MS-E Morgan Stanley

 June 2023

Pricing Supplement No. 9,256

Registration Statement Nos. 333-250103; 333-250103-01

Dated June 27, 2023

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Structured Investments

Opportunities in Commodities and U.S. Equities

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Morgan Stanley

Principal at Risk Securities

The securities are unsecured obligations of Morgan Stanley Finance LLC (“MSFL”) and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Morgan Stanley. The securities have the terms described in the accompanying product supplement, index supplement and prospectus, as supplemented or modified by this document. The securities do not provide for the regular payment of interest and provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 15% of the stated principal amount. Instead, the securities will pay a contingent monthly coupon but only if the determination closing price of each of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF, which we refer to as the underlying shares, is at or above 80% of its respective initial share price, which we refer to as the coupon barrier level, on the related observation date. If, however, the determination closing price of either of the underlying shares is less than its respective coupon barrier level on any observation date, we will pay no interest for the related monthly period. The securities will be automatically redeemed if the determination closing price of each of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to its respective initial share price on any quarterly redemption determination date (beginning six months after the original issue date) for the early redemption payment equal to the sum of the stated principal amount plus the related contingent monthly coupon. No further payments will be made on the securities once they have been redeemed. At maturity, if the securities have not previously been redeemed and the final share price of each of the underlying shares is greater than or equal to 85% of its respective initial share price, meaning that neither of the underlying shares has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, the payment at maturity will be the stated principal amount and the related contingent monthly coupon. However, if the final share price of either of the underlying shares is less than 85% of its respective initial share price, meaning that either of the underlying shares has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, investors will lose 1% for every 1% decline in the final share price of the worst performing underlying shares from its initial share price beyond the buffer amount of 15%. Accordingly, investors in the securities must be willing to accept the risk of losing up to 85% of their initial investment and also the risk of not receiving any contingent monthly coupons throughout the 2.75-year term of the securities. The securities are for investors who are willing to risk their principal and seek an opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate in exchange for the risk of receiving no monthly interest over the entire 2.75-year term and in exchange for the possibility of an automatic early redemption prior to maturity, with no possibility of being called out of the securities until after the initial 6-month non-call period. Because the payment of contingent monthly coupons is based on the worst performing of the underlying shares, the fact that the securities are linked to two underlying shares does not provide any asset diversification benefits and instead means that a decline in the price of either of the underlying shares below the relevant coupon barrier level will result in no contingent monthly coupons, even if the other underlying shares closes at or above its respective coupon barrier level. Because all payments on the securities are based on the worst performing of the underlying shares, a decline of either of the underlying shares by an amount greater than the buffer amount as of the final observation date will result in a loss of your investment, even if the other underlying shares has appreciated or has not declined as much. Investors will not participate in any appreciation of either of the underlying shares. The securities are notes issued as part of MSFL’s Series A Global Medium-Term Notes program.

All payments 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.

(1)Selected dealers and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent, MS & Co., a fixed sales commission of $26 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)See “Use of proceeds and hedging” on page 29.

The securities involve risks not associated with an investment in ordinary debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9.

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 Terms of the Securities” and “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 Auto-Callable Securities dated November 16, 2020  Index Supplement dated November 16, 2020

Prospectus dated November 16, 2020

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

The original issue price of each security is $1,000. 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 $1,000. We estimate that the value of each security on the pricing date is $944.80.

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 shares. The estimated value of the securities is determined using our own pricing and valuation models, market inputs and assumptions relating to the underlying shares, instruments based on the underlying shares, 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 contingent monthly coupon rate, the coupon barrier levels and the buffer amount, 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 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 shares, 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 shares, 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.

