424B2 1 d424b2.htm FINAL TERM SHEET Final Term Sheet

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered

 

Proposed
Maximum

Offering

Price Per

Unit

  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  Amount of
Registration
Fee(1)

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund, due December 30, 2011

  2,707,000   $10.00   $27,070,000   $1,930.09
 
 
(1) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933.


Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)2

Registration No. 333-158663

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The notes are being offered by Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). The notes will have the terms specified in this term sheet as supplemented by the documents indicated below under “Additional Terms” (together, the “Note Prospectus”). Investing in the notes involves a number of risks. There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks. See “Risk Factors” and “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-6 of this term sheet and beginning on page S-10 of product supplement STR-2. The notes:

 

 

Are Not FDIC Insured

 

  Are Not Bank Guaranteed   May Lose Value

In connection with this offering, each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) and its broker-dealer affiliate First Republic Securities Company, LLC (“First Republic”) is acting in its capacity as principal for your account.

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      $ 27,070,000

Underwriting discount (1)

   $ 0.20      $ 541,400

Proceeds, before expenses, to Bank of America Corporation

   $ 9.80      $ 26,528,600

 

  (1) The public offering price and underwriting discount for any purchase of 500,000 or more units in a single transaction by an individual investor will be $9.95 per unit and $0.15 per unit, respectively.

Merrill Lynch & Co.

December 17, 2009

 

2,707,000 Units

Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund,

due December 30, 2011

$10 principal amount per unit

Term Sheet No.

Pricing Date December 17, 2009

Settlement Date December 28, 2009

Maturity Date December 30, 2011

CUSIP No. 06052E764

The notes will be called at an amount equal to the $10 principal amount per unit plus a Call Premium of 14.30% per annum if the closing market price per share of the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (the “Index Fund”) on any Observation Date is equal to or greater than 100% of its starting value

1-to-1 downside loss if the notes are not called prior to maturity and the closing market price per share of the Index Fund decreases below the Threshold Value, with up to 90% of the principal amount at risk

A maturity of approximately 2 years

Payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation

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 Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund, due December 30, 2011 (the “notes”), are our senior unsecured debt securities and are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, and any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of BAC. The notes provide for an automatic call if the Observation Level of the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (the “Index Fund”) on any Observation Date is equal to or greater than the Call Level. If the notes are called on any Observation Date, you will receive on the Call Settlement Date an amount per unit (the “Call Amount”) equal to the Original Offering Price of the notes plus the applicable Call Premium. If your notes are not called, the amount you receive on the maturity date (the “Redemption Amount”) will not be greater than the Original Offering Price per unit and will be based on the direction of and percentage change in the price per share of the Index Fund from the Starting Value, as determined on the pricing date, to the Ending Value, as determined on the final Observation Date. Investors must be willing to forgo interest payments on the notes and be willing to accept a repayment that may be less, and potentially significantly less, than the Original Offering Price of the notes. Investors also must be prepared to have us call their notes on any Observation Date.

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement STR-2. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to BAC.

 

Terms of the Notes

 

Issuer:   Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”)
Original Offering Price:   $10.00 per unit
Term:   Approximately two years
Market Measure:   Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (Index Fund symbol: “XLF”)
Starting Value:   14.15 (the Volume Weighted Average Price).
Volume Weighted Average Price:   The price (rounded to two decimal places) shown on page “AQR” on Bloomberg L.P. for trading in shares of the Index Fund taking place from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 4:02 p.m. on all U.S. exchanges on the pricing date.
Ending Value:   The Observation Level on the final Observation Date. If it is determined that a scheduled Observation Date is not a Market Measure Business Day, or if a Market Disruption Event occurs on a scheduled Observation Date, the Ending Value will be determined as more fully described in product supplement STR-2.
Observation Level:   The Closing Market Price (as defined on page TS-8) of the Index Fund on NYSE Arca, multiplied by the Price Multiplier.
Observation Dates:   December 22, 2010, June 21, 2011, and December 22, 2011 (the final Observation Date).
Call Level:   14.15 (100% of the Starting Value).
Call Amounts (per Unit):   $11.430 if called on December 22, 2010; $12.145 if called on June 21, 2011; and $12.860 if called on December 22, 2011.
Call Premium:   14.30% of the Original Offering Price per annum.
Call Settlement Date:   The fifth Banking Business Day following an Observation Date, if the notes are called on that Observation Date, subject to postponement as described in product supplement STR-2; provided however, that the Call Settlement Date related to the final Observation Date will be the maturity date.
Threshold Value:   12.74 (90% of the Starting Value, rounded to two decimal places).
Price Multiplier:   1, subject to adjustment for certain corporate events relating to the Index Fund described in product supplement STR-2.
Leverage Factor:   100%
Calculation Agent:   MLPF&S, a subsidiary of BAC

