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

Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index
|
● |
Maturity of approximately 4 years. |
|
● |
400%
upside exposure to increases in the value of the Underlying,
subject to the Max Return of 59.00%. |
|
● |
1-to-1 downside exposure to
decreases in the value of the Underlying beyond a 15% decline with up to
85% of the principal at risk. |
|
● |
All payments on the Notes are
subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance LLC (“BofA Finance”), as
issuer of the Notes, and Bank of America Corporation (“BAC” or the
“Guarantor”), as guarantor of the Notes. |
|
● |
No periodic interest payments. |
|
● |
The Starting Value of the
Underlying was determined on December 2, 2022 (the “Strike Date”).
The Starting Value of the Underlying may be higher or lower than
its closing level on the pricing date. |
|
● |
The Capped Buffered Enhanced Return
Notes linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due December 9, 2026 (the
“Notes”) are expected to price on December 6, 2022 and expected to
issue on December 9, 2022. |
|
● |
The Notes will not be listed on any
securities exchange. |
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date
is expected to be between $940.00 and $980.00 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes, which is less than the public offering
price listed below. The actual value of your Notes at any time
will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-8 of this pricing
supplement and “Structuring the Notes” on page PS-16 of this
pricing supplement for additional information.
There are important differences between the Notes and a
conventional debt security. Potential purchasers of the Notes
should consider the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page
PS-8 of this pricing supplement, page PS-5 of the accompanying
product supplement, page S-5 of the accompanying prospectus
supplement, and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any
state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
|
Public offering price(1) |
Underwriting discount(1)(2)(3) |
Proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance(2) |
Per Note |
$1,000.00 |
$2.50 |
$997.50 |
Total |
|
|
|
(1) |
Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain
fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling
concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for
investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory accounts
may be as low as $997.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the
Notes. |
(2) |
The underwriting discount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
may be as high as $2.50, resulting in proceeds, before expenses, to
BofA Finance of as low as $997.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of
Notes. |
(3) |
In addition to the underwriting discount above, if any, an
affiliate of BofA Finance will pay a referral fee of up to $6.00
per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes in connection with the
distribution of the Notes to other registered broker dealers. |
The Notes and the related guarantee:
Are Not FDIC Insured |
Are Not Bank Guaranteed |
May Lose Value |
 |
Selling Agent |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Terms of the Notes
The Notes provide you a leveraged return, subject to the Max
Return, if the Ending Value of the Underlying is greater than the
Starting Value. If the Ending Value of the Underlying is equal to
or less than the Starting Value but greater than or equal to the
Threshold Value, you will receive the principal amount of your
Notes at maturity. If the Ending Value of the Underlying is less
than the Threshold Value, there is full exposure to declines in the
Underlying beyond the Threshold Value, and you will lose some or a
significant portion of your investment in the Notes. Any payments
on the Notes will be calculated based on $1,000 in principal amount
of Notes and will depend on the performance of the Underlying,
subject to our and BAC’s credit risk.
Issuer: |
BofA Finance |
Guarantor: |
BAC |
Denominations: |
The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and
whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
Term: |
Approximately 4 years. |
Underlying: |
The EURO STOXX 50®
Index (Bloomberg symbol: “SX5E”), a price return index. |
Strike Date: |
December 2, 2022 |
Pricing Date*: |
December 6, 2022 |
Issue Date*: |
December 9, 2022 |
Valuation Date*: |
December 4, 2026, 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. |
Maturity Date*: |
December 9, 2026 |
Starting Value: |
3,977.90, which was the closing level of the Underlying on the
Strike Date. The Starting Value of the Underlying
may be higher or lower than its closing level on the pricing
date.
|
Ending Value: |
The closing level of the Underlying on the Valuation Date. |
Upside Participation
Rate: |
400% |
Max Return: |
$1,590.00 per Note, which represents a return of 59.00% over the
principal amount. |
Threshold Value: |
3,381.22, which is 85% of the Starting Value (rounded to two
decimal places). |
Threshold Rate: |
100% |
Redemption Amount: |
The Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes will
be: |
a) |
If the Ending Value of the Underlying is greater than the Starting
Value: |
|
|
 |
b) |
If the Ending Value of the Underlying is equal to or less than the
Starting Value but greater than or equal to the Threshold
Value: |
|
|
 |
c) |
If the Ending Value of the Underlying is less than the Threshold
Value: |
|
|
 |
|
In this case, the Redemption Amount will be less than the principal
amount and you could lose up to 85% of your principal amount. |
Calculation Agent: |
BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”), an affiliate of BofA Finance. |
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-2 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Selling Agent: |
BofAS |
CUSIP: |
09709VCH7 |
Underlying Return: |
 |
Events of Default and
Acceleration: |
If an Event of Default, as defined in the senior indenture relating
to the Notes and in the section entitled “Description of Debt
Securities—Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration” beginning
on page 22 of the accompanying prospectus, with respect to the
Notes occurs and is continuing, the amount payable to a holder of
the Notes upon any acceleration permitted under the senior
indenture will be equal to the amount described under the caption
“Redemption Amount” above, calculated as though the date of
acceleration were the Maturity Date of the Notes and as though the
Valuation Date were the third trading day prior to the date of
acceleration. In case of a default in the payment of the Notes,
whether at their maturity or upon acceleration, the Notes will not
bear a default interest rate. |
*Subject to change.
