This pricing supplement, which is not complete and may be changed, relates to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933. This pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these notes in any country or jurisdiction where such an offer would not be permitted.

Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Approximate 2.75 year term if not called prior to maturity.
Payments on the Notes will depend on the performance of an equally weighted basket comprised of the common stock of Shopify Inc., the common stock of Wayfair Inc., the common stock of the Pinterest, Inc. and the common stock of Square, Inc. (“the Basket”).
Contingent coupon rate of 9.00% per annum (0.75% per month) payable monthly if the Observation Value of the Basket on the applicable Observation Date is greater than or equal to 70% of the Starting Value of the Basket.
Beginning in October 2021, automatically callable monthly for an amount equal to the principal amount plus the relevant contingent coupon if the Observation Value of the Basket is greater than or equal to 100% of the Starting Value on the relevant Observation Date occurring monthly.
Assuming the Notes are not called prior to maturity, if the value of the Basket declines by more than 40% from the Starting Value, at maturity your investment will be subject to a 1:1 downside, with up to 100% of the principal at risk; otherwise, at maturity investors will receive the principal amount. At maturity the investor will also receive the final contingent coupon if the Observation Value of the Basket on the final Observation Date is greater than or equal to 70% of the Starting Value.
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 are expected to price on April 22, 2021, expected to issue on April 27, 2021 and expected to mature on January 25, 2024.
The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
CUSIP No. 09709UGM4.

 

 
 

The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date is expected to be between $880.00 and $920.00 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-10 of this pricing supplement and “Structuring the Notes” on page PS-20 of this pricing supplement for additional information.

Potential purchasers of the Notes should consider the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-10 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-24) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

  Public offering price(1) Underwriting discount(1) Proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance
Per Note $1,000.00 $31.50 $968.50
Total      
(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 $968.50 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


Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Terms of the Notes
The Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks (the “Notes”) provide a monthly Contingent Coupon Payment of $7.50 on the applicable Contingent Payment Date if, on any monthly Observation Date, the Observation Value of the Basket is greater than or equal to the Coupon Barrier. 
Beginning in October 2021, if the Observation Value of the Basket is greater than or equal to the Call Value any Observation Date (other than the final Observation Date), the Notes will be automatically called, in whole but not in part, at 100% of the principal amount, together with the relevant Contingent Coupon Payment. No further amounts will be payable following an Automatic Call. If the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity and the value of the Basket declines by more than 40% from the Starting Value, there is full exposure to declines in the value of the Basket, and you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the Notes. Otherwise, at maturity you will receive the principal amount. At maturity you will also receive the final Contingent Coupon Payment if the Observation Value of the Basket on the final Observation Date is greater than or equal to the Coupon Barrier. The Notes are not traditional debt securities and it is possible that the Notes will not pay any Contingent Coupon Payments, and you may lose a significant portion or all 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 Basket, 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 2.75 years, unless previously automatically called.
Basket:
A basket consisting of the following stocks (each an “Underlying Stock” or a “Basket Component”) and their respective weightings:
Basket Component
Ticker
Weightings
Basket Component Starting Values
Common Stock of Shopify Inc.
New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) symbol: “SHOP”
25.00%
Common Stock of Wayfair Inc.
NYSE symbol: “W”
25.00%
Common Stock of Pinterest, Inc.
NYSE symbol: “PINS”
25.00%
Common Stock of Square, Inc.
NYSE symbol: “SQ”
25.00%
Pricing Date*:
April 22, 2021
Issue Date*:
April 27, 2021
Valuation Date*:
January 22, 2024, subject to postponement as described under “Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events Relating to Observation Dates” in the accompanying product supplement.
Maturity Date*:
January 25, 2024
Starting Value:
The Starting Value will be set to 100.00 on the pricing date.
Observation Value:
100.00 x (1+ the sum of the Weighted Basket Component Returns on the applicable Observation Date), as determined by the calculation agent.
Call Value
100% of the Starting Value.
Ending Value: 
The Observation Value on the Valuation Date.
Basket Return:

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-2

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Basket Component Starting Value: For each Basket Component, its Closing Market Price on the pricing date. The Basket Component Starting Value for each Basket Component will be set forth above.
Basket Component Observation Value: For each Basket Component, its Closing Market Price on the applicable Observation Date multiplied by its Price Multiplier, as determined by the calculation agent.
Basket Component Ending Value: For each Basket Component, its Basket Component Observation Value on the Valuation Date.
Price Multiplier: For each Basket Component, 1, subject to adjustment for certain corporate events relating to that Basket Component as described under “Description of the Notes — Anti-Dilution Adjustments” beginning on page PS-23 of the accompanying product supplement.
Basket Component Return:

For each Basket Component, for any Observation Date,

 

Weighted Basket Component Return For each Basket Component, its weighting multiplied by its Basket Component Return.
Coupon Barrier: 70% of the Starting Value.
Threshold Value: 60% of the Starting Value.

