424B2 1 d457761d424b2.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)

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

  532,490   $10.00   $5,324,900   $726.32

 

 

(1) 

Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933.


Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration No. 333-180488

 

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The notes are being issued by Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks and certain additional costs. See “Risk Factors” on page TS-5 of this term sheet and beginning on page S-10 of product supplement STR-3.

The estimated initial value of the notes at the time the terms of the notes were set is less than the public offering price. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” on page TS-5 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-9 of this term sheet for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

    

Per Unit

      

Total

        

Public offering price

     $10.000           $5,324,900.00        

Underwriting discount

     $  0.175           $     93,185.75        

Proceeds, before expenses, to BAC

     $  9.825           $5,231,714.25        

The notes:

 

        Are Not FDIC Insured    Are Not Bank Guaranteed    May Lose Value  

Merrill Lynch & Co.

December 19, 2012

 

532,490 Units $10 principal amount per unit CUSIP No. 06053E128 Pricing Date December 19, 2012 Settlement Date December 31, 2012 Maturity Date January 27, 2014 Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the Russell 2000® Index Automatically callable at $11.184 per unit if the closing level of the Index on the Observation Date is at or below the Starting Value Maturity of approximately 13 months 1-to-1 downside exposure to increases in the Index, with up to 100% of your principal at risk All payments are subject to the credit risk of Bank of America Corporation No periodic interest payments Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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Summary

The Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities® Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes 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. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of BAC. The notes have only one Observation Date, which will occur approximately thirteen months after the pricing date, and are designed for investors (i) who anticipate that the closing level of the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”) on the Observation Date will be less than or equal to the Starting Value, or (ii) who want to invest in a security of this kind for risk diversification purposes. The notes will be automatically called at the Call Amount if the closing level of the Index on the Observation Date is less than or equal to the Starting Value. If your notes are not called, you will lose all or a portion of the principal amount of your notes. The amount we will pay on the notes will be based on the performance of the Index and calculated based on the $10 Original Offering Price per unit. See “Terms of the Notes” below.

Payments on the notes depend on our credit risk and on the performance of the Index. The economic terms of the notes (including the Call Amount and Call Premium) are based on the rate we would pay to borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes and the terms of certain related hedging arrangements. The implied borrowing rate for market-linked notes is typically lower than the rate we would pay when we issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities. This difference in borrowing rate, as well as the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge described below, will reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and the estimated initial value of the notes.

Due to these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the notes is greater than the estimated initial value of the notes determined immediately at the time the terms of the notes were set. This estimated initial value is $9.72 per unit. The notes are subject to an automatic call, and the initial value estimate is based on an assumed tenor of the notes. For more information about the estimated initial value and the structuring of the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-9.

 

Terms of the Notes

 

 

Issuer:

 

  Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”)

Original Offering Price:

 

  $10.00 per unit

Term:

 

  Approximately 13 months

Market Measure:

 

  The Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “RTY”), a price return index.

Starting Value:

 

  847.89

Ending Value:

 

  The Observation Level

Observation Level:

 

 

The closing level of the Market Measure on the Observation Date.

 

Observation Date:

 

 

January 17, 2014

 

The Observation Date is subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described on page S-25 of product supplement STR-3.

 

Call Level:

 

 

100% of the Starting Value

 

Call Amount (per Unit) and Call Premium:

 

 

$11.184, representing a Call Premium of 11.84% of the Original Offering Price.

 

Call Settlement Date:

 

 

The maturity date

 

Threshold Value:

 

 

847.89, or 100% of the Starting Value

 

Minimum Redemption Amount:

 

 

$0.00 per unit

 

Fees and Charges:

 

 

The underwriting discount of $0.175 per unit as listed on the cover page and the hedging related charge of $0.075 per unit described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-9.

 

Calculation Agent:  

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), a subsidiary of BAC

 

Payments Determination

Automatic Call Provision:

 

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Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-2


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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

 

  §  

Product supplement STR-3 dated April 2, 2012:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312512146587/d324780d424b5.htm

 

  §  

Series L MTN prospectus supplement dated March 30, 2012 and prospectus dated March 30, 2012:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70858/000119312512143855/d323958d424b5.htm

These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated above or obtained from MLPF&S by calling 1-866-500-5408. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement STR-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.