Any payments on the Notes depend on the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor, and on the performance
of the Underlying. The economic terms of the Notes are based on
BAC’s internal funding rate, which is the rate it would pay to
borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes, and the
economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements BAC’s
affiliates enter into. BAC’s internal funding rate is typically
lower than the rate it would pay when it issues conventional fixed
or floating rate debt securities. This difference in funding rate,
as well as the underwriting discount, if any, the referral fee and
the hedging related charges described below (see “Risk Factors”
beginning on page PS-8), will reduce the economic terms of the
Notes to you and the initial estimated value of the Notes. Due to
these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the
Notes will be greater than the initial estimated value of the Notes
as of the pricing date.
The initial estimated value range of the Notes is set forth on the
cover page of this pricing supplement. The final pricing supplement
will set forth the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the
pricing date. For more information about the initial estimated
value and the structuring of the Notes, see “Risk Factors”
beginning on page PS-8 and “Structuring the Notes” on page
PS-16.
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-3 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Redemption Amount Determination
On the Maturity Date, you will receive a cash payment per $1,000
in principal amount of Notes determined as follows:

All payments described above are subject to the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as issuer, and BAC, as guarantor.
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-4 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at
Maturity
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Table
The following table, graph and Redemption Amount Calculation
Examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on
hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on
the Notes. They illustrate the calculation of the Redemption Amount
and the return on the Notes based on a hypothetical Starting Value
of 100 for the Underlying, a hypothetical Threshold Value of 85,
the Upside Participation Rate of 400%, the Threshold Rate of 100%,
the Max Return of $1,590.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes
and a range of hypothetical Ending Values of the Underlying. The
actual amount you receive and the resulting return will depend on
the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value and Ending Value of the
Underlying, and whether you hold the Notes to maturity. The
following examples do not take into account any tax consequences
from investing in the Notes.
For recent actual values of the Underlying, see “The Underlying”
section below. The Ending Value of the Underlying will not include
any income generated by dividends or other distributions paid with
respect to shares or units of the Underlying or on the securities
included in the Underlying, as applicable. In addition, all
payments on the Notes are subject to Issuer and Guarantor credit
risk.
Ending Value
|
Underlying Return
|
Redemption Amount per Note
|
Return on the Notes
|
160.00 |
60.00% |
$1,590.00 |
59.00% |
150.00 |
50.00% |
$1,590.00 |
59.00% |
140.00 |
40.00% |
$1,590.00 |
59.00% |
130.00 |
30.00% |
$1,590.00 |
59.00% |
120.00 |
20.00% |
$1,590.00 |
59.00% |
114.75 |
14.75% |
$1,590.00(1) |
59.00% |
110.00 |
10.00% |
$1,400.00 |
40.00% |
105.00 |
5.00% |
$1,200.00 |
20.00% |
102.00 |
2.00% |
$1,080.00 |
8.00% |
100.00(2) |
0.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
90.00 |
-10.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
85.00(3) |
-15.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
84.00 |
-16.00% |
$990.00 |
-1.00% |
80.00 |
-20.00% |
$950.00 |
-5.00% |
70.00 |
-30.00% |
$850.00 |
-15.00% |
50.00 |
-50.00% |
$650.00 |
-35.00% |
0.00 |
-100.00% |
$150.00 |
-85.00% |
(1) |
The Redemption Amount per Note cannot
exceed the Max Return. |
(2) |
The hypothetical Starting Value of 100
used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes
only. The actual Starting Value of the Underlying is set forth on
page PS-2 above. |
(3) |
This is the hypothetical Threshold
Value. |
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-5 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at
Maturity
This graph reflects the return on the Notes based on the Upside
Participation Rate of 400%, the Threshold Value of 85% of the
Starting Value, the Threshold Rate of 100% and the Max Return of
$1,590.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes. The green line
reflects the return on the Notes, while the dotted gray line
reflects the returns of a direct investment in the Underlying,
excluding dividends.

This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only.
Redemption Amount Calculation Examples
Example 1
The Ending Value of the Underlying is 115.00, or 115.00% of the
Starting Value:
Starting Value of the Underlying: |
100.00 |
|
Ending Value of the Underlying: |
115.00 |
|
|
|
|
Example 2
The Ending Value of the Underlying is 102.00, or 102.00% of the
Starting Value:
Starting Value of the Underlying: |
100.00 |
|
Ending Value of the Underlying: |
102.00 |
|
|
|
|

Example 3
The Ending Value of the Underlying is 92.00, or 92.00% of the
Starting Value:
Starting Value of the Underlying: |
100.00 |
|
Threshold Value of the Underlying: |
85.00 |
|
Ending Value of the Underlying: |
92.00 |
|
|
|
|


|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-6 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Example 4
The Ending Value of the Underlying is 50.00, or 50.00% of the
Starting Value:
Starting Value of the Underlying: |
100.00 |
|
Threshold Value of the Underlying: |
85.00 |
|
Ending Value of the Underlying: |
50.00 |
|
|
|
|

|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-7 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Risk Factors
Your investment in the Notes entails significant risks, many of
which differ from those of a conventional debt security. Your
decision to purchase the Notes should be made only after carefully
considering the risks of an investment in the Notes, including
those discussed below, with your advisors in light of your
particular circumstances. The Notes are not an appropriate
investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about significant
elements of the Notes or financial matters in general. You should
carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to
the Notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-5 of
the accompanying product supplement, page S-5 of the accompanying
prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus,
each as identified on page PS-20 below.
