Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-180488
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Term Sheet dated April 12, 2012
The notes are being issued by Bank of America Corporation (BAC). There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks. See Risk Factors on page TS-5 of this term sheet and beginning on page S-8 of product supplement STEPS-4.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per Unit |
Total |
|||||||
Public offering price (1) (2) (3) |
$10.000 | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discount (2) (3) |
$0.175 | $ | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to BAC |
$9.825 | $ |
(1) | Plus accrued interest from the scheduled settlement date, if settlement occurs after that date. |
(2) | For any purchase of 500,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor, the public offering price and the underwriting discount will be $9.95 per unit and $0.125 per unit, respectively. |
(3) | For any purchase by certain fee-based trusts and discretionary accounts managed by U.S. Trust operating through Bank of America, N.A., the public offering price and underwriting discount will be $9.825 per unit and $0.00 per unit, respectively. |
The notes:
Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not Bank Guaranteed | May Lose Value |
Merrill Lynch & Co.
|
April , 2012
Units
$10 principal amount per unit
CUSIP No.
Pricing Date*: April , 2012
Settlement Date*: May , 2012
Maturity Date*: May , 2013
*Subject to change based on the actual date the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the pricing date)
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company
Maturity of approximately one year and one week
Interest payable quarterly at the rate of 9.5% per annum
A payment of $0.10 to $0.50 per unit if the Underlying Stock increases to or above 109.50% of the Starting Value
1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Underlying Stock, with up to 100% of your principal at risk
All payments on the notes subject to the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation
Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
Summary
The STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 (the notes) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of BAC. The notes provide quarterly interest payments. Additionally, if the Ending Value is at or above the Step Level, the notes will also provide a payment of $0.10 to $0.50 per unit at maturity. If the Ending Value is less than the Step Level, the Redemption Amount will not be greater than your principal amount. If the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount will be based on the percentage decrease in the Underlying Stock from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.
The terms and risks of the notes are contained in this term sheet and the documents listed below (together, the Note Prospectus). The documents have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated below or obtained from MLPF&S by calling 1-866-500-5408:
§ | Product supplement STEPS-4 dated April 3, 2012: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312512147923/d326525d424b5.htm
§ | Series L MTN prospectus supplement dated March 30, 2012 and prospectus dated March 30, 2012: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312512143855/d323958d424b5.htm
Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement STEPS-4. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to we, us, our, or similar references are to BAC.
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-2 |
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
Investor Considerations
We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.
Hypothetical Payments at Maturity
The following examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical payments on the notes. The actual amount you receive and the resulting return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Ending Value, Step Level, Step Payment, and term of your investment. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes. These examples are based on:
1) | a Starting Value and Threshold Value of 100; |
2) | a Step Level of 109.50% of the Starting Value; |
3) | a Step Payment of $0.30 per unit (the midpoint of the Step Payment range of $0.10 and $0.50 per unit); |
4) | an expected term of the notes of approximately one year and one week; and |
5) | an interest rate of 9.50% per year. |
The hypothetical Starting Value of 100 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent a likely actual Starting Value of the Underlying Stock. For recent actual prices of the Underlying Stock, see The Underlying Stock section below. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.
Example 1
The Ending Value is 115.00 (115% of the Starting Value).
The Ending Value is greater than the Step Level. Consequently, in addition to the quarterly interest payments, you will receive on the maturity date the principal amount of your notes plus the Step Payment of $0.30 per unit. The Redemption Amount per unit on the maturity date will therefore be equal to $10.30 per unit ($10.00 plus the Step Payment of $0.30 per unit).
Example 2
The Ending Value is 105.00 (105% of the Starting Value).
The Ending Value is greater than the Starting Value but below the Step Level. Consequently, you will receive the quarterly interest payments, but you will not receive the Step Payment on the maturity date. The Redemption Amount per unit on the maturity date will therefore be equal to $10.00.
Example 3
The Ending Value is 80.00 (80% of the Starting Value).
The Ending Value is less than the Starting Value and the Threshold Value. Consequently, you will receive the quarterly interest payments, but you will not receive the Step Payment on the maturity date, and you will participate on a 1-for-1 basis in the decrease in the value of the Underlying Stock. The Redemption Amount per unit will equal:
$10 |
[ | $10 × | ( | 100.00 80.00 | ) | ] | = $8.00 | |||||||||||||||
100.00 |
On the maturity date, you will receive the Redemption Amount per unit of $8.00.
