relevant region. An investor’s net exposure will depend on the extent to which the currencies of the component securities strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each security. If, taking into account such weighting, the dollar strengthens against the currencies of the component securities represented in the EEM Shares, the price of the EEM Shares will be adversely affected and the payment at maturity on the securities may be reduced.

Of particular importance to potentially currency exchange risk are:

All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of various countries represented in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM and the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance.

Generally, the longer the time remaining to maturity, the more the market price of the securities will be affected by the other factors described above. Some or all of these factors will influence the price that you will receive if you sell your securities prior to maturity. For example, you may have to sell your securities at a substantial discount from the stated principal amount of $1,000 per security if the level of either of the underlyings at the time of sale is near or below its coupon barrier level or if market interest rates rise.

The price of any or both of the underlyings may be, and have recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. The levels of one or both of the underlyings may decrease and be below the respective coupon barrier level(s) on each observation date so that you will receive no return on your investment, and one or both

of the underlyings may decline by an amount greater than the buffer amount as of the final observation date so that you lose some or all of your initial investment in the securities. There can be no assurance that the closing price of each of the underlyings will be at or above their respective coupon barrier level on any observation date so that you will receive a coupon payment on the securities for the applicable interest period, or that neither of the underlyings will decline by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 20% as of the final observation date so that you do not suffer a loss on your initial investment in the securities. See “NASDAQ-100 Index^® Overview” and “ iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Overview” below.

The inclusion of the costs of issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price and the lower rate we are willing to pay as issuer make the economic terms of the securities less favorable to you than they otherwise would be.

However, because the costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities are not fully deducted upon issuance, for a period of up to 12 months following the issue date, to the extent that MS & Co. may buy or sell the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlyings, and to our secondary market credit spreads, it would do so based on values higher than the estimated value, and we expect that those higher values will also be reflected in your brokerage account statements.

In particular, during periods of market volatility, or unusual trading activity, trading in the securities underlying the EEM Shares may be disrupted or limited, or such securities may be unavailable in the secondary market.  Under these circumstances, the liquidity of the EEM Shares may be adversely affected, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of the EEM Shares, and their ability to create and redeem shares of the EEM Shares may be disrupted.

Under these circumstances, the market price of shares of the EEM Shares may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the EEM Shares or the level of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM.

For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the EEM Shares may not correlate with the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM, the performance of the component securities of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM or the net asset value per share of the EEM Shares.  Any of these events could materially and adversely affect the price of the shares of the EEM Shares and, therefore, the value of the securities.  Additionally, if market volatility or these events were to occur on the final observation date, the calculation agent would maintain discretion to determine whether such market volatility or events have caused a market disruption event to occur, and such determination may affect the payment at maturity of the securities.  If the calculation agent determines that no market disruption event has taken place, the payment at maturity would be based on the published closing price per share of the EEM Shares on the final observation date, even if the EEM Shares’ shares are underperforming the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM or the component securities of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM and/or trading below the net asset value per share of the EEM Shares.

in the accompanying product supplement. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date.

Please read the discussion under “Additional Provisions—Tax considerations” in this document concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities. We intend to treat a security for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a single financial contract that provides for a coupon that will be treated as gross income to you at the time received or accrued, in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting. Under this treatment, the ordinary income treatment of the coupon payments, in conjunction with the capital loss treatment of any loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or settlement of the securities, could result in adverse tax consequences to holders of the securities because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. We do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding the tax treatment of the securities, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described herein. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the securities, the timing and character of income or loss on the securities might differ significantly from the tax treatment described herein. For example, under one possible treatment, the IRS could seek to recharacterize the securities as debt instruments. In that event, U.S. Holders (as defined below) would be required to accrue into income original issue discount on the securities every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time of issuance (as adjusted based on the difference, if any, between the actual and the projected amount of any contingent payments on the securities) and recognize all income and gain in respect of the securities as ordinary income. The risk that financial instruments providing for buffers, triggers or similar downside protection features, such as the securities, would be recharacterized as debt is greater than the risk of recharacterization for comparable financial instruments that do not have such features.

Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) should note that we currently intend to withhold on any coupon paid to Non-U.S. Holders generally at a rate of 30%, or at a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty under an “other income” or similar provision, and will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.