Structure-related Risks
|
● |
Your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed
return of principal. There is no fixed principal repayment
amount on the Notes at maturity. If the Ending Value of the
Underlying is less than the Threshold Value, at maturity, your
investment will be subject to 1:1 downside exposure to decreases in
the value of the Underlying and you will lose 1% of the principal
amount for each 1% that the Ending Value of the Underlying is less
than the Threshold Value. In that case, you will lose some or a
significant portion of your investment in the Notes. |
|
● |
The return on the Notes will be limited to the Max
Return. The return on the Notes will not exceed the Max Return,
regardless of the performance of the Underlying. |
|
● |
The Notes do not bear interest. Unlike a conventional
debt security, no interest payments will be paid over the term of
the Notes, regardless of the extent to which the Ending Value of
the Underlying exceeds the Starting Value or Threshold Value. |
|
● |
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. |
|
● |
The Redemption Amount will not reflect changes in the level
of the Underlying other than on the Valuation Date. Changes in
the level of the Underlying during the term of the Notes other than
on the Valuation Date will not be reflected in the calculation of
the Redemption Amount. No other levels of the Underlying will be
taken into account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, investors should
generally be aware of the performance of the Underlying while
holding the Notes. As a result, you will receive less than the
principal amount at maturity even if the level of the Underlying
has increased at certain times during the term of the Notes before
decreasing to a level on the Valuation Date that is less than the
Threshold Value. |
|
● |
Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk and
the credit risk of the Guarantor, and any 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 the Redemption Amount at maturity will be dependent
upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our
respective obligations under the Notes on the Maturity Date,
regardless of the Ending Value of the Underlying as compared to the
Starting Value.
In addition, our credit ratings and the credit ratings of the
Guarantor are assessments by ratings agencies of our respective
abilities to pay our obligations. Consequently, our or the
Guarantor’s perceived creditworthiness and actual or anticipated
decreases in our or the Guarantor’s credit ratings or increases in
the spread between the yield on our respective securities and the
yield on U.S. Treasury securities (the “credit spread”) prior to
the Maturity Date may adversely affect the market value of the
Notes. However, because your return on the Notes depends upon
factors in addition to our ability and the ability of the Guarantor
to pay our respective obligations, such as the value of the
Underlying, an improvement in our or the Guarantor’s credit ratings
will not reduce the other investment risks related to the
Notes. |
|
● |
We are a finance subsidiary and, as such, have no
independent assets, operations, or revenues. We are a finance
subsidiary of 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. |
Valuation- and Market-related Risks
|
● |
The public offering price you pay for the Notes will exceed
their initial estimated value. The range of initial estimated
values of the Notes that is provided on the cover page of this
preliminary pricing supplement, and the initial estimated value as
of the pricing date that will be provided in the final pricing
supplement, are each estimates only, determined as of a particular
point in time by reference to our and our affiliates’ pricing
models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and
variables, including our credit spreads and those of the Guarantor,
the Guarantor’s internal funding rate, mid-market terms on hedging
transactions, expectations on interest rates, dividends and
volatility, price-sensitivity analysis, and the expected term of
the Notes. These pricing models rely in part on certain
forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. If
you attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value
may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than their
initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things,
changes in the level of the Underlying, changes in the Guarantor’s
internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering
price of the underwriting discount, if any, the referral fee and
the hedging related charges, all as further described in
“Structuring the Notes” below. These factors, together with various
credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are
expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the
Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the
Notes in complex and unpredictable ways. |
|
● |
The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or
maximum price at which we, BAC, BofAS or any of our other
affiliates would be willing to purchase your Notes in any secondary
market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your Notes at
any time after |
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-8 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
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.
|
● |
We cannot assure you that a trading market for your Notes
will ever develop or be maintained. We will not list the Notes
on any securities exchange. We cannot predict how the Notes will
trade in any secondary market or whether that market will be liquid
or illiquid. |
Conflict-related Risks
|
● |
Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any
of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may create conflicts of
interest with you and may affect your return on the Notes and their
market value. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other
affiliates, including BofAS, may buy or sell the securities held by
or included in the Underlying, or futures or options contracts or
exchange traded instruments on the Underlying or those securities,
or other instruments whose value is derived from the Underlying or
those securities. While we, the Guarantor or one or more of our
other affiliates, including BofAS, may from time to time own
securities represented by the Underlying, except to the extent that
BAC’s common stock may be included in the Underlying, we, the
Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, 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, may execute such
purchases or sales for our own or their own accounts, for business
reasons, or in connection with hedging our obligations under the
Notes. These transactions may present a conflict of interest
between your interest in the Notes and the interests we, the
Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, may have in
our or their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions,
including block trades, for our or their other customers, and in
accounts under our or their management. These transactions may
adversely affect the level of the Underlying in a manner that could
be adverse to your investment in the Notes. On or before the Strike
Date, any purchases or sales by us, the Guarantor or our other
affiliates, including BofAS or others on our or their behalf
(including those for the purpose of hedging some or all of our
anticipated exposure in connection with the Notes), may affect the
level of the Underlying. Consequently, the level of the Underlying
may change subsequent to the Strike Date, which may adversely
affect the market value of the Notes.
