Preliminary Pricing Supplement - Subject to Completion
(To Prospectus dated December 30, 2022,
Prospectus Supplement dated December 30, 2022 and
Product Supplement EQUITY-1 dated December 30, 2022)
Dated February , 2024
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Series A Registration Statement Nos. 333-268718 and 333-268718-01
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BofA Finance LLC $---- Trigger Callable Yield Notes
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index Due May 19, 2025
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Bank of America Corporation
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Investment Description
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The Trigger Callable Yield Notes linked to the Russell 2000® Index (the “Underlying”) due May 19, 2025 (the “Notes”) are senior unsecured obligations issued by BofA Finance LLC (“BofA Finance” or the “issuer”), a consolidated finance subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BAC” or the “Guarantor”), which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Notes will pay a Coupon Payment, regardless of the performance of the Underlying, on each monthly Coupon Payment Date. Beginning in May 2024, on any Call Date, the issuer may, in its sole discretion, call the Notes in whole, but not in part, and pay you the Stated Principal Amount plus the Coupon Payment otherwise due on such Call Date, and no further amounts will be owed to you. If the Notes have not previously been called, at maturity, the amount you receive will depend on the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date. If the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Downside Threshold, you will receive the Stated Principal Amount at maturity (plus the final Coupon Payment). However, if the Notes have not been called prior to maturity and the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date is less than its Downside Threshold, although you will receive the final Coupon Payment, you will receive less than the Stated Principal Amount at maturity, resulting in a loss that is proportionate to the decline in the closing level of the Underlying from the Trade Date to the Final Observation Date, up to a 100% loss of your investment. Investing in the Notes involves significant risks. You may lose a substantial portion or all of your initial investment. The payment at maturity on the Notes will be based on the performance of the Underlying. You will not receive dividends or other distributions paid on any stocks included in the Underlying or participate in any appreciation of the Underlying. The contingent repayment of the Stated Principal Amount applies only if you hold the Notes to maturity or earlier call by the issuer. Any payment on the Notes, including any repayment of the Stated Principal Amount, is subject to the creditworthiness of BofA Finance and the Guarantor and is not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party.
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Features
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Key Dates1
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❑ Coupon Payment — Regardless of the performance of the Underlying, we will pay you a Coupon Payment on each monthly Coupon Payment Date.
❑ Issuer Callable — Beginning in May 2024, on any Call Date, the issuer may, in its sole discretion, call the Notes in whole, but not in part, and pay you the Stated Principal Amount plus the Coupon Payment otherwise due on such Call Date. If the Notes are not called, investors may have full downside market exposure to the Underlying at maturity.
❑ Downside Exposure with Contingent Repayment of Principal at Maturity — If the Notes are not called prior to maturity and the Final Value on the Final Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Downside Threshold, you will receive the Stated Principal Amount at maturity (plus the final Coupon Payment). However, if the Final Value on the Final Observation Date is less than its Downside Threshold, although you will receive the final Coupon Payment, you will receive less than the Stated Principal Amount of your Notes at maturity, resulting in a loss that is proportionate to the decline in the closing level of the Underlying from the Trade Date to the Final Observation Date, up to a 100% loss of your investment.
Any payment on the Notes is subject to the creditworthiness of BofA Finance and the Guarantor.
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Trade Date2
Issue Date2
Coupon Payment Dates3
Call Dates3
Final Observation Date4
Maturity Date
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February 14, 2024
February 20, 2024
Monthly, beginning on March 18, 2024
Monthly, prior to the Maturity Date, beginning on May 16, 2024
May 14, 2025
May 19, 2025
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1
Subject to change and will be set forth in the final pricing supplement relating to the Notes.
2
See “Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Role of BofAS and Conflicts of Interest” in this pricing supplement for additional information.
3
See page PS-6 for additional details.
4
See page PS-4 for additional details.
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NOTICE TO INVESTORS: THE NOTES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY RISKIER THAN CONVENTIONAL DEBT INSTRUMENTS. BOFA FINANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY OBLIGATED TO REPAY THE STATED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT AT MATURITY, AND THE NOTES CAN HAVE DOWNSIDE MARKET RISK SIMILAR TO THE UNDERLYING. THIS MARKET RISK IS IN ADDITION TO THE CREDIT RISK INHERENT IN PURCHASING A DEBT OBLIGATION OF BOFA FINANCE THAT IS GUARANTEED BY BAC. YOU SHOULD NOT PURCHASE THE NOTES IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE SIGNIFICANT RISKS INVOLVED IN INVESTING IN THE NOTES.
