424B2 1 dp213822_424b2-baml12.htm FORM 424B2
  Subject to Completion
Preliminary Term Sheet dated
July 8, 2024

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-275898
(To Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement, each dated December 20, 2023, and Product Supplement
 EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1 dated July 1, 2024)

Units

$10 principal amount per unit
CUSIP No.

Pricing Date*

Settlement Date*

Maturity Date*

July   , 2024

August   , 2024

July   , 2028

*Subject to change based on the actual date the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the “pricing date”)
     

Market Index Target-Term Securities® Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index

§    Maturity of approximately 4 years

§    [101.00% to 111.00%] participation in increases in the EURO STOXX 50® Index (the “Market Measure”)

§    If the Market Measure is flat or decreases, payment at maturity will be the principal amount.

§    All payments occur at maturity and are subject to the credit risk of Royal Bank of Canada.

§    No periodic interest payments

§    In addition to the underwriting discount set forth below, the notes include a hedging-related charge of $0.075 per unit. See “Structuring the Notes.”

§    Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing

§    The notes are unsecured debt securities and are not savings accounts or insured deposits of a bank. The notes are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any other governmental agency of Canada or the United States.

 
         

The notes are being issued by Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”). There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks and certain additional costs. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-6 of this term sheet and “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-4 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1.

 

The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is expected to be between $8.89 and $9.39 per unit, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-6 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” below for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

_________________________

 

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 Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

_________________________

 

  Per Unit Total
Public offering price(1) $  10.00 $
Underwriting discount(1) $   0.25 $
Proceeds, before expenses, to RBC $   9.75 $

 

(1)For any purchase of 300,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor or in combined transactions with the investor’s household in this offering, the public offering price and the underwriting discount will be $9.95 per unit and $0.20 per unit, respectively. See “Supplement to the Plan of Distribution” below.

 

The notes:

 

Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value

 

 

BofA Securities 

July    , 2024

 

 

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Summary

 

The Market Index Target-Term Securities® Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July , 2028 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of RBC.

 

The notes are not bail-inable notes (as defined in the prospectus supplement). The notes provide you a leveraged return, if the Ending Value of the Market Measure is greater than the Starting Value. If the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value, you will receive only the principal amount of your notes. Any payments on the notes will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Market Measure, subject to our credit risk. See “Terms of the Notes” below.

 

The economic terms of the notes (including the Participation Rate) are based on our internal funding rate, which is the rate we pay to borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes, and the economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements. Our internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities. This difference in funding rate, as well as the underwriting discount and the hedging-related charge described below, will reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market. Due to these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the notes will be greater than the initial estimated value of the notes.

 

On the cover page of this term sheet, we have provided the initial estimated value range for the notes. This initial estimated value range was determined based on our and our affiliates’ pricing models, which take into consideration our internal funding rate and the market prices for the hedging arrangements related to the notes. The initial estimated value of the notes calculated on the pricing date will be set forth in the final term sheet made available to investors in the notes. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” below.

 

 

Terms of the Notes Redemption Amount Determination
Issuer: Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) On the maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per unit determined as follows:
Principal Amount: $10.00 per unit

 

You will receive the Minimum Redemption Amount per unit of $10.00

 

(The Redemption Amount will not be less than the Minimum Redemption Amount per unit.)

 

Term: Approximately 4 years
Market Measure: The EURO STOXX 50® Index (Bloomberg symbol “SX5E”), a price return index
Starting Value: The closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date
Minimum Redemption Amount: $10.00 per unit.  If you sell your notes before the maturity date, you may receive less than the Minimum Redemption Amount per unit.
Ending Value: The average of the closing levels of the Market Measure on each calculation day occurring during the Maturity Valuation Period. The scheduled calculation days are subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described beginning on page PS-17 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1.
Participation Rate: [101% to 111%]. The actual Participation Rate will be determined on the pricing date.
Maturity Valuation Period: Five scheduled calculation days shortly before the maturity date
Fees and Charges: The underwriting discount of $0.25 per unit listed on the cover page and a hedging-related charge of $0.075 per unit described in “Structuring the Notes” below.
Calculation Agent:

BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”)

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-2

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

The terms and risks of the notes are contained in this term sheet and in the following:

 

§Product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1 dated July 1, 2024:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000095010324009341/dp213854_424b5-eqindmitts1.htm

  

§Series J MTN prospectus supplement dated December 20, 2023:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000119312523299523/d638227d424b3.htm

 

§Prospectus dated December 20, 2023:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1000275/000119312523299520/d645671d424b3.htm

 

These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated above or obtained from us, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) or BofAS by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this term sheet to “Royal Bank of Canada,” the “Bank,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar references mean only RBC.

