Wells Fargo & Company 8-K, filed May 19, 2021
Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)
About this 8-K
Wells Fargo & Company filed this 8-K on May 19, 2021.
Items reported
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-236148) filed by Wells Fargo & Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
On May 19, 2021, Wells Fargo & Company issued the Medium-Term Notes, Series U, $1,000,000,000 Senior Redeemable Fixed-to-Floating Rate Notes due May 19, 2025 (the “Notes”).
The purpose of this Current Report is to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the form of Note related to the issuance and the opinion of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP regarding the Notes.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
Description |
Location | ||
| 4.1 | Form of Medium-Term Notes, Series U, Senior Redeemable Fixed-to-Floating Rate Notes due May 19, 2025. | Filed herewith | ||
| 5.1 | Opinion of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP regarding the Notes. | Filed herewith | ||
| 23.1 | Consent of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. | Included as part of Exhibit 5.1 | ||
| 104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL. | Filed herewith | ||
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| WELLS FARGO & COMPANY | ||||||
| DATED: May 19, 2021 | /s/ Bryant Owens | |||||
| Bryant Owens | ||||||
| Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer | ||||||
Exhibit 4.1
[Face of Note]
| CUSIP NO. 95000U2T9 | PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $ | |
| REGISTERED NO. |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES U
SENIOR REDEEMABLE FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NOTES
☑ Check this box if this Security is a Global Security.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
This Security is not a deposit or other obligation of a depository institution and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency.
| ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE: May 19, 2021 | STATED MATURITY DATE: May 19, 2025 | |||
| FIXED RATE PERIOD: From May 19, 2021 to, but excluding, May 19, 2024 |
FLOATING RATE PERIOD: If this Security has not been previously redeemed, from, and including, May 19, 2024 to, but excluding, Maturity |
INTEREST RATE PER ANNUM: Fixed Rate Period: 0.805% Floating Rate Period: Base Rate plus the Spread, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and to modification as provided on the reverse hereof under the section entitled “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period” | ||
| INITIAL INTEREST RATE: 0.805% |
FIXED RATE INTEREST PAYMENT DATES: Each May 19 and November 19, commencing November 19, 2021 and ending May 19, 2024 |
INITIAL FIXED RATE INTEREST PAYMENT DATE: November 19, 2021 | ||
| INITIAL INTEREST RATE FOR THE FLOATING RATE PERIOD: Compounded SOFR plus 0.51%, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and to modification as provided on the reverse hereof under the section entitled “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period” |
FLOATING RATE INTEREST PAYMENT DATES: Each February 19, May 19, August 19 and November 19, commencing August 19, 2024, and at Maturity |
INITIAL FLOATING RATE INTEREST PAYMENT DATE: August 19, 2024 | ||
| BASE RATE: Compounded SOFR, as defined and subject to modification as provided on the reverse hereof under the sections entitled “Determination of Compounded SOFR” and “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period” |
INTEREST DETERMINATION DATES: Five U.S. Government Securities Business Days before each Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Period |
SPREAD: +51 basis points | ||
| INTEREST PERIOD WITH RESPECT TO AN INTEREST PAYMENT DATE DURING THE FLOATING RATE PERIOD: The period from, and including, the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Period during the Floating Rate Period, May 19, 2024) to, but excluding, that Interest Payment Date |
OBSERVATION PERIOD IN RESPECT OF EACH INTEREST PERIOD DURING THE FLOATING RATE PERIOD: The period from, and including, the date five U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the first date in such Interest Period to, but excluding, the date five U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period |
MINIMUM INTEREST RATE FOR AN INTEREST PERIOD: 0% per annum | ||
| REGULAR RECORD DATES: The fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a Business Day, prior to an Interest Payment Date |
CALCULATION DATES: See below |
CALCULATION AGENT: The Calculation Agent will be appointed prior to May 19, 2024 | ||
| INDEX CURRENCY: U.S. Dollars |
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION (at option of Company): Yes |
REDEMPTION PRICE: See “Redemption” on the reverse hereof | ||
| REDEMPTION DATE(S) (at option of Company): See “Redemption” on the reverse hereof |
OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT: N/A |
REPAYMENT PRICE: N/A ☐ 100% ☐ Other | ||
| OPTIONAL REPAYMENT DATE(S): N/A |
SINKING FUND: N/A |
DEPOSITARY (Only applicable if this Security is a Global Security): The Depository Trust Company | ||
| SPECIFIED CURRENCY: U.S. Dollars |
MINIMUM DENOMINATIONS: ☑ U.S. $1,000 ☐ Other |
OTHER/ADDITIONAL TERMS: References herein to “Interest Payment Dates” shall mean the Fixed Rate Interest Payment Dates and the Floating Rate Interest Payment Dates | ||
| ADDENDUM ATTACHED: No | ||||
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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of DOLLARS ($ ) on the Stated Maturity Date shown above (except to the extent redeemed prior to such date) and to pay interest, if any, on the principal amount hereof, (i) from the Original Issue Date specified above or from the most recent Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to, but excluding, May 19, 2024 at the rate per annum of 0.805% on the Fixed Rate Interest Payment Dates specified above, and (ii) if this Security has not been previously redeemed, from, and including May 19, 2024 or from the most recent Floating Rate Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to, but excluding, the date of Maturity on the Floating Rate Interest Payment Dates specified above at the Base Rate plus the Spread specified above, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and as determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the provisions on the reverse hereof under the headings “Determination of Compounded SOFR” and “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period,” as applicable. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Interest payable upon Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.