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED UNDER “RISK FACTORS’’ BEGINNING ON PAGE PS-7 OF THIS PRICING SUPPLEMENT, PAGE PS-5 OF THE ACCOMPANYING PRODUCT SUPPLEMENT, PAGE S-6 OF THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND PAGE 7 OF THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS BEFORE PURCHASING ANY NOTES. EVENTS RELATING TO ANY OF THOSE RISKS, OR OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARKET VALUE OF, AND THE RETURN ON, YOUR NOTES. YOU MAY LOSE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES. THE NOTES WILL NOT BE LISTED ON ANY SECURITIES EXCHANGE AND MAY HAVE LIMITED OR NO LIQUIDITY.
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Notes Offering
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We are offering Trigger Callable Yield Notes linked to the Russell 2000® Index due May 19, 2025. The payment at maturity on the Notes will be based on the performance of the Underlying. The Coupon Rate, Initial Value and Downside Threshold will be determined on the Trade Date. The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations, guaranteed by BAC, and are offered for a minimum investment of 100 Notes (each Note corresponding to $10.00 in Stated Principal Amount) at the Public Offering Price described below.
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Underlying
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Coupon Rate
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Initial Value
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Downside Threshold
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CUSIP / ISIN
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Russell 2000® Index (Ticker: RTY)
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Between [9.10% and 9.70%] per annum
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, which is 75% of the Initial Value
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09710M699 / US09710M6993
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Public Offering Price
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Underwriting Discount(1)
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Proceeds (before expenses) to BofA Finance
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Per Note
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$10.00
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$0.00
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$10.00
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Total
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$
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$
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$
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UBS Financial Services Inc. |
BofA Securities |
Additional Information about BofA Finance LLC, Bank of America Corporation and the Notes
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You should read carefully this entire pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus to understand fully the terms of the Notes, as well as the tax and other considerations important to you in making a decision about whether to invest in the Notes. In particular, you should review carefully the section in this pricing supplement entitled “Risk Factors,” which highlights a number of risks of an investment in the Notes, to determine whether an investment in the Notes is appropriate for you. If information in this pricing supplement is inconsistent with the product supplement, prospectus supplement or prospectus, this pricing supplement will supersede those documents. You are urged to consult with your own attorneys and business and tax advisors before making a decision to purchase any of the Notes.
The information in the “Summary” section is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed explanation set forth elsewhere in this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. You should rely only on the information contained in this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. None of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or UBS is making an offer to sell these Notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement, and prospectus is accurate only as of the date on their respective front covers.
Certain terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement have the meanings set forth in the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this pricing supplement to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to BofA Finance, and not to BAC (or any other affiliate of BofA Finance).
The above-referenced accompanying documents may be accessed at the following links:
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Product supplement EQUITY-1 dated December 30, 2022:
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Series A MTN prospectus supplement dated December 30, 2022 and prospectus dated December 30, 2022:
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, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. The related guarantee will rank equally in right of payment with all of BAC’s other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law, and senior to its subordinated obligations. Any payments due on the Notes, including any repayment of the principal amount, will be subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor.
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Investor Suitability
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The Notes may be suitable for you if, among other considerations:
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You fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Notes, including the risk of loss of your entire investment.
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You can tolerate a loss of all or a substantial portion of your investment and are willing to make an investment that will have the full downside market risk of an investment in the Underlying.
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You understand and accept the risks associated with the Underlying.
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You believe the Final Value will be greater than or equal to the Downside Threshold on the Final Observation Date, and, if the Final Value is below the Downside Threshold on the Final Observation Date, you can tolerate a loss of all or a substantial portion of your investment.
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You can tolerate fluctuations in the value of the Notes prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the Underlying.
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You understand that your return will be based on the performance of the Underlying.
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You are willing to hold Notes that may be called early by the issuer in its sole discretion, regardless of the closing level of the Underlying, on any Call Date on or after the May 2024 Call Date, and you are otherwise willing to hold such Notes to maturity.