 

“Market Index Target-Term Securities®” and “MITTS®” are the registered service marks of Bank of America Corporation, the parent company of MLPF&S and BofAS.

 

 

Investor Considerations

 

You may wish to consider an investment in the notes if:   The notes may not be an appropriate investment for you if:
     

§    You anticipate that the Market Measure will increase from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

§    You accept that the return on the notes will be zero if the Market Measure does not increase from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

§    You are willing to forgo the interest-payments that are paid on conventional interest bearing debt securities.

 

§    You are willing to forgo dividends and other benefits of directly owning the securities included in the Market Measure.

 

§     You are willing to accept a limited or no market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, our internal funding rate and fees and charges on the notes.

 

§    You are willing to assume our credit risk, as issuer of the notes, for all payments under the notes, including the Redemption Amount.

 

 

§    You believe that the Market Measure will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value or that it will not increase sufficiently over the term of the notes to provide you with your desired return.

 

§    You seek a guaranteed return beyond the Minimum Redemption Amount.

 

§    You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.

 

§    You want to receive dividends have the other benefits of directly owning the securities included in the Market Measure.

 

§    You seek an investment for which there will be a liquid secondary market.

 

§    You are unwilling or are unable to take market risk on the notes or to take our credit risk as issuer of the notes.

 

We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the notes.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-3

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Hypothetical Payout Profile and Examples of Payments at Maturity

 

The graph below is based on hypothetical numbers and values.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®  

This graph reflects the returns on the notes, based on a hypothetical Participation Rate of 106.00% (the midpoint of the Participation rate range of [101.00% to 111.00%]) and the Minimum Redemption Amount of $10.00 per unit. The blue line reflects the returns on the notes, while the dotted gray line reflects the returns of a direct investment in the securities included in the Market Measure, excluding dividends.

 

This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only.

 

The following table and examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes. They illustrate the calculation of the Redemption Amount and total rate of return based on a hypothetical Starting Value of 100.00, a hypothetical Participation Rate of 106.00%, the Minimum Redemption Amount of $10 per unit and a range of hypothetical Ending Values. The actual amount you receive and the resulting total rate of return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Participation Rate and Ending Value, 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 Market Measure, see “The Market Measure” section below. The Market Measure is a price return index and as such the Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends paid on the securities included in the Market Measure, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in the those securities directly. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.

 

Ending Value   Percentage Change from the Starting Value to the Ending Value   Redemption Amount per Unit   Total Rate of Return on the Notes
0.00   -100.00%   $10.000   0.00%
50.00   -50.00%   $10.000   0.00%
60.00   -40.00%   $10.000   0.00%
70.00   -30.00%   $10.000   0.00%
80.00   -20.00%   $10.000   0.00%
90.00   -10.00%   $10.000   0.00%
   100.00(1)   0.00%      $10.000(2)   0.00%
102.00   2.00%   $10.212   2.12%
103.00   3.00%   $10.318   3.18%
105.00   5.00%   $10.530   5.30%
110.00   10.00%   $11.060   10.60%
120.00   20.00%   $12.120   21.20%
130.00   30.00%   $13.180   31.80%
140.00   40.00%   $14.240   42.40%
150.00   50.00%   $15.300   53.00%
160.00   60.00%   $16.360   63.60%

 

(1)The hypothetical Starting Value of 100.00 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent a likely actual Starting Value for the Market Measure.

 

(2)The Redemption Amount per unit will not be less than the Minimum Redemption Amount.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-4

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Redemption Amount Calculation Examples:

 

Example 1    
The Ending Value is 80.00, or 80.00% of the Starting Value:  
Starting Value: 100.00    

Ending Value: 80.00

 

   
Redemption Amount (per unit) =

$10.00, the Minimum Redemption Amount, since the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value.

