CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities Offered   Maximum Aggregate Offering Price   Amount of Registration Fee
Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due 2020   $9,064,670   $1,128.55

 

July 2018

Pricing Supplement No. 755

Registration Statement Nos. 333-221595; 333-221595-01

Dated July 13, 2018

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Structured Investments

Opportunities in International Equities

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities, which we refer to as the securities, are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The securities will pay no interest, provide for a minimum payment amount of only 95% of principal at maturity and have the terms described in the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus, as supplemented and modified by this document. At maturity, if the underlying index has appreciated in value, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment plus 120% of the appreciation of the underlying index from the initial index value to the final index value. However, if at maturity the underlying index has depreciated in value, investors will lose 1% for every 1% decline of the final index value from the initial index value, subject to the minimum payment amount. Investors may lose up to 5% of the stated principal amount of the securities. The securities are for investors who are concerned about principal risk, but seek an equity index-based return, and who are willing to risk 5% of their principal and to forgo current income in exchange for the repayment of at least 95% of the principal at maturity and the opportunity to earn a return reflecting 120% of the appreciation of the underlying index from the initial index value to the final index value. The securities are securities issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program.

All payments on the securities, including the payment of the minimum payment amount at maturity, are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. These securities are not secured obligations and you will not have any security interest in, or otherwise have any access to, any underlying reference asset or assets.

FINAL TERMS
Issuer: Morgan Stanley Finance LLC
Guarantor: Morgan Stanley
Issue price: $10 per security (see “Commissions and issue price” below)
Stated principal amount: $10 per security
Aggregate principal amount: $9,064,670
Pricing date: July 13, 2018
Original issue date: July 18, 2018 (3 business days after the pricing date)
Maturity date: August 5, 2020
Interest: None
Underlying index: MSCI Europe® Index
Payment at maturity:

If the final index value is greater than the initial index value:

$10 + supplemental redemption amount

If the final index value is less than or equal to the initial index value:

$10 x (final index value / initial index value), subject to the minimum payment amount

Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less than the stated principal amount of $10 per security by an amount that is proportionate to the percentage decline of the underlying index. However, under no circumstances will the payment due at maturity be less than the minimum payment amount of $9.50 per security.

Supplemental redemption amount: (i) $10 times (ii) the index percent change times (iii) the participation rate
Minimum payment amount: $9.50 per security (95% of the stated principal amount)
Participation rate: 120%
Index percent change: (final index value – initial index value) / initial index value
Initial index value: 129.86, which is the index closing value on the pricing date
Final index value: The index closing value on the determination date
Determination date: July 31, 2020, subject to postponement for non-index business days and certain market disruption events
CUSIP / ISIN: 61768R161 / US61768R1611
Listing: The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Agent: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”), an affiliate of MSFL and a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.  See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.”
Estimated value on the pricing date: $9.66 per security.  See “Investment Summary” beginning on page 2.

Commissions and issue price: Price to public Agent’s commissions Proceeds to us(3)
Per security $10 $0.20(1)  
    $0.05(2) $9.75
Total $9,064,670 $226,616.75 $8,838,053.25

(1)Selected dealers, including Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (an affiliate of the agent), and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent, MS & Co., a fixed sales commission of $0.20 for each security they sell. See “Supplemental information regarding plan of distribution; conflicts of interest.” For additional information, see “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement.

(2)Reflects a structuring fee payable to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management by the agent or its affiliates of $0.05 for each security.

(3)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 13.

The securities involve risks not associated with an investment in ordinary debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this document or the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The securities are not deposits or savings accounts and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

You should read this document together with the related product supplement, index supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below. Please also see “Additional Information About the Securities” at the end of this document.

As used in this document, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley or MSFL, or Morgan Stanley and MSFL collectively, as the context requires.