Contingent Coupon

Payment:

If, on any monthly Observation Date, the Observation Value is greater than or equal to the Coupon Barrier, we will pay a Contingent Coupon Payment of $7.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes (equal to a rate of 0.75% per month or 9.00% per annum) on the applicable Contingent Payment Date (including the Maturity Date).
Automatic Call: Beginning in October 2021, all (but not less than all) of the Notes will be automatically called if the Observation Value is greater than or equal to the Call Value on any Observation Date (other than the final Observation Date). If the Notes are automatically called, the Early Redemption Amount will be paid on the applicable Contingent Payment Date. No further amounts will be payable following an Automatic Call.

Early Redemption

Amount:

For each $1,000 in principal amount of Notes, $1,000 plus the applicable Contingent Coupon Payment.
Redemption Amount: If the Notes have not been automatically called prior to maturity, the Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes will be:
a)          If the Ending Value is greater than or equal to the Threshold Value:
$1,000; or
b)          If the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value:
$1,000+ ($1,000 x Basket Return)
             In this case, the Redemption Amount will be less than 60% of the principal amount and could be zero.
The Redemption Amount will also include the final Contingent Coupon Payment if the Ending Value is greater than or equal to the Coupon Barrier.
  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-3

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Observation Dates*: As set forth on page PS-5.

Contingent Payment

Dates*:

As set forth on page PS-5.
Calculation Agent: BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”), an affiliate of BofA Finance.
Selling Agent: BofAS
CUSIP: 09709UGM4
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. We will also determine whether the final Contingent Coupon Payment is payable based upon the value of the Basket on the deemed Valuation Date; any such final Contingent Coupon Payment will be prorated by the calculation agent to reflect the length of the final contingent payment period.  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.

*Subject to change.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-4

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Observation Dates and Contingent Payment Dates

  Observation Dates*   Contingent Payment Dates  
  May 24, 2021   May 27, 2021  
  June 22, 2021   June 25, 2021  
  July 22, 2021   July 27, 2021  
  August 23, 2021   August 26, 2021  
  September 22, 2021   September 27, 2021  
  October 22, 2021   October 27, 2021  
  November 22, 2021   November 26, 2021  
  December 22, 2021   December 28, 2021  
  January 24, 2022   January 27, 2022  
  February 22, 2022   February 25, 2022  
  March 22, 2022   March 25, 2022  
  April 22, 2022   April 27, 2022  
  May 23, 2022   May 26, 2022  
  June 22, 2022   June 27, 2022  
  July 22, 2022   July 27, 2022  
  August 22, 2022   August 25, 2022  
  September 22, 2022   September 27, 2022  
  October 24, 2022   October 27, 2022  
  November 22, 2022   November 28, 2022  
  December 22, 2022   December 28, 2022  
  January 23, 2023   January 26, 2023  
  February 22, 2023   February 27, 2023  
  March 22, 2023   March 27, 2023  
  April 24, 2023   April 27, 2023  
  May 22, 2023   May 25, 2023  
  June 22, 2023   June 27, 2023  
  July 24, 2023   July 27, 2023  
  August 22, 2023   August 25, 2023  
  September 22, 2023   September 27, 2023  
  October 23, 2023   October 26, 2023  
  November 22, 2023   November 28, 2023  
  December 22, 2023   December 28, 2023  
  January 22, 2024 (the “Valuation Date”)   January 25, 2024 (the “Maturity Date”)  

 

* The Observation Dates are subject to postponement as set forth in “Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events Relating to Observation Dates” on page PS-21 of the accompanying product supplement.

