11/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/05/2024 06:43
This pricing supplement, which is not complete and may be changed, relates to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933. This pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these Notes in any country or jurisdiction where such an offer would not be permitted.
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The Capped Buffered Enhanced Return Notes Linked to a Basket of Stocks, due January 8, 2026 (the "Notes") are expected to price on November 5, 2024 and expected to issue on November 8, 2024.
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Approximate 14 month term.
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Payment on the Notes will depend on the performance of an approximately equally weighted basket comprised of the common stock of Citigroup Inc., the common stock of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the common stock of Morgan Stanley (the "Basket"). The common stock of Citigroup Inc. will be given an initial weight of 33.33%, the common stock of JPMorgan Chase & Co. will be given an initial weight of 33.34% and the common stock of Morgan Stanley will be given an initial weight of 33.33%.
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If the Ending Value of the Basket is greater than 100% of its Starting Value, at maturity, you will receive 300.00% upside exposure to increases in the value of the Basket, subject to the Max Return of 15.39%.
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However, if the Ending Value of the Basket is less than 90.00% of the Starting Value, your investment will be subject to 1:1 downside exposure to decreases in the value of the Basket beyond a 10% decline, with up to 90% of the principal at risk; otherwise, at maturity, you will receive the principal amount.
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Any payment on the Notes is subject to the credit risk of BofA Finance LLC ("BofA Finance" or the "Issuer"), as issuer of the Notes, and Bank of America Corporation ("BAC" or the "Guarantor"), as guarantor of the Notes.
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No periodic interest payments.
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The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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CUSIP No. 09711FWX1.
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Public offering price(1)
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Underwriting discount(1)(2)
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Proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance(2)
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Per Note
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$1,000.00
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$23.50
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$976.50
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Total
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(1)
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Certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the Notes in these fee-based advisory accounts may be as low as $976.50 per $1,000.00 in principal amount of Notes.
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(2)
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The underwriting discount per $1,000.00 in principal amount of Notes may be as high as $23.50, resulting in proceeds, before expenses, to BofA Finance of as low as $976.50 per $1,000.00 in principal amount of Notes.
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Are Not FDIC Insured
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Are Not Bank Guaranteed
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May Lose Value
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Selling Agent
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Issuer:
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BofA Finance
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Guarantor:
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BAC
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Denominations:
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The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000.00 and whole multiples of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.
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Term:
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Approximately 14 months.
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Basket:
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The Notes are linked to an approximately equally weighted basket consisting of the following stocks (each an "Underlying Stock" or a "Basket Component") and their respective weightings:
Basket Component
Ticker
Weightings
Basket Component Starting Values
The common stock of Citigroup Inc.
Bloomberg symbol: "C"
33.33%
The common stock of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Bloomberg symbol: "JPM"
33.34%
The common stock of Morgan Stanley
Bloomberg symbol: "MS"
33.33%
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Pricing Date*:
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November 5, 2024
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Issue Date*:
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November 8, 2024
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Valuation Date*:
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January 5, 2026, subject to postponement as described under "Description of the Notes-Certain Terms of the Notes-Events Relating to Calculation Days" in the accompanying product supplement.
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Maturity Date*:
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January 8, 2026
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Starting Value:
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100.00.
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Ending Value:
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100.00 × (1 + the sum of the Weighted Basket Component Returns on the Valuation Date), as determined by the calculation agent.
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Basket Component Starting Value:
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With respect to each Basket Component, its Closing Market Price on the pricing date. The Basket Component Starting Value of each Basket Component will be set forth in the table above.
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Basket Component Ending Value:
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With respect to each Basket Component, its Closing Market Price on the Valuation Date, multiplied by its Price Multiplier.
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Price Multiplier:
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With respect to each Basket Component, 1, subject to adjustment for certain corporate events relating to that Basket Component as described in "Description of the Notes - Anti-Dilution Adjustments" beginning on page PS-23 of the accompanying product supplement.