In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. While it is not clear whether the securities would be viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, it is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, possibly with retroactive effect. The notice focuses on a number of issues, the most relevant of which for holders of the securities are the character and timing of income or loss and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including possible alternative treatments, the issues presented by this notice and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

NASDAQ-100 Index^® Overview

The NASDAQ-100 Index^®, which is calculated, maintained and published by Nasdaq, Inc., is a modified capitalization-weighted index of 100 of the largest and most actively traded equity securities of non-financial companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. The NASDAQ-100 Index includes companies across a variety of major industry groups. At any moment in time, the value of the NASDAQ-100 Index equals the aggregate value of the then-current NASDAQ-100 Index share weights of each of the NASDAQ-100 Index component securities, which are based on the total shares outstanding of each such NASDAQ-100 Index component security, multiplied by each such security’s respective last sale price on NASDAQ (which may be the official closing price published by NASDAQ), and divided by a scaling factor, which becomes the basis for the reported NASDAQ-100 Index value. For additional information about the NASDAQ-100 Index^®, see the information set forth under “NASDAQ-100 Index^®” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

Information as of market close on November 21, 2018:

 

Bloomberg Ticker Symbol:	NDX
Current Index Value:	6,575.663
52 Weeks Ago:	6,378.628
52 Week High (on 8/29/2018):	7,660.180
52 Week Low (on 12/4/2017):	6,263.701

The following graph sets forth the daily closing values of the NDX Index for the period from January 1, 2013 through November 21, 2018. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing values, as well as the end-of-quarter closing values, of the NDX Index for each quarter in the same period. The closing value of the NDX Index on November 21, 2018 was 6,575.663. We obtained the information in the table and graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical values of the NDX Index should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the level of the NDX Index at any time, including on the redemption determination dates or the observation dates.

 

NASDAQ-100 Index®	High	Low	Period End
2013
First Quarter	2,818.690	2,700.967	2,818.690
Second Quarter	3,028.957	2,741.949	2,909.599
Third Quarter	3,237.611	2,927.346	3,218.198
Fourth Quarter	3,591.996	3,142.535	3,591.996
2014
First Quarter	3,727.185	3,440.502	3,595.736
Second Quarter	3,849.479	3,446.845	3,849.479
Third Quarter	4,103.083	3,857.938	4,049.445
Fourth Quarter	4,337.785	3,765.281	4,236.279
2015
First Quarter	4,483.049	4,089.648	4,333.688
Second Quarter	4,548.740	4,311.257	4,396.761
Third Quarter	4,679.675	4,016.324	4,181.060
Fourth Quarter	4,719.053	4,192.963	4,593.271
2016
First Quarter	4,497.857	3,947.804	4,483.655
Second Quarter	4,565.421	4,201.055	4,417.699
Third Quarter	4,891.363	4,410.747	4,875.697
Fourth Quarter	4,965.808	4,660.457	4,863.620
2017
First Quarter	5,439.742	4,911.333	5,436.232
Second Quarter	5,885.296	5,353.586	5,646.917
Third Quarter	6,004.380	5,596.956	5,979.298
Fourth Quarter	6,513.269	5,981.918	6,396.422
2018
First Quarter	7,131.121	6,306.100	6,581.126
Second Quarter	7,280.705	6,390.837	7,040.802
Third Quarter	7,660.180	7,014.554	7,627.650
Fourth Quarter (through November 21, 2018)	7,645.453	6,526.963	6,575.663

November 2018

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

“Nasdaq^®,” “NASDAQ-100^®” and “NASDAQ-100 Index^®” are trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. For more information, see “NASDAQ-100 Index^®” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

NDX Index - Daily Closing Values January 1, 2013 to November 21, 2018

November 2018

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All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Overview

 

The iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is an exchange-traded fund that seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM. The iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is managed by iShares^®, Inc. (“iShares”), a registered investment company that consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF. Information provided to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by iShares pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 can be located by reference to Commission file numbers 033-97598 and 811-09102, respectively, through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other publicly available sources. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information.