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You are willing to make an investment whose positive return is limited to the Coupon Payments, regardless of the potential appreciation of the Underlying, which could be significant.
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You are willing and able to hold the Notes to maturity, and accept that there may be little or no secondary market for the Notes.
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You are willing to forgo dividends or any other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Underlying.
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You are willing to assume the credit risk of BofA Finance and BAC for all payments under the Notes, and understand that if BofA Finance and BAC default on their obligations, you might not receive any amounts due to you, including any repayment of the Stated Principal Amount.
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The Notes may not be suitable for you if, among other considerations:
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You do not fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Notes, including the risk of loss of your entire investment.
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You cannot tolerate the loss of all or a substantial portion of your initial investment, or you are not willing to make an investment that will have the full downside market risk of an investment in the Underlying.
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You require an investment designed to guarantee a full return of the Stated Principal Amount at maturity.
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You do not understand or are not willing to accept the risks associated with the Underlying.
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You believe the Final Value will be less than the Downside Threshold on the Final Observation Date, exposing you to the full downside performance of the Underlying.
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You cannot tolerate fluctuations in the value of the Notes prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the Underlying.
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You are unwilling to accept that your return will be based on the performance of the Underlying.
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You are unwilling to hold Notes that may be called early by the issuer in its sole discretion, regardless of the closing level of the Underlying, on any Call Date on or after the May 2024 Call Date, or you are otherwise unable or unwilling to hold such Notes to maturity.
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You seek an investment that participates in the full appreciation of the Underlying and whose positive return is not limited to the Coupon Payments.
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You seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.
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You prefer to receive the dividends and any other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Underlying.
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You prefer the lower risk of conventional fixed income investments with comparable maturities and credit ratings.
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You are not willing to assume the credit risk of BofA Finance and BAC for all payments under the Notes, including any repayment of the Stated Principal Amount.
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The suitability considerations identified above are not exhaustive. Whether or not the Notes are a suitable investment for you will depend on your individual circumstances and you should reach an investment decision only after you and your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors have carefully considered the suitability of an investment in the Notes in light of your particular circumstances. You should review “The Underlying” herein for more information on the Underlying. You should also review carefully the “Risk Factors” section herein for risks related to an investment in the Notes.
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Summary
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Issuer
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BofA Finance
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Guarantor
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BAC
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Public Offering Price
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100% of the Stated Principal Amount
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Stated Principal Amount
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$10.00 per Note
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Minimum Investment
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$1,000 (100 Notes)
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Term
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Approximately 15 months, unless earlier called
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Trade Date1,2
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February 14, 2024
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Issue Date1,2
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February 20, 2024
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Final Observation Date1
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May 14, 2025, subject to postponement as described under “Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events Relating to Calculation Days” in the accompanying product supplement.
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Maturity Date1
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May 19, 2025
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Underlying
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Russell 2000® Index (Ticker: RTY)
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Issuer Call Feature
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Beginning in May 2024, the issuer may, in its sole discretion, call the Notes in whole, but not in part, on any Call Date upon not less than five (5) business days’ but not more than 60 calendar days’ notice prior to such Call Date.
If the Notes are called, on the applicable Call Date we will pay you a cash payment per $10.00 Stated Principal Amount equal to the Stated Principal Amount plus the Coupon Payment otherwise due on such Call Date.
If the Notes are called, no further payments will be made on the Notes.
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Coupon Payment Dates1
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See “Coupon Payment Dates” on page PS-6.
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Coupon Payment/Coupon Rate
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We will pay a Coupon Payment on each monthly Coupon Payment Date.
Each Coupon Payment will be in the amount of between [$0.07584 to $0.08084] for each $10.00 Stated Principal Amount (based on the per annum Coupon Rate of between [9.10% to 9.70%]) and will be payable on the related Coupon Payment Date. The actual Coupon Payment and Coupon Rate will be determined on the Trade Date.
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Call Dates1
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The monthly Coupon Payment Dates beginning on May 16, 2024 and ending on April 16, 2025, as indicated on page PS-6.
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Payment At Maturity (per $10.00 Stated Principal Amount)
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If the Notes are not called prior to maturity and the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Downside Threshold, on the Maturity Date we will pay you the Stated Principal Amount.
