FWP 1 dfwp.htm PRELIMINARY TERM SHEET Preliminary Term Sheet

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration No. 333-158663

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Term Sheet dated May 28, 2009

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The MITTS® are being offered by Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). The MITTS will have the terms specified in this term sheet as supplemented by the documents indicated herein under “Additional Terms” (together, the “Note Prospectus”). Investing in the MITTS involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” and “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-5 of this term sheet and “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-13 of product supplement MITTS-3.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to BAC. References to “MLPF&S” are to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

In connection with this offering, each of MLPF&S, its broker-dealer affiliate First Republic Securities Company, LLC (“First Republic”), and Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. (“BAI”) is acting as our selling agent. Each of MLPF&S and First Republic is acting in its capacity as principal, and BAI will use its best efforts to sell the MITTS.

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 is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

    

Per Unit

    

Total

Public offering price (1)

   $ 10.00      $  

Selling discount (1)

   $ 0.25      $  

Proceeds, before expenses, to Bank of America Corporation

   $ 9.75      $  

 

  (1) The public offering price and selling discount for any purchase of 500,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor will be $9.95 per unit and $0.20 per unit, respectively.

*Depending on the date the MITTS are priced for initial sale to the public (the “pricing date”), which may be in June or July 2009, the settlement date may occur in June or July 2009 and the maturity date may occur in June or July 2013. Any reference in this term sheet to the month in which the pricing date, the settlement date or the maturity date will occur is subject to change as specified above.

“MITTS®” and “Market Index Target-Term Securities®” are registered service marks of our subsidiary, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

 

Merrill Lynch & Co.     Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.
  June     , 2009  

 

                        Units

Market Index Target-Term Securities®

Linked to the Gold Spot Price,

due June     , 2013

$10 principal amount per unit

Term Sheet No.

  

Expected Pricing Date*

Settlement Date*

Maturity Date*

CUSIP No.

 

June     , 2009

June     , 2009

June     , 2013

•      100% participation in increases in the Gold Spot Price, subject to a cap of between 60% and 66%

•      A maturity of approximately 4 years

•      100% principal protected at maturity

•      No periodic interest payments

•      No listing on any securities exchange

•      This debt is not guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program

    


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Summary

The Market Index Target-Term Securities® Linked to the Gold Spot Price, due June     , 2013 (the “MITTS”), are our senior unsecured debt securities and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by collateral. The MITTS will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, and any payments due on the MITTS, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of BAC. The MITTS provide investors with a 100% participation rate in increases in the closing market price of the Gold Spot Price (as defined below) from the Starting Value, determined on the pricing date, to the Ending Value, determined on the calculation day, subject to a maximum return of 60% to 66% over the Original Offering Price. Investors must be willing to forgo interest payments on the MITTS and be willing to accept a return that is capped.

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement MITTS-3.

 

Terms of the MITTS

 

Issuer:   Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”)
Original Offering Price:    $10.00 per unit
Base Value:   $10.00 per unit
Term:   Approximately 4 years
Market Measure:   The London Gold Market Fixing Ltd P.M. Fixing Price (the “Gold Spot Price”), which is a benchmark price used in markets where gold is sold for United States dollars and delivered immediately.
Starting Value:   The Gold Spot Price on the pricing date; subject to the Starting Value Commodity-Based Market Measure Disruption Calculation, as more fully described in product supplement MITTS-3. The Starting Value will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth in the final term sheet made available in connection with sales of the MITTS.
Ending Value:   The Gold Spot Price on the calculation day (as defined below). If it is determined that the scheduled calculation day is not a Market Measure Business Day, or if a Market Disruption Event (as defined on TS-6) occurs on the scheduled calculation day, the Ending Value will be determined as more fully described in product supplement MITTS-3.
Capped Value:   $16.00 to $16.60 per unit of the MITTS, which represents a return of 60% to 66% over the Original Offering Price. The actual Capped Value will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth in the final term sheet made available in connection with sales of the MITTS.
Calculation Day:   The fifth scheduled Market Measure Business Day immediately prior to the maturity date, determined as of the pricing date and set forth in the final term sheet that will be made available in connection with sales of the MITTS.
Participation Rate:   100%
Minimum Redemption Amount:   $10.00 per unit
Calculation Agent:   MLPF&S, a subsidiary of BAC

