Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000®
Index, the Nasdaq-100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
| ● | Approximate 3 year term
if not called prior to maturity. |
| ● | Payment on the Notes will depend on the individual performance
of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq-100® Index and the S&P 500® Index (each
an “Underlying”). |
| ● | The Notes will be automatically called at an amount equal
to the Call Amount if, on the Observation Date, the Observation Value of each Underlying is equal to or greater than 100% of its Starting
Value. The Observation Date and Call Amount are indicated on page PS-4. |
| ● | Assuming the Notes are not called prior to maturity, if
the Ending Value of each Underlying is greater
than its Redemption Barrier (which is equal to 100% of its Starting Value), at maturity, you will receive 2-to-1
upside exposure to increases in the value of the Least Performing Underlying. |
| ● | However, if the Notes are not called prior to maturity and the
Ending Value of any Underlying is less than 70% of its Starting Value, you will be subject
to 1:1 downside exposure to declines in the value of the Least Performing Underlying, with up to 100%
of the principal at risk; otherwise, if the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying is equal
to or less than its Redemption Barrier but greater than or equal to 70% of its Starting Value, at maturity,
investors will receive the principal amount. |
| ● | Any payment on the Notes is subject to the credit risk
of BofA Finance LLC (“BofA Finance”) and Bank of America Corporation (“BAC” or the “Guarantor”). |
| ● | No periodic interest payments. |
| ● | The Notes priced on February 29, 2024,
will issue on March 5, 2024 and will mature on March 3, 2027.
|
| ● | The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the
pricing date is $979.70 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-7 of this pricing supplement and “Structuring the Notes” on page PS-22 of this pricing supplement for additional
information.
Potential purchasers of the Notes should consider
the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement, page PS-5 of the accompanying product
supplement, page S-6 of the accompanying prospectus supplement, and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus.
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 |
$8.75 |
$991.25 |
Total |
$1,000,000.00 |
$3,800.00 |
$996,200.00 |
(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 $991.25 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes. |
(2) |
The underwriting discount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes may be as high as $8.75, resulting in proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance of as low as $991.25 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes. The total underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance specified above reflect the aggregate of the underwriting discounts per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes. |
(3) |
In addition to the underwriting discount above, an affiliate of BofA
Finance will pay a referral fee of up to $5.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes in connection with the distribution of 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 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
Terms of the Notes
The Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the
Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq-100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
(the “Notes”) will be automatically called at an amount equal to the Call Amount if the Observation Value of each Underlying
on the Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Call Value. No further amounts will be payable following an Automatic
Call.
If your Notes are
not automatically called prior to maturity and the Ending Value of each Underlying
is greater than its Redemption Barrier, at maturity, the Notes provide you 2:1 upside exposure to increases in the value of the Least
Performing Underlying. However, if the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity and the Ending Value of the
Least Performing Underlying is less than its Threshold Value, there is full exposure to declines in the Least Performing Underlying, and
you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the Notes. Otherwise, at maturity you will receive the principal amount.
The Notes are not traditional debt securities, and you may lose a significant portion or all of your principal amount at maturity. Any
payments on the Notes will be calculated based on $1,000 in principal amount of Notes and will depend on the performance of the Underlyings,
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 3 years, unless previously automatically called. |
Underlyings: |
The Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “RTY”), the Nasdaq-100® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “NDX”) and the S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “SPX”), each a price return index. |
Pricing Date: |
February 29, 2024 |
Issue Date: |
March 5, 2024 |
Valuation Date: |
February 26, 2027 subject to postponement as described under “Description of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events Relating to Observation Dates” in the accompanying product supplement. |
Maturity Date: |
March 3, 2027 |
Starting Value: |
RTY: 2,054.843.
NDX: 18,043.85
SPX: 5,096.27 |
Observation Value: |
With respect to each Underlying, its closing level on the Observation Date, as determined by the calculation agent. |
Ending Value: |
With respect to each Underlying, its closing level on the Valuation Date, as determined by the calculation agent. |
Call Value: |
RTY: 2,054.843, which is 100% of its Starting Value.
NDX: 18,043.85, which is 100% of its Starting Value.
SPX: 5,096.27, which is 100% of its Starting Value. |
Redemption Barrier: |
RTY: 2,054.843, which is 100% of its Starting Value.
NDX: 18,043.85, which is 100% of its Starting Value.
SPX: 5,096.27, which is 100% of its Starting Value. |
Threshold Value: |
RTY: 1,438.390, which is 70% of its Starting Value (rounded
to three decimal places).
NDX: 12,630.70, which is 70% of its Starting Value (rounded
to two decimal places).
SPX: 3,567.39, which is 70% of its Starting Value (rounded
to two decimal places). |
Automatic Call: |
All (but not less than all) of the Notes will be automatically called at an amount equal to the Call Amount if the Observation Value of each Underlying is greater than or equal to its Call Value on the Observation Date. If the Notes are automatically called, the Call Amount will be paid on the Call Settlement Date. No further amounts will be payable following an Automatic Call. |
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-2 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
Upside Participation Rate: |
200% |
Redemption Amount: |
If the Notes have not been automatically called prior
to maturity, the Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes will be:
a)
If the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying
is greater than its Redemption Barrier:
;
or
b)
If the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying
is equal to or less than its Redemption Barrier but greater than or equal to its Threshold Value:
$1,000; or
c)
If the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying
is less than its Threshold Value:
In this case, the Redemption Amount will be less than
70% of the principal amount and could be zero. |
Observation Date: |
As set forth on page PS-4. |
Call
Settlement
Date: |
As set forth on page PS-4. |
Call Amount (per $1,000 in principal amount): |
As set forth on page PS-4. |
Calculation Agent: |
BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”), an affiliate of BofA Finance. |
Selling Agent: |
BofAS |
CUSIP: |
09710PSN7 |
Underlying Return: |
With respect to each Underlying,
(Ending Value - Starting Value)
Starting Value
|
Least
Performing
Underlying: |
The Underlying with the lowest 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 of BofA Finance LLC—Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration; Covenant Breaches” on page 54 of the accompanying prospectus, with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, the amount payable to a holder of the Notes upon any acceleration permitted under the senior indenture will be equal to the amount described under the caption “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. |
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-3 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
Observation Date and Call Settlement Date
|
Observation Date* |
|
Call Settlement Date |
|
Call Amount (per $1,000 in principal amount) |
|
|
March 3, 2025 |
|
March 6, 2025 |
|
$1,160.00 |
|
* The Observation Date is subject to postponement as set forth in “Description
of the Notes—Certain Terms of the Notes—Events Relating to Observation Dates” beginning on page PS-23 of the accompanying
product supplement.