Determining Payment on the Notes

Automatic Call Provision:

The notes will be automatically called on an Observation Date if the Observation Level on that Observation Date is equal to or greater than the Call Level. If the notes are called, you will receive on the Call Settlement Date the Call Amount per unit applicable to that Observation Date, which is equal to the Original Offering Price per unit plus the Call Premium.

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Payment at Maturity:

If the notes are not called prior to the maturity date, you will receive the Redemption Amount per unit on the maturity date, calculated as follows:

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Hypothetical Payments

Set forth below are five hypothetical examples of payment calculations, based on:

1) the Starting Value of 14.15;

2) the Threshold Value of 12.74, (90% of the Starting Value, rounded to two decimal places);

3) the Call Level of 14.15, or 100% of the Starting Value;

4) the term of the notes from December 28, 2009 to December 30, 2011;

5) the Call Premium of 14.30% of the Original Offering Price per unit per annum; and

6) the Observation Dates occurring on December 22, 2010, June 21, 2011, and December 22, 2011.

The Notes Are Called on One of the Observation Dates

The notes have not been previously called and the hypothetical Observation Level on the relevant Observation Date is equal to or greater than the Call Level. Consequently, the notes will be called at the Call Amount per unit equal to $10.000 plus the applicable Call Premium.

Example 1

If the call is related to the Observation Date that falls on December 22, 2010, the Call Amount per unit will be:

$10.000 plus the Call Premium of $1.430 = $11.430 per unit.

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Example 2

If the call is related to the Observation Date that falls on June 21, 2011, the Call Amount per unit will be:

$10.000 plus the Call Premium of $2.145 = $12.145 per unit.

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Example 3

If the call is related to the Observation Date that falls on December 22, 2011, the Call Amount per unit will be:

$10.000 plus the Call Premium of $2.860 = $12.860 per unit.

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The Notes Are Not Called on Any of the Observation Dates

Example 4

The notes are not called on any of the Observation Dates and the hypothetical Ending Value of the Index Fund on the final Observation Date is not less than 12.74, the Threshold Value. The Redemption Amount per unit will therefore be $10.000.

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Example 5

The notes are not called on any of the Observation Dates and the hypothetical Ending Value of the Index Fund on the final Observation Date is less than 12.74, the Threshold Value. The Redemption Amount will be less, and possibly significantly less, than the Original Offering Price per unit.

If the hypothetical Ending Value is 12.03, or 85% of the Starting Value, the hypothetical Redemption Amount will be:

 

 

$10 +

  [   $10 ×    (     12.03 – 12.74  

 

  )    × 100%   ]   = $9.500 per unit  
         

 

14.15  

         

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These examples have been prepared for purposes of illustration only. Your actual return will depend on the actual Observation Level on the applicable Observation Date, the Ending Value, if applicable, and the term of your investment.