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-3 |
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
Summary of the Hypothetical Examples |
Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3 | |||
The Ending Value is greater than or equal to the Step Level |
The Ending Value is less than the Step Level but greater than or equal to the Starting Value |
The Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value | ||||
Starting Value |
100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | |||
Ending Value |
115.00 | 105.00 | 80.00 | |||
Step Level |
109.50 | 109.50 | 109.50 | |||
Threshold Value |
100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | |||
Interest Rate (per annum) |
9.50% | 9.50% | 9.50% | |||
Step Payment |
3.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |||
Redemption Amount per Unit |
$10.30 | $10.00 | $8.00 | |||
Total Return of the Underlying Stock (1) |
17.30% | 7.30% | -17.70% | |||
Total Return on the Notes (2) |
12.68% | 9.68% | -10.32% | |||
(1) | The total return of the Underlying Stock assumes: |
(a) | the percentage change in the price of the Underlying Stock from the Starting Value to the Ending Value; |
(b) | a constant dividend yield of 2.26% per annum; and |
(c) | no transaction fees or expenses. |
(2) | The total return on the notes includes interest paid on the notes and assumes an expected term of the notes of approximately one year and one week. |
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-4 |
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
Risk Factors
There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security. An investment in the notes involves significant risks, including those listed below. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the Risk Factors sections beginning on page S-8 of product supplement STEPS-4, page S-5 of the MTN prospectus supplement, and page 8 of the prospectus identified above under Summary. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.
§ | Depending on the performance of the Underlying Stock measured shortly before the maturity date, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. |
§ | Your yield may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. |
§ | Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. If we become insolvent or are unable to pay our obligations, you may lose your entire investment. |
§ | You will not receive a Step Payment at maturity unless the Ending Value is greater than or equal to the Step Level. |
§ | Your investment return, if any, is limited to the return represented by the periodic interest payments over the term of the notes and the Step Payment, if any, and may be less than a comparable investment directly in the Underlying Stock. |
§ | If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for the notes due to, among other things, the inclusion of fees charged for developing, hedging and distributing the notes, as described on page TS-7 and various credit, market and economic factors that interrelate in complex and unpredictable ways. |
§ | A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. MLPF&S is not obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. |
§ | Our business activities as a full service financial institution, including our commercial and investment banking activities, our hedging and trading activities (including trades in shares of the Underlying Stock) and any hedging and trading activities we engage in for our clients accounts, may affect the market value of the notes and their return and may create conflicts of interest with you. |
§ | The Underlying Company will have no obligations relating to the notes, and neither we nor MLPF&S will perform any due diligence procedures with respect to the Underlying Company in connection with this offering. |
§ | You will have no rights of a holder of the Underlying Stock, and you will not be entitled to receive shares of the Underlying Stock or dividends or other distributions by the Underlying Company. |
§ | While we or our affiliates may from time to time own shares of the Underlying Company, we do not control the Underlying Company, and are not responsible for any disclosure made by the Underlying Company. |
§ | The Redemption Amount will not be adjusted for all corporate events that could affect the Underlying Stock. See Description of the Notes Anti-Dilution Adjustments beginning on page S-22 of product supplement STEPS-4. |
§ | There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent. |
§ | The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See Summary Tax Consequences below and U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary beginning on page S-30 of product supplement STEPS-4. |
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-5 |
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
The Underlying Stock
We have derived the following information from publicly available documents published by the Underlying Company. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the following information. The Underlying Company provides imaging and printing systems, computing systems, and information technology services for business and home worldwide. The Underlying Companys products include laser and inkjet printers, scanners, copiers and faxes, personal computers, workstations, storage solutions, and other computing and printing systems.
Because the Underlying Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Underlying Company is required to file periodically certain financial and other information specified by the SEC. Information provided to or filed with the SEC by the Underlying Company can be located at the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549 or through the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov by reference to SEC CIK number 47217.
This term sheet relates only to the notes and does not relate to the Underlying Stock or to any other securities of the Underlying Company. Neither we nor any of our affiliates have participated or will participate in the preparation of the Underlying Companys publicly available documents. Neither we nor any of our affiliates have made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Underlying Company in connection with the offering of the notes. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation that the publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the Underlying Company are accurate or complete. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date of this term sheet, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of these publicly available documents that would affect the trading price of the Underlying Stock, have been or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Underlying Company could affect the value of the Underlying Stock and therefore could affect your return on the notes. The selection of the Underlying Stock is not a recommendation to buy or sell the Underlying Stock.
The Underlying Stock trades on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HPQ.
Historical Data
The following table shows the quarterly high and low Closing Market Prices of the shares of the Underlying Stock on its primary exchange from the first quarter of 2007 through April 9, 2012. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information from Bloomberg L.P.