If a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, interest on this Security shall be payable on the next day that is a Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made on such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date, and without any interest or other payment with respect to the delay. If a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, other than a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date that is also the date of Maturity, such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the following day that is a Business Day, except that, if such following Business Day is in the next calendar month, such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day. If the date of Maturity would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest shall be made on the next Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made on the due date, and no additional interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such date of Maturity. For purposes of this Security, “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New York, New York and, for a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date and any date of Maturity during the period from, and including, April 17, 2025 to, but excluding, the Stated Maturity Date, a day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day. For purposes of this Security, “U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.
Interest payments on this Security shall be the amount of interest accrued from and including the Original Issue Date specified above or from and including the last date to which interest has been paid, or provided for, as the case may be, to but excluding, the following Interest Payment Date or the date of Maturity. If this Security has been issued upon transfer of, in exchange for, or in replacement of, a Predecessor Security, interest on this Security shall accrue from the last
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Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid on such Predecessor Security or, if no interest was paid on such Predecessor Security, from the Original Issue Date specified above. The first payment of interest on a Security originally issued and dated between a Regular Record Date specified above and an Interest Payment Date will be due and payable on the Interest Payment Date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date to the registered owner on such next succeeding Regular Record Date.
The principal and interest on this Security is payable by the Company in the Specified Currency specified above.
Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
Payment of interest on this Security, other than payments of interest at Maturity, will be paid by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto at such Person’s last address as it appears in the Security Register or by wire transfer to such account as may have been designated by such Person. Any such designation for wire transfer purposes shall be made by providing written notice to the Paying Agent not later than 10 calendar days prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of and interest on this Security at Maturity will be made against presentation of this Security at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other place or places as the Company may designate from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as this Security is a Global Security registered in the name of the Depositary, payments of principal and interest on this Security will be made to the Depositary by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks on payors in making payments on this Security in immediately available funds and the Holder of this Security will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks on payees in connection with such payments. Any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon payments on this Security will be borne by the Holder of this Security.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature or its duly authorized agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
DATED:
| WELLS FARGO & COMPANY |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Its: |
| Attest: |
| Name: |
| Its: |
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the
series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| CITIBANK, N.A., as Trustee |
| By: |
| Authorized Signature |
| OR |
| WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Authenticating Agent for the Trustee |
| By: |
| Authorized Signature |
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[Reverse of Note]
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES U
SENIOR REDEEMABLE FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NOTES
General
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture dated as of February 21, 2017, as amended or supplemented from time to time (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto, reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series of the Securities designated as Medium-Term Notes, Series U, of the Company. The Securities of this series may mature at different times, bear interest, if any, at different rates, be redeemable at different times or not at all, be repayable at the option of the Holder at different times or not at all, be issued at an original issue discount and be denominated in different currencies.
The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons and will be book-entry securities represented by one or more global securities recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (“Global Securities”).