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Upside Participation Rate:
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300.00%
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Max Return:
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$1,153.90 per $1,000.00 in principal amount of Notes, which represents a return of 15.39% over the principal amount.
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Threshold Value:
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90.00% of the Starting Value.
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Redemption Amount:
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The Redemption Amount per $1,000.00 in principal amount of Notes will be:
a) If the Ending Value of the Basket is greater than the Starting Value:
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-2
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b) If the Ending Value of the Basket is equal to or less than the Starting Value but greater than or equal to the Threshold Value:
c) If the Ending Value of the Basket is less than the Threshold Value:
In this case, the Redemption Amount will be less than the principal amount and you could lose up to 90.00% of your investment in the Notes.
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Calculation Agent:
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BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofAS"), an affiliate of BofA Finance.
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Selling Agent:
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BofAS
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CUSIP:
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09711FWX1
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Basket Return:
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For each Basket Component,
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Basket Component Return:
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Weighted Basket Component Return:
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For each Basket Component, its weighting multiplied by its Basket Component Return.
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Events of Default and Acceleration:
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If an Event of Default, as defined in the senior indenture relating to the Notes and in the section entitled "Description of Debt Securities of BofA Finance LLC-Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration; Covenant Breaches" on page 54 of the accompanying prospectus, with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, the amount payable to a holder of the Notes upon any acceleration permitted under the senior indenture will be equal to the amount described under the caption "Redemption Amount" above, calculated as though the date of acceleration were the Maturity Date of the Notes and as though the Valuation Date were the third Trading Day prior to the date of acceleration. In case of a default in the payment of the Notes, whether at their maturity or upon acceleration, the Notes will not bear a default interest rate.
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-3
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-4
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Ending Value
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Basket Return
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Redemption Amount per Note
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Return on the Notes
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160.00
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60.00%
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$1,153.90
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15.39%
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150.00
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50.00%
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$1,153.90
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15.39%
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140.00
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40.00%
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$1,153.90
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15.39%
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130.00
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30.00%
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$1,153.90
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15.39%
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120.00
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20.00%
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$1,153.90
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15.39%
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110.00
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10.00%
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$1,153.90
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15.39%
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105.13
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5.13%
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$1,153.90(1)
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15.39%
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105.00
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5.00%
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$1,150.00
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15.00%
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102.00
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2.00%
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$1,060.00
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6.00%
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100.00(2)
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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90.00(3)
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-10.00%
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$1,000.00
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0.00%
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89.99
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-10.01%
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$999.90
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-0.01%
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80.00
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-20.00%
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$900.00
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-10.00%
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70.00
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-30.00%
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$800.00
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-20.00%
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60.00
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-40.00%
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$700.00
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-30.00%
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50.00
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-50.00%
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$600.00
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-40.00%
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0.00
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-100.00%
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$100.00
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-90.00%
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(1)
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The Redemption Amount per Note cannot exceed the Max Return.
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(2)
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The Starting Value will be set to 100 on the pricing date.
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(3)
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This is the Threshold Value.
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-5
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Your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. There is no fixed principal repayment amount on the Notes at maturity. If the Ending Value of the Basket is less than the Threshold Value, at maturity, your investment will be subject to 1:1 downside exposure to decreases in the value of the Basket beyond a 10% decline and you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Ending Value of the Basket is less than the Threshold Value. In that case, you will lose some or a significant portion of your investment in the Notes.
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The return on the Notes will be limited to the Max Return. The return on the Notes will not exceed the Max Return, regardless of the performance of the Basket. In contrast, a direct investment in the Basket Components or the shares included in the Basket Components, as applicable, would allow you to receive the benefit of any appreciation in their value. Any return on the Notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned those securities and received the dividends paid or distributions made on them.
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The Notes do not bear interest. Unlike a conventional debt security, no interest payments will be paid over the term of the Notes, regardless of the extent to which the Ending Value of the Basket exceeds its Starting Value or Threshold Value.
