8-KExhibits & Filings

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN 8-K Report, Exhibit Filing (Mar 2, 2020)

Filed March 2, 2020For Securities:WFCWFC-PDWFC-PCWFC-PYWFC-PAWFC-PLWFCNPWFC-PZ

Summary

This 8-K filing from Wells Fargo & Company/MN (WFC), filed on March 2, 2020, primarily concerns the issuance of new financial instruments by its subsidiary, Wells Fargo Finance LLC. Specifically, the report details the issuance of "Medium-Term Notes, Series A, Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index due March 8, 2022." These notes are guaranteed by the parent company, Wells Fargo & Company, indicating a financial commitment from the parent to the subsidiary's debt obligations. The main purpose of this filing is to provide the necessary documentation for these newly issued notes, including the form of the note itself and the legal opinion from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP regarding the notes and the guarantee. Investors should note that this filing does not disclose any new financial performance metrics, strategic changes, or material operational updates for Wells Fargo & Company itself. Instead, it is a procedural filing related to specific debt-issuance activities of a subsidiary.

Key Highlights

  • 1Wells Fargo Finance LLC issued "Medium-Term Notes, Series A, Principal at Risk Securities" due March 8, 2022.
  • 2The notes are linked to the performance of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P 500® Index, specifically the lowest performing of the two.
  • 3Wells Fargo & Company (the parent) provides a full and unconditional guarantee for these notes.
  • 4The filing includes the form of the note as an exhibit.
  • 5A legal opinion from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP concerning the notes and the guarantee is filed with the SEC.
  • 6The filing is in connection with a previously filed Form S-3 Registration Statement.
  • 7This report serves to formally disclose these debt issuance documents rather than reporting on WFC's financial results or operational status.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to publicly disclose the documentation related to the issuance of new "Medium-Term Notes, Series A, Principal at Risk Securities" by Wells Fargo Finance LLC, including the form of the note and a legal opinion. It's a procedural filing regarding a specific debt issuance.

The term "Principal at Risk Securities" suggests that the return of the principal amount invested may be subject to certain conditions, likely tied to the performance of the underlying indices (Russell 2000® and S&P 500®). If the performance of the "lowest performing" index is sufficiently poor, investors may risk losing some or all of their principal.

No, this 8-K filing does not provide any updates on Wells Fargo & Company's overall financial performance, earnings, or strategic initiatives. It is specifically focused on the issuance of debt securities by a subsidiary and the associated legal documentation.

Wells Fargo & Company acts as the guarantor for these Medium-Term Notes issued by its subsidiary, Wells Fargo Finance LLC. This means Wells Fargo & Company has made a full and unconditional commitment to back the obligations of the notes.