Summary of the Hypothetical Examples

 

Notes Are Called on an Observation Date    Observation Date on
December 22, 2010
   Observation Date on
June 21, 2011
   Observation Date on
December 22, 2011

Starting Value

        14.15        14.15        14.15

Call Level

        14.15        14.15        14.15

Hypothetical Observation Level on the Observation Date

        15.57        14.86        14.86

Return of the Index Fund (excluding any dividends)

     10.00%       5.00%        5.00%

Return of the Notes

     14.30%     21.45%      28.60%

Call Amount per Unit

   $11.430    $12.145    $12.860

 

Notes Are Not Called on Any Observation Date    Hypothetical Ending Value Is
Greater than the Threshold Value
  Hypothetical Ending Value Is
Less than the Threshold Value

Starting Value

       14.15      14.15

Hypothetical Ending Value

       13.44      12.03

Threshold Value

       12.74      12.74

Return of the Index Fund (excluding any dividends)

     -5.00%   -15.00%

Return of the Notes

      0.00%     -5.00%

Redemption Amount per Unit

   $10.000     $9.500

 

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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. The following is a list of certain of the risks involved in investing in the notes. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections included in product supplement STR-2 and the 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 notes.

 

  §  

If the notes are not called prior to maturity, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal.

 

  §  

Your return, if any, is limited to the return represented by the Call Premium.

 

  §  

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

 

  §  

Your investment return may be less than the return on a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index Fund.

 

  §  

You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Index Fund.

 

  §  

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

 

  §  

A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes.

 

  §  

The amount that you receive at maturity or upon a call will not be affected by all developments relating to the Index Fund.

 

  §  

We cannot control actions by the Index Fund’s investment advisor, SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSFM”), which may adjust the Index Fund in a way that could adversely affect the value of the notes and the amount payable on the notes, and SSFM has no obligation to consider your interests.

 

  §  

You will have no rights of a holder of the securities represented by the Index Fund, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities.

 

  §  

While we or our affiliates may from time to time own shares of companies held by the Index Fund or included in the Underlying Index, except to the extent that our common stock is included in the Underlying Index, we do not control any company held by the Index Fund or included in the Underlying Index, and are not responsible for any disclosure made by any other company.

 

  §  

There are liquidity and management risks associated with the Index Fund.

 

  §  

The performance of the Index Fund and the performance of the Underlying Index may vary.

 

  §  

Risks associated with the Underlying Index or the underlying assets of the Index Fund will affect the share price of the Index Fund and hence, the value of the notes.

 

  §  

If you attempt to sell the notes 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 the notes are subject to our credit risk, and changes in our credit ratings are expected to affect the value of the notes.

 

  §  

Purchases and sales by us and our affiliates of shares of companies included in the Underlying Index 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 notes and their market value.

 

  §  

Our business activities relating to the companies held by the Index Fund or included in the Underlying Index may create conflicts of interest with you.

 

  §  

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

 

  §  

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See “Summary Tax Consequences” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Taxation Considerations” below and “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” in product supplement STR-2.

Additional Risk Factors

MLPF&S, acting as the Index Compilation Agent, determines the composition of the Select Sector Indices after consultation with Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).

The stocks included in each Select Sector Index, including the Underlying Index, are selected by MLPF&S (the “Index Compilation Agent”). The Index Compilation Agent, after consultation with S&P, assigns a company’s stock to a particular Select Sector Index on the basis of the company’s sales and earnings composition and the sensitivity of the company’s stock price and business results to the common factors that affect other companies in each Select Sector Index. S&P has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500® Index and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500® Index. However, S&P plays only a consulting role in the Select Sector Index assignment of the S&P 500® Index component stocks, which is the sole responsibility of the Index Compilation Agent. The Index Compilation Agent will compile the Select Sector Indices without regard to the notes. The Index Compilation Agent has no obligation to take the interests of the holders of the notes into consideration in compiling the Select Sector Indices, including when compiling the Underlying Index.

 

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S&P may cause an adjustment to the S&P 500® Index in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests.

S&P is responsible for calculating and maintaining the S&P 500® Index, from which the stocks included in the Underlying Index are selected. S&P can add, delete, or substitute the stocks included in the S&P 500® Index or make other methodological changes that could change the level of the S&P 500® Index and therefore the composition and level of the Underlying Index. Changing the companies included in the Underlying Index may affect the level of the Underlying Index, as a newly added company may perform significantly better or worse than the company or companies it replaces. Additionally, S&P may alter, discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the S&P 500® Index, any of which could adversely affect the value of the notes. S&P has no obligation to consider your interests in calculating or revising the S&P 500® Index.