 

 

 

Example 2    
The Ending Value is 120.00, or 120.00% of the Starting Value:    
Starting Value: 100.00    

Ending Value: 120.00

 

   
 = $12.12 Redemption Amount per unit
         
Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-5

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Risk Factors

 

There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security. An investment in the notes involves significant risks, including those listed below. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-4 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1, page S-3 of the MTN prospectus supplement, and page 1 of the prospectus identified above. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.

 

Structure-related Risks

 

§Depending on the performance of the Market Measure as measured shortly before the maturity date.

 

§Your return on the notes may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity.

 

§Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. If we become insolvent or are unable to pay our obligations, you may lose your entire investment.

 

§Your investment return may be less than a comparable investment directly in the securities included in the Market Measure.

 

Valuation- and Market-related Risks

 

§The initial estimated value of the notes is only an estimate, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our and our affiliates’ pricing models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and variables, including our credit spreads, our internal funding rate, mid-market terms on hedging transactions, expectations on dividends, interest rates 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.

 

§The public offering price you pay for the notes will exceed the initial estimated value. 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 the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the level of the Market Measure, our internal funding rate and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging-related charge, 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, MLPF&S, BofAS or any of our 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 Market Measure, our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions.

 

§A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. None of us, MLPF&S or BofAS is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market.

 

Conflict-related Risks

 

§Our business, hedging and trading activities, and those of MLPF&S, BofAS and our respective affiliates (including trades in the securities included in the Market Measure), and any hedging and trading activities we, MLPF&S, BofAS or our respective affiliates engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you.

 

§There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent, which is BofAS. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent.

 

Market Measure-related Risks

 

§The Market Measure sponsor may adjust the Market Measure in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests.

 

§You will have no rights of a holder of the securities included in the Market Measure, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities.

 

§While we, MLPF&S, BofAS or our respective affiliates may from time to time own the securities included in the Market Measure, we, MLPF&S, BofAS and our respective affiliates do not control the issuers of those securities, and have not verified any disclosure made by any other company.

 

§Your return on the notes and the value of the notes may be affected by exchange rate movements and factors affecting the international securities markets, specifically changes within the Eurozone. The Eurozone is and has been undergoing severe financial stress, and the political, legal and regulatory ramifications are impossible to predict. Changes within the Eurozone could adversely affect the performance of the Market Measure and, consequently, the value of the notes. In addition, you will not obtain the benefit of any increase in the value of the euro against the U.S. dollar, which you would have received if you had owned the securities included in the Market Measure during the term of your notes, although the level of the Market Measure may be adversely affected by general exchange rate movements in the market.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-6

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Tax-related Risks

 

§You may be required to recognize taxable income on the notes prior to maturity. If you are a U.S. investor in a note, under the treatment of a note as a contingent payment debt instrument, you will generally be required to recognize taxable interest income in each year that you hold the note. In addition, any gain you recognize under the rules applicable to contingent payment debt instruments will generally be treated as ordinary interest income rather than capital gain. You should review carefully the section entitled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” herein, in combination with the section entitled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, and consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes.

 

Other Terms of the Notes

 

Market Measure Business Day

 

The following definition supersedes and replaces the definition of “Market Measure Business Day” set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1.

 

A “Market Measure Business Day” means a day on which:

 

(A)the Eurex (or any successor) is open for trading; and

 

(B)the Market Measure or any successor thereto is calculated and published.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-7

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

The Market Measure

 

We obtained all information contained in this term sheet regarding the EURO STOXX 50® Index (the “SX5E”), including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information, without independent verification. This information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, STOXX Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Börse AG, the index sponsor. The SX5E is calculated, maintained and published by STOXX Limited. STOXX Limited has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of the SX5E at any time. The consequences of the index sponsor discontinuing publication of the SX5E are discussed in the section entitled “Description of MITTS—Discontinuance of an Index” in product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1. None of us, the calculation agent, MLPF&S, or BofAS accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance, or publication of the SX5E or any successor index. Neither we nor any agent has independently verified the accuracy or completeness of any information with respect to the SX5E in connection with the offer and sale of securities.