Any payments on the Notes depend on the credit risk
of BofA Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor, and on the performance of the Underlyings. The economic terms of the Notes are based
on BAC’s internal funding rate, which is the rate it would pay to borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes, and
the economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements BAC’s affiliates enter into. BAC’s internal funding rate is typically
lower than the rate it would pay when it issues conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities. This difference in funding rate,
as well as the underwriting discount, and the hedging related charges described below (see “Risk Factors” beginning on page
PS-7), reduced 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 are paying to purchase the Notes is greater than the initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing date.
The initial estimated value of the Notes as of the pricing
date is set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring
of the Notes, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-7 and “Structuring the Notes” on page PS-22.
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-4 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
Automatic Call and Redemption Amount Determination
On
the Observation Date, your Notes may be automatically called,
determined
as follows:
Assuming
the Notes have not been automatically called,
on
the Maturity Date, you will receive a cash payment per $1,000 in principal amount of Notes determined as follows:
Any payment described above is subject to the credit risk of BofA
Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor.
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-5 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments on the Notes
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Table
The following table is for purposes
of illustration only. It assumes the Notes have not been called prior to maturity and is
based on hypothetical values and shows hypothetical returns on the Notes. The table illustrates the calculation of the Redemption
Amount and the return on the Notes based on a hypothetical Starting Value of 100 for the Least Performing Underlying, a hypothetical Threshold
Value of 70 for the Least Performing Underlying, the Upside Participation Rate of 200% and a range of hypothetical Ending Values of the
Least Performing Underlying. The actual amount you receive and the resulting return will depend on the actual Starting Values, Threshold
Values and Ending Values of the Underlyings, whether the Notes are automatically called prior to maturity and whether you hold the Notes
to maturity. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the Notes.
For recent actual levels of the Underlyings,
see “The Underlyings” section below. Each Underlying is a price return index and as such its Ending Value will not include
any income generated by dividends paid on the stocks included in that Underlying, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if
you invested in those stocks directly. In addition, all payments on the Notes are subject to Issuer and Guarantor credit risk.
Ending Value of the
Least Performing Underlying |
Underlying Return of the
Least Performing Underlying |
Redemption Amount per Note |
Return on the Notes |
160.00 |
60.00% |
$2,200.00 |
120.00% |
150.00 |
50.00% |
$2,000.00 |
100.00% |
140.00 |
40.00% |
$1,800.00 |
80.00% |
130.00 |
30.00% |
$1,600.00 |
60.00% |
120.00 |
20.00% |
$1,400.00 |
40.00% |
110.00 |
10.00% |
$1,200.00 |
20.00% |
105.00 |
5.00% |
$1,100.00 |
10.00% |
102.00 |
2.00% |
$1,040.00 |
4.00% |
100.00(1)(2) |
0.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
90.00 |
-10.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
80.00 |
-20.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
70.00(3) |
-30.00% |
$1,000.00 |
0.00% |
69.99 |
-30.01% |
$699.90 |
-30.01% |
50.00 |
-50.00% |
$500.00 |
-50.00% |
0.00 |
-100.00% |
$0.00 |
-100.00% |
| (1) | The hypothetical
Starting Value of 100 used in the table above has been chosen for
illustrative purposes only. The actual Starting Value of each Underlying is set forth on page
PS-2 above. |
| (2) | This is the hypothetical Redemption Barrier of the
Least Performing Underlying. |
| (3) | This is the hypothetical Threshold Value of the Least
Performing Underlying. |
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-6 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® 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-6 of the accompanying prospectus supplement
and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus, each as identified on page PS-26 below.
Structure-related Risks
| ● | Your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. There is no fixed principal repayment amount
on the Notes at maturity. If the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity and the Ending Value of any Underlying is
less than its Threshold Value, at maturity, you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Ending Value of the Least Performing
Underlying is less than its Starting Value. In that case, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment in the Notes. |
| ● | 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 Observation Value or Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying
exceeds its Starting Value, Call Value, Redemption Barrier or Threshold Value. |
| ● | The Call Amount or Redemption Amount, as applicable, will not reflect the levels of the Underlyings other than on the Observation
Date and the Valuation Date. The levels of the Underlyings during the term of the Notes other than on the Observation Date and the
Valuation Date, as applicable will not affect payments on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, investors should generally be aware
of the performance of the Underlyings while holding the Notes, as the performance of the Underlyings may influence the market value of
the Notes. The calculation agent will determine whether the Notes will be automatically called, and will calculate the Call Amount or
the Redemption Amount, as applicable, by comparing only the Starting Value, Call Value, Redemption Barrier or Threshold Value, as applicable,
to the Observation Value or the Ending Value for each Underlying. No other levels of the Underlyings will be taken into account. As a
result, if the Notes are not automatically called prior to maturity, and the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying is less than
its Threshold Value, you will receive less than the principal amount at maturity even if the level of each Underlying was always above
its Threshold Value prior to the Valuation Date. |
| ● | Because the Notes are linked to the least performing (and not the average performance) of the Underlyings, you may not receive
any return on the Notes and may lose some or all of your principal amount even if the Observation Value or Ending Value of one Underlying
is always greater than or equal to its Call Value or Threshold Value, as applicable. Your Notes are linked to the least performing
of the Underlyings, and a change in the level of one Underlying may not correlate with changes in the level of the other Underlying(s).