Determining the Redemption Amount for the MITTS

On the maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per MITTS (the “Redemption Amount”) calculated as follows:

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Hypothetical Payout Profile

 

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This graph reflects the hypothetical returns on the MITTS at maturity, based upon the Participation Rate of 100% and a hypothetical Capped Value of $16.30 (a 63% return), the midpoint of the Capped Value range of $16.00 to $16.60. The blue line reflects the hypothetical returns on the MITTS, while the dotted gray line reflects the hypothetical returns of a direct investment in gold, as measured by the Gold Spot Price.

 

This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. Your actual return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Ending Value, Capped Value, and the term of your investment.

Hypothetical Redemption Amounts

Examples

Set forth below are three examples of Redemption Amount calculations (rounded to two decimal places) payable at maturity based upon the Participation Rate of 100%, the Base Value of $10.00 (per unit), a hypothetical Starting Value of 924.00, which was the Gold Spot Price on May 13, 2009, the Minimum Redemption Amount of $10.00 (per unit), and a hypothetical Capped Value of $16.30 (per unit), the midpoint of the range of $16.00 and $16.60:

Example 1 The hypothetical Ending Value is 90% of the hypothetical Starting Value:

 

Hypothetical Starting Value:

   924.00   

Hypothetical Ending Value:

   831.60   

 

Redemption Amount =

 

$10 +

  [   $10 ×   100% x   (   831.60 - 924.00

 

  )   ]   = $9.00
           

 

924.00

     

Redemption Amount (per unit) = $10.00 (The Redemption Amount cannot be less than the Minimum Redemption Amount.)

Example 2 The hypothetical Ending Value is 130% of the hypothetical Starting Value:

 

Hypothetical Starting Value:

   924.00   

Hypothetical Ending Value:

   1,201.20   

 

Redemption Amount =

 

$10 +

  [   $10 ×   100% x   (   1,201.20 - 924.00

 

  )   ]   = $13.00
           

 

924.00

     

Redemption Amount (per unit) = $13.00

Example 3 The hypothetical Ending Value is 210% of the hypothetical Starting Value:

 

Hypothetical Starting Value:

   924.00   

Hypothetical Ending Value:

   1,940.40   

 

Redemption Amount =

 

$10 +

  [   $10 ×   100% x   (   1,940.40 - 924.00

 

  )   ]   = $21.00
           

 

924.00

     

Redemption Amount (per unit) = $16.30 (The Redemption Amount cannot be greater than the Capped Value.)

 

TS-3

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The following table illustrates, for a hypothetical Starting Value of 924.00 (the Gold Spot Price on May 13, 2009) and a range of hypothetical Ending Values:

 

  §  

the percentage change from the hypothetical Starting Value to the hypothetical Ending Value;

  §  

the hypothetical Redemption Amount per unit of the MITTS (rounded to two decimal places);

  §  

the total rate of return to holders of the MITTS;

  §  

the pretax annualized rate of return to holders of the MITTS; and

  §  

the pretax annualized rate of return of a hypothetical direct investment in gold, as measured by the Gold Spot Price.

The table below reflects the Participation Rate of 100%, the Base Value of $10.00 (per unit), the Minimum Redemption Amount of $10.00 (per unit), and a hypothetical Capped Value of $16.30 (per unit), the midpoint of the range of $16.00 to $16.60.

