
Linked to the S&P 500® Index
|
• |
Approximate 12-month term. |
|
• |
Payment on the Notes
will depend on the individual performance of the S&P 500® Index
(the “Underlying”). |
|
• |
1-to-1 upside exposure to increases in the Underlying if its
closing level on the Valuation Date is greater than the Starting
Value, subject to the Max Return of $1,144.30 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes. |
|
• |
1-to-1 positive return based on decreases in the Underlying if its
closing level on the Valuation Date is less than the Starting Value
but greater than or equal to 85% of the Starting Value. Otherwise,
you will be exposed to any decrease in the Underlying beyond 85% of
the Starting Value, with up to 85% of the principal at
risk. |
|
• |
No periodic interest payments. |
|
• |
All payments on the
Notes are subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance LLC
(“BofA Finance”) and Bank of America Corporation (“BAC” or the
“Guarantor”). |
|
• |
The Notes priced on November 14, 2022, will issue on November 17, 2022
and will mature on November 20, 2023. |
|
• |
The Notes will not be listed on any securities
exchange. |
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date
is $990.70 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes, which is less
than the public offering price listed below. The actual value
of your Notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be
predicted with accuracy. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-6
of this pricing supplement and “Structuring the Notes” on page
PS-13 of this pricing supplement for additional information.
Potential purchasers of the Notes should consider the information
in “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-6 of this pricing
supplement, page PS-5 of the accompanying product supplement, page
S-5 of the accompanying prospectus supplement, and page 7 of the
accompanying prospectus.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any
state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
Note Prospectus (as defined on page PS-17) is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
|
Public
offering price(1) |
Underwriting
discount(1)(2) |
Proceeds, before
expenses, to
BofA Finance(2) |
Per
Note |
$1,000.00 |
$2.50 |
$997.50 |
Total |
$3,515,000.00 |
$8,787.50 |
$3,506,212.50 |
|
(1) |
Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain
fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling
concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for
investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory accounts
may be as low as $997.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes. |
|
(2) |
The underwriting discount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
may be as high as $2.50, resulting in proceeds, before expenses, to
BofA Finance of as low as $997.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes. The total underwriting discount and proceeds, before
expenses, to BofA Finance specified above reflect the aggregate of
the underwriting discounts per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes. |
The Notes and the related guarantee:
Are Not FDIC Insured |
Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
May Lose Value |

Selling Agent
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Terms of the Notes
The Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P 500®
Index (the “Notes”) provide a 1:1 upside exposure to increases in
the Underlying if its Ending Value is greater than or equal to the
Starting Value, subject to the Max Return of $1,144.30 per $1,000
in principal amount of Notes. If the Ending Value of the Underlying
is less than the Starting Value but greater than or equal to the
Threshold Value, you will receive a positive return equal to the
Absolute Underlying Return. However, if the Ending Value of the
Underlying is less than the Threshold Value, you will be exposed to
any decrease in the Underlying beyond the Threshold Value, and you
will lose some or a substantial portion of your investment in the
Notes. The Notes are not traditional debt securities and it is
possible that you may lose some or a substantial portion of your
principal amount at maturity. Any payments on the Notes will be
calculated based on $1,000 in principal amount of Notes and will
depend on the performance of the Underlying, subject to our and
BAC’s credit risk.
Issuer: |
BofA Finance |
Guarantor: |
BAC |
Denominations: |
The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and
whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
Term: |
Approximately 12 months |
Underlying: |
The S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “SPX”), a price return
index. |
Pricing Date: |
November 14, 2022 |
Issue Date: |
November 17, 2022 |
Valuation Date: |
November 15, 2023, subject to postponement as described under
“Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events
Relating to Calculation Days” of the accompanying product
supplement. |
Maturity Date: |
November 20, 2023 |
Starting Value: |
3,957.25 |
Ending Value: |
The closing level of the Underlying on the Valuation Date, as
determined by the calculation agent. |
Threshold Value: |
3,363.66, which is 85% of the Starting Value (rounded to two
decimal places). |
Max Return: |
$1,144.30 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes, which represents
a return of 14.43% over the principal amount. |
Upside Participation Rate: |
100% |
Redemption Amount: |
At maturity, the Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount
of Notes will be:
a)
If
the Ending Value of the Underlying is greater than or equal to the
Starting Value:
, subject to the Max
Return
b)
If
the Ending Value of the Underlying is less than the Starting Value
but greater than or equal to the Threshold Value:
$1,000 + .
c)
If
the Ending Value of the Underlying is less than the Threshold
Value:

In this case, the Redemption Amount will be less than the principal
amount and you will lose some or a substantial portion of the
principal amount.
|
Calculation Agent: |
BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”), an affiliate of BofA
Finance. |
Selling Agent: |
BofAS |
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-2 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
CUSIP: |
09709VAK2 |
Underlying Return: |
|
Absolute Underlying Return: |
The absolute value of the Underlying Return.
