospectus.

 

 

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