 

Information as of market close on November 21, 2018:

 

Ticker Symbol:	EEM UP
Current Share Price:	$40.21
52 Weeks Ago:	$47.69
52 Week High (on 1/26/2018):	$52.08
52 Week Low (on 10/29/2018):	$38.00

 

The following graph sets forth the daily closing values of the EEM Shares for the period from January 1, 2013 through November 21, 2018. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing prices, as well as the end-of-quarter closing prices, of the EEM Shares for each quarter in the same period. The closing price of the EEM Shares on November 21, 2018 was $40.21. We obtained the information in the table and graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical performance of the EEM Shares should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the price of the EEM Shares at any time, including on the redemption determination dates or the observation dates.

 

iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (CUSIP 464287234)	High ($)	Low ($)	Period End ($)
2013
First Quarter	45.20	41.80	42.78
Second Quarter	44.23	36.63	38.57
Third Quarter	43.29	37.34	40.77
Fourth Quarter	43.66	40.44	41.77
2014
First Quarter	40.99	37.09	40.99
Second Quarter	43.95	40.82	43.23
Third Quarter	45.85	41.56	41.56
Fourth Quarter	42.44	37.73	39.29
2015
First Quarter	41.07	37.92	40.13
Second Quarter	44.09	39.04	39.62
Third Quarter	39.78	31.32	32.78
Fourth Quarter	36.29	31.55	32.19
2016
First Quarter	34.28	28.25	34.25
Second Quarter	35.26	31.87	34.36
Third Quarter	38.20	33.77	37.45
Fourth Quarter	38.10	34.08	35.01
2017
First Quarter	39.99	35.43	39.39
Second Quarter	41.93	38.81	41.39
Third Quarter	45.85	41.05	44.81
Fourth Quarter	47.81	44.82	47.12
2018
First Quarter	52.08	45.69	48.28
Second Quarter	48.14	42.33	43.33
Third Quarter	45.03	41.14	42.92
Fourth Quarter (through November 21, 2018)	42.93	38.00	40.21

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

Shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF — Daily Closing Prices January 1, 2013 to November 21, 2018

 

This document relates only to the securities referenced hereby and does not relate to the EEM Shares. We have derived all disclosures contained in this document regarding iShares from the publicly available documents described above. In connection with the offering of the securities, neither we nor the agent has participated in the preparation of such documents or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to iShares. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding iShares is accurate or complete. Furthermore, we cannot give any assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof (including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described above) that would affect the trading price of the EEM Shares (and therefore the price of the EEM Shares at the time we priced the securities) have been publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any such events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning iShares could affect the value received with respect to the securities and therefore the value of the securities.

 

Neither we nor any of our affiliates makes any representation to you as to the performance of the EEM Shares.

 

We and/or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with iShares. In the course of such business, we and/or our affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to iShares, and neither we nor any of our affiliates undertakes to disclose any such information to you. In addition, one or more of our affiliates may publish research reports with respect to the EEM Shares. The statements in the preceding two sentences are not intended to affect the rights of investors in the securities under the securities laws. As a purchaser of the securities, you should undertake an independent investigation of iShares as in your judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to an investment linked to the EEM Shares.

 

“iShares^®” is a registered mark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (“BTC”). The securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by BTC. BTC makes no representations or warranties to the owners of the securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the securities. BTC has no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the securities.

 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM is a stock index calculated, published and disseminated daily by MSCI Inc. and is intended to provide performance benchmarks for certain emerging equity markets including Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM is described in “MSCI Emerging Markets Index^SM” and “MSCI Global Investable Market Indices Methodology” in the accompanying index supplement.

November 2018

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

Additional Information About the Securities

 

Please read this information in conjunction with the summary terms on the front cover of this document.