The Notes are not linked to a basket composed of the Underlyings, where the depreciation in the level of one Underlying could be offset
to some extent by the appreciation in the level of the other Underlying(s). In the case of the Notes, the individual performance of each
Underlying would not be combined, and the depreciation in the level of one Underlying would not be offset by any appreciation in the level
of the other Underlying(s). Even if the Observation Value of an Underlying is at or above its Call Value on an Observation Date, your
Notes will not be automatically called if the Observation Value of any other Underlying is below its Call Value on that day. In addition,
even if the Ending Value of an Underlying is at or above its Threshold Value, you will lose a significant portion or all of your principal
if the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying is below its Threshold Value. |
| ● | The Notes are subject to a potential Automatic Call, which would limit your ability to receive further payment on the Notes.
The Notes are subject to a potential Automatic Call. The Notes will be automatically called if, on the Observation Date, the Observation
Value of each Underlying is greater than or equal to its Call Value. If the Notes are automatically called prior to the Maturity Date,
you will be entitled to receive the Call Amount on the Call Settlement Date, and no further amounts will be payable following the Automatic
Call. In this case, you will lose the opportunity to receive payment of any higher Redemption Amount that might otherwise be payable at
maturity. If the Notes are called prior to the Maturity Date, you may be unable to invest in other securities with a similar level of
risk that could provide a return that is similar to the Notes. |
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-7 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
| ● | 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. |
| ● | Any payment on the Notes is subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance and the Guarantor, and any actual or perceived changes in
BofA Finance’s 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 Call Amount or the Redemption Amount at maturity, as applicable,
will be dependent upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our respective obligations under the Notes on the Call Settlement
Date or the Maturity Date, regardless of the Ending Value of the Least Performing Underlying as compared to its Starting Value. No assurance
can be given as to what our financial condition or the financial condition of the Guarantor will be at any time after the pricing date
of the Notes. If we and the Guarantor become unable to meet our respective financial obligations as they become due, you may not receive
the amount(s) payable under the terms of the Notes. |
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 of your Notes may adversely affect the market value of the Notes. However, because your return on the Notes depends upon
factors in addition to our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to pay our respective obligations, such as the values of the Underlyings,
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 are paying for the Notes exceeds their initial estimated value. The initial estimated value of
the Notes that is provided on the cover page of this pricing supplement is an estimate only, determined as of the pricing date 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 levels of the Underlyings, changes in the Guarantor’s internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public
offering price of the underwriting discount, and the hedging related charges, all as further described in “Structuring the Notes”
below. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the
price at which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable
ways. |
| ● | The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, BAC, BofAS or any of our other affiliates
would be willing to purchase your Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your Notes at any time after
issuance will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including the performance of the Underlyings, our and
BAC’s creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. |
| ● | We cannot assure you that a trading market for your Notes will ever develop or be maintained. We will not list the Notes on
any securities exchange. We cannot predict how the Notes will trade in any secondary market or whether that market will be liquid or illiquid.
|
Conflict-related Risks
| ● | Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may create conflicts of interest
with you and may affect your return on the Notes and their market value. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates,
including BofAS, may buy or sell shares or units of the Underlyings or the securities held by or included in the Underlyings, or futures
or options contracts or exchange traded instruments on the Underlyings or those securities, or other instruments whose value is derived
from the Underlyings 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 Underlyings, except to the extent that BAC’s common stock may be included in the Underlyings,
we, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, do not control any company included in the Underlyings, 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 |
|
AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-8 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
management. These transactions may adversely affect
the value of the Underlyings in a manner that could be adverse to your investment in the Notes. On or before the pricing date, any purchases
or sales by us, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including BofAS or others on our or their behalf (including those for the purpose
of hedging some or all of our anticipated exposure in connection with the Notes), may have affected the value of the Underlyings. Consequently,
the value of the Underlyings may change subsequent to the pricing date, which may adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, also may have engaged in hedging activities that could have
affected the value of the Underlyings on the pricing date. In addition, these hedging activities, including the unwinding of a hedge,
may decrease the market value of your Notes prior to maturity, and may affect the amounts to be paid on the Notes. We, the Guarantor or
one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short position in the Notes and may
hold or resell the Notes. For example, BofAS may enter into these transactions in connection with any market making activities in which
it engages. We cannot assure you that these activities will not adversely affect the value of the Underlyings, 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 small-size capitalization companies. The stocks comprising the RTY are issued
by companies with small-sized market capitalization. The stock prices of small-size companies may be more volatile than stock prices of
large capitalization companies. Small-size capitalization companies may be less able to withstand adverse economic, market, trade and
competitive conditions relative to larger companies. Small-size capitalization companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments
related to their products or services. |
| ● | The Notes are subject to risks associated with foreign securities markets. The NDX 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 NDX 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 an Underlying may adjust that Underlying in a way that affects its levels, and the publisher has no obligation
to consider your interests. The publisher of an Underlying can add, delete, or substitute the components included in that 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. Federal Income Tax Summary.” You are urged to consult with your
own tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Notes. |
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-9 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
The Underlyings
All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement
regarding the Underlyings, including, without limitation, their make-up, method of calculation, and changes in their components, have
been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, each of FTSE Russell,
the sponsor of the RTY, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), the sponsor of the SPX and Nasdaq, Inc., the sponsor of the
NDX. We refer to FTSE Russell, SPDJI and Nasdaq, Inc. as the “Underlying Sponsors”. The Underlying Sponsors, which license
the copyright and all other rights to the Underlyings, have no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of,
the Underlyings. The consequences of any Underlying Sponsor discontinuing publication of the applicable 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 any 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 Underlyings.