If the Notes are not called prior to maturity and the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date is less than its Downside Threshold, we will pay you a cash payment on the Maturity Date that is less than your Stated Principal Amount and may be zero, resulting in a loss that is proportionate to the negative Underlying Return, equal to:
$10.00 × (1 + Underlying Return)
Accordingly, you may lose all or a substantial portion of your Stated Principal Amount at maturity, depending on how significantly the Underlying declines.
In each case described above you will also receive the final Coupon Payment.
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Underlying Return
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Final Value – Initial Value
Initial Value |
Downside Threshold
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75% of its Initial Value, as specified on the cover page of this pricing supplement.
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Initial Value
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The closing level of the Underlying on the Trade Date, as specified on the cover page of this pricing supplement.
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Final Value
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The closing level of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date.
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Calculation Agent
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BofAS, an affiliate of BofA Finance.
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Selling Agents
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BofAS and UBS.
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Events of Default and Acceleration
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If an Event of Default, as defined in the senior indenture relating to the Notes and in the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities of BofA Finance LLC—Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration; Covenant Breaches” on page 54 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 “—Payment at Maturity” above, calculated as though the date of acceleration were the Maturity Date of the Notes and as though the Final Observation Date were the third trading day prior to the date of acceleration. The final Coupon Payment will be prorated by the calculation agent to reflect the length of the final coupon 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.
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1
Subject to change and will be set forth in the final pricing supplement relating to the Notes.
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2
See “Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Role of BofAS and Conflicts of Interest” in this pricing supplement for additional information.
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Investment Timeline
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Trade Date
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The closing level of the Underlying (its Initial Value) is observed, the Coupon Rate/Coupon Payment is set and the Downside Threshold for the Underlying is determined.
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Monthly (callable by the issuer in its sole discretion beginning in May 2024)
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We will pay a Coupon Payment on each Coupon Payment Date.
Beginning in May 2024, the issuer may, in its sole discretion, call the Notes in whole, but not in part, on any Call Date upon not less than five (5) business days’ but not more than 60 calendar days’ notice prior to such Call Date.
If the Notes are called, on the applicable Call Date we will pay you a cash payment per $10.00 Stated Principal Amount equal to the Stated Principal Amount plus the Coupon Payment otherwise due on such Call Date.
If the Notes are called, no further payments will be made on the Notes.
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Maturity Date (if not previously called)
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If the Notes are not called prior to maturity, the Final Value of the Underlying will be observed on the Final Observation Date.
If the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Downside Threshold, on the Maturity Date we will pay you the Stated Principal Amount.
If the Final Value of the Underlying on the Final Observation Date is less than its Downside Threshold, on the Maturity Date we will pay you a cash payment that is less than your Stated Principal Amount and may be zero, resulting in a loss that is proportionate to the negative Underlying Return, equal to:
$10.00 × (1 + Underlying Return)
In each case described above you will also receive the final Coupon Payment.
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March 18, 2024
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April 17, 2024
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May 16, 2024 *
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June 18, 2024 *
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July 17, 2024 *
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August 16, 2024 *
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September 18, 2024 *
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October 17, 2024 *
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November 18, 2024 *
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December 18, 2024 *
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January 16, 2025 *
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February 19, 2025 *
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March 18, 2025 *
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April 16, 2025 *
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May 19, 2025
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*These are the Call Dates.
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Risk Factors
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♦
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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 called prior to maturity and the Final Value is less than its Downside Threshold, at maturity, you will lose 1% of the Stated Principal Amount for each 1% that the Final Value is less than its Initial Value. In that case, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the Notes.
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♦
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The limited downside protection provided by the Downside Threshold applies only at maturity. You should be willing to hold your Notes to maturity. If you are able to sell your Notes in the secondary market prior to a call or maturity, you may have to sell them at a loss relative to your initial investment even if the level of the Underlying at that time is equal to or greater than its Downside Threshold. All payments on the Notes are subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance, as issuer, and BAC, as guarantor.