 

Additional Provisions:
Interest period:	Monthly
Record date:	The record date for each coupon payment date shall be the date one business day prior to such scheduled coupon payment date; provided, however, that any coupon payable at maturity (or upon early redemption) shall be payable to the person to whom the payment at maturity or early redemption payment, as the case may be, shall be payable.
NDX Index publisher:	Nasdaq, Inc.
Share underlying index:	The MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM
Share underlying index publisher:	MSCI Inc.
Day count convention:	30/360
Postponement of coupon payment dates (including the maturity date) and early redemption dates:	If any observation date or redemption determination date is postponed due to a non-index business day, non-trading day or certain market disruption events with respect to either of the underlyings so that it falls less than two business days prior to the relevant scheduled coupon payment date (including the maturity date) or early redemption date, as applicable, the coupon payment date (or the maturity date) or the early redemption date will be postponed to the second business day following that observation date or redemption determination date as postponed, and no adjustment will be made to any coupon payment, early redemption payment or payment at maturity made on that postponed date.
Minimum ticketing size:	$1,000 / 1 security
Tax considerations:	Prospective investors should note that the discussion under the section called “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement does not apply to the securities issued under this document and is superseded by the following discussion.   The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities. This discussion applies only to investors in the securities who:   ·     purchase the securities in the original offering; and   ·     hold the securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).   This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as:   ·     certain financial institutions; ·     insurance companies; ·     certain dealers and traders in securities or commodities; ·     investors holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” wash sale, conversion transaction, integrated transaction or constructive sale transaction; ·     U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; ·     partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes; ·     regulated investment companies; ·     real estate investment trusts; or ·     tax-exempt entities, including “individual retirement accounts” or “Roth IRAs” as defined in Section 408 or 408A of the Code, respectively.   If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding the securities or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult your tax adviser as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of the securities to you.   As the law applicable to the U.S. federal income taxation of instruments such as the securities

 

November 2018

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

 

is technical and complex, the discussion below necessarily represents only a general summary. The effect of any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws is not discussed, nor are any alternative minimum tax consequences or consequences resulting from the Medicare tax on investment income. Moreover, the discussion below does not address the consequences to taxpayers subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code.   This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date hereof may affect the tax consequences described herein. Persons considering the purchase of the securities should consult their tax advisers with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.   General   Due to the absence of statutory, judicial or administrative authorities that directly address the treatment of the securities or instruments that are similar to the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court will agree with the tax treatment described herein. We intend to treat a security for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a single financial contract that provides for a coupon that will be treated as gross income to you at the time received or accrued in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting. In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, this treatment of the securities is reasonable under current law; however, our counsel has advised us that it is unable to conclude affirmatively that this treatment is more likely than not to be upheld, and that alternative treatments are possible.   You should consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities (including possible alternative treatments of the securities). Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the treatment of each security as described in the previous paragraph.   Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders   This section applies to you only if you are a U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a security that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:   ·     a citizen or individual resident of the United States;   ·     a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or   ·    an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.   Tax Treatment of the Securities   Assuming the treatment of the securities as set forth above is respected, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result.   Tax Basis. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the securities should equal the amount paid by the U.S. Holder to acquire the securities.   Tax Treatment of Coupon Payments. Any coupon payment on the securities should be taxable as ordinary income to a U.S. Holder at the time received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.               Sale, Exchange or Settlement of the Securities. Upon a sale, exchange or settlement of the securities, a U.S. Holder should recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or settlement and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the securities sold, exchanged or settled. For this purpose, the amount realized does not include any coupon paid at settlement and may not include sale proceeds attributable to an accrued coupon, which may be treated as a coupon payment. Any such gain or loss

 

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

 

recognized should be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the securities for more than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or settlement, and should be short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. The ordinary income treatment of the coupon payments, in conjunction with the capital loss treatment of any loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or settlement of the securities, could result in adverse tax consequences to holders of the securities because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.   Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities   Due to the absence of authorities that directly address the proper tax treatment of the securities, no assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or that a court will uphold, the treatment described above. In particular, the IRS could seek to analyze the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning the securities under Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (the “Contingent Debt Regulations”). If the IRS were successful in asserting that the Contingent Debt Regulations applied to the securities, the timing and character of income thereon would be significantly affected. Among other things, a U.S. Holder would be required to accrue into income original issue discount on the securities every year at a “comparable yield” determined at the time of their issuance, adjusted upward or downward to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and the projected amount of any contingent payments on the securities. Furthermore, any gain realized by a U.S. Holder at maturity or upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s prior accruals of original issue discount and as capital loss thereafter. The risk that financial instruments providing for buffers, triggers or similar downside protection features, such as the securities, would be recharacterized as debt is greater than the risk of recharacterization for comparable financial instruments that do not have such features.   Other alternative federal income tax treatments of the securities are possible, which, if applied, could significantly affect the timing and character of the income or loss with respect to the securities. In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses on whether to require holders of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; whether short-term instruments should be subject to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange–traded status of the instruments and the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” rule, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose an interest charge; and appropriate transition rules and effective dates. While it is not clear whether instruments such as the securities would be viewed as similar to the prepaid forward contracts described in the notice, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, possibly with retroactive effect. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.   Backup Withholding and Information Reporting   Backup withholding may apply in respect of payments on the securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities, unless a U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional tax and may be refunded, or credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.  In addition, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption from the information reporting rules.   Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders   This section applies to you only if you are a Non-U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a security that is for U.S. federal income tax

