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 principal at risk securities, index supplement and prospectus. We also urge you to consult 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 or guarantee the return of the face amount of your securities at maturity. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that they do not pay interest or guarantee the return of the face amount of your securities at maturity. If the securities have not been automatically called and if the ending level of the underlying index is less than the threshold level, you will lose more than 25%, and possibly all, of your investment.
■If the securities are automatically called prior to maturity, the appreciation potential of the securities is limited by the fixed call payment specified for the call date. If the closing level of the underlying index is greater than or equal to the starting level on the call date, the securities will be automatically called. In this scenario, the appreciation potential of the securities is limited to the fixed call payment specified on the call date, and no further payments will be made on the securities once they have been called. In addition, if the securities are automatically called prior to maturity, you will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index, which could be significant. Moreover, the fixed call payment may be less than the maturity payment amount you would receive for the same level of appreciation of the underlying index had the securities not been automatically called and instead remained outstanding until 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 the underlying index on any day, including in relation to the starting level and 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 index,
ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the component stocks of the underlying index or the securities markets generally and which may affect the value of the underlying index,
odividend rates on the securities underlying the underlying index,
othe time remaining until the securities mature,
ointerest and yield rates in the market,
othe availability of comparable instruments,
othe composition of the underlying index and changes in the constituent stocks of the underlying index, 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. For example, you may have to sell your securities at a substantial discount from the face amount of $1,000 per security if the level of the underlying index at the time of sale is near or below the threshold level or if market interest rates rise.
You cannot predict the future performance of the underlying index based on its historical performance. If the securities are not automatically called prior to maturity and the ending level of the underlying index is less than the threshold level, you will be exposed to the decline in the closing level of the underlying index. See “Russell 2000® Index Overview” below.
■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 securities upon an automatic call or at maturity, and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations under the securities, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the securities 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 securities.
■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