 

Hypothetical

Ending Value

 

Percentage Change from
the Hypothetical Starting
Value to the Hypothetical
Ending Value

 

Hypothetical

Redemption

Amount per Unit

 

Total Rate
of Return on

the MITTS

 

Pretax Annualized

Rate of Return

on the MITTS(1)

 

Pretax Annualized Rate
of Return of a Hypothetical
Direct Investment in Gold
as Measured by the Gold
Spot Price(1)(2)

   462.00    -50.00%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%   -16.61%
   554.40    -40.00%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%   -12.38%
   646.80    -30.00%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%     -8.73%
   739.20    -20.00%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%     -5.51%
   831.60    -10.00%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%     -2.62%
   877.80      -5.00%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%     -1.28%
   900.90      -2.50%     10.00     0.00%     0.00%     -0.63%
       924.00(3)       0.00%         10.00(4)     0.00%     0.00%      0.00%
   947.10       2.50%     10.25     2.50%     0.62%      0.62%
   970.20       5.00%     10.50     5.00%     1.23%      1.22%
1,016.40     10.00%     11.00   10.00%     2.40%      2.40%
1,108.80     20.00%     12.00   20.00%     4.62%      4.61%
1,201.20     30.00%     13.00   30.00%     6.68%      6.67%
1,293.60     40.00%     14.00   40.00%     8.60%      8.60%
1,386.00     50.00%     15.00   50.00%   10.41%    10.41%
1,478.40     60.00%     16.00   60.00%   12.12%    12.11%
1,570.80     70.00%         16.30(5)   63.00%   12.61%    13.73%
1,663.20     80.00%     16.30   63.00%   12.61%    15.26%
1,755.60     90.00%     16.30   63.00%   12.61%    16.72%
1,848.00   100.00%     16.30   63.00%   12.61%    18.11%
1,940.40   110.00%     16.30   63.00%   12.61%    19.45%

 

(1) The annualized rates of return specified in this column are calculated on a semi-annual bond equivalent basis and assume an investment term from May 18, 2009 to May 16, 2013, a term expected to be similar to that of the MITTS.

 

(2) This rate of return assumes:

 

  (a) a percentage change in the Gold Spot Price that equals the percentage change in the Gold Spot Price from the hypothetical Starting Value to the relevant hypothetical Ending Value; and

 

  (b) no transaction fees or expenses.

 

(3) This is the hypothetical Starting Value, which was the Gold Spot Price on May 13, 2009. The actual Starting Value will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth in the final term sheet made available in connection with sales of the MITTS.

 

(4) The Redemption Amount will not be less than the Minimum Redemption Amount of $10.00 per unit of the MITTS.

 

(5) The Redemption Amount per unit of the MITTS cannot exceed the hypothetical Capped Value of $16.30 (the midpoint of the range of $16.00 to $16.60). The actual Capped Value will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth in the final term sheet made available in connection with sales of the MITTS.

The above figures are for purposes of illustration only. The actual amount you receive and the resulting total and pretax annualized rates of return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Ending Value, Capped Value, and the term of your investment.

 

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Risk Factors

An investment in the MITTS involves significant risks. The following is a list of certain of the risks involved in investing in the MITTS. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the MITTS in the “Risk Factors” sections included in product supplement MITTS-3 and MTN prospectus supplement identified below under “Additional Terms.” We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the MITTS.

 

  §  

You may not earn a return on your investment.

 

  §  

Your yield may be less than the yield on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity.

 

  §  

Your return on the MITTS, if any, is limited to the return represented by the Capped Value.

 

  §  

Your investment return may be less than the return on a comparable investment directly in gold.

 

  §  

You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Gold Spot Price.

 

  §  

In seeking to provide you with what we believe to be commercially reasonable terms for the MITTS, while providing the selling agents with compensation for their services, we have considered the costs of developing, hedging, and distributing the MITTS.

 

  §  

A trading market is not expected to develop for your MITTS.

 

  §  

The Redemption Amount will not be affected by all developments relating to the Gold Spot Price.

 

  §  

Ownership of MITTS will not entitle you to any rights with respect to gold or any related future contracts.

 

  §  

If you attempt to sell the MITTS prior to maturity, their market value, if any, will be affected by various factors that interrelate in complex ways and their market value may be less than their Original Offering Price.

 

  §  

Payments on your MITTS are subject to our credit risk, and changes in our credit ratings are expected to affect the value of the MITTS.

