UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
  Form 10-K
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015             Commission File Number 001‑2979
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware                                                       No. 41-0449260
(State of incorporation)                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94163
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  1-866-878-5865

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Name of Each Exchange
on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $1-2/3
Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (expiring October 28, 2018)
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series J
NYSE
7.5% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred Stock, Series L
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series N
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series O
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series P
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of 5.85% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series Q
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series R
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series T
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series V
NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series W
NYSE
Guarantee of 5.80% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Wachovia Income Trust Securities of Wachovia Capital Trust III
NYSE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares, no par value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes þ    No ¨    
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes ¨    No þ    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ    No ¨    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ    No ¨    
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
þ  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer  þ                                Accelerated filer  ¨  
Non-accelerated filer  ¨                                  Smaller reporting company  ¨                    
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell Company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes ¨    No þ     
At June 30, 2015 , the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $288.4 billion, based on a closing price of $56.24. At January 29, 2016 , 5,076,712,397 shares of common stock were outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference in Form 10-K
Incorporated Documents
Where incorporated in Form 10-K
1.    Portions of the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the
year ended December 31, 2015 (“2015 Annual Report to Stockholders”)
Part I – Items 1, 1A, 2 and 3; Part II – Items 5, 6, 7,
7A, 8 and 9A; and Part IV– Item 15.
2.    Portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 26, 2016 (“2016 Proxy Statement”)
Part III – Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14



PART I.
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
 
Wells Fargo & Company is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware and a financial holding company and a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (BHC Act). Its principal business is to act as a holding company for its subsidiaries. References in this report to “the Parent” mean the holding company. References to “we,” “our,” “us” or “the Company” mean the holding company and its subsidiaries that are consolidated for financial reporting purposes.
At December 31, 2015 , we had assets of $1.8 trillion , loans of $917 billion , deposits of $1.2 trillion and stockholders’ equity of $193 billion . Based on assets, we were the third largest bank holding company in the United States. At December 31, 2015 , Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. was the Company’s principal subsidiary with assets of $1.6 trillion, or 90% of the Company’s assets.
At December 31, 2015 , we had 264,700 active, full-time equivalent team members.
Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are available for free at www.wellsfargo.com/about/investor-relations/filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They are also available for free on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . 

 
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
General
 
We are a diversified financial services company. We provide retail, commercial and corporate banking services through banking stores and offices, the internet and other distribution channels to individuals, businesses and institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and in other countries. We provide other financial services through subsidiaries engaged in various businesses, principally: wholesale banking, mortgage banking, consumer finance, equipment leasing, agricultural finance, commercial finance, securities brokerage and investment banking, insurance agency and brokerage services, computer and data processing services, trust services, investment advisory services, mortgage-backed securities servicing and venture capital investment.
We have three operating segments for management reporting purposes: Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. The 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders includes financial information and descriptions of these operating segments.
 
Competition
 
The financial services industry is highly competitive. Our subsidiaries compete with financial services providers such as banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, mortgage banking companies, insurance companies, investment banks and mutual fund companies. They also face increased competition from nonbank institutions such as brokerage houses, private equity firms and online lending companies, as well as from financial services subsidiaries of commercial and manufacturing companies. Many of these competitors enjoy fewer regulatory constraints and some may have lower cost structures.
Securities firms and insurance companies that elect to become financial holding companies may acquire banks and other financial institutions. Combinations of this type could significantly change the competitive environment in which we conduct business. The financial services industry is also likely to become more competitive as further technological advances enable more companies to provide financial services. These technological advances may diminish the importance of depository institutions and other financial intermediaries in the transfer of funds between parties.


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REGULATION AND SUPERVISION
 
We describe below, and in Note 3 (Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions) and Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements included in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders, the material elements of the regulatory framework applicable to us. Banking statutes, regulations and policies are continually under review by Congress and state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies, as well as foreign governments and financial regulators, and a change in them, including changes in how they are interpreted or implemented, could have a material effect on our business. The regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies is intended to protect depositors, federal deposit insurance funds, consumers and the banking system as a whole, and not necessarily investors in bank holding companies such as the Company.
Statutes, regulations and policies could restrict our ability to diversify into other areas of financial services, acquire depository institutions, and pay dividends on our capital stock. They may also require us to provide financial support to one or more of our subsidiary banks, maintain capital balances in excess of amounts desired by management, and pay higher deposit insurance premiums as a result of a general deterioration in the financial condition of depository institutions. See the “Regulatory Reform” and "Risk Factors" sections in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders for additional information.
 