For example, if the Underlying Return is -5%, the Absolute
Underlying Return will equal 5%.
|
Events of Default and Acceleration: |
If an Event of Default, as defined in the senior indenture relating
to the Notes and in the section entitled “Description of Debt
Securities—Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration” beginning
on page 22 of the accompanying prospectus, with respect to the
Notes occurs and is continuing, the amount payable to a holder of
the Notes upon any acceleration permitted under the senior
indenture will be equal to the amount described under the caption
“—Redemption Amount” above, calculated as though the date of
acceleration were the Maturity Date of the Notes and as though the
Valuation Date were the third trading day prior to the date of
acceleration. In case of a default in the payment of the Notes,
whether at their maturity or upon acceleration, the Notes will not
bear a default interest rate. |
Any payments on the Notes depend on the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor, and on the performance
of the Underlying. The economic terms of the Notes are based on
BAC’s internal funding rate, which is the rate it would pay to
borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes, and the
economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements BAC’s
affiliates enter into. BAC’s internal funding rate is typically
lower than the rate it would pay when it issues conventional fixed
or floating rate debt securities. This difference in funding rate,
as well as the underwriting discount and the hedging-related
charges described below (see “Risk Factors” beginning on page
PS-6), reduced the economic terms of the Notes to you and the
initial estimated value of the Notes. Due to these factors, the
public offering price you are paying to purchase the Notes is
greater than the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the
pricing date.
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date is
set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. For more
information about the initial estimated value and the structuring
of the Notes, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-6 and
“Structuring the Notes” on page PS-13.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-3 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Redemption Amount Determination
On the Maturity Date, you will receive a cash payment per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes determined as follows:

All payments described above are subject to the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-4 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at
Maturity
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Table
The following table is for purposes of illustration only. It is based on
hypothetical values and shows hypothetical returns on
the Notes. The table illustrates the calculation of the Redemption
Amount and the return on the Notes based on a hypothetical Starting
Value of 100, a hypothetical Threshold Value of 85 for the
Underlying, the Upside Participation Rate of 100%, the Max Return
of $1,144.30 and a range of hypothetical Ending Values of the
Underlying. The actual amount you receive and the resulting
return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value
and Ending Value of the Underlying and whether you hold the Notes
to maturity. The following examples do not take into account
any tax consequences from investing in the Notes.
For recent actual levels of the Underlying, see “The Underlying”
section below. The Underlying is a price return index and as such
its Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends
paid on the stocks included in the Underlying, which you would
otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in those stocks
directly. In addition, all payments on the Notes are subject to
Issuer and Guarantor credit risk.
Ending Value |
Underlying Return |
Redemption Amount per Note |
Return on the Notes |
160.00 |
60.00% |
$1,144.30(4) |
14.43% |
150.00 |
50.00% |
$1,144.30 |
14.43% |
140.00 |
40.00% |
$1,144.30 |
14.43% |
130.00 |
30.00% |
$1,144.30 |
14.43% |
114.43 |
14.43% |
$1,144.30 |
14.43% |
110.00 |
10.00% |
$1,100.00 |
10.00% |
105.00 |
5.00% |
$1,050.00 |
5.00% |
102.00 |
2.00% |
$1,020.00 |
2.00% |
100.00(1) |
0.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
95.00 |
-5.00% |
$1,050.00 |
5.00% |
85.00(2) |
-15.00% |
$1,150.00(3) |
15.00% |
84.99 |
-15.01% |
$999.90 |
-0.01% |
80.00 |
-20.00% |
$950.00 |
-5.00% |
50.00 |
-50.00% |
$650.00 |
-35.00% |
25.00 |
-75.00% |
$400.00 |
-60.00% |
0.00 |
-100.00% |
$150.00 |
-85.00% |
|
(1) |
The
hypothetical Starting
Value of 100 used in
the table above has been chosen for illustrative purposes
only. The actual Starting
Value for the Underlying is set forth on page PS-2
above. |
|
(2) |
This
is the hypothetical Threshold Value of the
Underlying. |
|
(3) |
Any
positive return based on the depreciation of the Underlying cannot
exceed the return provided by the hypothetical Threshold
Value. |
|
(4) |
Any
positive return based on the appreciation of the Underlying cannot
exceed the Max Return. |
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-5 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Risk
Factors
Your investment in the Notes entails significant risks, many of
which differ from those of a conventional debt security. Your
decision to purchase the Notes should be made only after carefully
considering the risks of an investment in the Notes, including
those discussed below, with your advisors in light of your
particular circumstances. The Notes are not an appropriate
investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about significant
elements of the Notes or financial matters in general. You should
carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to
the Notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-5 of
the accompanying product supplement, page S-5 of the accompanying
prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus,
each as identified on page PS-17 below.