 

  §  

The Gold Spot Price may change unpredictably, affecting the value of the MITTS in unforeseeable ways.

 

  §  

Suspensions or disruptions of market trading in gold and related futures markets may adversely affect the value of the MITTS.

 

  §  

The MITTS will not be regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

  §  

Purchases and sales by us and our affiliates may affect your return.

 

  §  

Our trading and hedging activities may create conflicts of interest with you.

 

  §  

Our hedging activities may affect your return on the MITTS and their market value.

 

  §  

There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent.

 

  §  

You should consider the tax consequences of investing in the MITTS.

Additional Risk Factors

There are risks associated with investing in gold or gold-linked MITTS.

The Gold Spot Price is derived from a principals’ market which operates as an over-the-counter physical commodity market. Certain features of U.S. futures markets are not present in the context of trading on such principals’ markets. For example, there are no daily price limits which would otherwise restrict the extent of daily fluctuations in the prices of the commodities in such markets. In a declining market, therefore, it is possible that prices would continue to decline without limitation within a trading day or over a period of trading days.

Gold prices are subject to volatile price movements over short periods of time and are affected by numerous factors. These include economic factors, including the structure of and confidence in the global monetary system, expectations of the future rate of inflation, the relative strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of gold is generally quoted), interest rates and gold borrowing and lending rates, and global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial, or other events. Gold prices may also be affected by industry factors such as industrial and jewelry demand, lending, sales and purchases of gold by the official sector, including central banks and other governmental agencies and multilateral institutions which hold gold, levels of gold production and production costs, and short-term changes in supply and demand because of trading activities in the gold market. It is not possible to predict the aggregate effect of all or any combination of these factors.

Changes in the methodology used to calculate the Gold Spot Price or changes in laws or regulations may affect the value of the MITTS. The members of the London Bullion Market Association (the “LBMA”) may adjust the Gold Spot Price in a way that affects its value, and these respective publishers have no obligation to consider your interests. The LBMA may from time to time change any rule or bylaw or take emergency action under its rules, any of which could affect the Gold Spot Price. Any change of this kind could cause a decrease in the Gold Spot Price, which would adversely affect the value of the MITTS.

In addition, the price of gold could be adversely affected by the promulgation of new laws or regulations or by the reinterpretation of existing laws or regulations (including, without limitation, those relating to taxes and duties on commodities or commodity components) by one or more governments, governmental agencies or instrumentalities, courts, or other official bodies. Any event of this kind could adversely affect the Gold Spot Price and, as a result, could adversely affect the value of the MITTS.

 

TS-5

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Other Terms of the MITTS

The provisions of this section supersede and replace the definition of “Market Disruption Events—Commodity-Based Market Measures that Are Not Exchange Traded Funds” set forth in product supplement MITTS-3.

Market Disruption Event

A “Market Disruption Event” means any of the following events, as determined in good faith by the calculation agent:

(A) the suspension of or material limitation on trading in gold, or futures contracts or options related to gold, on the Relevant Market (as defined below);

(B) the failure of trading to commence, or permanent discontinuance of trading, in gold, or futures contracts or options related to gold, on the Relevant Market; or

(C) the failure of the LBMA (as defined above) to calculate or publish the official fixing price of gold for that day (or the information necessary for determining the official fixing prices).

For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred:

(A) a limitation on the hours in a trading day and/or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular trading hours of the Relevant Market; and

(B) a suspension of or material limitation on trading in the Relevant Market will not include any time when trading is not conducted or prices are not quoted by the LBMA in the Relevant Market under ordinary circumstances.

Relevant Market

“Relevant Market” means the market in London on which members of the LBMA, or any successor thereto, quote prices for the buying and selling of gold, or if such market is no longer the principal trading market for gold or options or futures contracts for gold, such other exchange or principal trading market for gold as determined in good faith by the calculation agent which serves as the source of prices for gold, and any principal exchanges where options or futures contracts on gold are traded.