We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including
BofAS, also expect to engage in hedging activities that could
affect the level of the Underlying on the Strike Date. In addition,
these hedging activities, including the unwinding of a hedge, may
decrease the market value of your Notes prior to maturity, and may
affect the amounts to be paid on the Notes. We, the Guarantor or
one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may purchase
or otherwise acquire a long or short position in the Notes and may
hold or resell the Notes. For example, BofAS may enter into these
transactions in connection with any market making activities in
which it engages. We cannot assure you that these activities will
not adversely affect the level of the Underlying, the market value
of your Notes prior to maturity or the amounts payable on the
Notes. |
|
● |
There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the
calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours. We have the
right to appoint and remove the calculation agent. One of our
affiliates will be the calculation agent for the Notes and, as
such, will make a variety of determinations relating to the Notes,
including the amounts that will be paid on the Notes. Under some
circumstances, these duties could result in a conflict of interest
between its status as our affiliate and its responsibilities as
calculation agent. |
Underlying-related Risks
|
● |
The Notes are subject to risks associated with foreign
securities markets. The SX5E includes certain foreign equity
securities. You should be aware that investments in securities
linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular
risks. The foreign securities markets comprising the SX5E may have
less liquidity and may be more volatile than U.S. or other
securities markets and market developments may affect foreign
markets differently from U.S. or other securities markets. Direct
or indirect government intervention to stabilize these foreign
securities markets, as well as cross-shareholdings in foreign
companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in these markets.
Also, there is generally less publicly available information about
foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject
to the reporting requirements of the SEC, and foreign companies are
subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S.
reporting companies.
Prices of securities in foreign countries are subject to political,
economic, financial and social factors that apply in those
geographical regions. These factors, which could negatively affect
those securities markets, include the possibility of recent or
future changes in a foreign government’s economic and fiscal
policies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency
exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign
companies or investments in foreign equity securities and the
possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between
currencies, the possibility of outbreaks of hostility and political
instability and the possibility of natural disaster or adverse
public health developments in the region. Moreover, foreign
economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy
in important respects such as growth of gross national product,
rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and
self-sufficiency. |
|
● |
The publisher of the Underlying may adjust the Underlying in
a way that affects its levels, 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. |
Tax-related Risks
|
● |
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in
the Notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the
Notes. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority
directly addresses the characterization of the Notes or securities
similar to the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a
result, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Notes are not certain. Under
the terms of the Notes, you will have agreed with us to treat the
Notes as single financial contracts, as described below under “U.S.
Federal Income Tax Summary—General.” If the Internal Revenue
Service (the “IRS”) were successful in asserting an alternative
characterization for the Notes, the timing and character of 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. |
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-9 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
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.
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-10 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
The
Underlying
All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the
Underlying, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of
calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from
publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies
of, and is subject to change by, the sponsor of the SX5E (the
“Underlying Sponsor”). The Underlying Sponsor, which licenses the
copyright and all other rights to the Underlying, has no obligation
to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the
Underlying. The consequences of the Underlying Sponsor
discontinuing publication of the Underlying are discussed in
“Description of the Notes — Discontinuance of an Index” in the
accompanying product supplement. None of us, the Guarantor, the
calculation agent, or BofAS accepts any responsibility for the
calculation, maintenance or publication of the Underlying or any
successor index. None of us, the Guarantor, BofAS or any of our
other affiliates makes any representation to you as to the future
performance of the Underlying. You should make your own
investigation into the Underlying.
The EURO STOXX 50® Index
The SX5E was created by STOXX, which is owned by Deutsche Börse AG.
Publication of the SX5E began in February 1998, based on an initial
index level of 1,000 at December 31, 1991.
Index Composition and Maintenance
The SX5E is composed of 50 stocks from 11 Eurozone countries
(Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) of the STOXX
Europe 600 Supersector indices. The STOXX 600 Supersector indices
contain the 600 largest stocks traded on the major exchanges of 18
European countries and are organized into the following 20
Supersectors: automobiles & parts; banks; basic resources;
chemicals; construction & materials; consumer products &
services; energy; financial services; food, beverages &
tobacco; health care; industrial goods & services; insurance;
media; personal care, drug & grocery stores; real estate;
retailers; technology; telecommunications; travel & leisure;
and utilities.
For each of the 20 EURO STOXX regional supersector indices, the
stocks are ranked in terms of free-float market capitalization. The
largest stocks are added to the selection list until the coverage
is close to, but still less than, 60% of the free-float market
capitalization of the corresponding supersector index. If the next
highest-ranked stock brings the coverage closer to 60% in absolute
terms, then it is also added to the selection list. All current
stocks in the SX5E are then added to the selection list. All of the
stocks on the selection list are then ranked in terms of free-float
market capitalization to produce the final index selection list.
The largest 40 stocks on the selection list are selected; the
remaining 10 stocks are selected from the largest remaining current
stocks ranked between 41 and 60; if the number of stocks selected
is still below 50, then the largest remaining stocks are selected
until there are 50 stocks. In exceptional cases, STOXX’s management
board can add stocks to and remove them from the selection
list.
The index components are subject to a capped maximum index weight
of 10%, which is applied on a quarterly basis.
The composition of the SX5E is reviewed annually, based on the
closing stock data on the last trading day in August. Changes in
the composition of the SX5E are made to ensure that the SX5E
includes the 50 market sector leaders from within the EURO
STOXX® Index.
The free float factors for each component stock used to calculate
the SX5E, as described below, are reviewed, calculated, and
implemented on a quarterly basis and are fixed until the next
quarterly review.