June 2023 Page 4

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

Key Investment Rationale

The securities do not provide for the regular payment of interest. Instead, the securities will pay a contingent monthly coupon but only if the determination closing price of each of the underlying shares is at or above its respective coupon barrier level on the related observation date. The securities have been designed for investors who are willing to forgo market floating interest rates and risk the loss of principal and accept the risk of receiving few or no coupon payments for the entire 2.75-year term of the securities in exchange for an opportunity to earn interest at a potentially above-market rate if both of the underlying shares close at or above their respective coupon barrier levels on each monthly observation date, unless the securities are redeemed early. The following scenarios are for illustration purposes only to demonstrate how the coupon and the payment at maturity (if the securities have not previously been redeemed) are calculated, and do not attempt to demonstrate every situation that may occur. Accordingly, the securities may or may not be redeemed, the contingent monthly coupon may be payable in none of, or some but not all of, the monthly periods during the 2.75-year term of the securities, and the payment at maturity may be up to 85% less than the stated principal amount of the securities.

June 2023 Page 5

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

June 2023 Page 6

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

Hypothetical Examples

The following hypothetical examples illustrate how to determine whether a contingent monthly coupon is paid with respect to an observation date and how to calculate the payment at maturity, assuming the securities are not redeemed prior to maturity. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only. Whether you receive a contingent monthly coupon will be determined by reference to the determination closing price of each of the underlying shares on each monthly observation date, and the amount you will receive at maturity will be determined by reference to the final share price of each of the underlying shares on the final observation date. The actual initial share price and coupon barrier level for each of the underlying shares are set forth on the cover of this document. All payments on the securities are subject to our credit risk. The below examples are based on the following terms:

1 The actual contingent monthly coupon will be an amount determined by the calculation agent based on the number of days in the applicable payment period, calculated on a 30/360 day-count basis. The hypothetical contingent monthly coupon of $8.958 is used in these examples for ease of analysis.

How to determine whether a contingent monthly coupon is payable with respect to an observation date:

On hypothetical observation date 1, each of the underlying shares closes at or above its respective coupon barrier level. Therefore, a contingent monthly coupon of $8.958 is paid on the relevant coupon payment date.

On each of hypothetical observation dates 2 and 3, one of the underlying shares closes at or above its respective coupon barrier level but the other underlying shares closes below its respective coupon barrier level. Therefore, no contingent monthly coupon is paid on the relevant coupon payment date.

On hypothetical observation date 4, each of the underlying shares closes below its respective coupon barrier level and accordingly no contingent monthly coupon is paid on the relevant coupon payment date.

You will not receive a contingent monthly coupon on any coupon payment date if the determination closing price of either of the underlying shares is below its respective coupon barrier level on the related observation date.

June 2023 Page 7

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

How to calculate the payment at maturity:

In the following examples, one or both of the underlying shares close below the respective initial share price(s) on each redemption determination date, and, consequently, the securities are not automatically redeemed prior to, and remain outstanding until, maturity.

In example 1, the final share prices of each of the underlying shares is at or above 85% of its initial share price. Therefore, investors receive at maturity the stated principal amount of the securities and the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the final observation date. However, investors do not participate in any appreciation of either of the underlying shares.

In example 2, the final share price of one of the underlying shares is at or above 85% of its initial share price, but the final share price of the other underlying shares is below 85% of its initial share price. Therefore, investors are exposed to the downside performance of the SLV Shares, which are the worst performing underlying shares in this example, and investors lose 1% of principal for every 1% decline in the final share price of the SLV Shares from its initial share price beyond the buffer amount of 15%. However, because the final share price of each underlying shares is greater than or equal to its respective coupon barrier level, investors receive the contingent monthly coupon with respect to the final observation date.

In example 3, the final share prices of both of the underlying shares are below 85% of their initial share prices. Therefore, investors are exposed to the downside performance of the GDX Shares, which are the worst performing underlying shares in this example, and investors lose 1% of principal for every 1% decline in the final share price of the GDX Shares from its initial share price beyond the buffer amount of 15%. The payment at maturity in this example is equal to $300 per security. Investors do not receive the contingent monthly coupon for the final observation date.

If the final share price of EITHER of the underlying shares is below 85% of its initial share price, you will be exposed to the downside performance of the worst performing underlying shares at maturity, and your payment at maturity will be less than the stated principal amount per security. Under these circumstances, you will lose some, and up to 85%, of your investment in the securities.