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Your return on the Notes is limited to the return represented by the Coupon Payments over the term of the Notes. Your return on the Notes is limited to the Coupon Payments paid over the term of the Notes, regardless of the extent to which the closing level of the Underlying at any time exceeds its Initial Value. Similarly, the amount payable at maturity or upon a call will never exceed the sum of the Stated Principal Amount and the applicable Coupon Payment, regardless of the extent to which the closing level or Final Value of the Underlying, as applicable, exceeds its Initial Value. In contrast, a direct investment in the securities included in the Underlying would allow you to receive the benefit of any appreciation in their values. Thus, any return on the Notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned those securities and received the dividends paid or distributions made on them.
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♦
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The Notes are subject to a potential early call, which would limit your ability to receive the Coupon Payments over the full term of the Notes. Beginning in May 2024, on each Call Date, at our option, we may redeem your Notes in whole, but not in part. If the Notes are called prior to the Maturity Date, you will be entitled to receive the Stated Principal Amount plus the Coupon Payment otherwise due on such Call Date. In this case, you will lose the opportunity to continue to receive Coupon Payments after the date of the early 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. Even if we do not exercise our option to redeem your Notes, our ability to do so may adversely affect the market value of your Notes. It is our sole option whether to redeem your Notes prior to maturity on any Call Date and we may or may not exercise this option for any reason. Because of this, the term of your Notes could be anywhere between three and fifteen months.
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♦
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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 Coupon Payment (if any) may be less than the yield on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity.
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♦
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Any payment on the Notes is subject to our credit risk and the credit risk of the Guarantor, and actual or perceived changes in our or the Guarantor’s creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the Notes. The Notes are our senior unsecured debt securities. Any payment on the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Notes are not guaranteed by any entity other than the Guarantor. As a result, your receipt of all payments on the Notes will be dependent upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our respective obligations under the Notes on the applicable payment date, regardless of the closing level or Final Value of the Underlying as compared to its Downside Threshold or Initial Value, as applicable. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition or the financial condition of the Guarantor will be on the Maturity Date. If we and the Guarantor become unable to meet our respective financial obligations as they become due, you may not receive the amounts payable under the terms of the Notes and you could lose all of your initial investment.
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♦
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We are a finance subsidiary and, as such, have no independent assets, operations or revenues. We are a finance subsidiary of the Guarantor, have no operations other than those related to the issuance, administration and repayment of our debt securities that are guaranteed by the Guarantor, and are dependent upon the Guarantor and/or its other subsidiaries to meet our obligations under the Notes in the ordinary course. Therefore, our ability to make payments on the Notes may be limited.
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♦
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Greater expected volatility generally indicates an increased risk of loss. A higher Coupon Rate and/or a lower Downside Threshold may reflect greater expected volatility of the Underlying, which is generally associated with a greater risk of loss. Volatility is a measure of the degree of variation in the level of the Underlying over a period of time. The greater the expected volatility of the Underlying at the time the terms of the Notes are set, the greater the expectation is at that time that you may lose a significant portion or all of the Stated Principal Amount at maturity. In addition, the economic terms of the Notes, including the Coupon Rate and the Downside Threshold, are based, in part, on the expected volatility of the Underlying at the time the terms of the Notes are set, where higher expected volatility will generally be reflected in a higher Coupon Rate than the fixed rate we would pay on conventional debt securities of the same maturity and/or on otherwise comparable securities and/or a lower Downside Threshold as compared to otherwise comparable securities. Accordingly, a higher Coupon Rate will generally be indicative of a greater risk of loss while a lower Downside Threshold does not necessarily indicate that the Notes have a greater likelihood of returning the Stated Principal Amount at maturity. You should be willing to accept the downside market risk of the Underlying and the potential loss of a significant portion or all of the Stated Principal Amount at maturity.
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♦
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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 Trade 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 level of the Underlying, changes in the Guarantor’s internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charges, all as further described in “Structuring the Notes” below. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable ways.
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♦
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The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, BAC, BofAS or any of our other affiliates would be willing to purchase your Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your Notes at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including the performance of the Underlying, our and BAC’s creditworthiness and changes in market conditions.