Interest Rate
The interest rate in effect for the Fixed Rate Period shall be the Initial Interest Rate specified on the face hereof. The interest rate in effect for the Floating Rate Period shall be the Base Rate plus the Spread specified on the face hereof, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate identified on the face hereof and to modification as provided herein.
The amount of interest to be paid on this Security for each Interest Period occurring during the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The amount of interest to be paid on this Security for each Interest Period occurring during the Floating Rate Period will be equal to the product of (i) the outstanding principal amount of this Security multiplied by (ii) the product of (a) the Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period plus the Spread multiplied by (b) the quotient of the actual number of calendar days in such Interest Period divided by 360, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate identified on the face hereof.
All U.S. dollar amounts used in or resulting from any of the calculations referred to herein will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward. All U.S.
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Dollar amounts used in or resulting from these calculations will be rounded to the nearest two decimal places, with 0.005 round up to 0.01.
The Calculation Agent shall calculate the interest rate hereon in accordance with the foregoing on or before each Calculation Date.
The interest rate on this Security shall in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application.
A “Calculation Date,” where applicable, for any Interest Determination Date will be the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or date of Maturity.
| Determination | of Compounded SOFR |
“Compounded SOFR” (a compounded average of daily SOFR), calculated in accordance with the formula set forth below, with the resulting percentage being rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (0.000005 being rounded upwards to 0.00001):
where for purposes of applying the above formula to the terms of this Security:
“d0”, for any Observation Period, is the number of U.S. Government Securities Business Days in the relevant Observation Period;
“i” is a series of whole numbers from one to d0, each representing the relevant U.S. Government Securities Business Day in chronological order from, and including, the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day in the relevant Observation Period;
“SOFRi”, for any U.S. Government Securities Business Day “i” in the relevant Observation Period, is equal to SOFR (as defined below under the section entitled “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period”) in respect of that day;
“ni”, for any U.S. Government Securities Business Day “i” in the relevant Observation Period, is the number of calendar days from, and including, such U.S. Government Securities Business Day “i” to, but excluding, the following U.S. Government Securities Business Day (“i+1”); and
“d” is the number of calendar days in the relevant Observation Period.
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Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period
This Security will bear interest for each Interest Period during the Floating Rate Period at a per annum rate equal to Compounded SOFR plus the Spread, subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the other terms described on the face hereof. Compounded SOFR will be determined by the Company or its designee using the formula described under the section entitled “Determination of Compounded SOFR.” References in this section entitled “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period” to “its designee” refer to the Calculation Agent to be appointed by the Company. SOFR will be determined by the Company or its designee in the following manner:
“SOFR” means, with respect to any U.S. Government Securities Business Day:
(1) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published for such U.S. Government Securities Business Day as such rate appears on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the immediately following U.S. Government Securities Business Day (the “SOFR Determination Time”);
(2) if the rate specified in (1) above does not so appear, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which the Secured Overnight Financing Rate was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website;
where:
“SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate); and
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor source.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company or its designee determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Interest Determination Date in respect of any Interest Payment Date for the Floating Rate Period, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to this Security in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.
In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Company or its designee will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.
Any determination, decision, election or calculation that may be made by the Company or its designee pursuant to the provisions described in this section “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period,” including any determination with respect to a rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, may be made in the Company’s or its designee’s sole discretion, and, notwithstanding
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anything to the contrary in the documentation relating to this Security, shall become effective without consent from any other party.
For the avoidance of doubt, after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, interest payable on this Security for the Floating Rate Period will be an annual rate equal to the sum of the applicable Benchmark Replacement and the Spread set forth on the face hereof.
Upon the request of the Holder of this Security, the Company or its designee will provide the calculation of the amount of interest payable in respect of any Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Period.
As used herein:
“Benchmark” means, initially, Compounded SOFR, as defined under the section entitled “Determination of Compounded SOFR”; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Compounded SOFR (or the published daily SOFR used in the calculation thereof) or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.
“Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or its designee for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(2) the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Company or its designee as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company or its designee for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;
(2) if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment;
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(3) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Company or its designee giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate notes at such time.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date may be selected, recommended or determined on a day other than such Benchmark Replacement Date.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definitions of “Interest Period”, “Interest Determination Date” and “Observation Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the Company or its designee decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Company or its designee decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Company or its designee determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Company or its designee determines is reasonably necessary).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):
(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or such component) is no longer representative based on the determination and announcement by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component); provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if such Benchmark (or such component) continues to be provided on such date. For avoidance of doubt, the Benchmark Replacement Date could occur some period of time after the most recent statement or publication referenced in clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event.”