Investor Considerations

 

You may wish to consider an investment in the MITTS if:

 

§  

You anticipate that the Gold Spot Price will increase from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

§  

You accept that the return on the MITTS may be zero if the Gold Spot Price is unchanged or decreases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

§  

You accept that the return on the MITTS will not exceed the return represented by the Capped Value.

 

§  

You are willing to forgo interest payments on the MITTS, such as fixed or floating rate interest paid on traditional interest bearing debt securities.

 

§  

You seek exposure to the Gold Spot Price with no expectation of the benefits of owning gold or any related futures contract.

 

§  

You are willing to accept that a trading market is not expected to develop for the MITTS. You understand that secondary market prices for the MITTS, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our perceived creditworthiness.

The MITTS may not be an appropriate investment for you if:

 

§  

You anticipate that the Gold Spot Price will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value or that the Gold Spot Price will not increase sufficiently over the term of the MITTS to provide you with your desired return.

 

§  

You seek an investment that provides a guaranteed redemption amount above the principal.

 

§  

You seek a return on your investment that will not be capped at a percentage that will be between 60% and 66% over the Original Offering Price.

 

§  

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

 

§  

You seek an investment that provides you with the benefits of owning gold or any related futures contracts.

 

§  

You seek assurances that there will be a liquid market if and when you want to sell the MITTS prior to maturity.


 

 

TS-6

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Other Provisions

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

If you place an order to purchase these offered securities, you are consenting to each of MLPF&S and its broker-dealer affiliate First Republic acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account. MLPF&S is acting as an underwriter and/or selling agent for this offering and will receive underwriting compensation from BAC.

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

MLPF&S, First Republic, and BAI, each a broker-dealer subsidiary of BAC, are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”)) and will participate in the distribution of the MITTS. Accordingly, offerings of the MITTS will conform to the requirements of NASD Rule 2720. MLPF&S and First Republic will purchase the MITTS as principal, while BAI will use its best efforts to sell the MITTS. In the original offering of the MITTS, the MITTS will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units.

MLPF&S, First Republic, and BAI may use this Note Prospectus for offers and sales in secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the MITTS but are not obligated to engage in such secondary market transactions and/or market-making transactions. MLPF&S, First Republic, and BAI may act as principal or agent in these transactions, and any such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of the sale.

 

TS-7

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The Gold Spot Price

The London Gold Market Fixing Ltd P.M. Fixing Price (the “Gold Spot Price”) is a benchmark price used in the markets where gold is sold for United States dollars and delivered immediately. The Gold Spot Price is published by Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) under the symbol GOLDLNPM. The Gold Spot Price is an internationally published benchmark of the spot price of gold in U.S. dollars as determined at 3:00 P.M. London time by the LBMA. The Gold Spot Price is determined by five market-making members of the LBMA. These members meet by telephone each London business day at 3:00 P.M. to determine the Gold Spot Price. The five members are the Bank of Nova Scotia–ScotiaMocatta, Barclays Bank Plc, Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., and Société Générale.

The London bullion market is an “over-the-counter” (OTC) market, as opposed to an exchange-traded environment. Members of the London bullion market typically trade with each other and with their clients on a principal-to-principal basis. All risks, including those of credit, are between the two parties to a transaction.

An investment in the MITTS does not entitle you to any ownership interest, either directly or indirectly, in gold or in any gold transaction traded on the London bullion market.

The MITTS are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the LBMA. The LBMA takes no responsibility for the accuracy and/or the completeness of information provided in this term sheet, the product supplement, the MTN prospectus supplement, or the prospectus. In addition, the LBMA is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of the sale of the MITTS, prices at which the MITTS are to initially be sold, or the quantities of the MITTS to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the Redemption Amount. The LBMA has no obligation in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the MITTS.

The following graph sets forth the monthly historical performance of the Gold Spot Price in the period from January 2005 through April 2009. This historical data on the Gold Spot Price is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Gold Spot Price or what the value of the MITTS may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the Gold Spot Price during any period set forth below is not an indication that the Gold Spot Price is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the MITTS. On May 13, 2009, the Gold Spot Price was 924.00.