June 2023 Page 8

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

ogeopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events that affect the underlying shares or equity or commodity markets generally and which may affect the prices of the underlying shares,

othe time remaining until the securities mature,

ointerest and yield rates in the market,

othe availability of comparable instruments,

othe occurrence of certain events affecting the underlying shares that may or may not require an adjustment to the adjustment factor,

othe composition of the GDX Shares and changes in the constituents of the GDX Shares, and

oany actual or anticipated changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads.

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 price of either of the underlying shares 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 underlying shares may be, and have recently been, volatile, and we can give you no assurance that the volatility will lessen. The prices of one or both of the underlying shares 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 underlying shares may decline by an amount greater than the buffer amount as of the final observation date so that you lose some or a significant portion of your initial investment in the securities. There can be no assurance that the closing price of each of the underlying shares 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 underlying shares will decline by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15% as of the final observation date so that you do not suffer a loss on your initial investment in the securities. See “iShares® Silver Trust Overview” and “VanEck® Gold Miners ETF Overview” below.

￭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 on each coupon payment date, upon automatic redemption and at maturity and therefore you are subject to our credit risk. The securities are not guaranteed by any other entity. 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.

￭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.

￭Reinvestment risk. The term of your investment in the securities may be shortened due to the automatic early redemption feature of the securities. If the securities are redeemed prior to maturity, you will receive no more contingent monthly coupons and may be forced to invest in a lower interest rate environment and may not be able to reinvest at comparable terms or returns. However, under no circumstances will the securities be redeemed in the first six months of the term of the securities.

￭The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited, and accordingly, you should be willing to hold your securities for the entire 2.75-year term of the securities. 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,

June 2023 Page 10

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

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. Since other broker-dealers may not 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 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 shares, 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.

￭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 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 document 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 will be influenced by many unpredictable factors” above.

￭Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying shares, in the commodity composing the SLV Shares or the securities composing the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index or the GDX Shares. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the underlying shares, in the commodity that constitutes the SLV Shares, in the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (the “share underlying index”) or in the securities that constitute the share underlying index. Investors in the securities will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the underlying shares, in the commodity that constitutes the SLV Shares, in the share underlying index or the securities that constitute the share underlying index.

￭Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially affect the value of the securities. One or more of our affiliates and/or third-party dealers expect to carry out hedging activities related to the securities (and possibly to other instruments linked to the underlying shares, the underlying commodity with respect to the SLV Shares or the share underlying index with respect to the GDX Shares), including trading in the securities that constitute the share 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 final observation date approaches. Some of our affiliates also trade the underlying shares and other financial instruments related to the underlying shares, the underlying commodity and the share underlying index on a regular basis as part of their general

June 2023 Page 11

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

broker-dealer and other businesses. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the pricing date could potentially affect the initial share price of either of the underlying shares and, therefore, could increase (i) the value at or above which such underlying shares 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 shares), (ii) the coupon barrier level for such underlying shares, which is the value at or above which the underlying shares 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 shares), and (iii) the value at or above which such underlying shares must close on the final observation date so that you are not exposed to the negative performance of the worst performing underlying shares at maturity (depending also on the performance of the other underlying shares). Additionally, such hedging or trading activities during the term of the securities could potentially affect the value of either of the underlying shares on the redemption determination dates and the 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.

￭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. will determine the initial share prices, the coupon barrier levels, the final share prices, the payment at maturity, whether you receive a contingent monthly coupon on each coupon payment date and/or at maturity, whether the securities will be redeemed on any early redemption date, whether a market disruption event has occurred and whether to make any adjustments to the adjustment factors. 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 or calculation of the determination closing price in the event of a market disruption event. These potentially subjective determinations may affect the payout to you upon an automatic early redemption or at maturity. For further information regarding these types of determinations, see “Description of Auto-Callable Securities—Auto-Callable Securities Linked to Underlying Shares” and “—Calculation Agent and Calculations” in the accompanying product supplement. In addition, MS & Co. has determined the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date.

￭The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities are uncertain. There is no direct legal authority as to the proper treatment of the securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and, therefore, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the securities are uncertain.

Please read the discussion under “Additional Information—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

June 2023 Page 12

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

Principal at Risk Securities

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.