 

The EURO STOXX 50® Index

 

The SX5E is a free-float market capitalization weighted index composed of 50 of the largest stocks in terms of free-float market capitalization traded on the major exchanges of 9 Eurozone countries: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain. At any given time, some eligible countries may not be represented in the SX5E. The euro price return version of the SX5E is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “SX5E.”

 

The selection list for the SX5E is composed of the components of the EURO STOXX® Index. In addition, the selection list for the SX5E includes the top 60% of the free-float market capitalization of each of the 20 EURO STOXX® Supersector indices and all current SX5E component stocks. All the stocks on the selection list are ranked in terms of free-float market capitalization. The largest 40 stocks on the selection list are selected for inclusion in the SX5E; the remaining 10 stocks are selected from the largest remaining current stocks ranked between 41 and 60. If the number of stocks selected is still below 50, then the largest remaining stocks are selected until there are 50 stocks.

 

The weighting cap factor limits the weight of each component stock within the SX5E to a maximum of 10% of the SX5E at the time of each review.

 

Each of the SX5E, the EURO STOXX® Index and each EURO STOXX® Supersector Index is referred to individually as a “STOXX Benchmark Index” and, collectively, as the “STOXX Benchmark Indices.”

 

STOXX Benchmark Index Maintenance

 

The composition of each of the EURO STOXX® Index and the EURO STOXX® Supersector Indices is reviewed quarterly in March, June, September and December. The review cut-off date is the last trading day of the month preceding the review month.

 

The composition of the SX5E is reviewed annually in September. The review cut-off date is the last trading day of August. The composition of the SX5E is also reviewed monthly and components that rank 75 or below are replaced and non-component stocks that rank 25 or above are added.

 

In addition, changes to country classification and listing are effective as of the next quarterly review. At that time, the relevant STOXX Benchmark Index is adjusted accordingly to remain consistent with its country membership rules by deleting the company where necessary.

 

The STOXX Benchmark Indices are also reviewed on an ongoing basis. Corporate actions (including initial public offerings, mergers and takeovers, spin-offs, delistings, bankruptcy, and price and share adjustments) that affect a STOXX Benchmark Index composition are immediately reviewed. Any changes are announced, implemented and effective in line with the type of corporate action and the magnitude of the effect.

 

With respect to the EURO STOXX® Index, the EURO STOXX® Supersector Indices and the EURO STOXX 50® Index, to maintain the number of components constant, a removed company is replaced by the highest-ranked non-component on the relevant selection list. The selection list is updated on a monthly basis according to the review component selection process.

 

The free-float factors for each component stock used to calculate each STOXX Benchmark Index are reviewed, calculated and implemented on a quarterly basis and are fixed until the next quarterly review.

 

STOXX Benchmark Index Calculation

 

Each STOXX Benchmark Index is calculated with the “Laspeyres formula,” which measures the aggregate price changes in the component stocks against a fixed base quantity weight. The formula for calculating the value of a STOXX Benchmark Index can be expressed as follows:

 

Index =

free-float market capitalization of the relevant STOXX Benchmark Index 

divisor

 

The “free-float market capitalization of the relevant STOXX Benchmark Index” is equal to the sum of the products, for each component stock, of the price, number of shares, free-float factor, weighting cap factor and, if applicable, the exchange rate from the local currency into the index currency of the relevant STOXX Benchmark Index as of the time that STOXX Benchmark Index is being calculated.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-8

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

The free-float factor of each component stock is intended to reduce the number of shares to the actual amount available on the market. All fractions of the total number of shares that are larger than or equal to 5% and whose holding is of a long-term nature are excluded from the calculation of the STOXX Benchmark Indices, including: cross-ownership (stock owned either by the company itself, in the form of treasury shares, or owned by other companies); government ownership (stock owned by either governments or their agencies); private ownership (stock owned by either individuals or families); and restricted shares that cannot be traded during a certain period or have a foreign ownership restriction. Block ownership is not applied for holdings of custodian nominees, trustee companies, mutual funds, investment companies with short-term investment strategies, pension funds and similar entities.

