There are risks associated with investing in gold or gold-linked notes.
The Gold Spot Price will be derived from a physically settled, electronic and tradeable auction process. Certain features of U.S. futures markets are not present in the context of such auction process. For example, there are no daily price limits, which would otherwise restrict the extent of daily fluctuations in the prices of the commodities in such markets. In a declining market, therefore, it is possible that prices would continue to decline without limitation within a trading day or over a period of trading days. Gold prices are subject to volatile price movements over short periods of time and are affected by numerous factors. These include economic factors, including the structure of and confidence in the global monetary system, expectations of the future rate of inflation, the relative strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of gold is generally quoted), interest rates and gold borrowing and lending rates, and global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial, or other events. Gold prices may also be affected by industry factors such as industrial and jewelry demand, lending, sales and purchases of gold by the official sector, including central banks and other governmental agencies and multilateral institutions which hold gold, levels of gold production and production costs, and short-term changes in supply and demand because of trading activities in the gold market. It is not possible to predict the aggregate effect of all or any combination of these factors.
The market value of the notes may be affected by price movements in distant-delivery futures contracts associated with the Gold Spot Price.
The price movements in the Gold Spot Price may not be reflected in the market value of the notes. If you are able to sell your notes, the price you receive could be affected by changes in the values of futures contracts for gold that have more distant delivery dates than the Gold Spot Price. The prices for these distant-delivery futures contracts may not increase to the same extent as the Gold Spot Price, or may decrease to a greater extent, which may adversely affect the value of the notes.
Changes in the methodology used to calculate the Gold Spot Price or changes in laws or regulations may affect the value of the notes.
As discussed in “The Gold Spot Price” below, the process used by the ICE Benchmark Administration (the “IBA”) for setting the Gold Spot Price during the term of the notes began in 2015. Accordingly, the levels of the Gold Spot Price during the term of the notes, including on the calculation day, may vary from the historical le
vels of the Gold Spot Price, and
may be lower than they would have been in the absence of this change.
The IBA may further adjust the determination of the Gold Spot Price in a way that adversely affects the value of the note
s
, and has no obligation to consider your interests. Any change of this kind could cause a decrease in the Gold Spot Price, which would adversely affect the value of the notes. In addition, the price of gold could be adversely affected by the promulgation of new laws or regulations or by the reinterpretation of existing laws or regulations (including, without limitation, those relating to taxes and duties on commodities or commodity components) by one or more governments, governmental agencies or instrumentalities, courts, or other official bodies. Any event of this kind could adversely affect the Gold Spot Price and, as a result, could adversely affect the value of the notes.
The provisions of this section supersede and replace the definition of “Market Disruption Event” set forth in product supplement COMM ARN-1.
Market Disruption Event
A “Market Disruption Event” means any of the following events, as determined by the calculation agent:
(A) the suspension of or material limitation on trading in gold, or futures contracts or options related to gold, on the Relevant Market (as defined below);
(B) the failure of trading to commence, or permanent discontinuance of trading, in gold, or futures contracts or options related to gold, on the Relevant Market;
(C) the failure of the IBA (as defined above) to calculate or publish the Gold Spot Price for that day; or
(D) any other event, if the calculation agent determines in its sole discretion that the event materially interferes with the issuer’s ability or the ability of any of the issuer’s affiliates to unwind all or a material portion of a hedge that the issuer or the issuer’s affiliates have effected or may effect as to the notes.
For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred:
(A) a limitation on the hours in a trading day and/or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular trading hours of the Relevant Market; and
(B) a suspension of or material limitation on trading in the Relevant Market will not include any time when trading is not conducted or prices are not quoted by the IBA in the Relevant Market under ordinary circumstances.
“Relevant Market” means the market in London on which the IBA, or any successor thereto, quotes prices for the buying and selling of gold, or if such market is no longer the principal trading market for gold or options or futures contracts for gold, such other exchange or principal trading market for gold as determined by the calculation agent which serves as the source of prices for gold, and any principal exchanges where options or futures contracts on gold are traded.
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The Gold Spot Price
The Gold Spot Price is a benchmark price used in the markets where gold is sold for U.S. dollars and delivered immediately.
It measures the spot price of gold in U.S. dollars per troy ounce.
Until March 2015, the Gold Spot Price was determined at 3:00 p.m., London time
by five market-making members of the
London Bullion Market Association
.
During this period, these members me
t by telephone each London business day at 3:00 p.m. to determine the Gold Spot Price. The five members are the Bank of Nova Scotia-ScotiaMocatta, Barclays Bank Plc, Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., and Société Générale, collectively referred to as the London Gold Market Fixing Ltd. The Gold Spot Price is
currently
published by Bloomberg, L.P. under the symbol
“
GOLDLNPM.
”
Commencing on March 20, 2015, the manner in which the Gold Spot Price has been determined in recent years as described above (also known as the P.M. Gold Fixing Price) was discontinued and replaced by the “L
BM
A Gold Price.” The IBA became the administrator for determining the LBMA Gold Price. The IBA provides the auction platform and methodology, as well as overall independent administration and governance for the LBMA Gold Price.
The IBA hosts an electronic auction process for the LBMA Gold Price. The auction is based on anonymous bids and offers that are published on-screen and in real-time, and conducted in U.S. dollars. The LBMA Gold Price is set twice daily at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., London time, on each business day, with the Gold Spot Price being determined at 3:00 p.m. The Bloomberg symbol for the Gold Spot Price was unchanged as a result of these changes.
Additional information about the fixing of the LBMA Gold Price may be found at
www.lbma.org.uk
. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this term sheet.