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as the Interest Determination Date, but earlier than the Reference Time on that date, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.
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“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (including the daily published component used in the calculation thereof):
(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component);
(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component), the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark (or such component), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark (or such component) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark (or such component) announcing that the Benchmark (or such component) is no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.
“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.
“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.
“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.
“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is Compounded SOFR, the SOFR Determination Time, and (2) if the Benchmark is not Compounded SOFR, the time determined by the Company or its designee in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
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“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Events of Default
If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
Modification and Waivers
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected, acting together as a class; provided, however, that amendments or modifications to this Security contemplated by the provisions set forth in the section entitled “Determination of Interest Rate for the Floating Rate Period” shall not require the consent of the Holder of this Security. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding affected by certain provisions of the Indenture, acting together as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with those provisions of the Indenture. Certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences may be waived under the Indenture by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness on this Security and (b) certain restrictive covenants, upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to this Security.
Redemption
This Security is redeemable at the option of the Company. The Company may redeem this Security, in whole at any time or in part from time to time on any day included in the Make-Whole Redemption Period (as defined below), at a redemption price equal to the sum of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of this Security being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to, but excluding, the date of such redemption (the “Make-Whole Redemption Date”) and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount (as defined below). The redemption price will be calculated by the Company or by a Person designated by the Company on the Company’s behalf.
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“Make-Whole Amount” means the excess, if any, of: (i) the aggregate present value as of the Make-Whole Redemption Date of each dollar of principal being redeemed and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the Make-Whole Redemption Date) that would have been payable in respect of each such dollar if such redemption had been made on the final day of the Make-Whole Redemption Period, determined by discounting, on a semi-annual basis, such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (as defined below) (determined on the third Business Day preceding the date notice of such redemption is given) from the respective dates on which such principal and interest would have been payable if such redemption had been made on the final day of the Make-Whole Redemption Period over (ii) the aggregate principal of this Security being redeemed.
“Reinvestment Rate” means the yield on Treasury securities at a constant maturity corresponding to the remaining life (as of the Make-Whole Redemption Date and rounded to the nearest month) to the Stated Maturity Date specified above (the “Treasury Yield”), plus the Make-Whole Spread. For purposes hereof, the Treasury Yield shall be equal to the arithmetic mean of the yields published in the Statistical Release (as defined below) under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week for “U.S. Government Securities—Treasury Constant Maturities” with a maturity equal to such remaining life; provided that if no published maturity exactly corresponds to such remaining life, then the Treasury Yield shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis from the arithmetic means of the yields for the next shortest and next longest published maturities. For purposes of calculating the Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used. If the format or content of the Statistical Release changes in a manner that precludes determination of the Treasury Yield in the above manner, then the Treasury Yield shall be determined in the manner that most closely approximates the above manner, as reasonably determined by the Company.
“Statistical Release” means the Data Download Program designated as “H.15” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which reports yields on actively traded United States government securities adjusted to constant maturities, or, if such statistical release is not published at the time of any determination, then such other reasonable comparable index which shall be designated by the Company.
The “Make-Whole Redemption Period” is the period commencing on and including May 26, 2022 and ending on and including May 18, 2024.
The “Make-Whole Spread” is 0.10%.
This Security is also redeemable by the Company (i) in whole, but not in part, on May 19, 2024 or (ii) in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on or after April 17, 2025, in each case at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of this Security being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of such redemption.
The Company may exercise its options to redeem this Security by mailing a notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, of such redemption to each Holder of the Securities of this series to be redeemed or, in the case of Global Securities, the Company shall provide such notice to the
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Depositary, as holder of the Global Securities pursuant to the applicable procedures of such Depositary, at least 15 days and not more than 60 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date. Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the applicable Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on this Security or portion hereof called for redemption.
Repayment
This Security will not be repayable prior to the Stated Maturity Date at the option of the Holder.
Sinking Fund
This Security will not be entitled to any sinking fund.