 

Each STOXX Benchmark Index is also subject to a divisor, which is adjusted to maintain the continuity of the values of that STOXX Benchmark Index despite changes due to corporate actions. The following is a summary of the adjustments to any component stock of a STOXX Benchmark Index made for corporate actions and the effect of such adjustment on the divisor of that STOXX Benchmark Index, where shareholders of the component stock will receive “B” number of shares for every “A” share held (where applicable).

 

𝜏 = withholding tax
Divt = dividend amount announced by company
pt-1 = closing price on the day before the ex-date
padj = new adjusted price
wft-1 = weighting factor on the day before the ex-date
wfadj = new adjusted weighing factor
st-1 = number of shares on the day before the ex-date
sadj = new adjusted number of shares
SP = subscription price

 

Special Cash Dividend

Divisor 

Cash distributions that are outside the scope of the regular dividend policy or that the company defines as an extraordinary distribution.

decreases
   
padj = pt-1 - Divt × (1 – 𝜏*)  

 

____________________ 

* If a withholding tax (𝜏) applies then 𝜏 > 0, else 𝜏 = 0.

 

Split and Reverse Split 

Divisor 

padj = pt-1 × A / B unchanged
sadj = st-1 × B / A  

Rights Offering 

 

If the subscription price is not available or equal to or greater than the closing price on the day before the ex-date (out-of-the-money), then no adjustment is made.

 

If the subscription price is available as a price range and not as a fixed price, the price and share adjustment is performed only if both lower and upper range are in the money. The average value between lower and upper range will be used as a subscription price.

 

 

If the subscription price is not available or equal to or greater than the closing price on the day before the ex-date (out-of-the-money), then no adjustment is made.

 

If the subscription price is available as a price range and not as a fixed price, the price and share adjustment is performed only if both lower and upper range are in the money. The average value between lower and upper range will be used as a subscription price.

 

 

Standard Rights Issue 

Divisor 

padj = (pt-1 × A + SP × B) / (A + B) increases
sadj = st-1 × (A + B) / A  

Highly Dilutive Rights Issue 

Divisor 

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-9

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

A rights offering is considered as Highly Dilutive Rights Issue (HDRI) when the share ratio is larger or equal to 200% but smaller than 2000% (20 > B/A ≥ 2).  
·     Scenario 1: If the rights are tradable on ex-date on the same eligible stock exchange as the parent company:  
·    The rights will be included into the indices with a theoretical price on the ex-date with the same parameters as the parent company. unchanged on ex-date
·    The rights will be removed at the close of the day they start to trade based on its closing price. decreases after deletion of rights
·    If the rights issue results into listing of new shares and satisfy certain criteria relating to free float factors and share adjustments under STOXX methodology, then the number of shares will be increased after the new shares have been listed. increases on the day of the share increase
·     Scenario 2: If the rights are not tradable on ex-date or not tradable on the ex-date on the same eligible stock exchange as the parent company: decreases on ex-date
·    Only a price adjustment will be applied.  
·    If the rights issue results into listing of new shares and satisfy certain criteria relating to free float factors and share adjustments under STOXX methodology, then the number of shares will be increased after the new shares have been listed. increases on the day of the share increase

Extremely Dilutive Rights Issue 

Divisor 

A rights offering is considered as Extremely Dilutive Rights Issue (EDRI) when the share ratio is larger or equal to 2000% (B/A ≥ 20).  
·    Extremely dilutive rights issues with sufficient notice period* are treated as following: STOXX will announce the deletion of the company from all indices following the standard rules for index replacements. The company may enter the indices again at the next periodic index review, but only after the new shares have been listed. Decreases
·    Extremely dilutive rights issues without sufficient notice period are treated as highly dilutive rights issues.  

____________________

 

* Sufficient notice period means that STOXX is able to announce index changes with two trading days’ notice.

