8-KExhibits & Filings

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN 8-K Report, Exhibit Filing (Mar 1, 2016)

Filed March 1, 2016For Securities:WFCWFC-PDWFC-PCWFC-PYWFC-PAWFC-PLWFCNPWFC-PZ

Summary

This 8-K filing by Wells Fargo & Company on March 1, 2016, primarily serves to disclose the issuance of new financial instruments: Medium-Term Notes, Series K, Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the MSCI EAFE Index. While not a report on the company's core financial performance or strategic initiatives, this filing is important for investors interested in the types of debt and structured products Wells Fargo is offering. The filing includes the form of these specific Notes and a legal opinion from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP regarding them. Investors should note that these "Principal at Risk Securities" carry a risk that the principal invested could be lost, depending on the performance of the linked MSCI EAFE Index. This filing's significance lies in its transparency regarding Wells Fargo's product offerings and the associated legal and structural documentation.

Key Highlights

  • 1Wells Fargo & Company issued new Medium-Term Notes, Series K, on or around March 1, 2016.
  • 2These Notes are structured as "Principal at Risk Securities".
  • 3The performance of these Notes is linked to the MSCI EAFE Index.
  • 4The filing provides the form of the Note for investor review.
  • 5A legal opinion from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP regarding the Notes is included.
  • 6The purpose of the filing is to make the Note documentation publicly available as part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3.
  • 7This filing does not provide a comprehensive update on the company's overall financial health or operational performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are debt securities issued by Wells Fargo with a maturity of typically more than one year but less than ten years. The "Principal at Risk" feature means that the amount of principal repaid at maturity can be less than the initial investment, depending on the performance of an underlying asset or index, in this case, the MSCI EAFE Index. There is a risk of losing some or all of the principal invested.

The MSCI EAFE Index is a stock market index that represents large and mid-cap equity performance across developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It is commonly used as a benchmark for international investment portfolios.

No, this 8-K filing does not report on Wells Fargo's financial performance. Its primary purpose is to disclose the details and documentation related to the issuance of specific structured financial products (the Medium-Term Notes) and to satisfy disclosure requirements.

The filing includes the form of the Note itself (Exhibit 4.1), which contains the terms, conditions, and risk factors associated with this specific issuance. Investors should carefully review this document and any other related filings mentioned in the report, such as the Form S-3 Registration Statement.