Structure-related Risks
|
• |
Your
investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of
principal. There is no fixed principal repayment amount on the
Notes at maturity. If the Ending Value of the Underlying is
less than the Threshold Value, you will lose 1% of the principal
amount for each 1% that the Ending Value of the Underlying is less
than the Threshold Value. In that case, you will lose some or a
significant portion of your investment in the Notes. |
|
• |
Any
positive return on the Notes will be limited. Any positive
return on the Notes based on the appreciation of the Underlying
will be limited to the Max Return. Your return on the Notes may be
less than the return that you could have realized if you invested
directly in the Underlying, and you will not receive the full
benefit of any appreciation in the value of the Underlying beyond
that maximum return. Because the Threshold Value will be 85.00% of
the Starting Value, any positive return due to the depreciation of
the Underlying will be limited to 15.00%. Any decline in the Ending
Value from the Starting Value by more than 15.00% will result in a
loss, rather than a positive return, on the Notes. |
|
• |
Your
potential for a positive return based on the depreciation of the
Underlying is limited. The Absolute Underlying Return
feature applies only if the Ending Value of the Underlying is less
than the Starting Value but greater than or equal to the Threshold
Value. Because the Threshold Value for the Underlying is 85% of the
Starting Value, any positive return due to the depreciation of the
Underlying is limited to 15%. Any decline in the Ending Value of
the Underlying from the Starting Value by more than 15% will result
in a loss, rather than a positive return, on the Notes. |
|
• |
The
Redemption Amount will not reflect the level of the Underlying
other than on the Valuation Date. The level of the Underlying
during the term of the Notes other than on the Valuation Date will
not affect payment on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
investors should generally be aware of the performance of the
Underlying while holding the Notes. The calculation agent will
calculate the Redemption Amount by comparing only the Starting
Value or the Threshold Value, as applicable, to the Ending Value
for the Underlying. No other levels of the Underlying will be taken
into account. As a result, you will receive less than the principal
amount at maturity even if the level of the Underlying has
increased at certain times during the term of the Notes before the
Underlying decreases to a level that is less than the Threshold
Value as of the Valuation Date. |
|
• |
Your
return on the Notes may be less than the yield on a conventional
debt security of comparable maturity. Any return that you
receive on the Notes may be less than the return you would earn if
you purchased a conventional debt security with the same Maturity
Date. As a result, your investment in the Notes may not reflect the
full opportunity cost to you when you consider factors, such as
inflation, that affect the time value of money. |
|
• |
Any
payment on the Notes is subject to our credit risk and the credit
risk of the Guarantor, and any actual or perceived changes in our
or the Guarantor’s creditworthiness are expected to affect the
value of the Notes. The Notes are our senior unsecured debt
securities. Any payment on the Notes will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Notes are not
guaranteed by any entity other than the Guarantor. As a result,
your receipt of the Redemption Amount at maturity, will be
dependent upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to
repay our respective obligations under the Notes on the Maturity
Date, regardless of the Ending Value of the Underlying as compared
to the Starting Value. |
In addition, our credit ratings and the credit ratings of the
Guarantor are assessments by ratings agencies of our respective
abilities to pay our obligations. Consequently, our or the
Guarantor’s perceived creditworthiness and actual or anticipated
decreases in our or the Guarantor’s credit ratings or increases in
the spread between the yield on our respective securities and the
yield on U.S. Treasury securities (the “credit spread”) prior to
the Maturity Date of your Notes may adversely affect the market
value of the Notes. However, because your return on the Notes
depends upon factors in addition to our ability and the ability of
the Guarantor to pay our respective obligations, such as the value
of the Underlying, an improvement in our or the Guarantor’s credit
ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to the
Notes.
|
• |
We
are a finance subsidiary and, as such, have no independent assets,
operations, or revenues. We are a finance subsidiary of the
Guarantor, have no operations other than those related to the
issuance, administration and repayment of our debt securities that
are guaranteed by the Guarantor, and are dependent upon the
Guarantor and/or its other subsidiaries to meet our obligations
under the Notes in the ordinary course. Therefore, our ability to
make payments on the Notes may be limited. |
Valuation- and Market-related Risks
|
• |
The
public offering price you are paying for the Notes exceeds their
initial estimated value. The initial estimated value of the
Notes that is provided on the cover page of this pricing supplement
is an estimate only, determined as of the pricing date by reference
to our and our affiliates’ pricing models. These pricing
models consider certain assumptions and variables, including our
credit spreads and those of the Guarantor, the Guarantor’s internal
funding rate, mid-market terms on hedging transactions,
expectations on interest rates, dividends and |
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-6 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
|
|
volatility,
price-sensitivity analysis, and the expected term of the
Notes. These pricing models rely in part on certain forecasts
about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. If you
attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value may
be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than their
initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things,
changes in the level of the Underlying, changes in the Guarantor’s
internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering
price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charges,
all as further described in "Structuring the Notes" below. These
factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors
over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at
which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and
will affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable
ways |
|
• |
The
initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum
price at which we, BAC, BofAS or any of
our other affiliates would be willing to purchase your
Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The
value of your Notes at any time after issuance will vary based on
many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including
the performance of the Underlying, our and
BAC’s creditworthiness and changes in market
conditions. |
|
• |
We
cannot assure you that a trading market for your Notes will ever
develop or be maintained. We will not list the Notes on any
securities exchange. We cannot predict how the Notes will trade in
any secondary market or whether that market will be liquid or
illiquid. |
Conflict-related Risks
|
• |
Trading
and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any of our other
affiliates, including BofAS, may create conflicts of interest with
you and may affect your return on the Notes and their market
value. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other
affiliates, including BofAS, may buy or sell the securities held by
or included in the Underlying, or futures or options contracts or
exchange traded instruments on the Underlying or those securities,
or other instruments whose value is derived from the Underlying or
those securities. While we, the Guarantor or one or more of our
other affiliates, including BofAS, may from time-to-time own
securities represented by the Underlying, except to the extent that
BAC’s common stock may be included in the Underlying, we, the
Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, do not control
any company included in the Underlying, and have not verified any
disclosure made by any other company. We, the Guarantor or one or
more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may execute such
purchases or sales for our own or their own accounts, for business
reasons, or in connection with hedging our obligations under the
Notes. These transactions may present a conflict of interest
between your interest in the Notes and the interests we, the
Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, may have in
our or their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions,
including block trades, for our or their other customers, and in
accounts under our or their management. These transactions may
adversely affect the value of the Underlying in a manner that could
be adverse to your investment in the Notes. On or before the
pricing date, any purchases or sales by us, the Guarantor or our
other affiliates, including BofAS or others on our or their behalf
(including those for the purpose of hedging some or all of our
anticipated exposure in connection with the Notes), may have
affected the value of the Underlying. Consequently, the value of
the Underlying may change subsequent to the pricing date, which may
adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including
BofAS, may have also engaged in hedging activities that could have