 

Ordinary Stock Dividend 

Divisor 

padj = pt-1 × A / (A + B) unchanged
sadj = st-1 × (A + B) / A  

Stock Dividend From Treasury Stock (only if treated as a special cash dividend) 

Divisor 

Stock dividends from treasury stocks will be adjusted as cash dividends. decreases
padj = pt-1 - pt-1 × B / (A + B)  

Stock Dividend From Redeemable Shares (only if treated as a special cash dividend) 

Divisor 

Stock dividends from redeemable shares will be adjusted as cash dividends. In such a case, redeemable shares are considered as: decreases
·      A separated share line with a fixed price.  
·      Ordinary shares that are self-tendered on the same ex-date.  
padj = pt-1 - pt-1 × B / (A + B)  
   

Stock Dividend of Another Company 

Divisor 

padj = [(pt-1 × A) – [(1 – 𝜏*) × price of the other company × B]] / A decreases

 

___________________ 

* If a withholding tax (𝜏) applies then 𝜏 > 0, else 𝜏 = 0.

 

Return of Capital and Share Consolidation 

Divisor

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-10

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

The event will be applied as a combination of cash/special dividend together with a reverse split.  
·     If the return of capital is considered as regular cash dividend, then the treatment under “Split and Reverse Split” above applies. decreases
·     If the return of capital is considered as special cash dividend, then the treatment under “Special Cash Dividend” and “Split and Reverse Split” above apply accordingly. decreases
padj = [pt-1 - capital return announced by company × (1 – 𝜏*)] × A / B  

 

____________________ 

* If a withholding tax (𝜏) applies then 𝜏 > 0, else 𝜏 = 0.

 

 
sadj = st-1 × B / A  

Repurchase of Shares/Self-Tender 

Divisor 

padj = [(pt-1 × st-1) – (tender price × number of tendered shares)] / sadj decreases
sadj = st-1 - number of tendered shares  

Spin-off 

Divisor 

The adjusted price (padj), the number of shares before the ex-date (st-1) and the weighting factor on the day before the ex-date (wft-1) refer to the parent company. unchanged on ex-date
padj = (pt-1 × A – price of spun-off shares × B) / A  
New number of shares for the spun-off company = st-1 × B  

Combination of Stock Distribution (Dividend or Split) and Rights Offering 

Divisor 

For the below corporate actions, the following additional assumptions apply:  
·    Shareholders receive ‘B’ new shares from the distribution and ‘C’ new shares from the rights offering for every ‘A’ share held.  
·    If ‘A’ is not equal to one, all the following ‘new number of shares’ formulas need to be divided by ‘A’:  
·    If rights are applicable after stock distribution (one action applicable to another) increases
padj = [pt-1 × A + SP × C × (1 + B / A)] / [(A + B) × (1 + C / A)]  
sadj = st-1 × [(A + B) × (1 + C / A)] / A increases
·    If stock distribution is applicable after rights (one action applicable to another)  
padj = (pt-1 × A + SP × C) / [(A + C) × (1 + B / A)] increases
sadj = st-1 × (A + C) × (1 + B / A)  
·    Stock distribution and rights (neither action is applicable to the other)  
padj = (pt-1 × A + SP × C) / (A + B + C)  
sadj = st-1 × (A + B + C) / A  

Addition/Deletion of A Company 

 
No price adjustments are made. The change in market capitalization determines the divisor adjustment. If the change in market capitalization between added and deleted companies of an index increases (decreases), then the divisor increases (decreases). If the change is null, then the divisor remains unchanged.  

Free Float and Shares Changes 

 

No price adjustments are made. The change in market capitalization determines the divisor adjustment. If the change in market capitalization of an index increases (decreases), then the divisor increases (decreases). If the change is null, then the divisor remains unchanged.

 

 
Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-11

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

The following graph shows the daily historical performance of the SX5E in the period from January 1, 2014 through July 5, 2024. 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. On July 5, 2024, the closing level of the SX5E was 4,979.39.

 

Historical Performance of the SX5E

 

This historical data on the SX5E is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the SX5E or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the SX5E during any period set forth above is not an indication that the level of the SX5E 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 SX5E.

 

License Agreement

 

We have entered into or expect to enter into a non-exclusive license agreement with STOXX providing for the license to us and certain of our affiliated or subsidiary companies, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and published by STOXX in connection with certain securities, including the notes offered hereby.