General
 
Parent Bank Holding Company.  As a bank holding company, the Parent is subject to regulation under the BHC Act and to inspection, examination and supervision by its primary regulator, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board or FRB). The Parent is also subject to the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, both as administered by the SEC. As a company with securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Parent is subject to the rules of the NYSE for listed companies.
 
Subsidiary Banks.   Our subsidiary national banks, and their subsidiaries, are subject to regulation and examination primarily by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and also by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the FRB, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The foreign branches and representative offices of our subsidiary national banks are subject to regulation and examination by their respective foreign financial regulators as well as by the OCC and the FRB. Foreign subsidiaries of our national bank subsidiaries may be subject to the laws and regulations of the foreign countries in which they conduct business. Our state-chartered bank is subject to primary federal regulation and examination by the FDIC and, in addition, is regulated and examined by its state banking department.
 
Nonbank Subsidiaries.  Many of our nonbank subsidiaries are also subject to regulation by the FRB and other applicable federal and state agencies. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation by applicable state insurance regulatory agencies, as well as the FRB. Our brokerage subsidiaries are
 
regulated by the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and, in some cases, the CFTC and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, and state securities regulators. Our other nonbank subsidiaries may be subject to the laws and regulations of the federal government and/or the various states as well as foreign countries in which they conduct business.
 
Parent Bank Holding Company Activities
 
“Financial in Nature” Requirement.  We became a financial holding company effective March 13, 2000. We continue to maintain our status as a bank holding company for purposes of other FRB regulations. As a bank holding company that has elected to become a financial holding company pursuant to the BHC Act, we may affiliate with securities firms and insurance companies and engage in other activities that are financial in nature or incidental or complementary to activities that are financial in nature. “Financial in nature” activities include securities underwriting, dealing and market making; sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies; insurance underwriting and agency; merchant banking; and activities that the FRB, in consultation with the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, determines to be financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity. “Complementary activities” are activities that the FRB determines upon application to be complementary to a financial activity and do not pose a safety and soundness risk.
FRB approval is generally not required for us to acquire a company (other than a bank holding company, bank or savings association) engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to activities that are financial in nature, as determined by the FRB. Prior notice to the FRB may be required, however, if the company to be acquired has total consolidated assets of $10 billion or more. Prior FRB approval is required before we may acquire the beneficial ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares or substantially all of the assets of a bank holding company, bank or savings association. In addition, the FRB has implemented a final rule under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) that also prohibits our ability to merge, acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or acquire control of another company if our total resulting consolidated liabilities would exceed 10% of the aggregate consolidated liabilities of all financial companies.
Because we are a financial holding company, if any of our subsidiary banks receives a rating under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended (CRA), of less than satisfactory, we will be prohibited, until the rating is raised to satisfactory or better, from engaging in new activities or acquiring companies other than bank holding companies, banks or savings associations, except that we could engage in new activities, or acquire companies engaged in activities, that are closely related to banking under the BHC Act. In addition, if the FRB finds that the Company or any one of our subsidiary banks is not well capitalized or well managed, we would be required to enter into an agreement with the FRB to comply with all applicable capital and management requirements and which may contain additional limitations or conditions. Until corrected, we could be prohibited from engaging in any new activity or acquiring companies engaged in activities that are not closely related to banking under the BHC Act without prior FRB approval. If we fail to correct any such condition within a prescribed period, the FRB could order us to divest our banking subsidiaries or, in the alternative, to cease engaging in


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activities other than those closely related to banking under the BHC Act.

Interstate Banking .  Under the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Act (Riegle-Neal Act), a bank holding company may acquire banks in states other than its home state, subject to any state requirement that the bank has been organized and operating for a minimum period of time, not to exceed five years, and the requirement that the bank holding company not control, prior to or following the proposed acquisition, more than 10% of the total amount of deposits of insured depository institutions nationwide or, unless the acquisition is the bank holding company’s initial entry into the state, more than 30% of such deposits in the state (or such lesser or greater amount set by the state). The Riegle-Neal Act also authorizes banks to merge across state lines, subject to the same deposit limits noted above, thereby creating interstate branches. Banks are also permitted to acquire and to establish new branches in other states.
 