You should make your own investigation into the Underlyings.
The Russell 2000®
Index
The RTY was developed by Russell Investments (“Russell”)
before FTSE International Limited and Russell combined in 2015 to create FTSE Russell, which is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange
Group. Additional information on the RTY is available at the following website: http://www.ftserussell.com. No information on that website
is deemed to be included or incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement.
Russell began dissemination of the RTY (Bloomberg L.P.
index symbol “RTY”) on January 1, 1984. FTSE Russell calculates and publishes the RTY. The RTY was set to 135 as of the close
of business on December 31, 1986. The RTY is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity
market. As a subset of the Russell 3000® Index, the RTY consists of the smallest
2,000 companies included in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000®
Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies, representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.
The RTY is determined, comprised, and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the Notes.
Selection of Stocks Comprising the RTY
All companies eligible for inclusion in the RTY must
be classified as a U.S. company under FTSE Russell’s country-assignment methodology. If a company is incorporated, has a stated
headquarters location, and trades in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible),
then the company is assigned to its country of incorporation. If any of the three factors are not the same, FTSE Russell defines three
Home Country Indicators (“HCIs”): country of incorporation, country of headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange
(as defined by a two-year average daily dollar trading volume) from all exchanges within a country. Using the HCIs, FTSE Russell compares
the primary location of the company’s assets with the three HCIs. If the primary location of its assets matches any of the HCIs,
then the company is assigned to the primary location of its assets. If there is insufficient information to determine the country in which
the company’s assets are primarily located, FTSE Russell will use the country from which the company’s revenues are primarily
derived for the comparison with the three HCIs in a similar manner. FTSE Russell uses the average of two years of assets or revenues data
to reduce potential turnover. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenues data, FTSE Russell will assign the
company to the country of its headquarters, which is defined as the address of the company’s principal executive offices, unless
that country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation (“BDI”) country, in which case the company will be assigned to the country
of its most liquid stock exchange. BDI countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey,
Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands. For any companies incorporated or
headquartered in a U.S. territory, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. HCI is assigned.
All securities eligible for inclusion in the RTY must
trade on a major U.S. exchange. Stocks must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange on the last trading day in
May to be eligible for inclusion during annual reconstitution. However, in order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s
closing price is less than $1.00 on the last day of May, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from
its primary exchange) during the month of May is equal to or greater than $1.00. Initial public offerings are added each quarter and must
have a closing price at or above $1.00 on the last day of their eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion. If an existing
stock does not trade on the “rank day” (typically the last trading day in May but a confirmed timetable is announced each
spring) but does have a closing price at or above $1.00 on another eligible U.S. exchange, that stock will be eligible for inclusion.
An important criterion used to determine the list of
securities eligible for the RTY is total market capitalization, which is defined as the market price as of the last trading day in May
for those securities being considered at annual reconstitution times the total number of shares outstanding. Where applicable, common
stock, non-restricted exchangeable shares and partnership units/membership interests are used to determine market capitalization. Any
other form of shares such as preferred stock, convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants
and rights, installment receipts or trust receipts, are excluded from the calculation. If multiple share classes of common stock exist,
they are combined. In cases where the common stock share classes act independently of each other (e.g., tracking stocks), each
class is considered for inclusion separately. If multiple share classes exist, the pricing vehicle will be designated as the share class
with the highest two-year trading volume as of the rank day in May.
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Companies with a total market capitalization of less
than $30 million are not eligible for the RTY. Similarly, companies with only 5% or less of their shares available in the marketplace
are not eligible for the RTY. Royalty trusts, limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies (companies that are required
to report Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, as defined by the SEC, including business development companies), blank check companies, special
purpose acquisition companies, and limited partnerships are also ineligible for inclusion. Bulletin board, pink sheets, and over-the-counter
traded securities are not eligible for inclusion. Exchange traded funds and mutual funds are also excluded.
Annual reconstitution is a process by which the RTY
is completely rebuilt. Based on closing levels of the company’s common stock on its primary exchange on the rank day of May of each
year, FTSE Russell reconstitutes the composition of the RTY using the then existing market capitalizations of eligible companies. Reconstitution
of the RTY occurs on the last Friday in June or, when the last Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, reconstitution occurs on the prior
Friday. In addition, FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings to the RTY on a quarterly basis based on total market capitalization ranking
within the market-adjusted capitalization breaks established during the most recent reconstitution. After membership is determined, a
security’s shares are adjusted to include only those shares available to the public. This is often referred to as “free float.”
The purpose of the adjustment is to exclude from market calculations the capitalization that is not available for purchase and is not
part of the investable opportunity set.
Historical Performance of the RTY
The following graph sets forth the daily historical
performance of the RTY in the period from January 2, 2019 through the pricing 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 RTY’s Threshold Value of 1,438.390 (rounded to three decimal places), which is 70% of the RTY’s Starting
Value of 2,054.843.
This historical data on the RTY is not necessarily indicative
of the future performance of the RTY or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level
of the RTY during any period set forth above is not an indication that the closing level of the RTY 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 of the RTY.
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-11 |
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License Agreement
“Russell 2000®”
and “Russell 3000®” are trademarks of FTSE Russell and have been licensed
for use by our affiliate, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted
by FTSE Russell, and FTSE Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Notes.