Investor Considerations

 

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

 

§  

You anticipate that the closing level of the Index on the Observation Date will be less than or equal to the Starting Value.

 

§  

You accept that the return on the notes, if any, will be limited to the return represented by the Call Premium even if the percentage decrease in the level of the Index is significantly greater than the Call Premium.

 

§  

If the notes are not called, you accept that your investment will result in a loss, which could be significant, if the Ending Value is above the Threshold Value.

 

§  

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

 

§  

You are willing to accept a limited market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, the implied borrowing rate and fees and charges on the notes.

 

§  

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

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

 

§  

You anticipate that the Observation Level will be greater than the Call Level on the Observation Date.

 

§  

You seek an uncapped return on your investment.

 

§  

You seek 100% principal protection or preservation of capital.

 

§  

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

 

§  

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

 

§  

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

 

 

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

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-3


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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Hypothetical Payments and Examples of Payments at Maturity

The following examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes. They illustrate the calculation of the Call Amount or Redemption Amount, as applicable, based on the hypothetical terms set forth below. The actual amount you receive and the resulting return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Call Level, Observation Level, and the term of your investment. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes. These examples are based on:

 

1) a Starting Value of 100.00;

 

2) a Threshold Value of 100.00;

 

3) a Call Level of 100.00;

 

4) the term of the notes from December 31, 2012 to January 27, 2014;

 

5) the Call Premium of 11.84% of the Original Offering Price; and

 

6) the Observation Date occurring on January 17, 2014.

The hypothetical Starting Value of 100.00 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only. The actual Starting Value is 847.89, which was the closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date. For recent actual levels of the Market Measure, see “The Index” section below. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.

Notes Are Called on the Observation Date

The notes will be called at $10.000 plus the Call Premium on the Observation Date if the Observation Level is less than or equal to the Call Level.

Example 1 – The Observation Level on the Observation Date is 85.00. Therefore, the notes will be called at $10.000 plus the Call Premium of $1.184 = $11.184 per unit.

Example 2 – The Observation Level on the Observation Date is 99.00. Therefore, the notes will be called at $10.000 plus the Call Premium of $1.184 = $11.184 per unit.

Notes Are Not Called on the Observation Date

Example 3 – The notes are not called on the Observation Date and the Ending Value is greater than the Threshold Value. Therefore, you will lose all or a portion of the principal amount of your notes. For example, if the Ending Value is 115.00, the Redemption Amount per unit will be:

 

   

$10 +

  [   $10 ×   (   100.00 –  115.00   )   ]   = $8.500  
            100.00        

Summary of the Hypothetical Examples

 

    Notes Are Called on the Observation Date   Notes Are Not Called on the
Observation Date
    Example 1   Example 2   Example 3

Starting Value

  100.00   100.00   100.00

Call Level

  100.00   100.00   100.00

Threshold Value

  100.00   100.00   100.00

Observation Level / Ending Value

  85.00   99.00   115.00

Return of the Index

  -15.00%   -1.00%   15.00%

Return of the Notes

  11.84%   11.84%   -15.00%

Call Amount /

Redemption Amount per Unit

  $11.184   $11.184   $8.500

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-4


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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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. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page S-10 of product supplement STR-3, page S-5 of the MTN prospectus supplement, and page 8 of the prospectus identified above under “Summary.” 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, your investment will result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal.

 

  §  

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

 

  §  

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

 

  §  

Your investment return, if any, is limited to the return represented by the Call Premium and may be less than a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index.

 

  §  

The public offering price you pay for the notes exceeds their estimated initial value. The estimated initial value of the notes is an estimate only, calculated to reflect the costs and charges included in the notes and the implied borrowing rate at the time the terms of the notes were set, and is provided for informational purposes only. The estimated initial value does not represent a minimum price at which we, MLPF&S or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your notes at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors, including changes in market conditions, and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

 

  §  

A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. Neither we nor MLPF&S is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market.

 

  §  

If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than their estimated initial value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the level of the Index, the implied borrowing rate we pay to issue market-linked notes, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge, all as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-9. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways.

