Risk Factors
This section describes the material risks relating to the notes. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement and prospectus. We also urge you to consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the notes.
Risks Relating to an Investment in the Notes
■The notes may not pay more than the stated principal amount at maturity. If the final level is equal to or less than the initial level, you will receive only the stated principal amount at maturity, and you will not receive a positive return on your investment.
■The notes do not pay interest. Because the notes do not pay interest, if the final level is equal to or less than the initial level, you will not receive a positive return on your investment, and therefore the overall return on the notes (the effective yield to maturity) will be less than the amount that would be paid on an ordinary debt security. Accordingly, the return of only the stated principal amount at maturity will not compensate you for the effects of inflation and other factors relating to the value of money over time.
■The amount payable on the notes is not linked to the value of the underlier at any time other than the observation date. The final level will be based on the closing level of the underlier on the observation date, subject to postponement for non-trading days and certain market disruption events. Even if the value of the underlier appreciates prior to the observation date but then drops by the observation date, the payment at maturity may be less than it would have been had the payment at maturity been linked to the value of the underlier prior to such drop. Although the actual value of the underlier on the stated maturity date or at other times during the term of the notes may be higher than the closing level of the underlier on the observation date, the payment at maturity will be based solely on the closing level of the underlier on the observation date.
■The market price of the notes may be influenced by many unpredictable factors. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of the notes in the secondary market and the price at which MS & Co. may be willing to purchase or sell the notes in the secondary market. We expect that generally the value of the underlier at any time will affect the value of the notes more than any other single factor. Other factors that may influence the value of the notes include:
othe volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the underlier;
ointerest and yield rates in the market;
ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlier or markets generally;
othe availability of comparable instruments;
othe composition of the underlier and changes in such composition;
othe time remaining until the notes mature; and
oany actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.
Some or all of these factors will influence the price that you will receive if you sell your notes prior to maturity. Generally, the longer the time remaining to maturity, the more the market price of the notes will be affected by the other factors described above. For example, you may have to sell your notes at a substantial discount from the stated principal amount if, at the time of sale, the closing level of the underlier is at, below or not sufficiently above the initial level, or if market interest rates rise.
You can review the historical closing levels of the underlier in the section of this document called “Historical Information.” You cannot predict the future performance of the underlier based on its historical performance. The value of the underlier may be, and has recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. There can be no assurance that the final level will be greater than the initial level so that you receive a payment at maturity that exceeds the stated principal amount of the notes.
■The notes 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 notes. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the notes, and, therefore, you are subject to our credit risk. The notes are not guaranteed by any other entity. If we default on our obligations under the notes, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the notes prior to maturity will be affected by changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any actual or anticipated decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the notes.
■As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets. As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of its securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of MSFL securities if they make claims in respect of such securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by Morgan Stanley and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated