Risk Factors
This section describes the material risks relating to the securities. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement for Jump Securities and prospectus. You should also consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the securities.
Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities
■The securities do not pay interest and provide for the minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of your principal. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that the securities do not pay interest and provide for the minimum return of only 15% of the principal amount at maturity. If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, the payout at maturity will be an amount in cash that is less than the $1,000 stated principal amount of each security, reflecting the negative performance of the underlying stock over the term of the securities beyond the buffer amount of 15%. You could lose up to 85% of the stated principal amount of the securities.
■The appreciation potential is fixed and limited. Where the final share price is greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, the appreciation potential of the securities is limited to the fixed upside payment of at least $445 per security (44.50% of the stated principal amount), even if the final share price is significantly greater than the initial share price. The actual fixed upside payment will be determined on the pricing date. See “Hypothetical Payment on the Securities at Maturity” on page 5 above.
■You will not benefit from the fixed upside payment if the final share price is below the downside threshold level. If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, you will lose the benefit of the limited protection against the loss of principal based on the fixed upside payment. Instead, under these circumstances, you will be exposed on a 1-to-1 basis to the decline in the price of the underlying stock beyond the buffer amount of 15%, and you will lose some or a significant portion of your investment.
■The market price of the securities may be influenced by many unpredictable factors. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of the securities in the secondary market and the price at which MS & Co. may be willing to purchase or sell the securities in the secondary market, including:
othe value of the underlying stock at any time (including in relation to the downside threshold level),
othe volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the underlying stock,
odividend rates on the underlying stock,
ointerest and yield rates in the market,
ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlying stock or stock markets generally and which may affect the price of the underlying stock,
othe time remaining until the maturity of the securities,
othe occurrence of certain events affecting the underlying stock that may or may not require an adjustment to the adjustment factor, and
oany actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.
Generally, the longer the time remaining to maturity, the more the market price of the securities will be affected by the other factors described above. Some or all of these factors will influence the price you will receive if you sell your securities prior to maturity. For example, you may have to sell your securities at a substantial discount from the stated principal amount if at the time of sale the price of the underlying stock is at or below the initial share price and especially if it is near or below the downside threshold level.
You cannot predict the future performance of the underlying stock based on its historical performance. If the final share price is less than the downside threshold level, you will be exposed on a 1-to-1 basis to the full decline in the final share price from the initial share price beyond the buffer amount. There can be no assurance that the final share price will be greater than or equal to the downside threshold level so that you will receive at maturity an amount that is greater than the $1,000 stated principal amount for each security you hold, or that you will not lose some or a significant portion of your investment.
■The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the