 

 

 

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 Basket. 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-10), will reduce 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 pay to purchase the Notes will be greater than the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-5

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

The initial estimated value range of the Notes as of the date of this pricing supplement is set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. The final pricing supplement will set forth the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the Notes, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-10 and “Structuring the Notes” on page PS-20.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-6

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Contingent Coupon Payment and Redemption Amount Determination

On each Contingent Payment Date, you may receive a

Contingent Coupon Payment per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes determined as follows:

 

Assuming the Notes have not been automatically called,

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 Issuer and Guarantor credit risk.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-7

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Total Contingent Coupon Payment Examples

The table below illustrates the hypothetical total Contingent Coupon Payments per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes over the term of the Notes, based on the Contingent Coupon Payment of $7.50, depending on how many Contingent Coupon Payments are payable prior to an Automatic Call or maturity. Depending on the performance of the Basket, you may not receive any Contingent Coupon Payments during the term of the Notes.

 

  Number of Contingent Coupon Payments   Total Contingent Coupon Payments  
  0   $0.00  
  6   $45.00  
  12   $90.00  
  18   $135.00  
  24   $180.00  
  30   $225.00  
  33   $247.50  
  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-8

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at Maturity

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Table

The following table is for purposes of illustration only. It assumes the Notes have not been automatically called prior to maturity and 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 the Starting Value of 100, the Coupon Barrier of 70, the Threshold Value of 60, the Contingent Coupon Payment of $7.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes and a range of hypothetical Ending Values. The actual amount you receive and the resulting return will depend on the actual Observation Values and Ending Value, whether the Notes are automatically called prior to maturity, and whether you hold the Notes to maturity. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the Notes.

 

The Basket Components are described in the section “The Basket Components” below. The Basket Component Ending Value of each Basket Component will not include any income generated by dividends paid on that Basket Component, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in that Basket Component directly. In addition, all payments on the Notes are subject to Issuer and Guarantor credit risk.

 

 

Ending Value

 

 

Basket Return

 

 

Redemption Amount per Note (including any final Contingent Coupon Payment)

 

 

Return on the Notes(1)

 

160.00 60.00% $1,007.50(2) 0.75%
150.00 50.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
140.00 40.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
130.00 30.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
120.00 20.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
110.00 10.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
105.00 5.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
102.00 2.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
100.00(3) 0.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
90.00 -10.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
70.00(4) -30.00% $1,007.50 0.75%
69.99 -30.01% $1,000.00 0.00%
60.00(5) -40.00% $1,000.00 0.00%
59.99 -40.01% $599.90 -40.01%
50.00 -50.00% $500.00 -50.00%
40.00 -60.00% $400.00 -60.00%
0.00 -100.00% $0.00 -100.00%

 

(1) The “Return on the Notes” is calculated based on the Redemption Amount and potential final Contingent Coupon Payment, not including any Contingent Coupon Payments paid prior to maturity.
(2) This amount represents the sum of the principal amount and the final Contingent Coupon Payment.
(3) The Starting Value will be set to 100 on the pricing date.
(4) This is the Coupon Barrier.
(5) This is the Threshold Value.
  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-9