Product Supplement for Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities dated November 16, 2017

Index Supplement dated November 16, 2017       Prospectus dated November 16, 2017

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

Investment Summary

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities

 

The Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020 Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index (the “securities”) provide investors with an opportunity to receive a return reflecting 120% of the positive performance of the underlying index while maintaining 1:1 downside exposure to any depreciation of the underlying index, subject to the minimum payment amount at maturity of $9.50 per security.

 

If the final index value is greater than the initial index value, the securities will pay the stated principal amount of $10 plus a supplemental redemption amount. The supplemental redemption amount provides 120% upside participation (e.g., if the underlying index appreciates 10% from the initial index value to the final index value, the investor receives 100% of principal plus 12% at maturity) in the performance of the underlying index. If the final index value is equal to or less than the initial index value, the payment at maturity per security will be equal to or less than the $10 principal amount of securities by an amount proportionate to the decline in the underlying index as of the determination date, subject to the minimum payment amount of $9.50 per security. The securities do not pay interest, and all payments on the securities, including the payment of the minimum payment amount at maturity, are subject to our credit risk.

 

Maturity: Approximately 2 years
Minimum payment amount: $9.50 per security (95% of the stated principal amount).  You could lose up to 5% of the stated principal amount of the securities.
Participation rate: 120%
Interest: None

 

July 2018Page 2

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

The original issue price of each security is $10. This price includes costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities, which are borne by you, and, consequently, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date is less than $10. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date is $9.66.

 

What goes into the estimated value on the pricing date?

 

In valuing the securities on the pricing date, we take into account that the securities comprise both a debt component and a performance-based component linked to the underlying index. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlying index, instruments based on the underlying index, volatility and other factors including current and expected interest rates, as well as an interest rate related to our secondary market credit spread, which is the implied interest rate at which our conventional fixed rate debt trades in the secondary market.

 

What determines the economic terms of the securities?

 

In determining the economic terms of the securities, including the minimum payment amount and the participation rate, we use an internal funding rate, which is likely to be lower than our secondary market credit spreads and therefore advantageous to us. If the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging costs borne by you were lower or if the internal funding rate were higher, one or more of the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you.

 

What is the relationship between the estimated value on the pricing date and the secondary market price of the securities?

 

The price at which MS & Co. purchases the securities in the secondary market, absent changes in market conditions, including those related to the underlying index, may vary from, and be lower than, the estimated value on the pricing date, because the secondary market price takes into account our secondary market credit spread as well as the bid-offer spread that MS & Co. would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type and other factors. 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 6 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 underlying index, and to our secondary market credit spreads, it would do so based on values higher than the estimated value. We expect that those higher values will also be reflected in your brokerage account statements.

 

MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities, and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time.

 

July 2018Page 3

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

Key Investment Rationale

 

The securities offer 120% participation in the positive performance of the underlying index while providing for a minimum repayment of 95% of the stated principal amount if the securities are held to maturity, in exchange for forgoing current income and interest. All payments on the securities, including the payment of the minimum payment amount at maturity, are subject to our credit risk.

 

Minimum Payment Amount of 95% of Principal at Maturity The securities provide for the minimum payment amount of 95% of principal if held to maturity.
Upside Scenario The underlying index appreciates, and the securities return par plus 120% upside participation in the appreciation of the underlying index.
Downside Scenario The underlying index depreciates, and the securities redeem for less than the $10 stated principal amount by an amount proportionate to the decline in the value of the underlying index, subject to the minimum payment amount of $9.50 per security (95% of the stated principal amount).

 

July 2018Page 4

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

How the Securities Work

Payoff Diagram

 

The payoff diagram below illustrates the payment at maturity on the securities, based on the following terms:

 

Stated principal amount: $10 per security
Participation rate: 120%
Minimum payment amount $9.50 per security (95% of the stated principal amount)

 

Payoff Diagram

 

How it works

 

§Upside Scenario. If the final index value is greater than the initial index value, investors would receive the $10 stated principal amount plus 120% participation in the appreciation of the underlying index.