Risks Relating to the Underlying Shares

￭You are exposed to the price risk of each of the underlying shares, with respect to both the contingent monthly coupons, if any, and the payment at maturity. Your return on the securities is not linked to a basket consisting of each of the underlying shares. Rather, it will be contingent upon the independent performance of each of the underlying shares. Unlike an instrument with a return linked to a basket of underlying assets, in which risk is mitigated and diversified among all the components of the basket, you will be exposed to the risks related to each of the underlying shares. Poor performance by either of the underlying shares over the term of the securities may negatively affect your return and will not be offset or mitigated by any positive performance by the other underlying shares. To receive any contingent monthly coupons, each of the underlying shares must close at or above its respective coupon barrier level on the applicable observation date. In addition, if either of the underlying shares has declined to below 85% of its respective initial share price as of the final observation date, meaning that either of the underlying shares has declined by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 15%, you will lose 1% for every 1% decline in the final share price of the worst performing underlying shares from its initial share price beyond the buffer amount of 15%, even if the other underlying shares has appreciated or has not declined as much. Under this scenario, the value of any such payment will be less than the stated principal amount. Accordingly, your investment is subject to the price risk of each of the underlying shares.

￭Single commodity prices tend to be more volatile than, and may not correlate with, the prices of commodities generally. The iShares® Silver Trust is linked exclusively to the price of silver and not to a diverse basket of commodities or a broad-based commodity index. The price of silver may not correlate with, and may diverge significantly from, the prices of commodities generally. Because the securities are linked to the SLV Shares, which reflect the performance of the price of a single commodity, they carry greater risk and may be more volatile than a security linked to the prices of multiple commodities or a broad-based commodity index. The price of silver may be, and has recently been, highly volatile, and we can give you no assurance that such volatility will lessen.

￭The securities are subject to risks associated with silver. The iShares® Silver Trust seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of silver, less the iShares® Silver Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The price of silver is primarily affected by global demand for and supply of silver. Silver prices can fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors. These include general economic trends, technical developments, substitution issues and regulation, as well as specific factors including industrial and jewelry demand, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar (as the currency in which the price of silver is generally quoted) and other currencies, interest rates, central bank sales, forward sales by producers, global or regional political or economic events and production costs and disruptions in major silver-producing countries, such as Mexico, China and Peru. The demand for and supply of silver affect silver prices, but not necessarily in the same manner as supply and demand affect the prices of other commodities. The supply of silver consists of a combination of new mine production and existing stocks of bullion and fabricated silver held by governments, public and private financial institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals. In addition, the price of silver has on occasion been subject to very rapid short-term changes due to speculative activities. From time to time, above-ground inventories of silver may also influence the market. The major end-uses for silver include industrial applications, jewelry and silverware. It is not possible to predict the aggregate effect of any or all of these factors.

￭There are risks relating to trading of commodities on the London Bullion Market Association. The investment objective of the iShares® Silver Trust seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of silver, less the iShares® Silver Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The price of silver is determined by the LBMA or an independent service-provider appointed by the LBMA. The LBMA is a self-regulatory association of bullion market participants. Although all market-making members of the LBMA are supervised by the Bank of England and are required to satisfy a capital adequacy test, the LBMA itself is not a regulated entity. If the LBMA should cease operations, or if bullion trading should become subject to a value added tax or other tax or any other form of regulation not currently in place, the role of LBMA prices as a global benchmark for the value of silver may be adversely affected. The LBMA is a principals’ market that operates in a manner more closely analogous to an over-the-counter physical commodity market than a regulated futures markets, and certain features of U.S. futures contracts are not present in the context of LBMA trading. For example, there are no daily price limits on the LBMA that would otherwise restrict fluctuations in the prices of LBMA contracts. In a declining market, it is

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All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

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possible that prices would continue to decline without limitation within a trading day or over a period of trading days. The LBMA may alter, discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the LBMA silver price, which could adversely affect the value of the securities. The LBMA, or an independent service-provider appointed by the LBMA, will have no obligation to consider your interests in calculating or revising LBMA prices.