 

 

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

purposes:   ·     an individual who is classified as a nonresident alien; ·     a foreign corporation; or ·     a foreign estate or trust.   The term “Non-U.S. Holder” does not include any of the following holders:   ·     a holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and who is not otherwise a resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes;   ·     certain former citizens or residents of the United States; or   ·     a holder for whom income or gain in respect of the securities is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.   Such holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities.   Although significant aspects of the tax treatment of each security are uncertain, we intend to withhold on any coupon paid to a Non-U.S. Holder generally at a rate of 30% or at a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty under an “other income” or similar provision. We will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. In order to claim an exemption from, or a reduction in, the 30% withholding tax, a Non-U.S. Holder of the securities must comply with certification requirements to establish that it is not a U.S. person and is eligible for such an exemption or reduction under an applicable tax treaty. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the tax treatment of the securities, including the possibility of obtaining a refund of any withholding tax and the certification requirement described above.   Section 871(m) Withholding Tax on Dividend Equivalents   Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities (each, an “Underlying Security”). Subject to certain exceptions, Section 871(m) generally applies to securities that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more Underlying Securities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “Specified Security”). However, pursuant to an IRS notice, Section 871(m) will not apply to securities issued before January 1, 2021 that do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security. Based on our determination that the securities do not have a delta of one with respect to any Underlying Security, our counsel is of the opinion that the securities should not be Specified Securities and, therefore, should not be subject to Section 871(m).   Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If Section 871(m) withholding is required, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the securities.   U.S. Federal Estate Tax   Individual Non-U.S. Holders and entities the property of which is potentially includible in such an individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example, a trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the individual has retained certain interests or powers) should note that, absent an applicable treaty exemption, the securities may be treated as U.S.-situs property subject to U.S. federal estate tax. Prospective investors that are non-U.S. individuals, or are entities of the type described above, should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of an investment in the securities.   Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

 

 

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC 

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

	Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with any coupon payment and may be filed with the IRS in connection with the payment at maturity on the securities and the payment of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition. A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding in respect of amounts paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, unless such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise establishes an exemption. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.   FATCA   Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. FATCA generally applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest or other U.S.-source “fixed or determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). Withholding (if applicable) applies to payments of U.S.-source FDAP income and, for dispositions after December 31, 2018, to payments of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement) of certain financial instruments treated as providing for U.S.-source interest or dividends. While the treatment of the securities is unclear, you should assume that any coupon payment with respect to the securities will be subject to the FATCA rules. It is also possible in light of this uncertainty that an applicable withholding agent will treat gross proceeds of a disposition (including upon retirement) of the securities after 2018 as being subject to the FATCA rules. If withholding applies to the securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of FATCA to the securities.   The discussion in the preceding paragraphs, insofar as it purports to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities.
Trustee:	The Bank of New York Mellon
Calculation agent:	MS & Co.
Use of proceeds and hedging:	The proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used by us for general corporate purposes. We will receive, in aggregate, $1,000 per security issued, because, when we enter into hedging transactions in order to meet our obligations under the securities, our hedging counterparty will reimburse the cost of the agent’s commissions. The costs of the securities borne by you and described beginning on page 4 above comprise the agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the securities.   On or prior to the pricing date, we hedged our anticipated exposure in connection with the securities by entering into hedging transactions with our affiliates and/or third party dealers. We expect our hedging counterparties to have taken positions in the EEM Shares, in stocks constituting the NDX Index or the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM and in futures and/or options contracts on the EEM Shares, the NDX Index, the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM or their component stocks. Such purchase activity could have increased the initial level of one or both of the underlyings and, therefore, could have increased (i) the value at or above which such underlying must close on the redemption determination dates so that the securities are redeemed prior to maturity for the early redemption payment (depending also on the performance of the other underlying), (ii) the coupon barrier level for such underlying, which is the value at or above which such underlying must close on the observation dates so that you receive a contingent monthly coupon on the securities (depending also on the performance of the other underlying), and (iii) the value at or above which such underlying must close on the final observation date so that you are not exposed to the negative performance of the worst performing underlying at maturity (depending also on the performance of the other underlying). In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify our hedge position throughout the term of the securities, including on the final observation date, by purchasing and selling the EEM Shares, the stocks constituting the NDX Index or MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM, futures or options contracts on the EEM Shares, the NDX Index, the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM or their component stocks of the MSCI Emerging Markets IndexSM listed on major