 

oIf the underlying index appreciates 10%, investors would receive a 12% return, or $11.20 per security.

 

§Par or Downside Scenario. If the final index value is less than or equal to the initial index value, investors would receive an amount less than or equal to the $10 stated principal amount, based on a 1% loss of principal for each 1% decline in the underlying index over the term of the securities, subject to the minimum payment amount of $9.50 per security.

 

oIf the underlying index depreciates 1.50% from the initial index value to the final index value, investors would lose 1.50% of their principal and receive only $9.85 per security at maturity, or 98.50% of the stated principal amount.

 

oIf the underlying index depreciates 50% from the initial index value to the final index value, investors would receive the minimum payment amount of $9.50 per security at maturity, or 95% of the stated principal amount.

 

July 2018Page 5

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

Risk Factors

 

The following is a list of certain key risk factors for investors in the securities. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus. We also urge you to consult with your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the securities.

 

§The securities do not pay interest and provide for a minimum payment amount of only 95% of principal. The terms of the securities differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that the securities do not pay interest and provide for a minimum payment amount of only 95% of principal at maturity. If the underlying index has depreciated over the term of the securities, the payout at maturity will be an amount in cash that is less than the $10 stated principal amount of each security by an amount proportionate to the decrease in the value of the underlying index, subject to the minimum payment amount of $9.50 per security (95% of the stated principal amount). You could lose up to 5% of your investment in the securities.

 

§The market price of the securities will be influenced by many unpredictable factors. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the value of the securities in the secondary market and the price at which MS & Co. may be willing to purchase or sell the securities in the secondary market, including the value of the underlying index at any time, the volatility (frequency and magnitude of changes in value) of the underlying index, dividend rate on the stocks underlying the index, interest and yield rates in the market, time remaining until the securities mature, geopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlying index or equities markets generally and which may affect the final index value of the underlying index and any actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads. The value of the underlying index may be, and has recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. You may receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the stated principal amount per security if you try to sell your securities prior to maturity.

 

§There are risks associated with investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities. The securities are linked to the value of foreign equity securities. Investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve risks associated with the securities markets in those countries, including risks of volatility in those markets, governmental intervention in those markets and cross-shareholdings in companies in certain countries. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements different from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. The prices of securities issued in foreign markets may be affected by political, economic, financial and social factors in those countries, or global regions, including changes in government, economic and fiscal policies and currency exchange laws. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. Moreover, the economies in such countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the economy in the United States in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions

 

§The securities are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the securities. You are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the securities at maturity and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations under the securities, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. As a result, the market value of the securities prior to maturity will be affected by changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any actual or anticipated decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the securities.

 

July 2018Page 6

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

§As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets. As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of its securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of MSFL securities if they make claims in respect of such securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by Morgan Stanley and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Morgan Stanley. Holders will have recourse only to a single claim against Morgan Stanley and its assets under the guarantee. Holders of securities issued by MSFL should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of Morgan Stanley, including holders of Morgan Stanley-issued securities.

 

§The amount payable on the securities is not linked to the value of the underlying index at any time other than the determination date. The final index value will be based on the index closing value on the determination date, subject to postponement for non-index business days and certain market disruption events. Even if the value of the underlying index appreciates prior to the determination date but then drops by the determination date to be equal to or below the initial index value, the payment at maturity will be less, and may be significantly less, than it would have been had the payment at maturity been linked to the value of the underlying index prior to such drop. Although the actual value of the underlying index on the stated maturity date or at other times during the term of the securities may be higher than the final index value, the payment at maturity will be based solely on the index closing value on the determination date.

 

§The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both the lower rate and the inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the securities in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the securities, cause the estimated value of the securities to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the prices, if any, at which dealers, including MS & Co., may be willing to purchase the securities in secondary market transactions will likely be significantly lower than the original issue price, because secondary market prices will exclude the issuing, selling, structuring and hedging-related costs that are included in the original issue price and borne by you and because the secondary market prices will reflect our secondary market credit spreads and the bid-offer spread that any dealer would charge in a secondary market transaction of this type as well as other factors.