NYSE Euronext may discontinue the calculation or dissemination of the Underlying Index or adjust the methodology for calculating the Underlying Index in a way that affects its level, and NYSE Euronext has no obligation to consider your interests.

NYSE Euronext is responsible for calculating and disseminating the Underlying Index. NYSE Euronext may make methodological changes that could change the level of the Underlying Index. Additionally, NYSE Euronext may discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the Underlying Index, which could adversely affect the value of the notes. NYSE Euronext has no obligation to consider your interests in taking any of the foregoing actions.

The stocks included in the Underlying Index, including our common stock, are concentrated in one sector.

All of the stocks included in the Underlying Index, including our common stock, are issued by companies in the financial services sector. As a result, the stocks that will determine the performance of the notes are concentrated in one sector. Although an investment in the notes will not give holders any ownership or other direct interests in the stocks underlying the Underlying Index, the return on an investment in the notes will be subject to certain risks associated with a direct equity investment in companies in the financial services sector. Accordingly, by investing in the notes, you will not benefit from the diversification which could result from an investment linked to companies that operate in multiple sectors.

The current financial crisis has adversely impacted the stock prices of many companies in the financial services sector, and may continue to do so during the term of the notes.

The ongoing financial crisis in the U.S. has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant losses among companies that operate in the financial services sector. These recent events in the financial sector and deterioration in the credit markets generally have also resulted, and may continue to result, in a high degree of volatility in the stock prices of financial institutions, and substantial fluctuations in the profitability and ongoing viability of these companies. Further, companies in the financial services sector have been subject to unprecedented government actions and regulation, which may limit the scope of their operations and, in turn, result in a decrease in value of these companies. Any of these factors may have an adverse impact on the performance of the Underlying Index. As a result, the level of the Underlying Index may be adversely affected by economic, political, or regulatory events affecting the financial services sector or one of the sub-sectors of the financial services sector. This in turn could adversely impact the market value of the notes and decrease the Redemption Amount.

Investor Considerations

 

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

 

§  

You anticipate that the price per share of the Index Fund will be equal to or higher than the Call Level on any Observation Date and you seek an early exit prior to maturity at a premium in that case.

 

§  

You are willing to receive a pre-determined return on your investment, capped at the Call Premium, in case the notes are called, regardless of the performance of the Index Fund from the Starting Value to the date on which the notes are called.

 

§  

You are willing to accept that the notes may not be called prior to the maturity date, in which case your return on your investment will be equal to or less than the Original Offering Price per unit.

 

§  

You accept that your investment will result in a loss, which could be significant, if the price per share of the Index Fund decreases below the Threshold Value from the Starting Value to the Ending Value on the final Observation Date.

 

§  

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

 

§  

You seek exposure to the Index Fund with no expectation of receiving distributions from the Index Fund or receiving dividends or other benefits of owning the stocks held by the Index Fund.

 

§  

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

 

§  

You are willing to make an investment, the payments on which depend on our creditworthiness, as the issuer of the notes.

 

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

 

§  

You want to hold your notes for the full term.

 

§  

You anticipate that the price per share of the Index Fund will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

§  

You anticipate that the Observation Level will not be equal to or greater than the Call Level on any Observation Date.

 

§  

You seek a return on your investment that will not be capped at the Call Premium.

 

§  

You seek 100% principal protection or preservation of capital.

 

§  

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

 

§  

You want to receive dividends from the Index Fund or dividends paid on the stocks held by the Index Fund.

 

§  

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

 

§  

You are unwilling or are unable to assume the credit risk associated with us, as the issuer of the notes.


 

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Other Terms of the Notes

The provisions of this section supersede and replace the definition of “Closing Market Price” set forth in product supplement STR-2.