affected the value of the Underlying on the pricing date. In
addition, these hedging activities, including the unwinding of a
hedge, may decrease the market value of your Notes prior to
maturity, and may affect the amounts to be paid on the Notes. We,
the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including
BofAS, may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short position
in the Notes and may hold or resell the Notes. For example, BofAS
may enter into these transactions in connection with any market
making activities in which it engages. We cannot assure you that
these activities will not adversely affect the value of the
Underlying, the market value of your Notes prior to maturity or the
amounts payable on the Notes. |
|
• |
There
may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation
agent, which is an affiliate of ours. We have the right to
appoint and remove the calculation agent. One of our affiliates
will be the calculation agent for the Notes and, as such, will make
a variety of determinations relating to the Notes, including the
amounts that will be paid on the Notes. Under some circumstances,
these duties could result in a conflict of interest between its
status as our affiliate and its responsibilities as calculation
agent. |
Underlying-related Risks
|
• |
The
publisher of the Underlying may adjust the Underlying in a way that
affects its levels, and the publisher has no obligation to consider
your interests. The publisher of the Underlying can add,
delete, or substitute the components included in the Underlying or
make other methodological changes that could change its level. Any
of these actions could adversely affect the value of your
Notes. |
Tax-related Risks
|
• |
The
U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes
are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the Notes. No
statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses
the characterization of the Notes or securities similar to the
Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result,
significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of
an investment in the Notes are not certain. Under the terms of the
Notes, you will have agreed with us to treat the Notes as single
financial contracts, as described below under “U.S. Federal Income
Tax Summary—General.” If the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”)
were successful in asserting an alternative characterization for
the Notes, the timing and character of gain or loss with respect to
the Notes may differ. No ruling will be requested from the IRS with
respect to the Notes and no assurance can be given that the IRS
will agree with the statements made in the section entitled “U.S.
Federal Income Tax Summary.” You are urged to consult with your own
tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of investing in the Notes. |
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-7 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
The Underlying
All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the
Underlying, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of
calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from
publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies
of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC
(“SPDJI”), the sponsor of the SPX. We refer to SPDJI as the
"Underlying Sponsor". The Underlying Sponsor, which licenses the
copyright and all other rights to the Underlying, has no obligation
to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the
Underlying. The consequences of the Underlying Sponsor
discontinuing publication of the Underlying are discussed in
“Description of the Notes—Discontinuance of an Index” in the
accompanying product supplement. None of us, the Guarantor, the
calculation agent, or BofAS accepts any responsibility for the
calculation, maintenance or publication of the Underlying or any
successor index. None of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or any of our
other affiliates makes any representation to you as to the future
performance of the Underlying. You should make your own
investigation into the Underlying.
The S&P 500®
Index
The SPX includes a representative sample of 500 companies in
leading industries of the U.S. economy. The SPX is intended to
provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price
movement. The calculation of the level of the SPX is based on the
relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks
of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate
average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies
during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943.
The SPX includes companies from eleven main groups: Communication
Services; Consumer Discretionary; Consumer Staples; Energy;
Financials; Health Care; Industrials; Information Technology; Real
Estate; Materials; and Utilities. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC
(“SPDJI”), the sponsor of the SPX, may from time to time, in its
sole discretion, add companies to, or delete companies from, the
SPX to achieve the objectives stated above.
Company additions to the SPX must have an unadjusted company market
capitalization of $14.6 billion or more (an increase from the
previous requirement of an unadjusted company market capitalization
of $13.1 billion or more).
SPDJI calculates the SPX by reference to the prices of the
constituent stocks of the SPX without taking account of the value
of dividends paid on those stocks. As a result, the return on the
Notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually
owned the SPX constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on
those stocks.
Computation of the SPX
While SPDJI currently employs the following methodology to
calculate the SPX, no assurance can be given that SPDJI will not
modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect
payments on the Notes.
Historically, the market value of any component stock of the SPX
was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the
number of then outstanding shares of such component stock. In March
2005, SPDJI began shifting the SPX halfway from a market
capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before
moving the SPX to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005.
SPDJI’s criteria for selecting stocks for the SPX did not change
with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects
each company’s weight in the SPX.
Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the
SPX reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not
all of a company’s outstanding shares. Float adjustment excludes
shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly
traded companies or government agencies.
In September 2012, all shareholdings representing more than 5% of a
stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,”
were removed from the float for purposes of calculating the SPX.
Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and
directors, private equity, venture capital and special equity
firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for
control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs,
employee and family trusts, foundations associated with the
company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock, government
entities at all levels (other than government retirement/pension
funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake
in a company as reported in regulatory filings. However, holdings
by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual
funds and ETF providers, 401(k) plans of the company, government
retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies,
asset managers and investment funds, independent foundations and
savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of
the float.
Treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity
participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock,
and rights are not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to
allow investors in countries outside the country of domicile, such
as depositary shares and Canadian exchangeable shares, are normally
part of the float unless those shares form a control block. If a
company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an
unlisted or non-traded class are treated as a control block.
For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated
by dividing the available float shares by the total shares
outstanding. Available float shares are defined as the total shares
outstanding less shares held by control holders. This calculation
is subject to a 5% minimum threshold for control blocks. For
example, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the
company’s shares, and no other control group holds 5% of the
company’s shares, SPDJI would assign that company an IWF of 1.00,
as no control group meets the 5% threshold. However, if a company’s
officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares and another
control group holds 20% of the company’s shares, SPDJI would assign
an IWF of 0.77, reflecting the fact that 23% of the company’s
outstanding shares are considered to be held for control. As of
July 31, 2017, companies with multiple share class lines are no
longer eligible for inclusion in the SPX. Constituents of the SPX
prior to July 31, 2017 with multiple share class lines will be
grandfathered in and continue to be included in the SPX. If a
constituent company of the SPX reorganizes into a multiple share
class line structure, that company will remain in the SPX at the
discretion of the S&P Index Committee in order to minimize
turnover.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-8 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
The SPX is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology.