FTSE Russell and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated and its affiliates, including us, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and published by FTSE Russell
in connection with some securities, including the Notes. The license agreement provides that the following language must be stated in
this pricing supplement:
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted
by FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the Notes or any member of the
public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the RTY to track
general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell’s publication of the RTY in no way suggests or implies an
opinion by FTSE Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the RTY is based. FTSE Russell’s
only relationship to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and to us is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade
names of FTSE Russell and of the RTY, which is determined, composed, and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, us, or the Notes. FTSE Russell is not responsible for and has not reviewed the Notes nor any associated
literature or publications and FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness,
or otherwise. FTSE Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate, or in any way change the RTY.
FTSE Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the Notes.
FTSE RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR
THE COMPLETENESS OF THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND FTSE RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS
THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED, US, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL
MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL FTSE RUSSELL HAVE
ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-12 |
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The Nasdaq-100®
Index
The NDX is intended to measure the performance
of the 100 largest domestic and international non-financial securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) based
on market capitalization. The NDX reflects companies across major industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications,
retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology. It does not contain securities of financial companies including investment companies.
The NDX began trading on January 31, 1985 at a
base value of 125.00. The NDX is calculated and published by Nasdaq, Inc. In administering the NDX, Nasdaq, Inc. will exercise reasonable
discretion as it deems appropriate.
Underlying Stock Eligibility Criteria
NDX eligibility is limited to specific security
types only. The security types eligible for the NDX include foreign or domestic common stocks, ordinary shares, ADRs and tracking stocks.
Security types not included in the NDX are closed-end funds, convertible debt securities, exchange traded funds, limited liability companies,
limited partnership interests, preferred stocks, rights, shares or units of beneficial interest, warrants, units, and other derivative
securities. The NDX does not contain securities of investment companies. For purposes of the NDX eligibility criteria, if the security
is a depositary receipt representing a security of a non-U.S. issuer, then references to the “issuer” are references to the
issuer of the underlying security.
Initial Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for initial inclusion in the NDX,
a security must be listed on NASDAQ and meet the following criteria:
| · | the security’s U.S. listing must be exclusively on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq
Global Market (unless the security was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such
listing); |
| · | the security must be of a non-financial company; |
| · | the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings; |
| · | the security must have a minimum three-month average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares; |
| · | if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the U.S., then such
security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the U.S. or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized
options market in the U.S.; |
| · | the issuer of the security may not have entered into a definitive agreement or other arrangement which
would likely result in the security no longer being eligible for inclusion in the NDX; |
| · | the issuer of the security may not have annual financial statements with an audit opinion that is currently
withdrawn; and |
| · | the issuer of the security must have “seasoned” on NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange or
NYSE Amex. Generally, a company is considered to be seasoned if it has been listed on a market for at least three full months (excluding
the first month of initial listing). |
Continued Eligibility Criteria
In addition, to be eligible for continued inclusion
in the NDX, the following criteria apply:
| · | the security’s U.S. listing must be exclusively on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq
Global Market; |
| · | the security must be of a non-financial company; |
| · | the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings; |
| · | the security must have a minimum three-month average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares; |
| · | if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the U.S., then such
security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the U.S. or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized
options market in the U.S. (measured annually during the ranking review process); |
| · | the security must have an adjusted market capitalization equal to or exceeding 0.10% of the aggregate
adjusted market capitalization of the NDX at each month-end. In the event a company does not meet this criterion for two consecutive month-ends,
it will be removed from the NDX effective after the close of trading on the third Friday of the following month; and |
| · | the issuer of the security may not have annual financial statements with an audit opinion that is currently
withdrawn. |
Computation of the NDX
The value of the NDX equals the aggregate value
of the NDX share weights (the “NDX Shares”) of each of the NDX securities multiplied by each such security’s last sale
price (last sale price refers to the last sale price on NASDAQ), and divided by the divisor of the NDX. If trading in an NDX security
is halted while the market is open, the last traded price for that security is used for all NDX computations until trading resumes. If
trading is halted before the market is open, the previous day’s last sale price is used. The formula for determining the NDX value
is as follows:
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-13 |
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The NDX is ordinarily calculated without regard
to cash dividends on NDX securities. The NDX is calculated during the trading day and is disseminated once per second from 09:30:01 to
17:16:00 ET. The closing level of the NDX may change up until 17:15:00 ET due to corrections to the last sale price of the NDX securities.
The official closing value of the NDX is ordinarily disseminated at 17:16:00 ET.
NDX Maintenance
Changes to NDX Constituents
Changes to the NDX constituents may be made during
the annual ranking review. In addition, if at any time during the year other than the annual review, it is determined that an NDX security
issuer no longer meets the criteria for continued inclusion in the NDX, or is otherwise determined to have become ineligible for continued
inclusion in the NDX, it is replaced with the largest market capitalization issuer not currently in the NDX that meets the applicable
eligibility criteria for initial inclusion in the NDX.
Ordinarily, a security will be removed from the
NDX at its last sale price. However, if at the time of its removal the NDX security is halted from trading on its primary listing market
and an official closing price cannot readily be determined, the NDX security may, in Nasdaq, Inc.’s discretion, be removed at a
price of $0.00000001 (“zero price”). This zero price will be applied to the NDX security after the close of the market but
prior to the time the official closing value of the NDX is disseminated.
Divisor Adjustments
The divisor is adjusted to ensure that changes
in the NDX constituents either by corporate actions (that adjust either the price or shares of an NDX security) or NDX participation outside
of trading hours do not affect the value of the NDX. All divisor changes occur after the close of the applicable index security markets.
Quarterly NDX Rebalancing
The NDX will be rebalanced on a quarterly basis
if it is determined that (1) the current weight of the single NDX security with the largest market capitalization is greater than 24.0%
of the NDX or (2) the collective weight of those securities whose individual current weights are in excess of 4.5% exceeds 48.0% of the
NDX. In addition, a “special rebalancing” of the NDX may be conducted at any time if Nasdaq, Inc. determines it necessary
to maintain the integrity and continuity of the NDX. If either one or both of the above weight distribution conditions are met upon quarterly
review, or Nasdaq, Inc. determines that a special rebalancing is necessary, a weight rebalancing will be performed.