The “Closing Market Price” means:

 

  (A) If the Market Measure is listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange in the U.S. that is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“registered national securities exchange”), is included in the OTC Bulletin Board Service (the “OTC Bulletin Board”) operated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or is quoted on a U.S. quotation medium or inter-dealer quotation system (e.g., the Pink-Sheets), then the Closing Market Price for any date of determination on any trading day means for one share of the Market Measure (or any other security underlying a Market Measure for which a Closing Market Price must be determined for purposes of the notes):

a. the last reported sale price, regular way, on that day on the principal registered national securities exchange on which that security is listed or admitted to trading (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session);

b. if the last reported sale price is not obtainable on a registered national securities exchange, then the last reported sale price on the over-the-counter-market as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not available on the OTC Bulletin Board, then the last reported sale price on any other U.S. quotation medium or inter-dealer quotation system on that day (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session); or

c. if the last reported sale price is not available for any reason on a registered national securities exchange, on the OTC Bulletin Board, or on any other U.S. quotation medium or inter-dealer quotation system, then the Closing Market Price shall be the arithmetic mean of the bid prices on that day from as many dealers in that security, but not exceeding three, as have made the bid prices available to the calculation agent after 3:00 p.m., local time in the principal market of the shares of the Market Measure (or any other security underlying the Market Measure for which a Closing Market Price must be determined for purposes of the notes) on that date (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session), or if there are no such bids available to the calculation agent, then the Closing Market Price shall be determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion and reasonable judgment.

 

  (B) If the Market Measure is not listed on a registered national securities exchange, is not included in the OTC Bulletin Board, or is not quoted on any other U.S. quotation medium or inter-dealer system, then the Closing Market Price for any date of determination on any trading day means for one share of the Market Measure the U.S. dollar equivalent of the last reported sale price (as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion and reasonable judgment) on that day on a foreign securities exchange on which that security is listed or admitted to trading with the greatest volume of trading for the calendar month preceding that trading day as determined by the calculation agent; provided that if the last reported sale price is for a transaction which occurred more than four hours prior to the close of that foreign exchange, then the Closing Market Price will mean the U.S. dollar equivalent (as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion and reasonable judgment) of the average of the last available bid and offer price on that foreign exchange.

 

  (C) If the Market Measure is not listed on a registered national securities exchange, is not included in the OTC Bulletin Board, is not quoted on any other U.S. quotation medium or inter-dealer quotation system, is not listed or admitted to trading on any foreign securities exchange, or if the last reported sale price or bid and offer are not obtainable, then the Closing Market Price will mean the average of the U.S. dollar value (as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion) of the last available purchase and sale prices in the market of the three dealers which have the highest volume of transactions in that security in the immediately preceding calendar month as determined by the calculation agent based on information that is reasonably available to it.

Other Provisions

We will deliver the notes 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, purchasers who wish to trade notes 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 the notes, 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.

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

MLPF&S and First Republic, 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 as selling agents in the distribution of the notes. Accordingly, offerings of the notes will conform to the requirements of NASD Rule 2720. Under our distribution agreement with the selling agents, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us on the issue date as principal at the purchase price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units.

MLPF&S and First Republic may use this Note Prospectus for offers and sales in secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the notes but are not obligated to engage in such secondary market transactions and/or market-making transactions. MLPF&S and First Republic 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.

 

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The Index Fund

We have derived the following information from publicly available sources. We are not affiliated with the Index Fund and the Index Fund will have no obligations with respect to the notes. This term sheet relates only to the notes and does not relate to the shares of the Index Fund or securities in the Financial Select Sector Index (the “Underlying Index”). Neither we nor MLPF&S has or will participate in the preparation of the publicly available documents described below. Neither we nor MLPF&S has made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Index Fund in connection with the offering of the notes. There can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date of this term sheet, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described below, that would affect the trading price of the shares of the Index Fund have been or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Index Fund could affect the value of the shares of the Index Fund on the Observation Dates and therefore could affect your Call Amount or Redemption Amount, as applicable.