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TS-8

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Summary Tax Consequences

You should consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the MITTS, including the following:

 

   

Although there are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings, or judicial decisions addressing the characterization, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of the MITTS, we intend to treat the MITTS as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, where required, intend to file information returns with the IRS in accordance with such treatment.

 

   

A U.S. Holder will be required to report original issue discount (“OID”) or interest income based on a “comparable yield” with respect to a MITTS without regard to cash, if any, received on the MITTS.

 

   

Upon a sale, exchange, or retirement of a MITTS prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, or retirement and the holder’s tax basis in the MITTS. A U.S. Holder generally will treat any gain as ordinary interest income, and any loss as ordinary up to the amount of previously accrued OID and then as capital loss. At maturity, (i) if the actual Redemption Amount exceeds the projected Redemption Amount, a U.S. Holder must include such excess as interest income, or (ii) if the projected Redemption Amount exceeds the actual Redemption Amount, a U.S. Holder will generally treat such excess first as an offset to previously accrued OID for the taxable year, then as an ordinary loss to the extent of all prior OID inclusions, and thereafter as a capital loss.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Taxation Considerations

Set forth below is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to an investment in the MITTS. The following summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the discussion under the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” in product supplement MITTS-3, which you should carefully review prior to investing in the MITTS. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in product supplement MITTS-3.

General. There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings, or judicial decisions addressing the characterization, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of MITTS or other instruments with terms substantially the same as the MITTS. However, although the matter is not free from doubt, under current law, each MITTS should be treated as a debt instrument for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We currently intend to treat the MITTS as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, where required, intend to file information returns with the IRS in accordance with such treatment, in the absence of any change or clarification in the law, by regulation or otherwise, requiring a different characterization of the MITTS. You should be aware, however, that the IRS is not bound by our characterization of the MITTS as indebtedness and the IRS could possibly take a different position as to the proper characterization of the MITTS for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the MITTS are not in fact treated as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the MITTS could differ materially from the treatment discussed below, with the result that the timing and character of income, gain, or loss recognized in respect of a MITTS could differ materially from the timing and character of income, gain, or loss recognized in respect of a MITTS had the MITTS in fact been treated as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, prospective purchasers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of investing in the MITTS. The following summary assumes that the MITTS will be treated as debt instruments of BAC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Interest Accruals. The amount payable on the MITTS at maturity will depend on the performance of the Gold Spot Price. Accordingly, we intend to take the position that the MITTS will be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, subject to taxation under the “noncontingent bond method,” and the balance of this discussion assumes that this characterization is proper and will be respected. Under this characterization, the MITTS generally will be subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. Under those regulations, a U.S. Holder will be required to report OID or interest income based on a “comparable yield” and a “projected payment schedule,” established by us for determining interest accruals and adjustments with respect to a MITTS. A U.S. Holder who does not use the “comparable yield” and follow the “projected payment schedule” to calculate its OID and interest income on a MITTS must timely disclose and justify the use of other estimates to the IRS.

Sale, Exchange, or Retirement of the MITTS. Upon a sale, exchange, or retirement of a MITTS prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, or retirement and the holder’s tax basis in the MITTS. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a MITTS generally will equal the cost of that MITTS, increased by the amount of OID previously accrued by the holder for that MITTS (without regard to any positive or negative adjustments under the contingent payment debt regulations). A U.S. Holder generally will treat any gain as interest income, and will treat any loss as ordinary loss to the extent of the excess of previous interest inclusions over the total negative adjustments previously taken into account as ordinary losses, and the balance as long-term or short-term capital loss depending upon the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the MITTS. At maturity, (i) if the actual Redemption Amount exceeds the projected Redemption Amount, a U.S. Holder must include such excess as interest income, or (ii) if the projected Redemption Amount exceeds the actual Redemption Amount, a U.S. Holder will generally treat such excess first as an offset to previously accrued OID for the taxable year, then as an ordinary loss to the extent of all prior OID inclusions, and thereafter as a capital loss. The deductibility of capital losses by a U.S. Holder is subject to limitations.