If the first weight distribution condition is
met and the current weight of the single NDX security with the largest market capitalization is greater than 24.0%, then the weights of
all securities with current weights greater than 1.0% (“large securities”) will be scaled down proportionately toward 1.0%
until the adjusted weight of the single largest NDX security reaches 20.0%.
If the second weight distribution condition is
met and the collective weight of those securities whose individual current weights are in excess of 4.5% (or adjusted weights in accordance
with the previous step, if applicable) exceeds 48.0% of the NDX, then the weights of all such large securities in that group will be scaled
down proportionately toward 1.0% until their collective weight, so adjusted, is equal to 40.0%.
The aggregate weight reduction among the large
securities resulting from either or both of the rebalancing steps above will then be redistributed to those securities with weightings
of less than 1.0% (“small securities”) in the following manner. In the first iteration, the weight of the largest small security
will be scaled upwards by a factor which sets it equal to the average NDX weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller remaining
small securities will be scaled up by the same factor reduced in relation to each security’s relative ranking among the small securities
such that the smaller the NDX security in the ranking, the less its weight will be scaled upward. This is intended to reduce the market
impact of the weight rebalancing on the smallest component securities in the NDX.
In the second iteration of the small security
rebalancing, the weight of the second largest small security, already adjusted in the first iteration, will be scaled upwards by a factor
which sets it equal to the average NDX weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller remaining small securities will be scaled up
by this same factor reduced in relation to each security’s relative ranking among the small securities such that, once again, the
smaller the security in the ranking, the less its weight will be scaled upward. Additional iterations will be performed until the accumulated
increase in weight among the small securities equals the aggregate weight reduction among the large securities that resulted from the
rebalancing in accordance with the two weight distribution conditions discussed above.
Finally, to complete the rebalancing process,
once the final weighting percentages for each NDX security have been set, the NDX Shares will be determined anew based upon the last sale
prices and aggregate capitalization of the NDX at the close of trading on the last calendar day in February, May, August and November.
Changes to the NDX Shares will be made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in March, June, September and December,
and an adjustment to the divisor is made to ensure continuity of the NDX. Ordinarily, new rebalanced NDX Shares will be
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determined by applying the above procedures to the current NDX
Shares. However, Nasdaq, Inc. may, from time to time, determine rebalanced weights, if necessary, by applying the above procedure to the
actual current market capitalization of the NDX components. In such instances, Nasdaq, Inc. would announce the different basis for rebalancing
prior to its implementation.
During the quarterly rebalancing, data is cutoff
as of the previous month end and no changes are made to the NDX from that cutoff until the quarterly index share change effective date,
except in the case of changes due to corporate actions with an ex-date.
Adjustments for Corporate Actions
Changes in the price and/or NDX Shares driven
by corporate events such as stock dividends, splits, and certain spin-offs and rights issuances will be adjusted on the ex-date. If the
change in total shares outstanding arising from other corporate actions is greater than or equal to 10.0%, the change will be made as
soon as practicable. Otherwise, if the change in total shares outstanding is less than 10.0%, then all such changes are accumulated and
made effective at one time on a quarterly basis after the close of trading on the third Friday in each of March, June, September, and
December. The NDX Shares are derived from the security’s total shares outstanding. The NDX Shares are adjusted by the same percentage
amount by which the total shares outstanding have changed.
Historical Performance of the NDX
The following graph sets forth the daily historical
performance of the NDX in the period from January 2, 2019 through the pricing 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 NDX’s Threshold Value of 12,630.70 (rounded to two decimal places), which is 70% of the NDX’s Starting
Value of 18,043.85.
This historical data on the NDX is not necessarily indicative
of the future performance of the NDX or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level
of the NDX during any period set forth above is not an indication that the closing level of the NDX 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 of the NDX.
License Agreement
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted
by Nasdaq, Inc. or its affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc., with its affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations
have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Notes.
The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Notes or any member of the public regarding
the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly, or the ability of the NDX to track general stock market
performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to our affiliate, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Licensee”)
is in the licensing of the NASDAQ®, OMX®, NASDAQ OMX®, and NDX registered trademarks, and
certain trade names of the Corporations or their licensor and the use of
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-15 |
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the NDX which is determined, composed and calculated
by Nasdaq, Inc. without regard to Licensee or the Notes. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners
of the Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NDX. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not
participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Notes to be issued or in the determination or calculation
of the equation by which the Notes are to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration,
marketing or trading of the Notes.
THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR
UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NDX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS
TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NDX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE
CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NDX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS
HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-16 |
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The S&P 500®
Index
The SPX includes a representative sample of 500 companies in leading
industries of the U.S. economy. The SPX is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation
of the level of the SPX is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular
time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years
1941 through 1943.
The SPX includes companies from eleven main groups: Communication Services;
Consumer Discretionary; Consumer Staples; Energy; Financials; Health Care; Industrials; Information Technology; Real Estate; Materials;
and Utilities. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), the sponsor of the SPX, may from time to time, in its sole discretion,
add companies to, or delete companies from, the SPX to achieve the objectives stated above.
Company additions to the SPX must have an unadjusted company market
capitalization of $15.8 billion or more (an increase from the previous requirement of an unadjusted company market capitalization of $14.5
billion or more).
SPDJI calculates the SPX by reference to the prices of the constituent
stocks of the SPX without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those stocks. As a result, the return on the Notes will not
reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the SPX constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.