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♦
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The price of the Notes that may be paid by BofAS in any secondary market (if BofAS makes a market, which it is not required to do), as well as the price which may be reflected on customer account statements, will be higher than the then-current estimated value of the Notes for a limited time period after the Trade Date. As agreed by BofAS and UBS, for approximately a three-month period after the Trade Date, to the extent BofAS offers to buy the Notes in the secondary market, it will do so at a price that will exceed the estimated value of the Notes at that time. The amount of this excess, which represents a portion of the hedging-related charges expected to be realized by BofAS and UBS over the term of the Notes, will decline to zero on a straight line basis over that three-month period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your Notes during this initial three-month period may be lower than the value shown on your customer account statements. Thereafter, if BofAS buys or sells your Notes, it will do so at prices that reflect the estimated value determined by reference to its pricing models at that time. Any price at any time after the Trade Date will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Underlying and the remaining term of the Notes. However, none of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or any other party 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.
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♦
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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.
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♦
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Economic and market factors have affected the terms of the Notes and may affect the market value of the Notes prior to maturity or a call. Because market-linked notes, including the Notes, can be thought of as having a debt component and a derivative component, factors that influence the values of debt instruments and options and other derivatives will also affect the terms and features of the Notes at issuance and the market price of the Notes prior to maturity or a call. These factors include the level of the Underlying and the securities included in the Underlying; the volatility of the Underlying and the securities included in the Underlying; the dividend rate paid on the securities included in the Underlying, if applicable; the time remaining to the maturity of the Notes; interest rates in the markets; geopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, force majeure and regulatory or judicial events; the availability of comparable instruments; the creditworthiness of BofA Finance, as issuer, and BAC, as guarantor; and the then current bid-ask spread for the Notes and the factors discussed under “— Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates, may create conflicts of interest with you and may affect your return on the Notes and their market value” below. These factors are unpredictable and interrelated and may offset or magnify each other.
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♦
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Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates, 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, and UBS and its affiliates, may buy or sell the securities held by or included in the Underlying, or futures or options contracts on the Underlying or those securities, or other listed or over-the-counter derivative instruments linked to the Underlying or those securities. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates also may issue or underwrite other financial instruments with returns based upon the Underlying. We expect to enter into arrangements or adjust or close out existing transactions to hedge our obligations under the Notes. We, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates also may enter into hedging transactions relating to other notes or instruments, some of which may have returns calculated in a manner related to that of the Notes offered hereby. We or UBS may enter into such hedging arrangements with one of our or their affiliates. Our affiliates or their affiliates may enter into additional hedging transactions with other parties relating to the Notes and the Underlying. This hedging activity is expected to result in a profit to those engaging in the hedging activity, which could be more or less than initially expected, or the hedging activity could also result in a loss. We and our affiliates and UBS and its affiliates will price these hedging transactions with the intent to realize a profit, regardless of whether the value of the Notes increases or decreases. Any profit in connection with such hedging activities will be in addition to any other compensation that we, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates receive for the sale of the Notes, which creates an additional incentive to sell the Notes to you. While we, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates may from time to time own securities represented by the Underlying, except to the extent that BAC’s or UBS Group AG’s (the parent company of UBS) common stock may be included in the Underlying, as applicable, we, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates do not control any company included in the Underlying, and have not verified any disclosure made by any other company. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates 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. The transactions described above may present a conflict of interest between your interest in the Notes and the interests we, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, and UBS and its affiliates 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.
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♦
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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.
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♦
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The Notes are subject to the market risk of the Underlying. The return on the Notes, which may be negative, is directly linked to the performance of the Underlying and indirectly linked to the value of the securities included in the Underlying. The level of the Underlying can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to the Underlying and the securities included in the Underlying and the issuers of such securities, such as stock price volatility, earnings and financial conditions, corporate, industry and regulatory developments, management changes and decisions and other events, as well as general market factors, such as general stock market or commodity market volatility and levels, interest rates and economic and political conditions.
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♦
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The Notes are subject to risks associated with small-size capitalization companies. The stocks comprising the RTY are issued by companies with small-sized market capitalization. The stock prices of small-size companies may be more volatile than stock prices of large capitalization companies. Small-size capitalization companies may be less able to withstand adverse economic, market, trade and
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♦
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The publisher of the Underlying may adjust the Underlying in a way that affects its level, and the publisher has no obligation to consider your interests. The publisher of the Underlying can add, delete, or substitute the components included in the Underlying or make other methodological changes that could change its level. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of your Notes.
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♦
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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 substantially 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 consisting of a put option and a deposit, as more fully 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.