￭Suspensions or disruptions of market trading in commodity and related futures markets could adversely affect the price of the securities. The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, the participation of speculators and government regulation and intervention. In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices which may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the value of the commodity that constitutes the SLV Shares, and, therefore, the value of the securities.

￭Investing in the securities exposes investors to risks associated with investments in securities with a concentration in the gold and silver mining industry. The securities are subject to certain risks applicable to the gold and silver mining industry. The stocks included in the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index and that are generally tracked by the GDX Shares are stocks of companies primarily engaged in the mining of gold or silver. The underlying shares may be subject to increased price volatility as they are linked to a single industry, market or sector and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting that industry, market or sector.

Because the GDX Shares primarily invests in stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) of companies that are involved in the gold mining industry, the underlying shares are subject to certain risks associated with such companies.

Competitive pressures may have a significant effect on the financial condition of companies in the gold mining industry. Also, gold mining companies are highly dependent on the price of gold. Gold prices are subject to volatile price movements over short periods of time and are affected by numerous factors. These include economic factors, including, among other things, the structure of and confidence in the global monetary system, expectations of the future rate of inflation, the relative strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of gold is generally quoted), interest rates and gold borrowing and lending rates, and global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other events. Gold prices may also be affected by industry factors such as industrial and jewelry demand, lending, sales and purchases of gold by the official sector, including central banks and other governmental agencies and multilateral institutions which hold gold, levels of gold production and production costs, and short-term changes in supply and demand because of trading activities in the gold market.

The GDX Shares invests to a lesser extent in stocks, ADRs and GDRs of companies involved in the silver mining industry. Silver mining companies are highly dependent on the price of silver. Silver prices can fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors. These include general economic trends, technical developments, substitution issues and regulation, as well as specific factors including industrial and jewelry demand, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of silver is generally quoted) and other currencies, interest rates, central bank sales, forward sales by producers, global or regional political or economic events, and production costs and disruptions in major silver producing countries such as Mexico and Peru. The supply of silver consists of a combination of new mine production and existing stocks of bullion and fabricated silver held by governments, public and private financial institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals. In addition, the price of silver has on occasion been subject to very rapid short-term changes due to speculative activities. From time to time, above-ground inventories of silver may also influence the market. The major end-uses for silver include industrial applications, jewelry, photography and silverware.

￭There are risks associated with investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities. The price of the GDX Shares tracks the performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, which measures 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 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

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

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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 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 between countries.

￭The prices of the GDX Shares are subject to currency exchange risk.  Because the prices of the GDX Shares are related to the U.S. dollar value of stocks underlying the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, holders of the securities will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to the currencies in which such component securities trade. Exchange rate movements for a particular currency are volatile and are the result of numerous factors including the supply of, and the demand for, those currencies, as well as relevant government policy, intervention or actions, but are also influenced significantly from time to time by political or economic developments, and by macroeconomic factors and speculative actions related to the 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 currency. If, taking into account such weighting, the dollar strengthens against the currencies of the component securities represented in the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, the price of the GDX Shares will be adversely affected.

￭The antidilution adjustments the calculation agent is required to make do not cover every event that could affect the underlying shares. MS & Co., as calculation agent, will adjust the adjustment factors for certain events affecting the underlying shares. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment for every event that can affect the underlying shares. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to adjust an adjustment factor, the market price of the securities may be materially and adversely affected.

￭Adjustments to the GDX Shares or the index tracked by the GDX Shares could adversely affect the value of the securities. The investment adviser to the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF, VanEck Associates Corporation (the “Investment Adviser”), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index). Pursuant to its investment strategies or otherwise, the Investment Adviser may add, delete or substitute the securities composing the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF. Any of these actions could adversely affect the price of the GDX Shares and, consequently, the value of the securities. ICE Data Indices, LLC (“IDI”) is responsible for calculating and maintaining the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. IDI may add, delete or substitute the securities constituting the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index or make other methodological changes that could change the level of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. IDI may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index at any time. In these circumstances, the calculation agent will have the sole discretion to substitute a successor index that is comparable to the discontinued NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index and is permitted to consider indices that are calculated and published by the calculation agent or any of its affiliates. Any of these actions could adversely affect the price of the GDX Shares and, consequently, the value of the securities.

