8-KExhibits & Filings

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN 8-K Report, Exhibit Filing (May 8, 2014)

Filed May 8, 2014For Securities:WFCWFC-PDWFC-PCWFC-PYWFC-PAWFC-PLWFCNPWFC-PZ

Summary

This Form 8-K filing by Wells Fargo & Company on May 8, 2014, primarily serves to disclose the details and associated legal opinions regarding the issuance of new financial instruments. Specifically, the company is filing the form of "Medium-Term Notes, Series K, Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the S&P 500® Index". This indicates an offering of debt securities whose principal repayment is tied to the performance of the S&P 500 index, meaning investors could lose principal if the index performs poorly. The filing includes supporting legal and tax opinions from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, respectively. These opinions are crucial for investors as they provide assurance regarding the legal structure and tax implications of these complex notes. For investors, this filing signals Wells Fargo's continued activity in the structured products market, offering investors new avenues for potential returns but also exposing them to specific market risks tied to equity performance.

Key Highlights

  • 1Wells Fargo & Company issued "Medium-Term Notes, Series K, Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the S&P 500® Index" on or around May 7, 2014.
  • 2These are debt securities where the principal repayment is contingent on the performance of the S&P 500® Index.
  • 3Investors in these notes are exposed to the risk of losing principal if the S&P 500® Index declines.
  • 4The filing includes the official form of the Note being issued.
  • 5Legal opinions from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP regarding the Notes have been filed.
  • 6Tax opinions from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Wells Fargo's special tax counsel, regarding the Notes have been filed.
  • 7These filings are in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 previously filed by Wells Fargo.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are a type of debt security issued by Wells Fargo where the amount of principal returned to the investor at maturity is linked to the performance of the S&P 500® Index. This means that if the S&P 500® Index falls below a certain level, investors may receive less than their initial principal investment back.

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to officially disclose the terms and conditions of the newly issued "Principal at Risk Securities" by filing the form of the Note itself, along with crucial legal and tax opinions from external counsel. This provides transparency to investors about the structure and implications of these financial products.

The "Principal at Risk" feature means that the investor is exposed to the possibility of losing a portion or all of their principal investment. The amount of principal repaid depends directly on how the S&P 500® Index performs over the life of the note. If the index performs poorly, the investor's principal is at risk.

The legal and tax opinions from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP are included to provide investors with independent assessments of the Notes' legal standing and their tax treatment. These opinions help investors understand the regulatory compliance and potential tax consequences associated with purchasing and holding these securities.