The Financial Select Sector SPDR is an investment portfolio maintained and managed by SSFM. SSFM is the investment advisor to each of nine separate investment portfolios, including the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund, all of which are offered by the Select Sector SPDR Trust, a registered investment company. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund trades on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XLF.” The Index Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index. The Index Fund typically earns income dividends from securities included in the Underlying Index. These amounts, net of expenses and taxes (if applicable), are passed along to the Index Fund’s shareholders as “ordinary income.” In addition, the Index Fund realizes capital gains or losses whenever it sells securities. Net long-term capital gains are distributed to shareholders as “capital gain distributions.” However, because your notes are linked only to the share price of the Index Fund, you will not be entitled to receive income, dividend, or capital gain distributions from the Index Fund or any equivalent payments. The Index Fund currently has an expense ratio of approximately 0.21% per year.

Information provided to or filed with the SEC by the Select Sector SPDR Trust under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 can be located at the SEC’s facilities or through the SEC’s Website by reference to SEC file numbers 333-57791 and 811-08837, respectively. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or reports.

The selection of the Index Fund is not a recommendation to buy or sell the shares of the Index Fund. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the shares of the Index Fund.

The Select Sector Indices

All disclosures contained in this term sheet regarding the Underlying Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components has been derived from publicly available information. This information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P, NYSE Euronext, and MLPF&S, as described in this section and in the section “Additional Risk Factors” above. None of us, the calculation agent, nor MLPF&S accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance, or publication of the Underlying Index.

The Underlying Index is one of the Select Sector Indices. The Select Sector Indices are sub-indices of the S&P 500® Index. Each stock in the S&P 500® Index is allocated to only one Select Sector Index, and the combined companies of the ten Select Sector Indices represent all of the companies in the S&P 500® Index. The industry indices are sub-categories within each Select Sector Index and represent a specific industry segment of the overall Select Sector Index. The ten Select Sector Indices seek to represent the S&P 500® Index sectors. The S&P 500® Index sectors, with the approximate percentage of the market capitalization of the S&P 500® Index included in each sector as of December 17, 2009 indicated in parentheses, are: Consumer Discretionary (9.7%); Consumer Staples (11.6%); Energy (11.7%); Financials (14.0%); Health Care (13.0%); Industrials (10.5%); Information Technology (19.1%); Materials (3.5%); Telecommunication Services (3.2%); and Utilities (3.8%). MLPF&S, acting as the Index Compilation Agent, determines the composition of the Select Sector Indices after consultation with S&P.

 

   

Each Select Sector Index was developed and is maintained in accordance with the following criteria:

 

   

Each of the component stocks in a Select Sector Index (the “Component Stocks”) is a constituent company of the S&P 500® Index.

 

   

The ten Select Sector Indices together will include all of the companies represented in the S&P 500® Index and each of the stocks in the S&P 500® Index will be allocated to one and only one of the Select Sector Indices.

 

   

The Index Compilation Agent assigns each constituent stock of the S&P 500® Index to a Select Sector Index. The Index Compilation Agent, after consultation with S&P, assigns a company’s stock to a particular Select Sector Index on the basis of that company’s sales and earnings composition and the sensitivity of the company’s stock price and business results to the common factors that affect other companies in each Select Sector Index.

 

   

Each Select Sector Index is calculated by NYSE Euronext using a modified “market capitalization” methodology. This design ensures that each of the component stocks within a Select Sector Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of that Select Sector Index. However, under certain conditions, the number of shares of a component stock within the Select Sector Index may be adjusted to conform to Internal Revenue Code requirements.

Each Select Sector Index is calculated using the same methodology utilized by S&P in calculating the S&P 500® Index, using a base–weighted aggregate methodology. The daily calculation of each Select Sector Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the companies in the Select Sector Index by a number called the index divisor.

The Index Compilation Agent at any time may determine that a Component Stock which has been assigned to one Select Sector Index has undergone such a transformation in the composition of its business, and should be removed from that Select Sector Index and assigned to a different Select Sector Index. In the event that the Index Compilation Agent notifies NYSE Euronext that a Component Stock’s Select Sector Index assignment should be changed, NYSE Euronext will disseminate notice of the change following its standard procedure for announcing index changes and will implement the change in the affected Select Sector Indexes on a date no less than one week after the initial dissemination of information on the sector change to the maximum extent practicable. It is not anticipated that Component Stocks will change sectors frequently.