The SX5E is subject to a “fast exit rule.” The index components are
monitored for any changes based on the monthly selection list
ranking. A stock is deleted from the SX5E if: (a) it ranks 75 or
below on the monthly selection list and (b) it has been ranked 75
or below for a consecutive period of two months in the monthly
selection list. The highest-ranked stock that is not an index
component will replace it. Changes will be implemented on the close
of the fifth trading day of the month, and are effective the next
trading day.
The SX5E is also subject to a “fast entry rule.” All stocks on the
latest selection lists and initial public offering (IPO) stocks are
reviewed for a fast-track addition on a quarterly basis. A stock is
added, if (a) it qualifies for the latest STOXX blue-chip selection
list generated end of February, May, August or November and (b) it
ranks within the “lower buffer” on this selection list.
The SX5E is also reviewed on an ongoing monthly basis. Corporate
actions (including initial public offerings, mergers and takeovers,
spin-offs, delistings, and bankruptcy) that affect the index
composition are announced immediately, implemented two trading days
later and become effective on the next trading day after
implementation.
Index Calculation
The SX5E is calculated with the “Laspeyres formula,” which measures
the aggregate price changes in the component stocks against a fixed
base quantity weight. The formula for calculating the index value
can be expressed as follows:
EURO STOXX 50® Index
= Free float market capitalization of the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Divisor
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-11 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
The “free float market capitalization of the Index” is equal to the
sum of the product of the price, the number of shares and the free
float factor and the weighting cap factor for each component stock
as of the time the SX5E is being calculated.
The SX5E is also subject to a divisor, which is adjusted to
maintain the continuity of the index values across changes due to
corporate actions, such as the deletion and addition of stocks, the
substitution of stocks, stock dividends, and stock splits.
Neither we nor any of our affiliates, including Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, accepts any responsibility
for the calculation, maintenance, or publication of, or for any
error, omission, or disruption in, the SX5E or any successor to the
SX5E. STOXX does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of
the SX5E or any data included in the SX5E. STOXX assumes no
liability for any errors, omissions, or disruption in the
calculation and dissemination of the SX5E. STOXX disclaims all
responsibility for any errors or omissions in the calculation and
dissemination of the SX5E or the manner in which the SX5E is
applied in determining the amount payable on the Notes.
Historical Performance of the SX5E
The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of
the SX5E in the period from January 3, 2017 through the Strike
Date. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have
not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the
information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. The horizontal line in the
graph represents the SX5E’s Threshold Value of 3,381.22 (rounded to
two decimal places), which is 85% of the SX5E’s Starting Value of
3,977.90, which was its closing level on the Strike Date.

This historical data on the SX5E is not necessarily indicative of
the future performance of the SX5E or what the value of the Notes
may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing
level of the SX5E during any period set forth above is not an
indication that the closing level of the SX5E is more or less
likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the
Notes.
Before investing in the Notes, you should consult publicly
available sources for the closing levels of the SX5E.
License Agreement
One of our affiliates has entered into a non-exclusive license
agreement with STOXX providing for the license to it and certain of
its affiliated companies, including us, of the right to use indices
owned and published by STOXX (including the SX5E) in connection
with certain securities, including the Notes.
The license agreement requires that the following language be
stated in this pricing supplement:
“STOXX Limited, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research
partners or data providers have no relationship to us other than
the licensing of the SX5E and the related trademarks for use in
connection with the Notes.
STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research
partners or data providers do not:
|
● |
sponsor, endorse, sell or promote the
Notes. |
|
● |
recommend that any person invest in the Notes or
any other securities. |
|
● |
have
any responsibility or liability for or make any decisions about the
timing, amount or pricing of the Notes. |
|
● |
have
any responsibility or liability for the administration, management
or marketing of the Notes. |
|
● |
consider the needs of the Notes or the owners of
the Notes in determining, composing or calculating the SX5E or have
any obligation to do so. |
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-12 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research
partners or data providers give no warranty, and exclude any
liability (whether in negligence or otherwise), in connection with
the Notes or their performance.
STOXX does not assume any contractual relationship with the
purchasers of the Notes or any other third parties.
Specifically,
|
● |
STOXX,
Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research partners or data
providers do not give any warranty, express or implied, and exclude
any liability about: |
|
● |
The
results to be obtained by the Notes, the owner of the Notes or any
other person in connection with the use of the SX5E and the data
included in the SX5E; |
|
● |
The accuracy, timeliness, and
completeness of the SX5E and its data; |
|
● |
The merchantability and the fitness
for a particular purpose or use of the SX5E and its data; |
|
● |
The performance of the Notes
generally. |
|
● |
STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group and
their licensors, research partners or data providers give no
warranty and exclude any liability, for any errors, omissions or
interruptions in the SX5E or its data; |
|
● |
Under no circumstances will STOXX,
Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, research partners or data
providers be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) for any
lost profits or indirect, punitive, special or consequential
damages or losses, arising as a result of such errors, omissions or
interruptions in the SX5E or its data or generally in relation to
the Notes, even in circumstances where STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group
or their licensors, research partners or data providers are aware
that such loss or damage may occur. |
The licensing agreement discussed above is solely for our benefit
and that of STOXX, and not for the benefit of the owners of the
Notes or any other third parties.”
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-13 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Role of BofAS and Conflicts
of Interest
BofAS, a broker-dealer affiliate of ours, is a member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and will
participate as selling agent in the distribution of the Notes.