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

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-24 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 Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity and the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, at maturity you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value. In that case, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the Notes.
Your return on the Notes is limited to the return represented by the Contingent Coupon Payments, if any, over the term of the Notes. Your return on the Notes is limited to the Contingent Coupon Payments paid over the term of the Notes, regardless of the extent to which the Ending Value exceeds the Starting Value. Similarly, the amount payable at maturity or upon an Automatic Call will never exceed the sum of the principal amount and the applicable Contingent Coupon Payment, regardless of the extent to which the Observation Value exceeds the Starting Value. In contrast, a direct investment in one or more of the Basket Components would allow you to receive the benefit of any appreciation in their prices. Thus, any return on the Notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of a Basket Component and received the dividends paid or distributions made on them.
The Notes are subject to a potential Automatic Call, which would limit your ability to receive the Contingent Coupon Payments over the full term of the Notes. The Notes are subject to a potential Automatic Call. Beginning in October 2021, the Notes will be automatically called if, on any Observation Date, (other than the final Observation Date), the Observation Value is greater than or equal to the Call Value. If the Notes are automatically called, you will be entitled to receive the principal amount and the Contingent Coupon Payment with respect to the applicable Observation Date. In this case, you will lose the opportunity to continue to receive Contingent Coupon Payments after the date of the Automatic Call. If the Notes are called prior to the Maturity Date, you may be unable to invest in other securities with a similar level of risk that could provide a return that is similar to the Notes.
You may not receive any Contingent Coupon Payments. The Notes do not provide for any regular fixed coupon payments. Investors in the Notes will not necessarily receive any Contingent Coupon Payments on the Notes. If the Observation Value is less than the Coupon Barrier on an Observation Date, you will not receive the Contingent Coupon Payment applicable to that Observation Date. If the Observation Value is less than the Coupon Barrier on all the Observation Dates during the term of the Notes, you will not receive any Contingent Coupon Payment during the term of the Notes, and will not receive a positive return on the Notes.
The Contingent Coupon Payment, Early Redemption Amount or Redemption Amount, as applicable, will not reflect the prices of the Basket Components other than on the Observation Dates. The prices of the Basket Components (and thus the value of the Basket) during the term of the Notes other than on the Observation Dates will not affect payments on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, investors should generally be aware of the performance of the Basket Components while holding the Notes. The calculation agent will determine whether each Contingent Coupon Payment is payable and will calculate the Early Redemption Amount or the Redemption Amount, as applicable, by comparing only the Call Value, the Coupon Barrier or the Threshold Value, as applicable, to the Observation Value or the Ending Value. No other prices of the Basket Components (and thus the value of the Basket) will be taken into account. As a result, if the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity, you will receive less than the principal amount at maturity even if the price of each Basket Component has increased at certain times during the term of the Notes before the Basket decreases to a value 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. In addition, if interest rates increase during the term of the Notes, the Contingent Coupon Payment (if any) may be less than the yield on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity.
Any payment on the Notes is subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance and the Guarantor, and actual or perceived changes in BofA Finance 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 Early Redemption Amount or the Redemption Amount at maturity, as applicable, will be dependent upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our respective obligations under the Notes on the applicable Contingent Payment Date or the Maturity Date, regardless of the Ending Value 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”)

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-10

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

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 values of the Basket, 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 BAC, 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 pay for the Notes will exceed their initial estimated value. The range of initial estimated values of the Notes that is provided on the cover page of this preliminary pricing supplement, and the initial estimated value as of the pricing date that will be provided in the final pricing supplement, are each estimates only, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our and our affiliates’ pricing models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and variables, including our credit spreads and those of the Guarantor, the Guarantor’s internal funding rate, mid-market terms on hedging transactions, expectations on interest rates, dividends and volatility, price-sensitivity analysis, and the expected term of the Notes.  These pricing models rely in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. 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 value of the Basket, 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 Basket, 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 shares of the Basket Components, or futures or options contracts on those securities, or other listed or over-the-counter derivative instruments linked to the Basket Components. 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 prices of the Basket Components (and thus the value of the Basket) 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 its behalf (including for the purpose of hedging some or all of our anticipated exposure in connection with the Notes), may affect the prices of the Basket Components. Consequently, the prices of the Basket Components (and thus the value of the Basket) 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, also expect to engage in hedging activities that could affect the prices of the Basket Components (and thus the value of the Basket) 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 prices of the Basket Components, 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.

Basket-related Risks

Each Basket Component has limited actual historical information. Each Basket Component commenced trading on the NYSE recently. Because each Basket Component is of recent origin and limited actual historical performance data exists with respect to it, your investment in the Notes may involve a greater risk than investing in Notes linked to Basket Components with a more established record of performance.
  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-11

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Changes in the price of one of the Basket Components may be offset by changes in the price of the other Basket Components. The Notes are linked to a Basket. Changes in the prices of one or more of the Basket Components may not correlate with changes in the prices of one or more of the other Basket Components. The prices of one or more Basket Components may increase, while the prices of one or more of the other Basket Components may decrease or not increase as much. Therefore, in calculating the value of the Basket, increases in the price of one Basket Component may be moderated or wholly offset by decreases or lesser increases in the prices of one or more of the other Basket Components.
The stocks included in the Basket are concentrated in the technology sector. The Basket Components are issued by companies in the technology sector. Although an investment in the Notes will not give holders any ownership or other direct interests in the Basket Components, the return on an investment in the Notes will be subject to certain risks associated with a direct equity investment in companies in the technology sector, including those discussed below. Accordingly, by investing in the Notes, you will not benefit from the diversification which could result from an investment linked to companies that operate in multiple sectors.
The terms of the Notes will not be adjusted for all corporate events that could affect an issuer of a Basket Component. The applicable Price Multipliers, the determination of the payments on the Notes, and other terms of the Notes may be adjusted for the specified corporate events affecting any Basket Component, as described in the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Anti-Dilution Adjustments” beginning on page PS-23 of the accompanying product supplement. However, these adjustments do not cover all corporate events that could affect the market price of a Basket Component, such as offerings of common shares for cash or in connection with certain acquisition transactions. The occurrence of any event that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the applicable Price Multiplier or the amounts that may be paid on the Notes at maturity may adversely affect the price of a Basket Component, and, as a result, the market value of the 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 contingent income-bearing 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 income, 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.
  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-12