The level of the SPX reflects the total market value of all
component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941
through 1943. An indexed number is used to represent the results of
this calculation in order to make the level easier to work with and
track over time. The actual total market value of the component
stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has
been set to an indexed level of 10. This is often indicated by the
notation 1941- 43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the
SPX is computed by dividing the total market value of the component
stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an
arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the
SPX, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the
SPX. The index divisor keeps the SPX comparable over time and is
the manipulation point for all adjustments to the SPX, which is
index maintenance.
Index Maintenance
Index maintenance includes monitoring and completing the
adjustments for company additions and deletions, share changes,
stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to
company restructuring or spinoffs. Some corporate actions, such as
stock splits and stock dividends, require changes in the common
shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the
SPX, and do not require index divisor adjustments.
To prevent the level of the SPX from changing due to corporate
actions, corporate actions which affect the total market value of
the SPX require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index
divisor for the change in market value, the level of the SPX
remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of
individual companies in the SPX. Index divisor adjustments are made
after the close of trading and after the calculation of the SPX
closing level.
Changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due to
mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, tender offers, Dutch
auctions, or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably
possible. Share changes due to mergers or acquisitions of publicly
held companies that trade on a major exchange are implemented when
the transaction occurs, even if both of the companies are not in
the same headline index, and regardless of the size of the change.
All other changes of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, company
stock repurchases, private placements, redemptions, exercise of
options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt,
equity participation units, at-the-market offerings, or other
recapitalizations) are made weekly and are announced on Fridays for
implementation after the close of trading on the following Friday.
Changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated and made quarterly on
the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, and are
usually announced two to five days prior.
If a change in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more
causes a company’s IWF to change by five percentage points or more,
the IWF is updated at the same time as the share change. IWF
changes resulting from partial tender offers are considered on a
case-by-case basis.
Historical Performance of the SPX
The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of
the SPX in the period from January 3, 2017 through the pricing
date. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have
not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the
information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. The horizontal line in the
graph represents the SPX’s Threshold Value of 3,363.66 (rounded to
two decimal places), which is 85% of the SPX’s Starting Value of
3,957.25.

This historical data on the SPX is not necessarily indicative of
the future performance of the SPX or what the value of the Notes
may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the
SPX during any period set forth above is not an indication that the
level of the SPX is more or less likely to increase or decrease at
any time over the term of the Notes.
Before investing in the Notes, you should consult publicly
available sources for the levels of the SPX.
License Agreement
S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s
Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered
trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). These
trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices
LLC. “Standard & Poor’s®,” “S&P
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-9 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
500®” and “S&P®” are trademarks of S&P. These trademarks
have been sublicensed for certain purposes by our affiliate,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The SPX is
a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates
and has been licensed for use by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated.
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P
Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or any of their
respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”).
S&P Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty,
express or implied, to the holders of the Notes or any member of
the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities
generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the SPX to
track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only
relationship to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated with respect to the SPX is the licensing of the SPX
and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P
Dow Jones Indices and/or its third-party licensors. The SPX is
determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices
without regard to us, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, or the Notes. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no
obligation to take our needs, BAC’s needs or the needs of Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or holders of the
Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating
the SPX. S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have
not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of
the Notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Notes or in
the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Notes
are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no
obligation or liability in connection with the administration,
marketing or trading of the Notes. There is no assurance that
investment products based on the SPX will accurately track index
performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow
Jones Indices LLC and its subsidiaries are not investment advisors.
Inclusion of a security or futures contract within an index is not
a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold
such security or futures contract, nor is it considered to be
investment advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc.
and its affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial
products unrelated to the Notes currently being issued by us, but
which may be similar to and competitive with the Notes. In
addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial
products which are linked to the performance of the SPX. It is
possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the
Notes.
S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY,
TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE SPX OR ANY DATA RELATED
THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH
RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS
THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO
RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, BAC, BOFAS, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE,
FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER
PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE SPX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY
DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO
EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST
TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR
OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS
OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND MERRILL
LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, OTHER THAN THE
LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-10 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Role of BofAS and Conflicts
of Interest
BofAS, a broker-dealer affiliate of ours, is a member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and will
participate as selling agent in the distribution of the Notes.
Accordingly, the offering of the Notes will conform to the
requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. BofAS may not make sales in this
offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior
written approval of the account holder.
We will deliver the Notes against payment therefor in New York, New
York on a date that is greater than two business days following the
pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to
settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade
expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to
trade the Notes more than two business days prior to the original
issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement
arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
Under our distribution agreement with BofAS, BofAS will purchase
the Notes from us as principal at the public offering price
indicated on the cover of this pricing supplement, less the
indicated underwriting discount. BofAS will sell the Notes to other
broker-dealers that will participate in the offering and that are
not affiliated with us, at an agreed discount to the principal
amount. Each of those broker-dealers may sell the Notes to one or
more additional broker-dealers. BofAS has informed us that these
discounts may vary from dealer to dealer and that not all dealers
will purchase or repurchase the Notes at the same discount. Certain
dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based
advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling
concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for
investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory accounts
may be as low as $997.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes.