Accordingly, the offering of the Notes will conform to the
requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. BofAS may not make sales in this
offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior
written approval of the account holder.
We expect to deliver the Notes against payment therefor in New
York, New York on a date that is greater than two business days
following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are
required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any
such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial
settlement of the Notes occurs more than two business days from the
pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than two
business days prior to the original issue date will be required to
specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed
settlement.
Under our distribution agreement with BofAS, BofAS will purchase
the Notes from us as principal at the public offering price
indicated on the cover of this pricing supplement, less the
indicated underwriting discount. BofAS will sell the Notes to other
broker-dealers that will participate in the offering and that are
not affiliated with us, at an agreed discount to the principal
amount. Each of those broker-dealers may sell the Notes to one or
more additional broker-dealers. BofAS has informed us that these
discounts may vary from dealer to dealer and that not all dealers
will purchase or repurchase the Notes at the same discount. Certain
dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based
advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling
concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for
investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory accounts
may be as low as $997.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes.
In addition to the underwriting discount, if any, an affiliate of
BofA Finance will pay a referral fee of up to $6.00 per $1,000 in
principal amount of Notes in connection with the distribution of
the Notes to other registered broker-dealers.
BofAS and any of our other broker-dealer affiliates may use this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus for offers and sales in
secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the
Notes. However, they are not obligated to engage in such secondary
market transactions and/or market-making transactions. These
broker-dealer affiliates may act as principal or agent in these
transactions, and any such sales will be made at prices related to
prevailing market conditions at the time of the sale.
At BofAS’s discretion, for a short, undetermined initial period
after the issuance of the Notes, BofAS may offer to buy the Notes
in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial
estimated value of the Notes. Any price offered by BofAS for the
Notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other
considerations, including the performance of the Underlying and the
remaining term of the Notes. However, none of us, the Guarantor,
BofAS or any of our other affiliates is obligated to purchase your
Notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that
any party will purchase your Notes at a price that equals or
exceeds the initial estimated value of the Notes.
Any price that BofAS may pay to repurchase the Notes will depend
upon then prevailing market conditions, the creditworthiness of us
and the Guarantor, and transaction costs. At certain times, this
price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value
of the Notes.
Sales Outside of the United States
The Notes have not been approved for public sale in any
jurisdiction outside of the United States. There has been no
registration or filing as to the Notes with any regulatory,
securities, banking, or local authority outside of the United
States and no action has been taken by BofA Finance, BAC, BofAS or
any other affiliate of BAC, to offer the Notes in any jurisdiction
other than the United States. As such, these Notes are made
available to investors outside of the United States only in
jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offer or sale and
only under circumstances that will result in compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, including private placement
requirements.
Further, no offer or sale of the Notes is being made to residents
of:
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-14 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
You are urged to carefully review the selling restrictions that may
be applicable to your jurisdiction beginning on page S-68 of the
accompanying prospectus supplement.
European Economic Area and United Kingdom
None of this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the accompanying
prospectus supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the
Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This pricing supplement,
the accompanying product supplement, the accompanying prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement have been prepared on
the basis that any offer of Notes in any Member State of the
European Economic Area (the “EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (each,
a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a
qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified
Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an
offer in that Relevant State of Notes which are the subject of the
offering contemplated in this pricing supplement, the accompanying
product supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
accompanying prospectus supplement may only do so with respect to
Qualified Investors. Neither BofA Finance nor BAC has authorized,
nor does it authorize, the making of any offer of Notes other than
to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation”
means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
PROHIBITION OF SALES TO EEA AND UNITED KINGDOM RETAIL
INVESTORS – The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or
otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or
otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or in
the United Kingdom. For these purposes: (a) a retail investor means
a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in
point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended
(“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive
(EU) 2016/97 (the Insurance Distribution Directive) where that
customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in
point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified
investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and (b) the
expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by
any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and
the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to
purchase or subscribe for the Notes. Consequently no key
information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as
amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the Notes
or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA
or in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering
or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any
retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful
under the PRIIPs Regulation.
United Kingdom
The communication of this pricing supplement, the accompanying
product supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any other document or materials
relating to the issue of the Notes offered hereby is not being
made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved,
by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the
United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as
amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials
are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the
general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such
documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being
made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional
experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within
the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article
19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial
Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion
Order”)), or who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the
Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it
may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order
(all such persons together being referred to as “relevant
persons”). In the United Kingdom, the Notes offered hereby are only
available to, and any investment or investment activity to which
this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement, the
accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
relates will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person
in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act
or rely on this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with
the issue or sale of the Notes may only be communicated or caused
to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the
FSMA does not apply to BofA Finance, as issuer, or BAC, as
guarantor.
All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in
respect to anything done by any person in relation to the Notes in,
from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-15 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
Structuring the Notes
The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to
the performance of the Underlying. The related guarantee is BAC’s
obligation. As is the case for all of our and BAC’s respective debt
securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms
of the Notes reflect our and BAC’s actual or perceived
creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because
market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and
liability management costs to us and BAC, BAC typically borrows the
funds under these types of notes at a rate, which we refer to in
this pricing supplement as BAC’s internal funding rate, that is
more favorable to BAC than the rate that it might pay for a
conventional fixed or floating rate debt security. This generally
relatively lower internal funding rate, which is reflected in the
economic terms of the Notes, along with the fees and charges
associated with market-linked notes, typically results in the
initial estimated value of the Notes on the pricing date being less
than their public offering price.
