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 prospectus supplement, index 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 securities.
Risks Relating to an Investment in the Securities
■The securities do not guarantee the return of any principal. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that they do not guarantee the repayment of principal. If the securities have not been redeemed prior to maturity and the final index value of any underlying index is less than its downside threshold level of 70% of its initial index value, you will be exposed to the decline in the closing value of the worst performing underlying index, as compared to its initial index value, on a 1-to-1 basis, and you will receive for each security that you hold at maturity, in addition to the final monthly coupon, an amount equal to the stated principal amount multiplied by the index performance factor of the worst performing underlying index. In this case, the payment at maturity will be less than 70% of the stated principal amount and could be zero.
■The securities have early redemption risk. The term of the securities, and thus your opportunity to earn a potentially above-market coupon may be limited if we redeem the securities based on the output of a risk neutral valuation model on any monthly redemption date, beginning March 4, 2025. The term of your investment in the securities may be limited to as short as six months. In accordance with the risk neutral valuation model determination noted herein, it is more likely that we will redeem the securities when it would be advantageous for you to continue to hold the securities. As such, we will be more likely to redeem the securities when the monthly coupon payable on the securities is significantly greater than the interest that would be payable on instruments of a comparable maturity and credit rating trading in the market. In other words, we will be more likely to redeem the securities when the securities are paying an above-market coupon. If the securities are redeemed prior to maturity, you will receive no more monthly coupon payments, may be forced to invest in a lower interest rate environment and may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns.
On the other hand, we will be less likely to redeem the securities when the index closing value of any underlying index is near or below the respective downside threshold level, such that you are likely to suffer a significant loss on your initial investment in the securities at maturity. Therefore, if we do not redeem the securities, it is more likely that you will suffer a significant loss at maturity.
■Investors will not participate in any appreciation in any underlying index. Investors will not participate in any appreciation in any underlying index from the initial index value for such index, and the return on the securities will be limited to the monthly coupons that are paid until the securities are redeemed or reach maturity.
■The market price will 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. We expect that generally the level of interest rates available in the market and the value of each underlying index on any day, including in relation to its respective downside threshold level, will affect the value of the securities more than any other factors. Other factors that may influence the value of the securities include:
othe volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the underlying indices,
ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the component stocks of the underlying indices or securities markets generally and which may affect the value of each underlying index,
odividend rates on the securities underlying the underlying indices,
othe time remaining until the securities mature,
ointerest and yield rates in the market,
othe availability of comparable instruments,
othe composition of the underlying indices and changes in the constituent stocks of such indices, 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 that you will receive if you sell your securities prior to maturity. In particular, if any underlying index has closed near or below its downside threshold level, the market value of the securities is expected to decrease substantially and you may have to sell your securities at a substantial discount from the stated principal amount of $1,000 per security.