Computation of the SPX
While SPDJI currently employs the following methodology to calculate
the SPX, no assurance can be given that SPDJI will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect payments on the Notes.
Historically, the market value of any component stock of the SPX was
calculated as the product of the market price per share and the number of then outstanding shares of such component stock. In March 2005,
SPDJI began shifting the SPX halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the SPX
to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. SPDJI’s criteria for selecting stocks for the SPX did not change with the shift
to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the SPX.
Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the SPX
reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. Float adjustment excludes
shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly traded companies or government agencies.
In September 2012, all shareholdings representing more than 5% of a
stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,” were removed from the float for purposes of calculating
the SPX. Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and directors, private equity, venture capital and special
equity firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs, employee
and family trusts, foundations associated with the company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock, government entities at all levels
(other than government retirement/pension funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake in a company as reported
in regulatory filings. However, holdings by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual funds and ETF providers, 401(k)
plans of the company, government retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies, asset managers and investment funds,
independent foundations and savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of the float.
Treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation
units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to allow investors in
countries outside the country of domicile, such as depositary shares and Canadian exchangeable shares, are normally part of the float
unless those shares form a control block. If a company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded
class are treated as a control block.
For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated
by dividing the available float shares by the total shares outstanding. Available float shares are defined as the total shares outstanding
less shares held by control holders. This calculation is subject to a 5% minimum threshold for control blocks. For example, if a company’s
officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares, and no other control group holds 5% of the company’s shares, SPDJI
would assign that company an IWF of 1.00, as no control group meets the 5% threshold. However, if a company’s officers and directors
hold 3% of the company’s shares and another control group holds 20% of the company’s shares, SPDJI would assign an IWF of
0.77, reflecting the fact that 23% of the company’s outstanding shares are considered to be held for control. As of July 31, 2017,
companies with multiple share class lines are no longer eligible for inclusion in the SPX. Constituents of the SPX prior to July 31, 2017
with multiple share class lines will be grandfathered in and continue to be included in the SPX. If a constituent company of the SPX reorganizes
into a multiple share class line structure, that company will remain in the SPX at the discretion of the S&P Index Committee in order
to minimize turnover.
The SPX is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The
level of the SPX reflects the total market value of all component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. An
indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the
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level easier to work with and track over time. The actual
total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed level of 10.
This is often indicated by the notation 1941- 43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the SPX is computed by dividing the total
market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However,
in the context of the calculation of the SPX, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the SPX. The index divisor keeps
the SPX comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the SPX, which is index maintenance.
Index Maintenance
Index maintenance includes monitoring and completing the adjustments
for company additions and deletions, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructuring
or spinoffs. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require changes in the common shares outstanding and the
stock prices of the companies in the SPX, and do not require index divisor adjustments.
To prevent the level of the SPX from changing due to corporate actions,
corporate actions which affect the total market value of the SPX require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for
the change in market value, the level of the SPX remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in
the SPX. Index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the SPX closing level.
Changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due
to mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, tender offers, Dutch auctions, or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably possible.
Share changes due to mergers or acquisitions of publicly held companies that trade on a major exchange are implemented when the transaction
occurs, even if both of the companies are not in the same headline index, and regardless of the size of the change. All other changes
of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, company stock repurchases, private placements, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion
of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participation units, at-the-market offerings, or other recapitalizations) are made weekly and
are announced on Fridays for implementation after the close of trading on the following Friday. Changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated
and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, and are usually announced two to five days prior.
If a change in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more
causes a company’s IWF to change by five percentage points or more, the IWF is updated at the same time as the share change. IWF
changes resulting from partial tender offers are considered on a case by case basis.
Historical Performance of the SPX
The following graph sets forth the daily historical performance of the
SPX in the period from January 2, 2019 through the pricing 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
SPX’s Threshold Value of 3,567.39 (rounded to two decimal places), which is 70% of the SPX’s Starting Value of 5,096.76.
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This historical data on the SPX is not necessarily indicative of the
future performance of the SPX or what the value of the Notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level of the
SPX during any period set forth above is not an indication that the closing level of the SPX 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 SPX.
License Agreement
S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s
Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow
Jones”). These trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. “Standard & Poor’s®,”
“S&P 500®” and “S&P®” are trademarks of S&P. These trademarks have been sublicensed for certain
purposes by our affiliate, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The SPX is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC
and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow
Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P
Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the Notes or any member of the public regarding
the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the SPX to track general market performance.
S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to the SPX is
the licensing of the SPX and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party
licensors. The SPX is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to us, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated, or the Notes. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take our needs, BAC’s needs or the needs
of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or holders of the Notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating
the SPX. S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of
the Notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Notes
are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing
or trading of the Notes. There is no assurance that investment products based on the SPX will accurately track index performance or provide
positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its subsidiaries are not investment advisors. Inclusion of a security or
futures contract within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security or futures contract,
nor is it considered to be investment advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may independently issue
and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the Notes currently being issued by us, but which may be similar to and competitive with
the Notes. In addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the SPX.
It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the Notes.
S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS
AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE SPX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
(INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY
FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM
ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, BAC, BOFAS, MERRILL
LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE SPX OR WITH RESPECT
TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR
ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST
TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.
THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE,
FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
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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 will 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, 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 $991.25 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 $5.00 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 Underlyings and the remaining term of the Notes. However, none of us, the Guarantor,
BofAS or any of our other affiliates is obligated to purchase your Notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that any
party will purchase your Notes at a price that equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the Notes.
Any price that BofAS may pay to repurchase the Notes
will depend upon then prevailing market conditions, the creditworthiness of us and the Guarantor, and transaction costs. At certain times,
this price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value of the Notes.
