Subject to Completion
Preliminary Term Sheet dated October
20, 2016
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424 (b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-202354 (To Prospectus dated May 1, 2015, Prospectus Supplement dated October 17, 2016 and Product Supplement EQUITY INDICES BEAR STR-1 dated October 11, 2016) |
Units $10 principal amount per unit CUSIP No. |
Pricing Date* Settlement Date* Maturity Date* |
October , 2016 November , 2016 April , 2018 |
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*Subject to change based on the actual date the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the "pricing date")
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the Russell 2000® Index
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Automatically callable if the closing level of the Index on any Observation Date, occurring approximately six, twelve, and eighteen months after the pricing date, is less than or equal to the Starting Value
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In the event of an automatic call, the amount payable per unit will be:
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[$10.425 to $10.625] if called on the first Observation Date
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[$10.850 to $11.250] if called on the second Observation Date
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[$11.275 to $11.875] if called on the final Observation Date
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If not called on the first or second Observation Dates, a maturity of approximately 18 months
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If not called, the principal amount is subject to 1-to-1 downside exposure to increases in the Index, with up to 100% of your principal at risk. You will lose all or a portion of your principal amount if the level of the Index on the final Observation Date is greater than the Starting Value.
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All payments are subject to the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation
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No periodic interest payments
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In addition to the underwriting discount set forth below, the notes include a hedging-related charge of $0.075 per unit. See Structuring the Notes
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Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing
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Per Unit
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Total
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Public offering price(1)
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$10.00
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$
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Underwriting discount(1)
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$0.15
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$
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Proceeds, before expenses, to BAC
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$9.85
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$
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(1)
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For any purchase of 500,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor or in combined transactions with the investor's household in this offering, the public offering price and the underwriting discount will be $9.95 per unit and $0.10 per unit, respectively. See Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest below.
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Are Not FDIC Insured
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Are Not Bank Guaranteed
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May Lose Value
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Terms of the Notes
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Payment Determination
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Issuer:
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Bank of America Corporation (BAC)
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Automatic Call Provision:
Redemption Amount Determination:
If the notes are not called you will receive the Redemption Amount per unit on the maturity date, determined as follows:
Because the Threshold Value for the notes is equal to the Starting Value, you will lose all or a portion of your investment if the Ending Value is greater than the Starting Value.
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Principal Amount:
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$10.00 per unit
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Term:
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Approximately 18 months, if not called on the first or second Observation Dates
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Market Measure:
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The Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg symbol: "RTY"), a price return index
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Starting Value:
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The closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date.
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Ending Value:
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The Observation Level of the Market Measure on the final Observation Date.
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Observation Level:
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The closing level of the Market Measure on any Observation Date.
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Observation Dates:
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On or about April , 2017, November , 2017 and April , 2018 (the final Observation Date), approximately six, twelve, and eighteen months after the pricing date.
The Observation Dates are subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described beginning on page PS-17 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES BEAR STR-1.
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Call Level:
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100% of the Starting Value.
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Call Amounts (per Unit) and Call Premiums:
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[$10.425 to $10.625], representing a Call Premium of [4.25% to 6.25%] of the principal amount, if called on the first Observation Date;
[$10.850 to $11.250], representing a Call Premium of [8.50% to 12.50%] of the principal amount, if called on the second Observation Date; and
[$11.275 to $11.875], representing a Call Premium of [12.75% to 18.75%] of the principal amount, if called on the final Observation Date.
The actual Call Amounts and Call Premiums will be determined on the pricing date.
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Call Settlement Dates:
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Approximately the fifth business day following the applicable Observation Date, subject to postponement as described beginning on page PS-15 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES BEAR STR-1; provided however, that the Call Settlement Date related to the final Observation Date will be the maturity date.
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Threshold Value:
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100% of the Starting Value.
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Fees and Charges:
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The underwriting discount of $0.15 per unit listed on the cover page and the hedging related charge of $0.075 per unit described in Structuring the Notes on page TS-11.
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Calculation Agent:
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S), a subsidiary of BAC.
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-2
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Product supplement EQUITY INDICES BEAR STR-1 dated October 11, 2016:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312516735621/d246622d424b5.htm |
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Series L MTN prospectus supplement dated October 17, 2016 and prospectus dated May 1, 2015:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312516739873/d266214d424b3.htm |
You may wish to consider an investment in the notes if:
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The notes may not be an appropriate investment for you if:
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You anticipate that the closing level of the Index on any of the Observation Dates will be less than or equal to the Starting Value and, in that case, you accept an early exit from your investment.
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You accept that the return on the notes will be limited to the return represented by the applicable Call Premium even if the percentage decrease in the level of the Index is significantly greater than the applicable Call Premium.
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If the notes are not called, you accept that your investment will result in a loss, which could be significant, if the Ending Value is greater than the Threshold Value.
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You are willing to forgo the interest payments that are paid on conventional interest bearing debt securities.