BofAS and any of our other broker-dealer affiliates may use this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus for offers and sales in
secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the
Notes. However, they are not obligated to engage in such secondary
market transactions and/or market-making transactions. The selling
agent may act as principal or agent in these transactions, and any
such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market
conditions at the time of the sale.
At BofAS’s discretion, for a short, undetermined initial period
after the issuance of the Notes, BofAS may offer to buy the Notes
in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial
estimated value of the Notes. Any price offered by BofAS for the
Notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other
considerations, including the performance of the Underlying and the
remaining term of the Notes. However, none of us, the Guarantor,
BofAS or any of our other affiliates is obligated to purchase your
Notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that
any party will purchase your Notes at a price that equals or
exceeds the initial estimated value of the Notes.
Any price that BofAS may pay to repurchase the Notes will depend
upon then prevailing market conditions, the creditworthiness of us
and the Guarantor, and transaction costs. At certain times, this
price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value
of the Notes.
Sales Outside of the United States
The Notes have not been approved for public sale in any
jurisdiction outside of the United States. There has been no
registration or filing as to the Notes with any regulatory,
securities, banking, or local authority outside of the United
States and no action has been taken by BofA Finance, BAC, BofAS or
any other affiliate of BAC, to offer the Notes in any jurisdiction
other than the United States. As such, these Notes are made
available to investors outside of the United States only in
jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offer or sale and
only under circumstances that will result in compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, including private placement
requirements.
Further, no offer or sale of the Notes is being made to residents
of:
You are urged to carefully review the selling restrictions that may
be applicable to your jurisdiction beginning on page S-68 of the
accompanying prospectus supplement.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-11 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
European Economic Area and United Kingdom
None of this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the accompanying
prospectus supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the
Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This pricing supplement,
the accompanying product supplement, the accompanying prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement have been prepared on
the basis that any offer of Notes in any Member State of the
European Economic Area (the “EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (each,
a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a
qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified
Investors”). Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an
offer in that Relevant State of Notes which are the subject of the
offering contemplated in this pricing supplement, the accompanying
product supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
accompanying prospectus supplement may only do so with respect to
Qualified Investors. Neither BofA Finance nor BAC has authorized,
nor does it authorize, the making of any offer of Notes other than
to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation”
means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA AND UNITED KINGDOM RETAIL
INVESTORS – The Notes are not
intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and
should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any
retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom. For these
purposes: (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more)
of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of
Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer
within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the Insurance
Distribution Directive) where that customer would not qualify as a
professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of
MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the
Prospectus Regulation; and (b) the expression “offer” includes the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient
information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered
so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for
the Notes. Consequently, no key information document required by
Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”)
for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them
available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom
has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or
otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA
or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPs
Regulation.
United Kingdom
The communication of this pricing supplement, the accompanying
product supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any other document or materials
relating to the issue of the Notes offered hereby is not being
made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved,
by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the
United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as
amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials
are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the
general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such
documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being
made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional
experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within
the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article
19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial
Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion
Order”)), or who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the
Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it
may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order
(all such persons together being referred to as “relevant
persons”). In the United Kingdom, the Notes offered hereby are only
available to, and any investment or investment activity to which
this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement, the
accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
relates will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person
in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act
or rely on this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with
the issue or sale of the Notes may only be communicated or caused
to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the
FSMA does not apply to BofA Finance, as issuer, or BAC, as
guarantor.
All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in
respect to anything done by any person in relation to the Notes in,
from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-12 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Structuring the Notes
The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to
the performance of the Underlying. The related guarantee is BAC’s
obligation. As is the case for all of our and BAC’s respective debt
securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms
of the Notes reflect our and BAC’s actual or perceived
creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because
market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and
liability management costs to us and BAC, BAC typically borrows the
funds under these types of notes at a rate, which we refer to in
this pricing supplement as BAC’s internal funding rate, that is
more favorable to BAC than the rate that it might pay for a
conventional fixed or floating rate debt security. This generally
relatively lower internal funding rate, which is reflected in the
economic terms of the Notes, along with the fees and charges
associated with market-linked notes, resulted in the initial
estimated value of the Notes on the pricing date being less than
their public offering price.
In order to meet our payment obligations on the Notes, at the time
we issue the Notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging
arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other
derivatives) with BofAS or one of our other affiliates. The terms
of these hedging arrangements are determined based upon terms
provided by BofAS and its affiliates, and take into account a
number of factors, including our and BAC’s creditworthiness,
interest rate movements, the volatility of the Underlying, the
tenor of the Notes and the hedging arrangements. The economic terms
of the Notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on
the terms of these hedging arrangements.
BofAS has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include
hedging related charges, reflecting the costs associated with, and
our affiliates’ profit earned from, these hedging arrangements.
Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable
market forces, actual profits or losses from these hedging
transactions may be more or less than any expected amounts.
For further information, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-6
above and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” on page PS-19 of the
accompanying product supplement.