 

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Component Stocks removed from and added to the S&P 500® Index will be deleted from and added to the appropriate Select Sector Index on the same schedule used by S&P for additions and deletions from the S&P 500® Index insofar as practicable.

The Underlying Index

The Underlying Index (Index symbol: “IXM”) is a modified market capitalization-based index. The Underlying Index is intended to track the movements of companies that are components of the S&P 500® Index and, as of September 30, 2009, includes the shares of common stock of 79 companies from the following industries: diversified financial services, insurance, commercial banks, capital markets, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), consumer finance, thrifts and mortgage finance, and real estate management and development. As of September 30, 2009, the total market capitalization of the Underlying Index’s common stock constituted approximately 15.23% of the aggregate market capitalization of the stocks included in the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index, which serves as a benchmark for the Index Fund, was established with a value of 250.00 on June 30, 1998.

Historical Data

The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of the shares of the Index Fund for the calendar quarters from its inception on October 8, 2004 through the pricing date. The closing prices listed below were obtained from publicly available information at Bloomberg Financial Market, rounded to two decimal places. The historical closing prices of shares of the Index Fund should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and we cannot assure you that the price per share of the Index Fund will not decrease. In addition, we cannot assure you that the price per share of the Index Fund will increase so that the closing price per share of the Index Fund on any applicable Observation Date will be equal to or greater than the Starting Value or that your notes will be automatically called on such Observation Date.

 

     HIGH    LOW

2004

     

Fourth Quarter (from October 8, 2004)

   30.58    27.39

2005

     

First Quarter

   30.59    28.10

Second Quarter

   29.67    27.65

Third Quarter

   30.37    29.03

Fourth Quarter

   32.45    28.61

2006

     

First Quarter

   33.18    31.32

Second Quarter

   34.16    31.51

Third Quarter

   34.76    31.62

Fourth Quarter

   37.12    34.54

2007

     

First Quarter

   37.96    34.80

Second Quarter

   38.02    35.30

Third Quarter

   36.81    32.06

Fourth Quarter

   35.89    28.29

2008

     

First Quarter

   29.68    23.45

Second Quarter

   27.71    20.26

Third Quarter

   22.68    17.17

Fourth Quarter

   20.67      9.39

2009

     

First Quarter

   12.66      6.18

Second Quarter

   13.02      9.06

Third Quarter

   15.34    11.10

Fourth Quarter (through the pricing date)

   15.73    14.01

Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available sources for the levels and trading pattern of the Index Fund. The generally unsettled international environment and related uncertainties, including the risk of terrorism, may result in the Index Fund and financial markets generally exhibiting greater volatility than in earlier periods.

 

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Summary Tax Consequences

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

 

   

You agree with us (in the absence of an administrative determination, or judicial ruling to the contrary) to characterize and treat the notes for all tax purposes as a callable single financial contract linked to the Index Fund that requires you to pay us at inception an amount equal to the purchase price of the notes and that entitles you to receive at maturity or upon earlier redemption an amount in cash linked to the level of the Index Fund.

 

   

Under this characterization and tax treatment of the notes, subject to the discussion below concerning the potential application of the “constructive ownership” rules under Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes prior to maturity, you generally will recognize capital gain or loss. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you hold the notes for more than one year.

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 notes. 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 STR-2, which you should carefully review prior to investing in the notes.

General.    Although there is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addressing the characterization of the notes, we intend to treat the notes for all tax purposes as a callable single financial contract linked to the Index Fund that requires you to pay us at inception an amount equal to the purchase price of the notes and that entitles you to receive at maturity or upon earlier redemption an amount in cash linked to the level of the Index Fund. Under the terms of the notes, we and every investor in the notes agree, in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to treat the notes as described in the preceding sentence. This discussion assumes that the notes constitute a callable single financial contract linked to the Index Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the notes did not constitute a callable single financial contract, the tax consequences described below would be materially different.

