8-KExhibits & Filings

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN 8-K Report, Exhibit Filing (Feb 11, 2019)

Filed February 11, 2019For Securities:WFCWFC-PDWFC-PCWFC-PYWFC-PAWFC-PLWFCNPWFC-PZ

Summary

Wells Fargo & Company/MN (WFC) filed an 8-K on February 11, 2019, primarily to disclose the issuance of new debt instruments by its subsidiary, Wells Fargo Finance LLC. These instruments are Medium-Term Notes, Series A, with a 0% interest rate, maturing on September 28, 2023. Notably, these notes are "Equity Linked Notes" and are specifically linked to the common stock of Delta Air Lines, Inc. This indicates a structured product where the return to investors is tied to the performance of Delta Air Lines' stock, rather than a traditional fixed or floating interest rate. The issuance is further secured by a full and unconditional guarantee from the parent company, Wells Fargo & Company. This filing includes the form of the note itself and a legal opinion from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP concerning the validity of the notes and the guarantee. Investors should note that this filing does not represent a material change in WFC's overall financial condition or operational performance but rather a specific debt issuance with a unique structure tied to another company's equity.

Key Highlights

  • 1Wells Fargo Finance LLC issued "Medium-Term Notes, Series A" with a 0% interest rate.
  • 2The notes mature on September 28, 2023.
  • 3These are "Equity Linked Notes" tied to the performance of Delta Air Lines, Inc. common stock.
  • 4Wells Fargo & Company provides a full and unconditional guarantee for these notes.
  • 5The filing includes the form of the Note and a legal opinion from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.
  • 6This issuance relates to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 previously filed by WFC and its subsidiary.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to officially disclose the issuance of new debt securities by Wells Fargo Finance LLC and to file supporting documentation, including the form of the note and a legal opinion regarding the notes and the guarantee from Wells Fargo & Company.

For investors, "Equity Linked Notes" means that the return on these notes is not a fixed interest payment. Instead, the repayment or yield is linked to the performance of the underlying asset, which in this case is the common stock of Delta Air Lines, Inc. The exact terms of how the equity performance affects the note's return would be detailed in the full note documentation.

A 0% interest rate on these notes suggests that investors are not receiving traditional coupon payments. The potential return, if any, is derived from the equity-linked feature tied to Delta Air Lines' stock. This structure is common in structured products designed to offer specific risk-reward profiles.

Yes, the "full and unconditional guarantee" from Wells Fargo & Company means that the parent company is legally obligated to ensure that the terms of the notes are met, even if Wells Fargo Finance LLC were unable to do so. This enhances the creditworthiness of the notes by linking them directly to the financial strength of the parent company.