High ($) | Low ($) | |||||||||||
2007 |
First quarter | 43.53 | 38.67 | |||||||||
Second quarter | 46.03 | 40.31 | ||||||||||
Third quarter | 50.98 | 44.94 | ||||||||||
Fourth quarter | 53.41 | 47.54 | ||||||||||
2008 |
First quarter | 49.65 | 40.50 | |||||||||
Second quarter | 49.13 | 44.21 | ||||||||||
Third quarter | 48.41 | 41.45 | ||||||||||
Fourth quarter | 44.97 | 29.34 | ||||||||||
2009 |
First quarter | 39.31 | 25.53 | |||||||||
Second quarter | 38.98 | 32.88 | ||||||||||
Third quarter | 47.88 | 36.84 | ||||||||||
Fourth quarter | 52.93 | 45.28 | ||||||||||
2010 |
First quarter | 53.50 | 47.03 | |||||||||
Second quarter | 54.52 | 43.28 | ||||||||||
Third quarter | 47.57 | 38.00 | ||||||||||
Fourth quarter | 44.25 | 40.64 | ||||||||||
2011 |
First quarter | 48.99 | 40.13 | |||||||||
Second quarter | 41.57 | 34.26 | ||||||||||
Third quarter | 37.47 | 22.32 | ||||||||||
Fourth quarter | 28.41 | 22.20 | ||||||||||
2012 |
First quarter | 29.89 | 23.03 | |||||||||
Second quarter (through April 9, 2012) | 23.88 | 23.11 |
This historical data on the Underlying Stock is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Underlying Stock or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the price per share of the Underlying Stock during any period set forth above is not an indication that the price per share of the Underlying Stock 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 prices and trading pattern of the Underlying Stock.
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-6 |
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
Supplement to the Plan of Distribution
We may deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than three business days following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement of the notes occurs more than three business days from the pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than three business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units.
MLPF&S will not receive an underwriting discount for notes sold to certain fee-based trusts and fee-based discretionary accounts managed by U.S. Trust operating through Bank of America, N.A.
If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account.
MLPF&S may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions.
Role of MLPF&S and Conflicts of Interest
MLPF&S, a broker-dealer subsidiary of BAC, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) and will participate as selling agent in the distribution of the notes. Accordingly, offerings of the notes will conform to the requirements of Rule 5121 applicable to FINRA members. MLPF&S may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder.
Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount. The public offering price includes, in addition to the underwriting discount, a charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit earned by MLPF&S from transactions through which the notes are structured and resulting obligations hedged. Actual profits or losses from these hedging transactions may be more or less than this amount. In entering into the hedging arrangements for the notes, we seek competitive terms and may enter into hedging transactions with MLPF&S or another of our affiliates.
All charges related to the notes, including the underwriting discount and the hedging related costs and charges, reduce the economic terms of the notes. For further information regarding these charges, our trading and hedging activities and conflicts of interest, see Risk Factors General Risks Relating to the Notes beginning on page S-8 and Use of Proceeds on page S-17 of product supplement STEPS-4.
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-7 |
STEP Income Securities® Linked to the Common Stock of Hewlett-Packard Company, due May , 2013 |
Summary Tax Consequences
You should consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including the following:
| There is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addressing the characterization of the notes. |
| You agree with us (in the absence of an administrative determination, or judicial ruling to the contrary) to characterize and treat the notes for all tax purposes as an income-bearing single financial contract linked to the Underlying Stock. |
| Under this characterization and tax treatment of the notes, we intend to take the position that the stated periodic interest payments constitute taxable ordinary income to a U.S. Holder (as defined beginning on page 62 of the prospectus) at the time received or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holders regular method of accounting. Upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale or exchange of the notes prior to maturity (other than amounts representing accrued stated periodic interest payments), a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you hold the notes for more than one year. |
| No assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with this characterization and tax treatment. |
You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws. You should review carefully the discussion under the section entitled U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary beginning on page S-30 of product supplement STEPS-4.
Where You Can Find More Information
We have filed a registration statement (including a product supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC, for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we, any agent, or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you these documents if you so request by calling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-866-500-5408.
Market-Linked Investments Classification
MLPF&S classifies certain market-linked investments (the Market-Linked Investments) into categories, each with different investment characteristics. The following description is meant solely for informational purposes and is not intended to represent any particular Enhanced Income Market-Linked Investment or guarantee any performance.
Enhanced Income Market-Linked Investments are short- to medium-term market-linked notes that offer you a way to enhance your income stream, either through variable or fixed-interest coupons, an added payout at maturity based on the performance of the linked asset, or both. In exchange for receiving current income, you will generally forfeit upside potential on the linked asset. Even so, the prospect of higher interest payments and/or an additional payout may equate to a higher return potential than you may be able to find through other fixed-income securities. Enhanced Income Market-Linked Investments generally do not include market downside protection. The degree to which your principal is repaid at maturity is generally determined by the performance of the linked asset. Although enhanced income streams may help offset potential declines in the asset, you can still lose part or all of your original investment.
STEP Income Securities® and STEPS® are our registered service marks.
STEP Income Securities® |
TS-8 |