 

The license agreement between us and STOXX requires or is expected to require that the following language be stated in this term sheet:

 

STOXX has no relationship to us, other than the licensing of the STOXX Benchmark Indices and the related trademarks for use in connection with the notes. STOXX does not:

 

·sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote the notes;

 

·recommend that any person invest in the notes offered hereby or any other securities;

 

·have any responsibility or liability for or make any decisions about the timing, amount, or pricing of the notes;

 

·have any responsibility or liability for the administration, management, or marketing of the notes; or

 

·consider the needs of the notes or the holders of the notes in determining, composing, or calculating the STOXX Benchmark Indices, or have any obligation to do so.

 

STOXX will not have any liability in connection with the notes. Specifically:

 

·STOXX does not make any warranty, express or implied, and disclaims any and all warranty concerning:

 

othe results to be obtained by the notes, the holders of the notes or any other person in connection with the use of the STOXX Benchmark Indices and the data included in the STOXX Benchmark Indices;

 

othe accuracy or completeness of the STOXX Benchmark Indices and their data;

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-12

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

othe merchantability and the fitness for a particular purpose or use of the STOXX Benchmark Indices and their data;

 

·STOXX will have no liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions in the STOXX Benchmark Indices or their data; and

 

·Under no circumstances will STOXX be liable for any lost profits or indirect, punitive, special, or consequential damages or losses, even if STOXX knows that they might occur.

 

The licensing agreement between us and STOXX is solely for their benefit and our benefit, and not for the benefit of the holders of the notes or any other third parties.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-13

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

 

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 term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.

 

MLPF&S will purchase the notes from BofAS for resale, and will receive a selling concession in connection with the sale of the notes in an amount up to the full amount of underwriting discount set forth on the cover of this term sheet.

 

We will pay a fee to LFT Securities, LLC for providing certain electronic platform services with respect to this offering, which will reduce the economic terms of the notes to you. An affiliate of BofAS has an ownership interest in LFT Securities, LLC.

 

We may deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than one business day 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 one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement of the notes occurs more than one business day from the pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than one business day prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

 

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units. If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S and/or one of its affiliates acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account.

 

MLPF&S and BofAS may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s and BofAS’s trading commissions and mark-ups or mark-downs. MLPF&S and BofAS may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however, neither is obligated to engage in any such transactions. At their discretion, for a short, undetermined initial period after the issuance of the notes, MLPF&S and 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 MLPF&S or BofAS for the notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Market Measure and the remaining term of the notes. However, none of us, MLPF&S, BofAS or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we, MLPF&S, BofAS or any of our respective affiliates will purchase your notes at a price that equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the notes.

 

The value of the notes shown on your account statement will be based on BofAS’s estimate of the value of the notes if BofAS or another of its affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated to do. That estimate will be based upon the price that BofAS may pay for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, as mentioned above, and will include transaction costs. At certain times, this price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value of the notes.

 

The distribution of the Note Prospectus in connection with these offers or sales will be solely for the purpose of providing investors with the description of the terms of the notes that was made available to investors in connection with their initial offering. Secondary market investors should not, and will not be authorized to, rely on the Note Prospectus for information regarding RBC or for any purpose other than that described in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

An investor’s household, as referenced on the cover of this term sheet, will generally include accounts held by any of the following, as determined by MLPF&S in its discretion and acting in good faith based upon information then available to MLPF&S:

 

·the investor’s spouse (including a domestic partner), siblings, parents, grandparents, spouse’s parents, children and grandchildren, but excluding accounts held by aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews or any other family relationship not directly above or below the individual investor;

 

·a family investment vehicle, including foundations, limited partnerships and personal holding companies, but only if the beneficial owners of the vehicle consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; and

 

·a trust where the grantors and/or beneficiaries of the trust consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; provided that, purchases of the notes by a trust generally cannot be aggregated together with any purchases made by a trustee’s personal account.

 

Purchases in retirement accounts will not be considered part of the same household as an individual investor’s personal or other non-retirement account, except for individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), simplified employee pension plans (“SEPs”), savings incentive match plan for employees (“SIMPLEs”), and single-participant or owners only accounts (i.e., retirement accounts held by self-employed individuals, business owners or partners with no employees other than their spouses).