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You are willing to forgo dividends or other benefits of owning the stocks included in the Index.
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You are willing to accept a limited or no market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, our internal funding rate and fees and charges on the notes.
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You are willing to assume our credit risk, as issuer of the notes, for all payments under the notes, including the Call Amounts and the Redemption Amount.
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You wish to make an investment that cannot be automatically called prior to maturity.
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You believe that the level of the Index will increase from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.
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You anticipate that the Observation Level will be greater than the Call Level on each Observation Date.
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You seek an uncapped return on your investment.
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You seek principal repayment or preservation of capital.
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You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.
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You want to receive dividends or other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Index.
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You seek an investment for which there will be a liquid secondary market.
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You are unwilling or are unable to take market risk on the notes or to take our credit risk as issuer of the notes.
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-3
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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1)
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a Starting Value of 100.00;
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2)
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a Threshold Value of 100.00;
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3)
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a Call Level of 100.00;
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4)
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an expected term of the notes of approximately 18 months, if the notes are not called on the first or second Observation Dates;
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5)
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a Call Premium of 5.25% of the principal amount if the notes are called on the first Observation Date, 10.50% if called on the second Observation Date, and 15.75% if called on the final Observation Date (the midpoint of the applicable Call Premium ranges); and
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6)
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Observation Dates occurring approximately six, twelve, and eighteen months after the pricing date.
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-4
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Summary of the Hypothetical Examples
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Notes Are Called on an Observation Date
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Notes Are Not Called on Any
Observation Date |
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Example 1
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Example 2
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Example 3
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Example 4
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Starting Value
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100.00
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100.00
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100.00
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100.00
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Call Level
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100.00
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100.00
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100.00
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100.00
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Threshold Value
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100.00
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100.00
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100.00
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100.00
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Observation Level on the First Observation Date
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90.00
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110.00
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110.00
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110.00
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Observation Level on the Second Observation Date
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N/A
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95.00
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105.00
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105.00
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Observation Level on the Final Observation Date
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N/A
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N/A
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95.00
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115.00
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Return of the Index
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-10.00%
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-5.00%
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-5.00%
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15.00%
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Return of the Notes
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5.25%
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10.50%
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15.75%
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-15.00%
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Call Amount /
Redemption Amount per Unit
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$10.525
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$11.050
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$11.575
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$8.500
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-5
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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If the notes are not automatically called, your investment will result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. If the Ending Value is greater than the Starting Value, you will lose all or a portion of your principal amount.
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Your return on the notes may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity.
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Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. If we become insolvent or are unable to pay our obligations, you may lose your entire investment.
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Your investment return is limited to the return represented by the applicable Call Premium and may be less than a comparable short position in the Market Measure, or the stocks included in the Index. In contrast, a short position in the Market Measure (or the securities included in the Market Measure) would allow you to receive the full benefit of any decrease in the value of the Market Measure (or those underlying securities).
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The initial estimated value of the notes is an estimate 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, our internal funding rate on the pricing date, mid-market terms on hedging transactions, expectations on interest rates 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.
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The public offering price you pay for the notes will exceed the initial estimated value. 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 the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the level of the Index, our internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge, all as further described in Structuring the Notes on page TS-11. 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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The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, MLPF&S or any of our 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 Index, our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions.
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A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. Neither we nor MLPF&S is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market.
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Our business activities as a full service financial institution, including our commercial and investment banking activities, our hedging and trading activities (including trades in shares of companies included in the Index) and any hedging and trading activities we engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you.
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The Index sponsor may adjust the Index in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests.
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You will have no rights of a holder of the securities represented by the Index, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities.
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While we or our affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in the Index we do not control any company included in the Index, and have not verified any disclosure made by any other company.
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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.
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The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See Summary Tax Consequences below and U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary beginning on page PS-24 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES BEAR STR-1.
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-6
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-7
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-8
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-9
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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●
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the investor’s spouse (including a domestic partner), siblings, parents, grandparents, spouse’s parents, children and grandchildren, but excluding accounts held by aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews or any other family relationship not directly above or below the individual investor;
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a family investment vehicle, including foundations, limited partnerships and personal holding companies, but only if the beneficial owners of the vehicle consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; and
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a trust where the grantors and/or beneficiaries of the trust consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; provided that, purchases of the notes by a trust generally cannot be aggregated together with any purchases made by a trustee’s personal account.
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-10
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-11
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due April , 2018 |
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There is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addressing the characterization of the notes.
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You agree with us (in the absence of an administrative determination, or judicial ruling to the contrary) to characterize and treat the notes for all tax purposes as a callable single financial contract with respect to the Index.
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Under this characterization and tax treatment of the notes, a U.S. Holder (as defined beginning on page 99 of the prospectus) generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes prior to maturity. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the notes for more than one year.
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No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service or any court will agree with this characterization and tax treatment.
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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®
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TS-12
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