 

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 6 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 underlying index, 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.

 

§You cannot predict the future performance of the underlying index based on its historical performance. The value of the underlying index may be, and has recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. You cannot predict the future performance of the MSCI Europe® Index based on its historical performance. See “MSCI Europe® Index Overview” below.

 

§The estimated value of the securities is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price. These pricing and valuation models are proprietary and rely in part on subjective views of certain market inputs and certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, because there is no market-standard way to value these types of securities, our models may yield a higher estimated value of the securities than those generated by others, including other dealers in the

 

July 2018Page 7

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

market, if they attempted to value the securities. In addition, the estimated value on the pricing date does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which dealers, including MS & Co., would be willing to purchase your securities in the secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your securities at any time after the date of this pricing supplement will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. See also “The market price of the securities will be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above.

 

§Adjustments to the underlying index could adversely affect the value of the securities. The publisher of the underlying index can add, delete or substitute the stocks underlying the underlying index, and can make other methodological changes required by certain events relating to the underlying stocks, such as stock dividends, stock splits, spin-offs, rights offerings and extraordinary dividends, that could change the value of the underlying index. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of the securities. The publisher of the underlying index may also discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the underlying index at any time. In these circumstances, MS & Co., as the calculation agent, will have the sole discretion to substitute a successor index that is comparable to the discontinued index. MS & Co. could have an economic interest that is different than that of investors in the securities insofar as, for example, MS & Co. is permitted to consider indices that are calculated and published by MS & Co. or any of its affiliates. If MS & Co. determines that there is no appropriate successor index on the determination date, the final index value will be an amount calculated based on the prices of the stocks underlying the discontinued index at the time of such discontinuance, without rebalancing or substitution, computed by MS & Co, as calculation agent, in accordance with the formula for calculating the index closing value last in effect prior to discontinuance of the index.

 

§Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index or its component stocks. Investors in the securities will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to stocks that constitute the underlying index.

 

§The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited. The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary market for the securities. MS & Co. may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the securities, and, if it once chooses to make a market, may cease doing so at any time. When it does make a market, it will generally do so for transactions of routine secondary market size at prices based on its estimate of the current value of the securities, taking into account its bid/offer spread, our credit spreads, market volatility, the notional size of the proposed sale, the cost of unwinding any related hedging positions, the time remaining to maturity and the likelihood that it will be able to resell the securities. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the securities easily. Because we do not expect that other broker-dealers will participate significantly in the secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to trade your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which MS & Co. is willing to transact. If, at any time, MS & Co. were to cease making a market in the securities, it is likely that there would be no secondary market for the securities. Accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities to maturity.

 

§The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, will make determinations with respect to the securities. As calculation agent, MS & Co. has determined the initial index value, will determine the final index value and will calculate the amount of cash you will receive at maturity. Moreover, certain determinations made by MS & Co., in its capacity as calculation agent, may require it to exercise discretion and make subjective judgments, such as with respect to the occurrence or non-occurrence of market disruption events and the selection of a successor index or calculation of the index closing value in the event of a discontinuance of the underlying index or a market disruption event, may adversely affect the payout to you at maturity. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Description of Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities —Supplemental Redemption Amount,” “—Calculation Agent and Calculations,” “—Alternate Exchange Calculation in the Case of an Event of Default” and “—Discontinuance of Any Underlying Index; Alteration of Method of Calculation” in the accompanying product supplement. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date.