 

  §  

Our business activities as a full service financial institution, including our commercial and investment banking activities, our hedging and trading activities (including trades in shares of companies included in the Index) and any hedging and trading activities we engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you.

 

  §  

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

 

  §  

You will have no rights of a holder of the securities represented by the Index, 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 securities of companies included in the Index we do not control any company included in the Index, and are not responsible for any disclosure made by any other company.

 

  §  

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” below and “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” beginning on page S-45 of product supplement STR-3.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-5


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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The Index

All disclosures in this term sheet regarding the Index have been derived from publicly available sources, which we have not independently verified. The information summarizes the current index methodology as published by Russell Investments (“Russell,” or the “Index sponsor”) and may be changed by Russell at any time. Additional information on the Index is available at the following website: http://www.russell.com. No information on that website is deemed to be included or incorporated by reference in this term sheet.

“Russell 2000®” and “Russell 3000®” are trademarks of Russell and have been licensed for use by our subsidiary, MLPF&S. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Russell, and Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.

Russell began dissemination of the Index (Bloomberg L.P. index symbol “RTY”) on January 1, 1984 and calculates and publishes the Index. The Index was set to 135 as of the close of business on December 31, 1986. The Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. As a subset of the Russell 3000® Index, the Index consists of approximately 2,000 of the smallest companies (based on a combination of their market capitalization and current index membership) included in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies, representing approximately 99% of the U.S. equity market. The Index is determined, comprised, and calculated by Russell without regard to the notes.

Selection of Stocks Underlying the Index

All companies eligible for inclusion in the Index must be classified as a U.S. company under Russell’s country-assignment methodology. If a company is incorporated, has a stated headquarters location, and trades in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible), then the company is assigned to its country of incorporation. If any of the three factors are not the same, Russell defines three Home Country Indicators (“HCIs”): country of incorporation, country of headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange (as defined by a two-year average daily dollar trading volume) (“ADDTV”). Using the HCIs, Russell compares the primary location of the company’s assets with the three HCIs. If the primary location of its assets matches any of the HCIs, then the company is assigned to the primary location of its assets. If there is insufficient information to determine the country in which the company’s assets are primarily located, Russell will use the primary country from which the company’s revenues are primarily derived for the comparison with the three HCIs in a similar manner. For the 2010 reconstitution, Russell will use one year of assets or revenues data to determine the country for the company. Beginning in 2011, Russell will use the average of two years of assets or revenues data, in order to reduce potential turnover. Assets and revenues data are retrieved from each company’s annual report as of the last trading day in May. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenues data, Russell will assign the company to the country of its headquarters, which is defined as the address of the company’s principal executive offices, unless that country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation “BDI” country, in which case the company will be assigned to the country of its most liquid stock exchange. BDI countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and Turks and Caicos Islands. For any companies incorporated or headquartered in a U.S. territory, including countries such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. HCI is assigned.

All securities eligible for inclusion in the Index must trade on a major U.S. exchange. Bulletin board, pink-sheets, and over-the-counter (“OTC”) traded securities are not eligible for inclusion. Stocks must trade at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange on the last trading day in May to be eligible for inclusion during annual reconstitution. However, in order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s closing price is less than $1.00 on the last day of May, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from its primary exchange) during the month of May is equal to or greater than $1.00. Nonetheless, a stock’s closing price (on its primary exchange) on the last trading day in May will be used to calculate market capitalization and index membership. Initial public offerings are added each quarter and must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on the last day of their eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion. If a stock, new or existing, does not have a closing price at or above $1.00 (on its primary exchange) on the last trading day in May, but does have a closing price at or above $1.00 on another major U.S. exchange, that stock will be eligible for inclusion, but the lowest price from a non-primary exchange will be used to calculate market capitalization and index membership. If multiple share classes exist, Russell will determine a primary trading vehicle, and the price of that primary trading vehicle (usually the most liquid) is used to calculate market capitalization.