 

 

November 2018

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC 

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

securities markets or by taking positions in any other available securities or instruments that we may wish to use in connection with such hedging activities. As a result, these entities may be unwinding or adjusting hedge positions during the term of the securities, and the hedging strategy may involve greater and more frequent dynamic adjustments to the hedge as the final observation date approaches. Additionally, our hedging activities, as well as our other trading activities, during the term of the securities could potentially affect the value of any of the underlyings on the redemption determination dates and other observation dates and, accordingly, whether we redeem the securities prior to maturity, whether we pay a contingent monthly coupon on the securities and the amount of cash you will receive at maturity. For further information on our use of proceeds and hedging, see “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement.

Benefit plan investor considerations:

Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (a “Plan”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.   In addition, we and certain of our affiliates, including MS & Co., may each be considered a “party in interest” within the meaning of ERISA, or a “disqualified person” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to many Plans, as well as many individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans (such accounts and plans, together with other plans, accounts and arrangements subject to Section 4975 of the Code, also “Plans”). ERISA Section 406 and Code Section 4975 generally prohibit transactions between Plans and parties in interest or disqualified persons. Prohibited transactions within the meaning of ERISA or the Code would likely arise, for example, if the securities are acquired by or with the assets of a Plan with respect to which MS & Co. or any of its affiliates is a service provider or other party in interest, unless the securities are acquired pursuant to an exemption from the “prohibited transaction” rules. A violation of these “prohibited transaction” rules could result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for those persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.   The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the securities. Those class exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts) and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Code Section 4975(d)(20) provide an exemption for the purchase and sale of securities and the related lending transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities nor any of its affiliates has or exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders any investment advice with respect to the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the Plan pays no more, and receives no less, than “adequate consideration” in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider” exemption). There can be no assurance that any of these class or statutory exemptions will be available with respect to transactions involving the securities.   Because we may be considered a party in interest with respect to many Plans, the securities may not be purchased, held or disposed of by any Plan, any entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “Plan Asset Entity”) or any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase, holding or disposition is eligible for exemptive relief, including relief available under PTCEs 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1, 84-14 or the service provider exemption or such purchase, holding or disposition is otherwise not prohibited. Any purchaser, including any fiduciary purchasing on behalf of a Plan, transferee or holder of the securities will be deemed to have represented, in its corporate and its fiduciary capacity, by its purchase and holding of the securities that either (a) it is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not purchasing such securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan or with any assets of a governmental, non-U.S. or church plan that is subject to any federal, state, local or non-U.S. law that is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (“Similar Law”) or (b) its purchase, holding and disposition of these securities will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited

 

 