An investment in the notes does not entitle you to any ownership interest, either directly or indirectly, in gold or in any gold transaction traded on the London bullion market.
All references to the LBMA Gold Price are used with the permission of ICE Benchmark Administration Limited and have been provided for informational purposes only. ICE Benchmark Administration Limited accepts no liability or responsibility for the accuracy of the LBMA Gold Prices or the notes
.
The following graph shows the daily historical performance of the Gold Spot Price in the period from January 1, 2008 through April 27, 2016. 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. On the pricing date, the Gold Spot Price was 1,247.40.
Historical Performance of the Gold Spot Price
This historical data on the Gold Spot Price is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Gold Spot Price or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the Gold Spot Price during any period set forth above is not an indication that the Gold Spot Price is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the notes.
Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available sources for the levels and trading pattern of the Gold Spot Price.
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Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest
Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.
MLPF&S, a broker-dealer subsidiary of BAC, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and will participate as selling agent in the distribution of the notes.
Accordingly, offerings of the notes will conform to the requirements of Rule 5121 applicable to FINRA members.
MLPF&S may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder.
We will deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than three business days following the pricing date.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise.
Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than three business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units.
If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account
.
MLPF&S
may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices
, and these will
include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups.
MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however
,
it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions.
At
MLPF&S’s discretion
,
for a short
,
undetermined
initial period after the issuance of the notes, MLPF&S
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 MLPF&S for the notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance
and
the remaining term of the notes.
However, neither we nor any of our
affiliates is obligated to purc
hase your notes at any price, or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we or any of our affiliates will purchase your notes
at a price that
equals or
exceeds the
initial estimated value
of the notes.
The value of the notes shown on your account statement
will be based on
MLPF&S’s
estimate of the value of the notes if MLPF&S or another of our affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated t
o do.
That estimate will be based upon the price that MLPF&S may pay
for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions
and other considerations, as mentioned above, and will include transaction costs.
At certain times, this price may b
e higher than or lower than the
initial estimated value
of the notes
.
The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the
performance
of the Gold Spot Price. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our 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, we typically borrow the funds under these notes at a rate that is more favorable to us than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security.
This
rate, which we refer to in this term sheet as our internal funding rate, is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities.
This ge
nerally relatively lower internal funding
rate, which is reflected in the economic terms of the notes, along with the fees and charges associated with market-
linked notes, resulted in the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date being less than their public offering price
.
At maturity, we are required to pay the Redemption Amount to holders of the notes, which will be calculated based on the
performance
of the Gold Spot Price and the $10 per unit
principal amount
.
In order to meet these payment obligations, 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 MLPF&S or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants,
including
MLPF&S and its affiliates
, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Gold Spot Price, the tenor of the note
s
and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.
MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by MLPF&S or any third party hedge providers.
For further information, see “Risk Factors—General Risks Relating to ARNs” beginning on page
P
S-
6
and “Use of Proceeds” on page
P
S-
16
of product supplement COMM ARN-1.
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Summary Tax Consequences
You should consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including the following:
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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 single financial contract with respect to the
Gold Spot Price.
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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 or exchange 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 I
RS
or any court will agree with this characterization and tax treatment.
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You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in
U.S. federal or other tax laws.
You should review carefully the discussion under the section entitled
“U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” beginning on page
P
S-
27
of product supplement COMM ARN-1
.
Validity of the Notes
In the opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, as counsel to BAC, when the trustee has made an appropriate entry on Schedule 1 to the Master Registered Global Senior Note, dated May 1, 2015 (the “Master Note”) identifying the notes offered hereby as supplemental obligations thereunder in accordance with the instructions of BAC and the notes have been delivered against payment therefor as contemplated in this Note Prospectus, all in accordance with the provisions of the indenture governing the notes, such notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of BAC, subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including laws related to preferences, fraudulent transfers and equitable subordination), reorganization, moratorium, and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and to general principles of equity. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing). In addition, this opinion is subject to the assumption that the trustee’s certificate of authentication of the Master Note has been manually signed by one of the trustee’s authorized officers and to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture governing the notes, the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the indenture governing the notes with respect to the trustee, the legal capacity of natural persons, the genuineness of signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to McGuireWoods LLP as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to McGuireWoods LLP as copies thereof, the authenticity of the originals of such copies and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of McGuireWoods LLP dated February 27, 2015, which has been filed as an exhibit to BAC’s Registration Statement relating to the notes filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2015.
Where You Can Find More Information
We have filed a registration statement (including a product
suppl
ement, a prospectus supplement,
and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC, for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we, any agent, or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you these documents if you so request by c
alling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-800-294-1322
.
Market-Linked Investments Classification
MLPF&S classifies certain market-linked investments (the “Market-Linked Investments”) into categories, each with different investment characteristics. The following description is meant solely for informational purposes and is not intended to represent any particular Enhanced Return Market-Linked Investment or guarantee any performance.
Enhanced Return Market-Linked Investments are short- to medium-term investments that offer you a way to enhance exposure to a particular market view without taking on a similarly enhanced level of market downside risk. They can be especially effective in a flat to moderately positive market (or, in the case of bearish investments, a flat to moderately negative market). In exchange for the potential to receive better-than market returns on the linked asset, you must generally accept market downside risk and capped upside potential. As these investments are not market downside protected, and do not assure full repayment of principal at maturity, you need to be prepared for the possibility that you may lose all or part of your investment.
“
Accelerated Return Notes
®
” and “
ARNs
®
”
are our registered service marks.
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