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Hypothetical Examples
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◆
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Stated Principal Amount: $10
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◆
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Term: Approximately 15 months, unless earlier called
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◆
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Hypothetical Initial Value:
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o
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Russell 2000® Index: 100.00
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◆
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Hypothetical Coupon Rate: 9.10% per annum (or 0.7584% per month) (the lower end of the range for the Coupon Rate)
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◆
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Hypothetical Monthly Coupon Payment: $0.07584 per month per Note (the lower end of the range for the Coupon Payment)
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◆
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Issuer Call: Beginning in May 2024, monthly, on any Call Date, as indicated on page PS-6
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◆
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Hypothetical Downside Threshold:
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o
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Russell 2000® Index: 75.00, which is 75% of its hypothetical Initial Value
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Date
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Payment (per Note)
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||||
First Coupon Payment Date
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$0.07584 (Coupon Payment — Not callable)
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||||
Second Coupon Payment Date
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$0.07584 (Coupon Payment — Not callable)
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||||
Third Coupon Payment Date (First Call Date)
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$10.07584 (Stated Principal Amount plus Coupon Payment — Notes are called)
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||||
Total Payment:
|
$10.22752 (2.2752% total return)
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|
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Date
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|
Final Value on the Final Observation Date
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Payment (per Note)
|
||||
|
|
Russell 2000® Index
|
|
||||
First Coupon Payment Date
|
N/A
|
$0.07584 (Coupon Payment — Not callable)
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|||||
Second Coupon Payment Date
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N/A
|
$0.07584 (Coupon Payment — Not callable)
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|||||
Third to Fourteenth Coupon Payment Dates
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N/A
|
$0.07584 (Coupon Payment on each Coupon Payment Date—Notes are not called)
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|||||
Final Observation Date
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99.00 (at or above Downside Threshold)
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$10.07584 (Stated Principal Amount plus the final Coupon Payment)
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|||||
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|
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Total Payment:
|
$11.13760 (11.3760% total return)
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Date
|
|
Final Value on the Final Observation Date
|
Payment (per Note)
|
||||
|
|
Russell 2000® Index
|
|
||||
First Coupon Payment Date
|
N/A
|
$0.07584 (Coupon Payment — Not callable)
|
|||||
Second Coupon Payment Date
|
N/A
|
$0.07584 (Coupon Payment — Not callable)
|
|||||
Third to Fourteenth Coupon Payment Dates
|
N/A
|
$0.07584 (Coupon Payment on each Coupon Payment Date — Notes are not called)
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|||||
Final Observation Date
|
45.00 (below Downside Threshold)
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$10.000 × [1 + Underlying Return of the Underlying] =
$10.00 × [1 + -55.00%] =
$10.00 × 0.45 =
$4.50
$4.50000+$0.07584 = $4.57584 (Payment at Maturity)
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|||||
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|
||||
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|
|
|
||||
|
|
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Total Payment:
|
$5.63760 (-43.6240% total return)
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The Underlying
|
Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Role of BofAS and Conflicts of Interest
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●
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Australia
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●
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Barbados
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●
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Belgium
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●
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Crimea
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●
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Cuba
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●
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Curacao Sint Maarten
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●
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Gibraltar
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●
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Indonesia
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●
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Iran
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●
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Italy
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●
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Kazakhstan
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●
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Malaysia
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●
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New Zealand
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●
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North Korea
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●
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Norway
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●
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Russia
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●
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Saudi Arabia
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●
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Syria
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●
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Venezuela
|
Structuring the Notes
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U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary
|
(i)
|
a put option (the “Put Option”) written by you to us that, if exercised, requires you to pay us an amount equal to the Deposit (as defined below) in exchange for a cash amount based upon the performance of the Underlying; and
|
(ii)
|
a deposit with us of a fixed amount of cash, equal to the issue price of the Note, to secure your obligation under the Put Option (the “Deposit”) that pays you interest based on our cost of borrowing at the time of issuance (the “Deposit Interest”).
|
●
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the Non-U.S. Holder does not own, directly or by attribution, ten percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;
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●
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the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership;
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●
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the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest under Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;
|
●
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the certification requirement described below has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner; and
|
●
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and the payment is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of U.S. trade or business.
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