Validity of the Notes
In the opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, as counsel to BofA Finance and
BAC, when the trustee has made the appropriate entries or notations
on the applicable schedule to the master global note that
represents the Notes (the “master note”) identifying the Notes
offered hereby as supplemental obligations thereunder in accordance
with the instructions of BofA Finance and the provisions of the
indenture governing the Notes and the related guarantee, and the
Notes have been delivered against payment therefor as contemplated
in this pricing supplement and the related prospectus, prospectus
supplement and product supplement, such Notes will be the legal,
valid and binding obligations of BofA Finance, and the related
guarantee will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of BAC,
subject, in each case, to the effects of applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency (including laws relating to preferences, fraudulent
transfers and equitable subordination), reorganization, moratorium
and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and
to general principles of equity. This opinion is given as of the
date of this pricing supplement and is limited to the laws of the
State of New York and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act
and the Delaware General Corporation Law (including the statutory
provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution
and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing) as in
effect on the date hereof. In addition, this opinion is subject to
customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution
and delivery of the indenture governing the Notes and due
authentication of the master note, the validity, binding nature and
enforceability of the indenture governing the Notes and the related
guarantee with respect to the trustee, the legal capacity of
individuals, the genuineness of signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to McGuireWoods LLP as originals, the
conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to
McGuireWoods LLP as copies thereof, the authenticity of the
originals of such copies and certain factual matters, all as stated
in the letter of McGuireWoods LLP dated December 30, 2019, which
has been filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
the Registration Statement (File No. 333-234425) of BofA Finance
and BAC, filed with the SEC on December 30, 2019.
Sidley Austin LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel to
BofAS and as special tax counsel to BofA Finance and BAC.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-13 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Summary
The following summary of the material U.S. federal income and
estate tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership, and
disposition of the Notes supplements, and to the extent
inconsistent supersedes, the discussions under “U.S. Federal Income
Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus and under “U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus
supplement and is not exhaustive of all possible tax
considerations. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations promulgated
under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”)
(including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current
administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the
IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of
which are subject to differing interpretations or to change,
possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that
the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a
position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.
This summary does not include any description of the tax laws of
any state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that
may be applicable to a particular holder.
Although the Notes are issued by us, they will be treated as if
they were issued by BAC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly, throughout this tax discussion, references to “we,”
“our” or “us” are generally to BAC unless the context requires
otherwise.
This summary is directed solely to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S.
Holders that, except as otherwise specifically noted, will purchase
the Notes upon original issuance and will hold the Notes as capital
assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which
generally means property held for investment, and that are not
excluded from the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.
You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S.
federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and
disposing of the Notes, as well as any tax consequences arising
under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax
jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or
other tax laws.
General
Although there is no statutory, judicial, or administrative
authority directly addressing the characterization of the Notes, in
the opinion of our counsel, Sidley Austin LLP, and based on certain
factual representations received from us, the Notes should be
treated as single financial contracts with respect to the
Underlying and under the terms of the Notes, we and every investor
in the Notes agree, in the absence of an administrative
determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat the
Notes in accordance with such characterization. This discussion
assumes that the Notes constitute single financial contracts with
respect to the Underlying for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If
the Notes did not constitute single financial contracts, the tax
consequences described below would be materially different.
This characterization of the Notes is not binding on the IRS or
the courts. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority
directly addresses the characterization of the Notes or any similar
instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no ruling is
being requested from the IRS with respect to their proper
characterization and treatment. Due to the absence of authorities
on point, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Notes are not certain, and no
assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with
the characterization and tax treatment described in this pricing
supplement. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor
regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of an investment in the Notes, including possible alternative
characterizations.
Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the
characterization described above. The discussion in this section
assumes that there is a significant possibility of a significant
loss of principal on an investment in the Notes.
We will not attempt to ascertain whether the issuer of a component
stock included in the Underlying would be treated as a “passive
foreign investment company” (“PFIC”), within the meaning of Section
1297 of the Code, or a United States real property holding
corporation, within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code. If
the issuer of one or more stocks included in the Underlying were so
treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could
possibly apply to a holder of the Notes. You should refer to
information filed with the SEC by the issuers of the component
stocks included in the Underlying and consult your tax advisor
regarding the possible consequences to you, if any, if any issuer
of a component stock included in the Underlying is or becomes a
PFIC or is or becomes a United States real property holding
corporation.
U.S. Holders
Upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale or
exchange of the Notes prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder generally
will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes. A
U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes will equal the amount paid by
that holder to acquire them. This capital gain or loss generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the
Notes for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses
is subject to limitations.
|
DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-14 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
Alternative Tax Treatments. Due to the absence of
authorities that directly address the proper tax treatment of the
Notes, prospective investors are urged to consult their tax
advisors regarding all possible alternative tax treatments of an
investment in the Notes. In particular, the IRS could seek to
subject the Notes to the Treasury regulations governing contingent
payment debt instruments. If the IRS were successful in that
regard, the timing and character of income on the Notes would be
affected significantly. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be
required to accrue original issue discount every year at a
“comparable yield” determined at the time of issuance. In addition,
any gain realized by a U.S. Holder at maturity or upon a sale or
exchange of the Notes generally would be treated as ordinary
income, and any loss realized at maturity or upon a sale or
exchange of the Notes generally would be treated as ordinary loss
to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s prior accruals of original issue
discount, and as capital loss thereafter.
The IRS released Notice 2008-2 (the “Notice”), which sought
comments from the public on the taxation of financial instruments
currently taxed as “prepaid forward contracts.” This Notice
addresses instruments such as the Notes. According to the Notice,
the IRS and Treasury are considering whether a holder of an
instrument such as the Notes should be required to accrue ordinary
income on a current basis, regardless of whether any payments are
made prior to maturity. It is not possible to determine what
guidance the IRS and Treasury will ultimately issue, if any. Any
such future guidance may affect the amount, timing and character of
income, gain, or loss in respect of the Notes, possibly with
retroactive effect.