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Hypothetical Historical Performance of the Basket

While actual historical information on the Basket will not exist before the pricing date, the following graph sets forth the hypothetical historical daily performance of the Basket from April 17, 2019 through April 5, 2021. The graph is based upon actual daily historical levels of the Basket Components based on the Closing Market Prices of the Basket Components as of April 5, 2021, and a Basket value of 100.00 as of that date. This hypothetical historical data on the Basket is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Basket or what the value of the Notes may be. Any hypothetical historical upward or downward trend in the value of the Basket during any period set forth below is not an indication that the value of the Basket is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the Notes.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-13

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

The Basket Components

We have derived the following information on each Basket Component and each company issuing a Basket Component (each, an “Underlying Company” and, together, the “Underlying Companies”) from publicly available documents. Because each Basket Component is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Underlying Companies are required to file periodically certain financial and other information specified by the SEC. Information provided to or filed with the SEC by the Underlying Companies can be located through the SEC’s web site at sec.gov by reference to the applicable CIK number set forth below.

 

This document relates only to the offering of the Notes and does not relate to any offering of a Basket Component or any other securities of the Underlying Companies. None of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or any of our other affiliates has made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Underlying Companies in connection with the offering of the Notes. None of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or any of our other affiliates has independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the Underlying Companies and hence makes no representation regarding the same. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date of this document, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of these publicly available documents that could affect the trading price of a Basket Component, have been or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning an Underlying Company could affect the price of the applicable Basket Component and therefore could affect your return on the Notes. The selection of the Basket Components is not a recommendation to buy or sell the Basket Components.

 

Shopify Inc.

Shopify Inc. is a cloud-based commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. This Underlying Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol "SHOP." The company's CIK number is 0001594805.

.

 

Historical Performance of SHOP

The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of SHOP in the period from May 20, 2015 (the date that SHOP started trading) through April 5, 2021. 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 graph below may have been adjusted to reflect certain corporate actions, such as stock splits and reverse stock splits. On April 5, 2021, the Closing Market Price of SHOP was $1,145.95. The actual Basket Component Starting Value will be determined on the pricing date.

 

 

This historical data on SHOP is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of SHOP or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the Closing Market Price of SHOP during any period set forth above is not an indication that the Closing Market Price of SHOP 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 Closing Market Prices and trading pattern of SHOP.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-14

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Wayfair Inc.

Wayfair Inc. is an e-commerce platform for home goods, furniture and decor. This Basket Component trades on the NYSE under the symbol "W." The company's CIK number is 0001616707.

 

Historical Performance of W

The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of W in the period from October 1, 2014 (the date that W started trading) through April 5, 2021. 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 graph below may have been adjusted to reflect certain corporate actions, such as stock splits and reverse stock splits. On April 5, 2021, the Closing Market Price for W was $323.73. The actual Basket Component Starting Value will be determined on the pricing date.

 

 

This historical data on W is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of W or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the Closing Market Price of W during any period set forth above is not an indication that the Closing Market Price of W 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 Closing Market Prices and trading pattern of W.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-15

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Pinterest, Inc.

Pinterest, Inc. is an online product and idea discovery platform. This Basket Component trades on the NYSE under the symbol "PINS." The company's CIK number is 0001506293.

 

Historical Performance of PINS

The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of PINS in the period from April 17, 2019 (the date that PINS started trading) through April 5, 2021. 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 graph below may have been adjusted to reflect certain corporate actions, such as stock splits and reverse stock splits. On April 5, 2021, the Closing Market Price for PINS was $79.53. The actual Basket Component Starting Value will be determined on the pricing date.

 

 

This historical data on PINS is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of PINS or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the Closing Market Price of PINS during any period set forth above is not an indication that the Closing Market Price of PINS 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 Closing Market Prices and trading pattern of PINS.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-16

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Square, Inc.

Square, Inc. provides payment acquiring services to merchants. This Basket Component trades on the NYSE under the symbol "SQ." The company's CIK number is 0001512673.