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Your return on the Notes may be less than the yield on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. Any return that you receive on the Notes may be less than the return you would earn if you purchased a conventional debt security with the same Maturity Date. As a result, your investment in the Notes may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you consider factors, such as inflation, that affect the time value of money.
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The Redemption Amount will not reflect changes in the value of the Basket other than on the Valuation Date. The value of the Basket during the term of the Notes other than on the Valuation Date will not be reflected in the calculation of the Redemption Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, investors should generally be aware of the performance of the Basket while holding the Notes, as the performance of the Basket may influence the market value of the Notes. The calculation agent will calculate the Redemption Amount by comparing only the Starting Value or the Threshold Value, as applicable, to the Ending Value for the Basket. No other value of the Basket will be taken into account. As a result, if the Ending Value of the Basket is less than the Threshold Value, you will receive less than the principal amount at maturity even if the value of the Basket was always above the Threshold Value prior to the Valuation Date.
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Changes in the price of one of the Basket Components may be offset by changes in the prices of the other Basket Components. The Notes are linked to a Basket. Changes in the price of one or more of the Basket Components may not correlate with changes in the prices of one or more of the other Basket Components. The prices of one or more Basket Components may increase, while the prices of one or more of the other Basket Components may decrease or not increase as much. Therefore, in calculating the value of the Basket, increases in the price of one Basket Component may be moderated or wholly offset by decreases or lesser increases in the price of one or more of the other Basket Components.
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Any payments on the Notes are subject to our credit risk and the credit risk of the Guarantor, and any actual or perceived changes in our or the Guarantor's creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the Notes. The Notes are our senior unsecured debt securities. Any payment on the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Notes are not guaranteed by any entity other than the Guarantor. As a result, your receipt of any payments on the Notes will be dependent upon our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to repay our respective obligations under the Notes on the applicable payment date, regardless of the performance of the Basket. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition or the financial condition of the Guarantor will be at any time after the pricing date of the Notes. If we and the Guarantor become unable to meet our respective financial obligations as they become due, you may not receive the amount payable under the terms of the Notes.
In addition, our credit ratings and the credit ratings of the Guarantor are assessments by ratings agencies of our respective abilities to pay our obligations. Consequently, our or the Guarantor's perceived creditworthiness and actual or anticipated decreases in our or the Guarantor's credit ratings or increases in the spread between the yield on our respective securities and the yield on U.S. Treasury securities (the "credit spread") prior to the Maturity Date may adversely affect the market value of the Notes. However, because your return on the Notes depends upon factors in addition to our ability and the ability of the Guarantor to pay our respective obligations, such as the prices of the Basket Components, an improvement in our or the Guarantor's credit ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to the Notes. |
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We are a finance subsidiary and, as such, have no independent assets, operations, or revenues. We are a finance subsidiary of the Guarantor, have no operations other than those related to the issuance, administration and repayment of our debt securities that are guaranteed by the Guarantor, and are dependent upon the Guarantor and/or its other subsidiaries to meet our obligations under the Notes in the ordinary course. Therefore, our ability to make payments on the Notes may be limited.
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-6
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The public offering price you pay for the Notes will exceed their initial estimated value. The range of initial estimated values of the Notes that is provided on the cover page of this preliminary pricing supplement, and the initial estimated value as of the pricing date that will be provided in the final pricing supplement, are each estimates only, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our and our affiliates' pricing models. These pricing models consider certain assumptions and variables, including our credit spreads and those of the Guarantor, changes in the Guarantor's internal funding rate, mid-market terms on hedging transactions, expectations on interest rates, dividends and volatility, price-sensitivity analysis, and the expected term of the Notes. These pricing models rely in part on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. 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 initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the value of the Basket, changes in the Guarantor's internal funding rate, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount, if any, and the hedging related charges, all as further described in "Structuring the Notes" below. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable ways.