 

§Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially adversely affect the value of the securities. One or more of our affiliates and/or third-party dealers have carried out, and will continue to

 

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

carry out, hedging activities related to the securities (and to other instruments linked to the underlying index or its component stocks), including trading in the stocks that constitute the underlying index as well as in other instruments related to the underlying index. 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 determination date approaches. MS & Co. and some of our affiliates also trade the stocks that constitute the underlying index and other financial instruments related to the underlying index on a regular basis as part of their general broker-dealer and other businesses. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the pricing date could have increased the initial index value, and, therefore, could have increased the value at or above which the underlying index must close on the determination date so that investors do not suffer a loss on their initial investment in the securities. Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities, including on the determination date, could adversely affect the value of the underlying index on the determination date, and, accordingly, the amount of cash an investor will receive at maturity.

 

July 2018Page 9

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

MSCI Europe® Index Overview

 

The MSCI Europe® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is calculated, published and disseminated by MSCI Inc. The MSCI Europe® Index is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets in Europe and consists of the following 15 developed-market countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For additional information about the MSCI Europe® Index, see the information set forth under “MSCI International Equity Indices—MSCI Europe ® Index” and “—MSCI Global Investable Market Indices Methodology” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

Information as of market close on July 13, 2018:

 

Bloomberg Ticker Symbol: MXEU
Current Index Value: 129.86
52 Weeks Ago: 130.38
52 Week High (on 1/23/2018): 135.99
52 Week Low (on 3/26/2018): 122.39

 

The following graph sets forth the daily closing values of the underlying index for the period from January 1, 2013 through July 13, 2018. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing values, as well as end-of-quarter closing values, of the underlying index for each quarter in the same period. The closing value of the underlying index on July 13, 2018 was 129.86. We obtained the information in the table and graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The underlying index has at times experienced periods of high volatility, and you should not take the historical values of the underlying index as an indication of its future performance.

 

MSCI Europe® Index Historical Performance

Daily Closing Values

January 1, 2013 to July 13, 2018

 

July 2018Page 10

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

MSCI Europe® Index High Low Period End
2013      
First Quarter 102.61 96.31 100.92
Second Quarter 106.55 94.54 97.69
Third Quarter 107.75 97.80 106.16
Fourth Quarter 112.13 104.24 112.13
2014      
First Quarter 115.34 108.35 113.81
Second Quarter 119.26 111.51 116.74
Third Quarter 119.21 111.17 117.21
Fourth Quarter 119.63 105.92 116.72
2015      
First Quarter 137.56 112.92 135.26
Second Quarter 140.92 129.19 129.19
Third Quarter 137.84 114.32 117.25
Fourth Quarter 130.03 116.73 123.11
2016      
First Quarter 123.11 102.32 113.62
Second Quarter 118.41 104.49 111.62
Third Quarter 118.29 108.01 115.82
Fourth Quarter 122.54 111.29 122.50
2017      
First Quarter 128.93 121.99 128.93
Second Quarter 133.83 127.12 128.08
Third Quarter 131.01 124.40 131.01
Fourth Quarter 133.95 129.04 131.41
2018      
First Quarter 135.99 122.39 125.01
Second Quarter 133.99 123.89 128.08
Third Quarter (through July 13, 2018) 130.30 127.04 129.86

 

The “MSCI Europe® Index” is a trademark of MSCI Inc. For more information, see “MSCI International Equity Indices” in the accompanying index supplement.

 

July 2018Page 11

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities due August 5, 2020

Based on the Performance of the MSCI Europe® Index

 

Additional Information About the Securities

 

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

 

Additional Provisions:  
Denominations: $10 per security and integral multiples thereof
Call right: The securities are not callable prior to the maturity date.
Postponement of maturity date: If the determination date is postponed so that it falls less than two business days prior to the scheduled maturity date, the maturity date of the securities will be postponed to the second business day following the determination date as postponed.
Minimum ticketing size: $1,000 / 100 securities
Trustee: The Bank of New York Mellon
Calculation agent: MS & Co.
Tax considerations:

In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the securities should be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as described in the section of the accompanying product supplement called “United States Federal Taxation—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders.” Under this treatment, if you are a U.S. taxable investor, you generally will be subject to annual income tax based on the “comparable yield” (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) of the securities, even though no interest is payable on the securities. In addition, any gain recognized by U.S. taxable investors on the sale or exchange, or at maturity, of the securities generally will be treated as ordinary income. We have determined that the “comparable yield” for the securities is a rate of 3.3421% per annum, compounded semi-annually. Based on the comparable yield set forth above, the “projected payment schedule” for a security (assuming an issue price of $10) consists of a single projected amount equal to $10.7025 due at maturity. You should read the discussion under “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities.