 

Historical Performance of SQ

The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of SQ in the period from November 18, 2015 (the date that SQ started trading) through April 5, 2021. 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 graph below may have been adjusted to reflect certain corporate actions, such as stock splits and reverse stock splits. On April 5, 2021, the Closing Market Price for SQ was $229.95. The actual Basket Component Starting Value will be determined on the pricing date.

 

 

This historical data on SQ is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of SQ or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the Closing Market Price of SQ during any period set forth above is not an indication that the Closing Market Price of SQ 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 Closing Market Prices and trading pattern of SQ.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-17

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

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 expect to 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, if the initial settlement of the Notes occurs more than two business days from the pricing date, 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 $968.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the 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 Basket 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.

 

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 have authorized, nor do they 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

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-18

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

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 the Issuer or the 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.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-19

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

Structuring the Notes

The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Basket. 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, typically results 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 Basket, 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-10 above and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” on page PS-18 of the accompanying product supplement.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-20

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary

The following summary of the material U.S. federal income 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, we intend to treat the Notes for all tax purposes as contingent income-bearing single financial contracts with respect to the Underlying Stocks 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. In the opinion of our counsel, Sidley Austin LLP, it is reasonable to treat the Notes as contingent income-bearing single financial contracts with respect to the Underlying Stocks. However, Sidley Austin LLP has advised us that it is unable to conclude that it is more likely than not that this treatment will be upheld. This discussion assumes that the Notes constitute contingent income-bearing single financial contracts with respect to the Underlying Stocks for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Notes did not constitute contingent income-bearing 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 any Underlying Stock 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 any Underlying Stock 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 Underlying Stocks and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you, if any, if the issuer of any Underlying Stock is or becomes a PFIC or is or becomes a United States real property holding corporation.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-21

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

U.S. Holders

 

Although the U.S. federal income tax treatment of any Contingent Coupon Payment on the Notes is uncertain, we intend to take the position, and the following discussion assumes, that any Contingent Coupon Payment constitutes taxable ordinary income to a U.S. Holder at the time received or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting. By purchasing the Notes you agree, in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat any Contingent Coupon Payment as described in the preceding sentence.

 

Upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption 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 (other than amounts representing any Contingent Coupon Payment, which would be taxed as described above) 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.

 

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, exchange, or redemption of the Notes generally would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption 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.

 

In addition, it is possible that the Notes could be treated as a unit consisting of a deposit and a put option written by the Note holder, in which case the timing and character of income on the Notes would be affected significantly.

 

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, exchange, or redemption of the Notes should be treated as ordinary gain or loss.

 

Non-U.S. Holders

 

Because the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes (including any Contingent Coupon Payment) is uncertain, we will withhold U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on the entire amount of any Contingent Coupon Payment made unless such payments are effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the U.S. (in which case, to avoid withholding, the Non-U.S. Holder will be required to provide a Form W-8ECI). We will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. To claim benefits under an income tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder must obtain a taxpayer identification number and certify as to its eligibility under the appropriate treaty’s limitations on benefits article, if applicable. In addition, special rules may apply to claims for treaty benefits made by Non-U.S. Holders that are entities rather than individuals. The availability of a lower rate of withholding under an applicable income tax treaty will depend on whether such rate applies to the characterization of the payments under U.S. federal income tax laws. A Non-U.S. Holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-22

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

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 (not including, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts representing any Contingent Coupon Payment which would be subject to the rules discussed in the previous paragraph) upon the sale, exchange, or redemption of the Notes or their settlement at maturity, 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, exchange, or redemption 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, redemption, 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 any Contingent Coupon Payment and gain realized on the settlement at maturity, or upon sale, exchange, or redemption 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 Contingent Coupon Payment and 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 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, 2023. 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 Stocks 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 Stocks 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 in addition to the withholding tax described above, tax will be withheld at the applicable statutory rate. 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 — Taxation of Debt Securities — 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.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-23

Contingent Income Auto-Callable Yield Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks

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:

 

Product Supplement STOCK-1 dated January 8, 2020:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312520003612/d862730d424b5.htm

 

Series A MTN prospectus supplement dated December 31, 2019 and prospectus dated December 31, 2019:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312519326462/d859470d424b3.htm

 

These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or obtained from BofAS by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this pricing supplement, 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 the Note 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.

  CONTINGENT INCOME AUTO-CALLABLE YIELD NOTES | PS-24