November 2018

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC 

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

	transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or violate any Similar Law.   Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan consult with their counsel regarding the availability of exemptive relief.   The securities are contractual financial instruments. The financial exposure provided by the securities is not a substitute or proxy for, and is not intended as a substitute or proxy for, individualized investment management or advice for the benefit of any purchaser or holder of the securities. The securities have not been designed and will not be administered in a manner intended to reflect the individualized needs and objectives of any purchaser or holder of the securities.   Each purchaser or holder of any securities acknowledges and agrees that:   (i)    the purchaser or holder or its fiduciary has made and shall make all investment decisions for the purchaser or holder and the purchaser or holder has not relied and shall not rely in any way upon us or our affiliates to act as a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder with respect to (A) the design and terms of the securities, (B) the purchaser or holder’s investment in the securities, or (C) the exercise of or failure to exercise any rights we have under or with respect to the securities;   (ii)   we and our affiliates have acted and will act solely for our own account in connection with (A) all transactions relating to the securities and (B) all hedging transactions in connection with our obligations under the securities;   (iii)  any and all assets and positions relating to hedging transactions by us or our affiliates are assets and positions of those entities and are not assets and positions held for the benefit of the purchaser or holder;   (iv)  our interests are adverse to the interests of the purchaser or holder; and   (v)   neither we nor any of our affiliates is a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder in connection with any such assets, positions or transactions, and any information that we or any of our affiliates may provide is not intended to be impartial investment advice.   Each purchaser and holder of the securities has exclusive responsibility for ensuring that its purchase, holding and disposition of the securities do not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any Similar Law. The sale of any securities to any Plan or plan subject to Similar Law is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by plans generally or any particular plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for plans generally or any particular plan. In this regard, neither this discussion nor anything provided in this document is or is intended to be investment advice directed at any potential Plan purchaser or at Plan purchasers generally and such purchasers of these securities should consult and rely on their own counsel and advisers as to whether an investment in these securities is suitable.   However, individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities and Keogh plans, as well as employee benefit plans that permit participants to direct the investment of their accounts, will not be permitted to purchase or hold the securities if the account, plan or annuity is for the benefit of an employee of Morgan Stanley or Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or a family member and the employee receives any compensation (such as, for example, an addition to bonus) based on the purchase of the securities by the account, plan or annuity.
Additional considerations:	Client accounts over which Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management or any of their respective subsidiaries have investment discretion are not permitted to purchase the securities, either directly or indirectly.
Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest:	Selected dealers, which may include our affiliates, and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent a fixed sales commission of $10 for each security they sell.   MS & Co. is an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, and it and other affiliates of ours expect to make a profit by selling, structuring and, when applicable, hedging the securities.   MS & Co. will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related

 

 

November 2018

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC 

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due November 26, 2025, With 1-year Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the NASDAQ-100 Index^® and the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

 

	conflicts of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement for auto-callable securities.
Validity of the securities:	In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as special counsel to MSFL and Morgan Stanley, when the securities offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by MSFL, authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such securities will be valid and binding obligations of MSFL and the related guarantee will be a valid and binding obligation of Morgan Stanley, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to (i) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above and (ii) any provision of the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture that purports to avoid the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law by limiting the amount of Morgan Stanley’s obligation under the related guarantee.  This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.  In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture and its authentication of the securities and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the MSFL Senior Debt Indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated November 16, 2017, which is Exhibit 5-a to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by Morgan Stanley on November 16, 2017.
Contact:	Morgan Stanley Wealth Management clients may contact their local Morgan Stanley branch office or our principal executive offices at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (telephone number (866) 477-4776).  All other clients may contact their local brokerage representative.  Third-party distributors may contact Morgan Stanley Structured Investment Sales at (800) 233-1087.
Where you can find more information:	Morgan Stanley and MSFL have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by the product supplement for auto-callable securities and the index supplement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this communication relates. You should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the product supplement for auto-callable securities, the index supplement and any other documents relating to this offering that MSFL and Morgan Stanley have filed with the SEC for more complete information about Morgan Stanley and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at.www.sec.gov. Alternatively, MSFL, Morgan Stanley, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, the product supplement for auto-callable securities and the index supplement if you so request by calling toll-free 1-(800)-584-6837.   You may access these documents on the SEC web site at.www.sec.gov as follows:   Product Supplement for Auto-Callable Securities dated November 16, 2017 Index Supplement dated November 16, 2017 Prospectus dated November 16, 2017   Terms used but not defined in this document are defined in the product supplement for auto-callable securities, in the index supplement or in the prospectus.

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