 

  The following table states the amount of original issue discount (“OID”) (without taking into account any adjustment to reflect the difference, if any, between the actual and the projected amount of the contingent payment on a security) that will be deemed to have accrued with respect to a security for each accrual period (assuming a day count convention of 30 days per month and 360 days per year), based upon the comparable yield set forth above.

 

ACCRUAL PERIOD

OID DEEMED TO ACCRUE DURING ACCRUAL PERIOD (PER SECURITY) 

TOTAL OID DEEMED TO HAVE ACCRUED FROM ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE (PER SECURITY) AS OF END OF ACCRUAL PERIOD 

  Original Issue Date through December 31, 2018 $0.1504 $0.1504
  January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019 $0.1696 $0.3200
  July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 $0.1725 $0.4925
  January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020 $0.1753 $0.6678
  July 1, 2020 through the Maturity Date $0.0347 $0.7025

 

The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule are not provided for any purpose other than the determination of U.S. Holders’ accruals of OID and adjustments thereto in respect of the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and we make no representation regarding the actual amount of the payment that will be made on a security.

 

If you are a non-U.S. investor, please also read the section of the accompanying product supplement called “United States Federal Taxation—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders.”

 

As discussed in the accompanying product supplement, Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (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 Internal Revenue

 

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Service (“IRS”) notice, Section 871(m) will not apply to securities issued before January 1, 2019 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 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.

 

You should consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction. Moreover, neither this document nor the accompanying product supplement addresses the consequences to taxpayers subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code.

 

The discussion in the preceding paragraphs under “Tax considerations” and the discussion contained in the section entitled “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying product supplement, insofar as they purport to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities.

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, $10 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 on page 2 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 stocks constituting the underlying index and in futures and/or options contracts on the underlying index or the component stocks of the underlying index listed on major securities markets. Such purchase activity could have increased the value of the underlying index on the pricing date, and, therefore, could have increased the value at or above which the underlying index must close on the determination date so that investors do not suffer a loss on their initial investment in the securities. In addition, through our affiliates, we are likely to modify our hedge position throughout the term of the securities, including on the determination date, by purchasing and selling the stocks constituting the underlying index, futures or options contracts on the underlying index or its component stocks listed on major securities markets or 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 determination date approaches. We cannot give any assurance that our hedging activities will not affect the value of the underlying index, and, therefore, adversely affect the value of the securities or the payment 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

 

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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 Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code 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 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

 

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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 the securities should consult and rely on their own counsel and advisers as to whether an investment in the 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, 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:

The Agent may distribute the securities through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management”), as selected dealer, or other dealers, which may include Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (“MSIP”) and Bank Morgan Stanley AG. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, MSIP and Bank Morgan Stanley AG are affiliates of ours. Selected dealers, including Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the Agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a fixed sales commission of $0.20 for each security they sell. In addition, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management will receive a structuring fee of $0.05 for each security.

 

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 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.

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

 

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  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 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 Equity-Linked 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 Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities, the index supplement and any other documents relating to this offering that Morgan Stanley and MSFL have filed with the SEC for more complete information Morgan Stanley, MSFL and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at.www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Morgan Stanley, MSFL, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, the product supplement for Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities and the index supplement if you so request by calling toll-free 800-584-6837.

 

You may access these documents on the SEC web site at.www.sec.gov as follows:

Product Supplement for Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk 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 Equity-Linked Partial Principal at Risk Securities, in the index supplement or in the prospectus.

 

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