European Economic Area and United Kingdom
None of this pricing supplement, the accompanying product
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation
(as defined below). This pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the accompanying prospectus
supplement have been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”)
or in the United Kingdom (each, a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under
the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant
State of Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may only do so with respect to Qualified Investors. Neither BofA Finance
nor BAC 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
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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.
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Structuring the Notes
The Notes are our debt securities, the return on which
is linked to the performance of the Underlyings. 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, resulted 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 Underlyings, 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-7 above and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” on page PS-20 of the accompanying product supplement.
Validity of the Notes
In the opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, as counsel to BofA
Finance, as issuer, and BAC, as guarantor, when the trustee has made the appropriate entries or notations on Schedule 1 to the master
global note that represents the Notes (the “Master Note”) identifying the Notes offered hereby as supplemental obligations
thereunder in accordance with the instructions of BofA Finance, and the Notes have been delivered against payment therefor as contemplated
in this pricing supplement and the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and product supplement, all in accordance with the provisions
of the indenture governing the Notes and the related guarantee, such Notes will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of BofA Finance,
and the related guarantee will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of BAC, subject, in each case, to the effects of applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency (including laws relating 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 of this pricing supplement and is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act
(including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting
either of the foregoing) and the laws of the State of New York as in effect on the date hereof. In addition, this opinion is subject to
customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture governing the Notes and due authentication
of the Master Note, the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the indenture governing the Notes and the related guarantee with
respect to the trustee, the legal capacity of individuals, 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 opinion letter of McGuireWoods LLP
dated December 8, 2022, which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (File Nos. 333-268718 and 333-268718-01) of BAC
and BofA Finance, filed with the SEC on December 8, 2022.
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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 discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus 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 Underlyings 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 Underlyings 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 the issuer
of any component stocks included in an 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 an 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 Underlyings and consult your tax advisor regarding the possible consequences to you, if any, if any issuer of a component
stock included in an Underlying is or becomes a PFIC or is or becomes a United States real property holding corporation.
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U.S. Holders
Upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a
sale, exchange, or redemption of the Notes prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes
will equal the amount paid by that holder to acquire them. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss
if the U.S. Holder held the Notes for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Alternative Tax Treatments. Due to the absence
of authorities that directly address the proper tax treatment of the Notes, prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors
regarding all possible alternative tax treatments of an investment in the Notes. In particular, the IRS could seek to subject the Notes
to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. If the IRS were successful in that regard, the timing and character
of income on the Notes would be affected significantly. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be required to accrue original issue discount
every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time of issuance. In addition, any gain realized by a U.S. Holder at
maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the Notes generally would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized at
maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the Notes generally would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s
prior accruals of original issue discount, and as capital loss thereafter.
The IRS released Notice 2008-2 (the “Notice”),
which sought comments from the public on the taxation of financial instruments currently taxed as “prepaid forward contracts.”
This Notice addresses instruments such as the Notes. According to the Notice, the IRS and Treasury are considering whether a holder of
an instrument such as the Notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis, regardless of whether any payments are
made prior to maturity. It is not possible to determine what guidance the IRS and Treasury will ultimately issue, if any. Any such future
guidance may affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain, or loss in respect of the Notes, possibly with retroactive effect.
The IRS and Treasury are also considering additional
issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders
of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, whether Section 1260 of the Code, concerning certain
“constructive ownership transactions,” generally applies or should generally apply to such instruments, and whether any of
these determinations depend on the nature of the underlying asset.
In addition, proposed Treasury regulations require the
accrual of income on a current basis for contingent payments made under certain notional principal contracts. The preamble to the regulations
states that the “wait and see” method of accounting does not properly reflect the economic accrual of income on those contracts,
and requires current accrual of income for some contracts already in existence. While the proposed regulations do not apply to prepaid
forward contracts, the preamble to the proposed regulations expresses the view that similar timing issues exist in the case of prepaid
forward contracts. If the IRS or Treasury publishes future guidance requiring current economic accrual for contingent payments on prepaid
forward contracts, it is possible that you could be required to accrue income over the term of the Notes.
Because of the absence of authority regarding the appropriate
tax characterization of the Notes, it is also possible that the IRS could seek to characterize the Notes in a manner that results in tax
consequences that are different from those described above. For example, the IRS could possibly assert that any gain or loss that a holder
may recognize at maturity or upon the sale, exchange, or redemption of the Notes should be treated as ordinary gain or loss.
Because each 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, exchange, or redemption of the Notes or their settlement
at maturity may be subject to U.S. federal income tax if that Non-U.S. Holder is a non-resident alien individual and is present in the
U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the sale, exchange, redemption, or settlement and certain other conditions are satisfied.
If a Non-U.S. Holder of the Notes is engaged in the
conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. and if any gain realized on the settlement at maturity, or upon sale, exchange, or redemption
of the Notes, is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable
to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.), the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding
tax, generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if it
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-24 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
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 Underlyings 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 Underlyings or the Notes should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding
tax in the context of the Notes and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding,
we (or the applicable paying agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect
to amounts so withheld.
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of
the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification
of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the Notes to become subject to withholding tax, 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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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-25 |
Auto-Callable Enhanced Return Notes Linked to the Least Performing of the Russell 2000® Index, the Nasdaq 100® Index and the S&P 500® Index
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, except obligations that are subject to any priorities or preferences by law. The related guarantee will rank equally in right
of payment with all of BAC’s other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, except obligations that are subject to any priorities
or preferences by law, and senior to its subordinated obligations. Any payments due on the Notes, including any repayment of the principal
amount, will be subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance, as Issuer, and BAC, as Guarantor.
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AUTO-CALLABLE ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-26 |
Exhibit 107.1
The prospectus to which this Exhibit is attached is a final prospectus for the related offering. The maximum aggregate offering price for such offering is $1,000,000.00.
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