In order to meet our payment obligations on the Notes, at the time
we issue the Notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging
arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other
derivatives) with BofAS or one of our other affiliates. The terms
of these hedging arrangements are determined based upon terms
provided by BofAS and its affiliates, and take into account a
number of factors, including our and BAC’s creditworthiness,
interest rate movements, the volatility of the Underlying, the
tenor of the Notes and the hedging arrangements. The economic terms
of the Notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on
the terms of these hedging arrangements.
BofAS has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include
hedging related charges, reflecting the costs associated with, and
our affiliates’ profit earned from, these hedging arrangements.
Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable
market forces, actual profits or losses from these hedging
transactions may be more or less than any expected amounts.
For further information, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-8
above and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” on page PS-19 of the
accompanying product supplement.
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-16 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary
The following summary of the material U.S. federal income and
estate tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership, and
disposition of the Notes supplements, and to the extent
inconsistent supersedes, the discussions under “U.S. Federal Income
Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus and under “U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus
supplement and is not exhaustive of all possible tax
considerations. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations promulgated
under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”)
(including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current
administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the
IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of
which are subject to differing interpretations or to change,
possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that
the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a
position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.
This summary does not include any description of the tax laws of
any state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that
may be applicable to a particular holder.
Although the Notes are issued by us, they will be treated as if
they were issued by BAC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Accordingly throughout this tax discussion, references to “we,”
“our” or “us” are generally to BAC unless the context requires
otherwise.
This summary is directed solely to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S.
Holders that, except as otherwise specifically noted, will purchase
the Notes upon original issuance and will hold the Notes as capital
assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which
generally means property held for investment, and that are not
excluded from the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.
You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal
income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing
of the Notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the
laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and
the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax
laws.
General
Although there is no statutory, judicial, or administrative
authority directly addressing the characterization of the Notes, in
the opinion of our counsel, Sidley Austin LLP, and based on certain
factual representations received from us, the Notes should be
treated as single financial contracts with respect to the
Underlying and under the terms of the Notes, we and every investor
in the Notes agree, in the absence of an administrative
determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat the
Notes in accordance with such characterization. This discussion
assumes that the Notes constitute single financial contracts with
respect to the Underlying for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If
the Notes did not constitute single financial contracts, the tax
consequences described below would be materially different.
This characterization of the Notes is not binding on the IRS or
the courts. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority
directly addresses the characterization of the Notes or any similar
instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no ruling is
being requested from the IRS with respect to their proper
characterization and treatment. Due to the absence of authorities
on point, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Notes are not certain, and no
assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with
the characterization and tax treatment described in this pricing
supplement. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor
regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences
of an investment in the Notes, including possible alternative
characterizations.
Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the
characterization described above. The discussion in this section
assumes that there is a significant possibility of a significant
loss of principal on an investment in the Notes.
We will not attempt to ascertain whether any issuer of a component
stock included in the Underlying would be treated as a “passive
foreign investment company” (“PFIC”), within the meaning of Section
1297 of the Code, or a United States real property holding
corporation, within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code. If
the issuer of one or more stocks included in the Underlying were so
treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could
possibly apply to a holder of the Notes. You should refer to
information filed with the SEC by the issuers of the component
stocks included in the Underlying and consult your tax advisor
regarding the possible consequences to you, if any, if any issuer
of a component stock included in the Underlying is or becomes a
PFIC or is or becomes a United States real property holding
corporation.
U.S. Holders
Upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale or
exchange of the Notes prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder generally
will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes. A
U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes will equal the amount paid by
that holder to acquire them. This capital gain or loss generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the
Notes for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses
is subject to limitations.
Alternative Tax Treatments. Due to the absence of
authorities that directly address the proper tax treatment of the
Notes, prospective investors are urged to consult their tax
advisors regarding all possible alternative tax treatments of an
investment in the Notes. In particular, the IRS could seek to
subject the Notes to the Treasury regulations governing contingent
payment debt instruments. If the IRS were successful in that
regard, the timing and character of income on the Notes would be
affected significantly. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be
required to accrue original issue
|
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN
NOTES | PS-17 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
50® Index
discount every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time
of issuance. In addition, any gain realized by a U.S. Holder at
maturity or upon a sale or exchange of the Notes generally would be
treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized at maturity or
upon a sale or exchange of the Notes generally would be treated as
ordinary loss to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s prior accruals of
original issue discount, and as capital loss thereafter.
The IRS released Notice 2008-2 (the “Notice”), which sought
comments from the public on the taxation of financial instruments
currently taxed as “prepaid forward contracts.” This Notice
addresses instruments such as the Notes. According to the Notice,
the IRS and Treasury are considering whether a holder of an
instrument such as the Notes should be required to accrue ordinary
income on a current basis, regardless of whether any payments are
made prior to maturity. It is not possible to determine what
guidance the IRS and Treasury will ultimately issue, if any. Any
such future guidance may affect the amount, timing and character of
income, gain, or loss in respect of the Notes, possibly with
retroactive effect.
The IRS and Treasury are also considering additional issues,
including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments
should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders
of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any
deemed income accruals, whether Section 1260 of the Code,
concerning certain “constructive ownership transactions,” generally
applies or should generally apply to such instruments, and whether
any of these determinations depend on the nature of the underlying
asset.