An important criteria used to determine the list of securities eligible for the Index is total market capitalization, which is defined as the market price as of the last trading day in May for those securities being considered at annual reconstitution times the total number of shares outstanding. Where applicable, common stock, non-restricted exchangeable shares and partnership units/membership interests are used to determine market capitalization. Any other form of shares such as preferred stock, convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants and rights, or trust receipts, are excluded from the calculation. If multiple share classes of common stock exist, they are combined. In cases where the common stock share classes act independently of each other (e.g., tracking stocks), each class is considered for inclusion separately.

Companies with a total market capitalization of less than $30 million are not eligible for the Index. Similarly, companies with only 5% or less of their shares available in the marketplace are not eligible for the Index. Royalty trusts, limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies (business development companies are eligible), blank check companies, special purpose acquisition companies, and limited partnerships are also ineligible for inclusion.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-6


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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Annual reconstitution is a process by which the Index is completely rebuilt. Based on closing levels of the company’s common stock on its primary exchange on the last trading day of May of each year, Russell reconstitutes the composition of the Index using the then existing market capitalizations of eligible companies. Reconstitution of the Index occurs on the last Friday in June or, when the last Friday in June is the 28th, 29th, or 30th, reconstitution occurs on the prior Friday. In addition, Russell adds initial public offerings to the Index on a quarterly basis based on market capitalization guidelines established during the most recent reconstitution.

After membership is determined, a security’s shares are adjusted to include only those shares available to the public. This is often referred to as “free float.” The purpose of the adjustment is to exclude from market calculations the capitalization that is not available for purchase and is not part of the investable opportunity set.

As a capitalization-weighted index, the Index reflects changes in the capitalization, or market value, of the component stocks relative to the entire market value of the Index. The current Index level is calculated by adding the market values of the Index’s component stocks, which are derived by multiplying the price of each stock by the number of shares publicly available, to arrive at the available market capitalization of the 2,000 stocks. The available market capitalization is then divided by a divisor, which represents the index value of the Index. To calculate the Index, closing prices will be used from the primary exchange of each security. If a component stock is not open for trading, the most recently traded price for that security will be used in calculating the Index. In order to provide continuity for the Index’s level, the divisor is adjusted periodically to reflect events including changes in the number of common shares outstanding for component stocks, company additions or deletions, corporate restructurings, and other capitalization changes.

The following graph shows the monthly historical performance of the Index in the period from January 2007 through November 2012. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. On the pricing date, the closing level of the Index was 847.89.

 

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This historical data on the Index is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Index during any period set forth above is not an indication that the level of the Index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the notes.

Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available sources for the levels and trading pattern of the Index.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-7


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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License Agreement

“Russell 2000®” and “Russell 3000®” are trademarks of Russell and have been licensed for use by our subsidiary, MLPF&S. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Russell, and Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.

Russell and MLPF&S have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to MLPF&S and its affiliates, including us, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use indices owned and published by Russell in connection with some securities, including the notes. The license agreement provides that the following language must be stated in this term sheet:

“The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Russell. Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the notes particularly or the ability of the Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. Russell’s publication of the Index in no way suggests or implies an opinion by Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the Index is based. Russell’s only relationship to MLPF&S and to us is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Russell and of the Index, which is determined, composed, and calculated by Russell without regard to MLPF&S, us, or the notes. Russell is not responsible for and has not reviewed the notes nor any associated literature or publications and Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate, or in any way change the Index. Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the notes.

RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY MLPF&S, US, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. RUSSELL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL RUSSELL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-8


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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Supplement to the Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest

Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.

MLPF&S, a broker-dealer subsidiary of BAC, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and will participate as selling agent in the distribution of the notes. Accordingly, offerings of the notes will conform to the requirements of Rule 5121 applicable to FINRA members. MLPF&S may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder.

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 the 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.

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

The value of the notes shown on your account statement will be based on MLPF&S’s estimate of the value of the notes if MLPF&S or another of our affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated to do. That estimate will be based upon the price that MLPF&S may pay for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions, our creditworthiness and transaction costs. At certain times, this price may be higher than or lower than the estimated initial value of the notes. For a short initial period after the issuance of the notes, at MLPF&S’s discretion, any purchase price paid by MLPF&S in the secondary market may be, in certain circumstances, closer to the amount that you paid for the notes than to their estimated initial value. However, neither we nor any of our affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price, or at a price that exceeds their estimated initial value.