 

Please contact your MLPF&S financial advisor if you have any questions about the application of these provisions to your specific circumstances or think you are eligible.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-14

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Structuring the Notes

 

The notes are our debt securities. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness. In addition, because market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under market-linked notes at a rate that is lower than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity, which we refer to as our internal funding rate. The lower internal funding rate, along with the fees and charges associated with market-linked notes, reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and result in the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date being less than their public offering price. Unlike the initial estimated value, any value of the notes determined for purposes of a secondary market transaction may be based on a secondary market rate, which may result in a lower value for the notes than if our initial internal funding rate were used.

 

At maturity, we are required to pay the Redemption Amount to holders of the notes, which will be calculated based on the $10 per unit principal amount and will depend on the performance of the Market Measure. In order to meet these payment obligations, 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 its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, including MLPF&S, BofAS and their affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Market Measure, the tenor of the notes and the tenor of 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 a hedging-related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to BofAS from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by BofAS or any third party hedge providers.

 

For further information, see “Risk Factors—Valuation- and Market-related Risks” beginning on page PS-5 and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on page PS-14 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES MITTS-1.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-15

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

Summary of Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

For a discussion of the material Canadian federal income tax consequences relating to an investment in the notes, please see the section entitled “Tax Consequences—Canadian Taxation” in the prospectus dated December 20, 2023.

 

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

You should review carefully the section in the accompanying product supplement entitled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the notes.

 

Generally, this discussion assumes that you purchased the notes for cash in the original issuance at the stated issue price and does not address other circumstances specific to you, including consequences that may arise due to any other investments relating to the Market Measure. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the effect any such circumstances may have on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your ownership of a note.

 

We intend to treat the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes as contingent payment debt instruments, or “CPDIs,” as described in “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—MITTS Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement. In the opinion of our counsel, which is based on current market conditions, this treatment of the notes is reasonable under current law. Assuming this treatment is respected, regardless of your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you generally will be required to accrue interest income in each year on a constant yield to maturity basis at the “comparable yield,” as determined by us, adjusted upward or downward to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and projected payments on the notes during the year. Upon a taxable disposition of a note, you generally will recognize taxable income or loss equal to the difference between the amount received and your tax basis in the notes. You generally must treat any income realized as interest income and any loss as ordinary loss to the extent of previous interest inclusions, and the balance as capital loss, the deductibility of which is subject to limitations.

 

If the notes were priced as of the date of this preliminary term sheet, the comparable yield for a note would be a rate of 5.14% per annum, compounded semi-annually. Based upon our determination of the comparable yield, the “projected payment schedule” per $10 principal amount of note consists of a single payment at maturity, equal to $2.25. The actual comparable yield and the projected payment schedule for the notes will be determined on the Pricing Date and updated in the final term sheet. Assuming a semiannual accrual period, the following table sets out the amount of taxable interest income (without taking into account any adjustment to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and the projected amount of the contingent payment on a note) that will be deemed to have accrued with respect to a note during each calendar period, based upon our determination of the comparable yield and projected payment schedule.

 

Accrual Period Interest Deemed to Accrue During Accrual Period (per note) Total Interest Deemed to Have Accrued (per note)
August 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 $0.21 $0.21
January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 $0.53 $0.75
January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 $0.56 $1.31
January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027 $0.59 $1.90
January 1, 2028 through July 28, 2028 $0.35 $2.25

 

Neither the comparable yield nor the projected payment schedule constitutes a representation by us regarding the actual amount(s) that we will pay on the notes.

 

Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, please also read the section entitled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” in the accompanying product supplement.

 

As discussed under “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Dividend Equivalents under Section 871(m) of the Code” in the accompanying product supplement, Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. The Treasury regulations, as modified by an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) notice, exempt financial instruments issued prior to January 1, 2027 that do not have a “delta” of one. Based on certain determinations made by us, we expect that Section 871(m) will not apply to the notes with regard to Non-U.S. Holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. If necessary, further information regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) will be provided in the final term sheet for the notes.

 

We will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to U.S. federal withholding taxes.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-16

Market Index Target-Term Securities®
Linked to the EURO STOXX 50® Index, due July    , 2028

 

 

You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

Market Index Target-Term Securities®TS-17