Authorized Denominations
This Security is issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and cannot be exchanged for debt securities of the Company in smaller denominations. Beneficial interests in this Security will only be held in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Registration of Transfer
Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security at the office or agency of the Company in the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota (or such other place or places as the Company may designate from time to time), a new Security or Securities of this series in authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor, as provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations provided therein and to the limitations described below, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
This Security is exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form only if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a qualified successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, (y) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form or elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary and notifies the Trustee thereof or (z) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented hereby has occurred and is continuing. If this Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form, bearing interest at the same rate, having the same date of issuance, redemption provisions, Stated Maturity Date and other terms and of authorized denominations aggregating a like amount.
This Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor. Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not
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be entitled to receive physical delivery of Securities in definitive form and will not be considered the Holders hereof for any purpose under the Indenture.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Obligation of the Company Absolute
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed, except as otherwise provided in this Security and except that in the event the Company deposits money or Eligible Instruments as provided in Articles 4 and 15 of the Indenture, such payments will be made only from proceeds of such money or Eligible Instruments.
No Personal Recourse
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.
Notices
All notices to the Company under this Security shall be in writing and addressed to Wells Fargo & Company, 550 South 4th Street, 6th Floor, MAC N9310-060, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, Attention: Treasury Department, or to such other address as the Company may notify to the Holder. All notices to the Paying Agent under this Security shall be in writing and addressed to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Corporate Trust Services, Attn: David Pickett, 600 South 4th Street, 6th Floor, MAC: N9300-060, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, or to such other address as the Company may notify to the Holder.
Defined Terms
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless otherwise defined in this Security.
Governing Law
This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
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ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM | -- | as tenants in common | ||
| TEN ENT | -- | as tenants by the entireties | ||
| JT TEN | -- | as joint tenants with right | ||
| of survivorship and not | ||||
| as tenants in common | ||||
| UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- Custodian |
| (Cust) (Minor) |
| Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act |
| (State) |
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto
Please Insert Social Security or
Other Identifying Number of Assignee
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(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)
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the within Security of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint attorney to transfer the said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
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Exhibit 5.1
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
2200 Wells Fargo Center 90 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis Minnesota 55402-3901
Phone +1 612 766 7000
Fax +1 612 766 1600
May 19, 2021
Wells Fargo & Company
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with (i) the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended, File No. 333-236148 (the “Registration Statement”) of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the proposed offer and sale from time to time of the securities referred to therein; and (ii) Pricing Supplement No. 8 dated May 12, 2021 to the Prospectus Supplement dated February 26, 2020 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and the Prospectus dated February 25, 2020 (the “Prospectus”), relating to the offer and sale by the Company under the Registration Statement of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes, Series U, Senior Redeemable Fixed-to-Floating Rate Notes due May 19, 2025 (the “Notes”). The Notes are to be issued under the Indenture dated as of February 21, 2017 (the “Indenture”) entered into by the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee, and sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement dated May 12, 2021 among the Company and the Agents named therein (the “Terms Agreement”).
We have examined such documents, records and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Notes have been duly authorized and, when duly executed by the Company, authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to and paid for by the Agents pursuant to the Terms Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, receivership or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and subject to general equity principles including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and except further as enforcement thereof may be limited by any governmental authority that limits, delays or prohibits the making of payments outside of the United States. As contemplated by the foregoing
Wells Fargo & Company
May 19, 2021
Page 2
qualifications, in rendering the foregoing opinion, we are expressing no opinion as to Federal or state laws relating to fraudulent transfers. Without limiting any other qualifications set forth herein, the opinions expressed herein are subject to the effect of generally applicable laws that limit the waiver of rights under usury laws.
We have relied as to certain relevant facts upon certificates of, and/or information provided by, officers and employees of the Company as to the accuracy of such factual matters without independent verification thereof or other investigation. We have also relied, without investigation, upon the following assumptions: (i) natural persons acting on behalf of the Company have sufficient legal capacity to enter into and perform, on behalf of the Company, the transaction in question; (ii) each party to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreements or instruments enforceable against it; (iii) each party to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company has complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce such agreements or instruments against the Company; and (iv) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the specific issues addressed and to documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.
Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of any other laws.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Commission and thereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP | ||
| By: | /s/ Dawn Holicky Pruitt | |
| Dawn Holicky Pruitt | ||