The IRS and Treasury are also considering additional issues,
including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments
should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders
of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any
deemed income accruals, whether Section 1260 of the Code,
concerning certain “constructive ownership transactions,” generally
applies or should generally apply to such instruments, and whether
any of these determinations depend on the nature of the underlying
asset.
In addition, proposed Treasury regulations require the accrual of
income on a current basis for contingent payments made under
certain notional principal contracts. The preamble to the
regulations states that the “wait and see” method of accounting
does not properly reflect the economic accrual of income on those
contracts, and requires current accrual of income for some
contracts already in existence. While the proposed regulations do
not apply to prepaid forward contracts, the preamble to the
proposed regulations expresses the view that similar timing issues
exist in the case of prepaid forward contracts. If the IRS or
Treasury publishes future guidance requiring current economic
accrual for contingent payments on prepaid forward contracts, it is
possible that you could be required to accrue income over the term
of the Notes.
Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate tax
characterization of the Notes, it is also possible that the IRS
could seek to characterize the Notes in a manner that results in
tax consequences that are different from those described above. For
example, the IRS could possibly assert that any gain or loss that a
holder may recognize at maturity or upon the sale or exchange of
the Notes should be treated as ordinary gain or loss.
Because the Underlying is an index that periodically rebalances, it
is possible that the Notes could be treated as a series of single
financial contracts, each of which matures on the next rebalancing
date. If the Notes were properly characterized in such a manner, a
U.S. Holder would be treated as disposing of the Notes on each
rebalancing date in return for new Notes that mature on the next
rebalancing date, and a U.S. Holder would accordingly likely
recognize capital gain or loss on each rebalancing date equal to
the difference between the holder’s tax basis in the Notes (which
would be adjusted to take into account any prior recognition of
gain or loss) and the fair market value of the Notes on such
date.
Non-U.S. Holders
Except as discussed below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be
subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax for amounts paid
in respect of the Notes provided that the Non-U.S. Holder complies
with applicable certification requirements and that the payment is
not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder
of a U.S. trade or business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain
from the sale or exchange of the Notes or their settlement at
maturity may be subject to U.S. federal income tax if that Non-U.S.
Holder is a non-resident alien individual and is present in the
U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale,
exchange, or settlement and certain other conditions are
satisfied.
If a Non-U.S. Holder of the Notes is engaged in the conduct of a
trade or business within the U.S. and if gain realized on the
settlement at maturity, or upon sale or exchange of the Notes, is
effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business
(and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent
establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.), the
Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax,
generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain
on a net income basis in the same manner as if it were a U.S.
Holder. Such Non-U.S. Holders should read the material under the
heading “—U.S. Holders,” for a description of the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the
Notes. In addition, if such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign
corporation, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal
to 30% (or such lower rate provided by any applicable tax treaty)
of a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that
are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business
in the U.S., subject to certain adjustments.
A “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from
sources within the United States and such payments generally would
be subject to a
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DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-15 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
500® Index
30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a Non-U.S. Holder. Under
Treasury regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with
respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are “specified
ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs
reference an interest in an “underlying security,” which is
generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with respect to such
interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, IRS
guidance provides that withholding on dividend equivalent payments
will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments
and that are issued before January 1, 2025. Based on our
determination that the Notes are not delta-one instruments,
Non-U.S. Holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend
equivalent payments, if any, under the Notes. However, it is
possible that the Notes could be treated as deemed reissued for
U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain
events affecting the Underlying or the Notes, and following such
occurrence the Notes could be treated as subject to withholding on
dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. Holders that enter, or have
entered, into other transactions in respect of the Underlying or
the Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the application
of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the
Notes and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as
dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable
paying agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being
required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so
withheld.
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the Notes for
U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an
alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification
of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the
Notes to become subject to withholding tax, tax will be withheld at
the applicable statutory rate. As discussed above, the IRS has
indicated in the Notice that it is considering whether income in
respect of instruments such as the Notes should be subject to
withholding tax. Prospective Non-U.S. Holders should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such alternative
characterizations.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax. Under current law, while the matter
is not entirely clear, individual Non-U.S. Holders, and entities
whose property is potentially includible in those individuals’
gross estates 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 benefit, a Note is likely to be
treated as U.S. situs property, subject to U.S. federal estate tax.
These individuals and entities should consult their own tax
advisors regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of
investing in a Note.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Please see the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations — General— Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the
applicability of the backup withholding and information reporting
rules to payments made on the Notes.
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DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-16 |
Dual Directional Buffered Notes Linked to the S&P
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Where You Can Find More Information
The terms and risks of the Notes are contained in this pricing
supplement and in the following related product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus, which can be accessed at the
following links:
This pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus have been filed as part of a
registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be
accessed on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or obtained from BofAS
by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus for information about us, BAC
and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and
any other written materials you may have received are superseded by
this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus. Certain terms used but not
defined in this pricing supplement have the meanings set forth in
the accompanying product supplement or prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires
otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or
similar references are to BofA Finance, and not to BAC.
The Notes are our senior debt securities. Any payments on the Notes
are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BAC. The Notes and the
related guarantee are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or secured by collateral. The Notes will rank equally
in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, and the related guarantee will rank
equally in right of payment with all of BAC’s other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, in each case except obligations that
are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. Any payments
due on the Notes, including any repayment of the principal amount,
will be subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance, as issuer, and
BAC, as guarantor.
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DUAL DIRECTIONAL BUFFERED NOTES | PS-17 |
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