￭The performance and market price of the SLV Shares and the GDX Shares, particularly during periods of market volatility, may not correlate with the performance of its underlying commodity, with respect to the SLV Shares, or the share underlying index or the component securities of the share underlying index, with respect to the GDX Shares, or the net asset value per share of the respective underlying shares. The SLV Shares do not fully replicate their underlying commodity and the GDX Shares do not fully replicate the share underlying index and may hold securities that are different than those included in the share underlying index.

With respect to the SLV Shares, the underlying shares do not fully replicate the performance of their underlying commodity due to the fees and expenses charged by the underlying shares or by restrictions on access to the underlying commodity due to other circumstances. The SLV Shares do not generate any income, and as the SLV Shares regularly sell their underlying commodity to pay for ongoing expenses, the amount of its underlying commodity represented by each share gradually declines over time. The SLV Shares sell its underlying commodity to pay expenses on an ongoing basis irrespective of whether the trading price of the shares rises or falls in response to changes in the price of its underlying commodity. The sale by the SLV Shares of its underlying commodity to pay expenses at a time of relatively low prices for its underlying commodity could adversely affect the value of the securities. Additionally, there is a risk that part or all of the holdings of the SLV Shares in its underlying commodity could be lost, damaged or stolen due to war, terrorism, theft, natural disaster or otherwise.

With respect to the GDX Shares, the performance of the underlying shares will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of the share underlying index. All of these factors may lead to a lack of correlation between the performance of the GDX Shares and the share underlying index. In addition, corporate actions (such as

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

All Payments on the Securities Based on the Worst Performing of the iShares® Silver Trust and the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF

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mergers and spin-offs) with respect to the securities underlying the GDX Shares may impact the variance between the performances of the GDX Shares and the share underlying index.

Additionally, because the shares of each of the underlying shares are traded on an exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market price of one share of each of the underlying shares may differ from the net asset value per share of such underlying shares.

In particular, during periods of market volatility, or unusual trading activity, trading in the components underlying each of the underlying shares may be disrupted or limited, or such components may be unavailable in the secondary market.  Under these circumstances, the liquidity of each underlying shares may be adversely affected, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of each of the underlying shares, and their ability to create and redeem shares of each of the underlying shares may be disrupted. Under these circumstances, the market price of shares of each of the underlying shares may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of each underlying share, the performance of its underlying commodity, with respect to the SLV Shares, or the level of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, with respect to the GDX Shares.

For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the SLV Shares may not correlate with the performance of its underlying commodity and the performance of the GDX Shares may not correlate with the performance of the share underlying index or the component securities of the share underlying index, and the performance of each of the underlying shares may not correlate with the performance of the net asset value per share of such underlying shares.  Any of these events could materially and adversely affect the prices of each of the underlying 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 would 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 solely on the published closing price per share of each of the underlying shares on the final observation date, even if the SLV Shares are underperforming its underlying commodity, the GDX Shares are underperforming the share underlying index or the component securities of the share underlying index and/or any of the underlying shares is trading below the net asset value per share of such underlying shares.

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iShares® Silver Trust Overview

The iShares® Silver Trust (the “Silver Trust”) is an investment trust sponsored by iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC , which seeks to provide investment results that reflect the performance of the price of silver, less the iShares® Silver Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The assets of the iShares® Silver Trust consists primarily of silver held by a custodian on behalf of the iShares® Silver Trust. Information provided to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the iShares® Silver Trust pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 can be located by reference to Commission file number 001-32863 through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other publicly available sources. Neither the issuer nor the agent makes any representation that any such publicly available information regarding the iShares® Silver Trust is accurate or complete.

All information contained in this document regarding the Silver Trust has been derived from publicly available information, without independent verification. This information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, iShares® Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., the sponsor of the Silver Trust. The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee of the Silver Trust, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is the custodian of the Silver Trust. Shares of the Silver Trust trades under the ticker symbol “SLV” on NYSE Arca, Inc.