In addition, proposed Treasury regulations require the accrual of
income on a current basis for contingent payments made under
certain notional principal contracts. The preamble to the
regulations states that the “wait and see” method of accounting
does not properly reflect the economic accrual of income on those
contracts, and requires current accrual of income for some
contracts already in existence. While the proposed regulations do
not apply to prepaid forward contracts, the preamble to the
proposed regulations expresses the view that similar timing issues
exist in the case of prepaid forward contracts. If the IRS or
Treasury publishes future guidance requiring current economic
accrual for contingent payments on prepaid forward contracts, it is
possible that you could be required to accrue income over the term
of the Notes.
Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate tax
characterization of the Notes, it is also possible that the IRS
could seek to characterize the Notes in a manner that results in
tax consequences that are different from those described above. For
example, the IRS could possibly assert that any gain or loss that a
holder may recognize at maturity or upon the sale or exchange of
the Notes should be treated as ordinary gain or loss.
Because the Underlying is an index that periodically rebalances, it
is possible that the Notes could be treated as a series of single
financial contracts, each of which matures on the next rebalancing
date. If the Notes were properly characterized in such a manner, a
U.S. Holder would be treated as disposing of the Notes on each
rebalancing date in return for new Notes that mature on the next
rebalancing date, and a U.S. Holder would accordingly likely
recognize capital gain or loss on each rebalancing date equal to
the difference between the holder’s tax basis in the Notes (which
would be adjusted to take into account any prior recognition of
gain or loss) and the fair market value of the Notes on such
date.
Non-U.S. Holders
Except as discussed below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be
subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax for amounts paid
in respect of the Notes provided that the Non-U.S. Holder complies
with applicable certification requirements and that the payment is
not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder
of a U.S. trade or business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain
from the sale or exchange of the Notes or their settlement at
maturity may be subject to U.S. federal income tax if that Non-U.S.
Holder is a non-resident alien individual and is present in the
U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale,
exchange, or settlement and certain other conditions are
satisfied.
If a Non-U.S. Holder of the Notes is engaged in the conduct of a
trade or business within the U.S. and if any gain realized on the
settlement at maturity, or upon sale or exchange of the Notes, is
effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business
(and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent
establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.), the
Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax,
generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain
on a net income basis in the same manner as if it were a U.S.
Holder. Such Non-U.S. Holders should read the material under the
heading “—U.S. Holders,” for a description of the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the
Notes. In addition, if such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign
corporation, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal
to 30% (or such lower rate provided by any applicable tax treaty)
of a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that
are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business
in the U.S., subject to certain adjustments.
A “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from
sources within the United States and such payments generally would
be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a Non-U.S.
Holder. Under Treasury regulations, payments (including deemed
payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that
are “specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such
specified ELIs reference an interest in an “underlying security,”
which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with
respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend.
However, IRS guidance provides that withholding on dividend
equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not
delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2025.
Based on our determination that the Notes are not delta-one
instruments, Non-U.S. Holders should not be subject to withholding
on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the Notes. However,
it is possible that the Notes could be treated as deemed reissued
for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain
events affecting the Underlying or the Notes, and following such
occurrence the Notes could be treated as subject to withholding on
dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. Holders that enter, or have
entered, into other transactions in respect of the Underlying or
the Notes should consult
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their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent
withholding tax in the context of the Notes and their other
transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents
subject to withholding, we (or the applicable paying agent) would
be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any
additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the Notes for
U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an
alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification
of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the
Notes to become subject to withholding tax, tax will be withheld at
the applicable statutory rate. As discussed above, the IRS has
indicated in the Notice that it is considering whether income in
respect of instruments such as the Notes should be subject to
withholding tax.Prospective Non-U.S. Holders should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such alternative
characterizations.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax. Under current law, while the matter
is not entirely clear, individual Non-U.S. Holders, and entities
whose property is potentially includible in those individuals’
gross estates for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example, a
trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the
individual has retained certain interests or powers), should note
that, absent an applicable treaty benefit, a Note is likely to be
treated as U.S. situs property, subject to U.S. federal estate tax.
These individuals and entities should consult their own tax
advisors regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of
investing in a Note.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Please see the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations — General — Backup Withholding and Information
Reporting” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the
applicability of the backup withholding and information reporting
rules to payments made on the Notes.
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NOTES | PS-19 |
Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the EURO STOXX
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Where You Can Find More Information
The terms and risks of the Notes are contained in this pricing
supplement and in the following related product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus, which can be accessed at the
following links:
This pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus have been filed as part of a
registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be
accessed on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or obtained from BofAS
by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read this
pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus for information about us, BAC
and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and
any other written materials you may have received are superseded by
this pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement,
prospectus supplement and prospectus. Certain terms used but not
defined in this pricing supplement have the meanings set forth in
the accompanying product supplement or prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires
otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or
similar references are to BofA Finance, and not to BAC.
The Notes are our senior debt securities. Any payments on the Notes
are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BAC. The Notes and the
related guarantee are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or secured by collateral. The Notes will rank equally
in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, and the related guarantee will rank
equally in right of payment with all of BAC’s other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, in each case except obligations that
are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. Any payments
due on the Notes, including any repayment of the principal amount,
will be subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance, as issuer, and
BAC, as guarantor.
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NOTES | PS-20 |
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