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The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, BAC, BofAS or any of our other affiliates would be willing to purchase your Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your Notes at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including the performance of the Basket, our and BAC's creditworthiness and changes in market conditions.
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We cannot assure you that a trading market for your Notes will ever develop or be maintained. We will not list the Notes on any securities exchange. We cannot predict how the Notes will trade in any secondary market or whether that market will be liquid or illiquid.
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Trading and hedging activities by us, the Guarantor and any of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may create conflicts of interest with you and may affect your return on the Notes and their market value. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may buy or sell shares of the Basket Components, or futures or options contracts or exchange traded instruments on the Basket Components, or other instruments whose value is derived from the Basket Components. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may execute such purchases or sales for our own or their own accounts, for business reasons, or in connection with hedging our obligations under the Notes. These transactions may present a conflict of interest between your interest in the Notes and the interests we, the Guarantor and our other affiliates, including BofAS, may have in our or their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including block trades, for our or their other customers, and in accounts under our or their management. These transactions may adversely affect the prices of the Basket Components (and thus the value of the Basket) in a manner that could be adverse to your investment in the Notes. On or before the pricing date, any purchases or sales by us, the Guarantor or our other affiliates, including BofAS or others on our or their behalf (including those for the purpose of hedging some or all of our anticipated exposure in connection with the Notes), may affect the prices of the Basket Components. Consequently, the prices of the Basket Components and, therefore, the value of the Basket may change subsequent to the pricing date, which may adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, also expect to engage in hedging activities that could affect the prices of the Basket Components on the pricing date. In addition, these hedging activities, including the unwinding of a hedge, may decrease the market value of your Notes prior to maturity, and may affect the amounts to be paid on the Notes. We, the Guarantor or one or more of our other affiliates, including BofAS, may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short position in the Notes and may hold or resell the Notes. For example, BofAS may enter into these transactions in connection with any market making activities in which it engages. We cannot assure you that these activities will not adversely affect the prices of the Basket Components, the market value of your Notes prior to maturity or the amounts payable on the Notes. |
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There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent, which is an affiliate of ours. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent. One of our affiliates will be the calculation agent for the Notes and, as such, will make a variety of determinations relating to the Notes, including the amounts that will be paid on the Notes. Under some circumstances, these duties could result in a conflict of interest between its status as our affiliate and its responsibilities as calculation agent.
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The terms of the Notes will not be adjusted for all corporate events that could affect an issuer of an Underlying Stock. The Price Multiplier of an Underlying Stock, the determination of the payments on the Notes, and other terms of the Notes may be adjusted for the specified corporate events affecting the Underlying Stock, as described in the section entitled "Description of the Notes-Anti-Dilution Adjustments" beginning on page PS-23 of the accompanying product supplement. However, these adjustments do not cover all corporate events that could affect the market price of an Underlying Stock, such as offerings of common shares for cash or in connection with certain acquisition transactions. The occurrence of any event that does not require the calculation agent to adjust the applicable Price Multiplier or the amounts that may be paid on the Notes at maturity may adversely affect the price of an Underlying Stock, and, as a result, the market value of the Notes.
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-7
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The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the Notes. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of the Notes or securities similar to the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes are not certain. Under the terms of the Notes, you will have agreed with us to treat the Notes as single financial contracts, as described below under "U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary-General." If the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") were successful in asserting an alternative characterization for the Notes, the timing and character of gain or loss with respect to the Notes may differ. No ruling will be requested from the IRS with respect to the Notes and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the statements made in the section entitled "U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary." You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Notes.
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-8
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-9
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-10
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-11
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-12
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-13
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-14
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-15
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-16
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-17
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CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-18
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Product Supplement STOCK-1 dated December 30, 2022:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1682472/000119312522315468/d427660d424b2.htm |
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Series A MTN prospectus supplement dated December 30, 2022 and prospectus dated December 30, 2022:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1682472/000119312522315195/d409418d424b3.htm |
CAPPED BUFFERED ENHANCED RETURN NOTES | PS-19
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