Hypothetical Tax Accrual Table. The following table is based upon a hypothetical projected payment schedule (including a hypothetical Redemption Amount) and a hypothetical comparable yield equal to 5.17% per annum (compounded annually), which is our current estimate of the comparable yield, based upon market conditions as of the date of this term sheet as determined by us for purposes of illustrating the application of the Code and the Treasury regulations to the MITTS as if the MITTS had been issued on June 26, 2009 and were scheduled to mature on June 28, 2013. This tax accrual table is based upon a hypothetical projected payment schedule per $10 principal amount of the MITTS, which would consist of a single payment of $12.2374 at maturity. The following table is for illustrative purposes only, and we make no representations or predictions as to what the actual Redemption Amount will be. The actual “projected payment schedule” will be completed on the pricing date, and included in the final term sheet.

 

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                            Accrual Period                    

   Interest Deemed
to Accrue on
MITTS During
Accrual Period
(per Unit of the
MITTS)
   Total Interest
Deemed to Have
Accrued on MITTS
as of End of
Accrual Period
(per Unit of the
MITTS)

June 26, 2009 to December 31, 2009

   $0.2657    $0.2657

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010

   $0.5307    $0.7964

January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

   $0.5582    $1.3546

January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

   $0.5870    $1.9416

January 1, 2013 to June 28, 2013

   $0.2958    $2.2374

 

 

Hypothetical Projected Redemption Amount = $12.2374 per unit of the MITTS.

You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the MITTS, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws. See the discussion under the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” in product supplement MITTS-3.

 

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Additional Terms

You should read this term sheet, together with the documents listed below (collectively, the “Note Prospectus”), which together contain the terms of the MITTS and supersede all prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth under “Risk Factors” and “Additional Risk Factors” in the sections indicated on the cover of this term sheet. The MITTS involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the MITTS.

You may access the following documents on the SEC Website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC Website):

 

  §  

Product supplement MITTS-3 dated May  27, 2009:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312509119151/d424b5.htm

 

  §  

Series L MTN prospectus supplement dated April 21, 2009 and prospectus dated April 20, 2009:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000095014409003387/g18667b5e424b5.htm

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC Website is 70858.

We have filed a registration statement (including a product supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the product supplement, the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus in that registration statement, and the other documents relating to this offering that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we, any agent, or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the Note Prospectus if you so request by calling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-866-500-5408.

Structured Investments Classification

MLPF&S classifies certain structured investments (the “Structured Investments”), including the MITTS, into four categories, each with different investment characteristics. The description below is intended to briefly describe the four categories of Structured Investments offered: Principal Protection, Enhanced Income, Market Participation, and Enhanced Participation. A Structured Investment may, however, combine characteristics that are relevant to one or more of the other categories. As such, a category should not be relied upon as a description of any particular Structured Investment.

Principal Protection: Principal Protected Structured Investments offer full or partial principal protection at maturity, while offering market exposure and the opportunity for a better return than may be available from comparable fixed income securities. Principal protection may not be achieved if the investment is sold prior to maturity.

Enhanced Income: Structured Investments offering enhanced income may offer an enhanced income stream through interim fixed or variable coupon payments. However, in exchange for receiving current income, investors may forfeit upside potential on the underlying asset. These investments generally do not include the principal protection feature.

Market Participation: Market Participation Structured Investments can offer investors exposure to specific market sectors, asset classes, and/or strategies that may not be readily available through traditional investment alternatives. Returns obtained from these investments are tied to the performance of the underlying asset. As such, subject to certain fees, the returns will generally reflect any increases or decreases in the value of such assets. These investments are not structured to include the principal protection feature.

Enhanced Participation: Enhanced Participation Structured Investments may offer investors the potential to receive better than market returns on the performance of the underlying asset. Some structures may offer leverage in exchange for a capped or limited upside potential and also in exchange for downside risk. These investments are not structured to include the principal protection feature.

The classification of Structured Investments is meant solely for informational purposes and is not intended to fully describe any particular Structured Investment nor guarantee any particular performance.

 

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