The Silver Trust seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of silver, less the Silver Trust’s expenses and liabilities. The assets of the Silver Trust consist primarily of silver held by a custodian on behalf of the Silver Trust. The Silver Trust issues shares in exchange for deposits of silver and distributes silver in connection with the redemption of shares. The shares of the Silver Trust are intended to constitute a simple and cost-effective means of making an investment similar to an investment in silver.

The Silver Trust does not engage in any activity designed to derive a profit from changes in the price of silver. The Silver Trust’s only ordinary recurring expense is expected to be the sponsor’s fee, which accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.50% of the net asset value of the Silver Trust and is payable monthly in arrears. The trustee of the Silver Trust will, when directed by the sponsor of the Silver Trust, and, in the absence of such direction, may in its discretion, sell silver in such quantity and at such times as may be necessary to permit payment of the Silver Trust sponsor’s fee and of Silver Trust expenses or liabilities not assumed by the sponsor. As a result of the recurring sales of silver necessary to pay the Silver Trust sponsor’s fee and the Silver Trust expenses or liabilities not assumed by the Silver Trust sponsor, the net asset value of the Silver Trust will decrease over time.

Information as of market close on June 27, 2023:

The following graph sets forth the daily closing values of the SLV Shares for the period from January 1, 2018 through June 27, 2023. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing prices, as well as the end-of-quarter closing prices, of the SLV Shares for each quarter in the same period. The closing price of the SLV Shares on June 27, 2023 was $20.98. We obtained the information in the graph and table below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical performance of the SLV Shares should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the price of the SLV Shares at any time, including on the redemption determination dates or the observation dates.

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This document relates only to the securities referenced hereby and does not relate to the SLV Shares.  We have derived all disclosures contained in this document regarding the Silver Trust 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 the Silver Trust.  Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the Silver Trust 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 SLV Shares (and therefore the price of the SLV 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 the Silver Trust 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 SLV Shares.

We and/or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with the Silver Trust. In the course of such business, we and/or our affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to the Silver Trust, 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 SLV 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 the Silver Trust as in your judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to an investment linked to the SLV Shares.

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VanEck® Gold Miners ETF Overview

The VanEck® Gold Miners ETF is an exchange-traded fund managed by VanEck, a registered investment company that seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. VanEck® ETF Trust (the “Trust”) is an investment portfolio managed by VanEck. Information provided to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Trust pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 can be located by reference to Commission file numbers 333-123257 and 811-10325, respectively, through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, information may be obtained from other publicly available sources. Neither the issuer nor the agent makes any representation that any such publicly available information regarding the VanEck® Gold Miners ETF is accurate or complete.

Information as of market close on June 27, 2023:

The following graph sets forth the daily closing values of the GDX Shares for the period from January 1, 2018 through June 27, 2023. The related table sets forth the published high and low closing prices, as well as the end-of-quarter closing prices, of the GDX Shares for each quarter in the same period. The closing price of the GDX Shares on June 27, 2023 was $29.65. We obtained the information in the graph and table below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification. The historical performance of the GDX Shares should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the price of the GDX Shares at any time, including on the redemption determination dates or the observation dates.

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Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

This document relates only to the securities referenced hereby and does not relate to the GDX Shares. We have derived all disclosures contained in this document regarding the Trust 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 the Trust. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available documents or any other publicly available information regarding the Trust 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 GDX Shares (and therefore the price of the GDX 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 the Trust 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 GDX Shares.

We and/or our affiliates may presently or from time to time engage in business with the Trust.  In the course of such business, we and/or our affiliates may acquire non-public information with respect to the Trust, 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 GDX 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 the Trust as in your judgment is appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to an investment linked to the GDX Shares.

The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in the mining of gold and silver. The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index includes common stocks, American depositary receipts or global depositary receipts of selected companies involved in the mining for gold and silver ore and are listed for trading and electronically quoted on a major stock market that is accessible by foreign investors. For additional information about the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, please see the information set forth under “NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index” in the accompanying index supplement.

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

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Contingent Income Buffered Auto-Callable Securities due April 1, 2026, With 6-Month Initial Non-Call Period

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