This characterization of the notes is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or the courts. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of the notes or any similar instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no ruling is being requested from the IRS with respect to their proper characterization and treatment. Due to the absence of authorities on point, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes are not certain, and no assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with the characterization and tax treatment described in product supplement STR-2. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including possible alternative characterizations. The discussion in this section and in the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” in product supplement STR-2 assume that there is a significant possibility of a significant loss of principal on an investment in the notes.

Settlement at Maturity or Sale, Exchange, or Redemption Prior to Maturity.    Assuming that the notes are properly characterized and treated as callable single financial contracts linked to the Index Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes, subject to the discussion below concerning the potential application of the “constructive ownership” rules under Section 1260 of the Code, upon receipt of a cash payment at maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes prior to maturity, a U.S. Holder (as defined in product supplement STR-2) generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s basis in the notes. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder holds the notes for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Possible Application of Section 1260 of the Code.    Because the Index Fund is a type of financial asset described under Section 1260 of the Code, while the matter is not entirely clear, there may exist a risk that an investment in the notes will be treated as a “constructive ownership transaction” to which Section 1260 of the Code applies. If Section 1260 of the Code applies, all or a portion of any long-term capital gain recognized by a U.S. Holder in respect of the notes will be recharacterized as ordinary income (the “Excess Gain”). The Excess Gain will equal the excess of (i) any long-term capital gain recognized by the U.S. Holder in respect of the notes, over (ii) the “net underlying long-term capital gain” (as defined in Section 1260 of the Code) such U.S. Holder would have had if such U.S. Holder had acquired an amount of the Index Fund at fair market value on the original issue date for an amount equal to the issue price of the notes and sold such amount of the Index Fund upon the date of sale, exchange, redemption, or settlement of the notes at fair market value. In addition, an interest charge will also apply to any deemed underpayment of tax in respect of any Excess Gain to the extent such gain would have resulted in gross income inclusion for the U.S. Holder in taxable years prior to the taxable year of sale, exchange, redemption, or settlement (assuming such income accrued at a constant rate equal to the applicable federal rate as of the date of sale, exchange, redemption, or settlement). U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisor regarding the potential application of Section 1260 of the Code to an investment in the notes.

Possible Future Tax Law Changes.    From time to time, there may be legislative proposals or interpretive guidance addressing the tax treatment of financial instruments such as the notes. We cannot predict the likelihood of any such legislation or guidance being adopted, or the ultimate impact on the notes. For example, on December 7, 2007, the IRS released Notice 2008-2 (“Notice”) seeking comments from the public on the taxation of financial instruments currently taxed as “prepaid forward contracts.” This Notice addresses instruments such as the notes. According to the Notice, the IRS and Treasury are considering whether a holder of an instrument such as the notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis, regardless of whether any payments are made prior to maturity. It is not possible to determine what guidance the IRS and Treasury will ultimately issue, if any. Any such future guidance may affect the amount, timing, and character of income, gain, or loss in respect of the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. The IRS and Treasury are also considering additional issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether foreign holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, whether Section 1260 of the Code concerning certain “constructive ownership transactions,” generally applies or should generally apply to such instruments, and whether any of these determinations depend on the nature of the underlying asset. We urge you to consult your own tax advisors concerning the impact and the significance of the above considerations. We intend to continue treating the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the manner described herein unless and until such time as we determine, or the IRS or Treasury determines, that some other treatment is more appropriate.

 

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You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes, 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 STR-2.

 

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Additional Terms

You should read this term sheet, together with the documents listed below, which together contain the terms of the notes 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 notes 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 notes.

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 STR-2 dated April 21, 2009:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000095014409003417/g18702p5e424b5.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 notes, 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 against decreases in the value of the underlying market measure (or increases in the value of an underlying market measure for bearish Structured Investments), 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 generally do not 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 generally do not 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.

“Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®” is a registered service mark of our subsidiary, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

 

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