MLPF&S may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, and these will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions.

Structuring the Notes

The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Index. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, we typically borrow the funds under these notes at a rate that is more favorable to us than the rate that we might pay for a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security and is generally lower by an amount ranging from 0.25% to 0.50% per annum (equivalent to $0.03 to $0.05 per unit) at the time we commence the offering of our market-linked notes. This generally relatively lower implied borrowing rate, which is reflected in the economic terms of the notes, along with the fees and charges associated with market-linked notes, resulted in the estimated initial value of the notes at the time the terms of the notes were set being less than their public offering price.

The amounts that we will pay on the notes will be calculated based on the performance of the Index and the $10 per unit Original Offering Price. In order to meet these payment obligations, at the time we issue the notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with MLPF&S or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, including MLPF&S and its affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Index, the tenor of the note and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.

MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by the hedge providers.

The lower implied borrowing rate, the underwriting discount and the hedging-related costs and charges, reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and result in the estimated initial value for the notes (estimated at the time the terms of the notes were set) being less than the public offering price for the notes. For further information, see “Risk Factors — General Risks Relating to the Notes” beginning on page S-10 and “Use of Proceeds” on page S-23 of product supplement STR-3.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-9


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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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:

 

   

There is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addressing the characterization of the notes.

 

   

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 with respect to the Index.

 

   

Under this characterization and tax treatment of the notes, a U.S. Holder (as defined beginning on page 62 of the prospectus) generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon maturity or upon a sale, exchange, or redemption of the notes prior to maturity. This capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the notes for more than one year.

 

   

No assurance can be given that the IRS or any court will agree with this characterization and tax treatment.

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. You should review carefully the discussion under the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary” beginning on page S-45 of product supplement STR-3.

Validity of the Notes

In the opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, as counsel to BAC, when the trustee has made an appropriate entry on Schedule 1 to the Master Registered Global Senior Note, dated March 30, 2012 (the “Master Note”) identifying the notes offered hereby as supplemental obligations thereunder in accordance with the instructions of BAC, and the notes have been delivered against payment therefor as contemplated in this Note Prospectus, all in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Indenture, such notes will be legal, valid and binding obligations of BAC, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors now or hereafter in effect, and to equitable principles that may limit the right to specific enforcement of remedies, and further subject to 12 U.S.C. §1818(b)(6)(D) (or any successor statute) and any bank regulatory powers now or hereafter in effect and to the application of principles of public policy. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the federal laws of the United States, the laws of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing). In addition, this opinion is subject to the assumption that the trustee’s certificate of authentication of the Master Note has been manually signed by one of the trustee’s authorized officers and to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Senior Indenture, the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the Senior Indenture with respect to the trustee, the legal capacity of natural persons, the genuineness of signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to McGuireWoods LLP as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to McGuireWoods LLP as photocopies thereof, the authenticity of the originals of such copies and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of McGuireWoods LLP dated March 30, 2012, which has been filed as an exhibit to BAC’s Registration Statement relating to the notes filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-10


Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®

Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due January 27, 2014

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Where You Can Find More Information

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 Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents 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 these documents if you so request by calling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-866-500-5408.

Market-Linked Investments Classification

 

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MLPF&S classifies certain market-linked investments (the “Market-Linked Investments”) into categories, each with different investment characteristics. The following description is meant solely for informational purposes and is not intended to represent any particular Enhanced Return Market-Linked Investment or guarantee any performance.

Enhanced Return Market-Linked Investments are short- to medium-term investments that offer you a way to enhance exposure to a particular market view without taking on a similarly enhanced level of market downside risk. They can be especially effective in a flat to moderately positive market (or, in the case of bearish investments, a flat to moderately negative market). In exchange for the potential to receive better-than market returns on the linked asset, you must generally accept market downside risk and capped upside potential. As these investments are not market downside protected, and do not assure full repayment of principal at maturity, you need to be prepared for the possibility that you may lose all or part of your investment.

“Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®” is our registered service mark.

 

 

Bear Strategic Accelerated Redemption Securities®    TS-11