Regulatory Approval.  In determining whether to approve a proposed bank acquisition, federal banking regulators will consider, among other factors, the effect of the acquisition on competition, financial condition, and future prospects including current and projected capital ratios and levels, the competence, experience, and integrity of management and record of compliance with laws and regulations, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, including the acquiring institution’s record of compliance under the CRA, the effectiveness of the acquiring institution in combating money laundering activities and the risk to the stability of the United States banking system.
 
Dividend Restrictions
 
The Parent is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiary banks and other subsidiaries. A significant source of funds to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock and principal and interest on our debt is dividends from the Parent’s subsidiaries. Various federal and state statutory provisions and regulations limit the amount of dividends the Parent’s subsidiary banks and certain other subsidiaries may pay without regulatory approval. Federal banking regulators have the authority to prohibit the Parent’s subsidiary banks from engaging in unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses. The payment of dividends, depending on the financial condition of the bank in question, could be deemed an unsafe or unsound practice. The ability of the Parent’s subsidiary banks to pay dividends in the future is currently, and could be further, influenced by bank regulatory policies and capital guidelines. For information about the restrictions applicable to the Parent’s subsidiary banks, see Note 3 (Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions) to Financial Statements included in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders.
In addition to these restrictions on the ability of our subsidiary banks to pay dividends to us, the FRB requires large bank holding companies (BHCs), including Wells Fargo, to submit annual capital plans and to obtain regulatory approval before making capital distributions, such as the payment of dividends. The FRB also finalized rules implementing in the United States the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s regulatory capital guidelines, including the reforms known as Basel III, which established various capital requirements for U.S. banking organizations. Moreover, federal banking regulators have finalized a rule that enhances the
 
supplementary leverage ratio requirements for large BHCs, like Wells Fargo, and their insured depository institutions. The rule, which becomes effective on January 1, 2018, will require a covered BHC to maintain a supplementary leverage ratio of at least 5% (comprised of a 3% minimum requirement and a supplementary leverage buffer of 2%) to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. The rule will also require that all of our insured depository institutions maintain a supplementary leverage ratio of 6% under applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines. We are also subject to the FRB's rule implementing an additional capital surcharge on those U.S. banking organizations, such as the Company, that are designated as global systemically important banks (G-SIBs). The failure to maintain any of these minimum capital ratios and capital buffers could result in limitations or restrictions on our ability to make capital distributions.
In addition, the FRB's enhanced supervision regulations for large BHCs, like Wells Fargo, impose capital distribution restrictions, including on the payment of dividends, upon the occurrence of capital, stress test, risk management, or liquidity risk management triggers.
 
Holding Company Structure
 
Transfer of Funds from Subsidiary Banks.   The Parent’s subsidiary banks are subject to restrictions under federal law that limit the transfer of funds or other items of value from such subsidiaries to the Parent and its nonbank subsidiaries (including affiliates) in so-called “covered transactions.” In general, covered transactions include loans and other extensions of credit, investments and asset purchases, as well as certain other transactions involving the transfer of value from a subsidiary bank to an affiliate or for the benefit of an affiliate. Unless an exemption applies, covered transactions by a subsidiary bank with a single affiliate are limited to 10% of the subsidiary bank’s capital and surplus and, with respect to all covered transactions with affiliates in the aggregate, to 20% of the subsidiary bank’s capital and surplus. Also, loans and extensions of credit to affiliates generally are required to be secured by qualifying collateral. A bank’s transactions with its nonbank affiliates are also generally required to be on arm’s length terms.
 
Source of Strength.  The FRB has a policy that a BHC is expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to each of its subsidiary banks and, under appropriate circumstances, to commit resources to support each such subsidiary bank. This support may be required at times when the BHC may not have the resources to provide the support.
The OCC may order an assessment of the Parent if the capital of one of its national bank subsidiaries were to become impaired. If the Parent failed to pay the assessment within three months, the OCC could order the sale of the Parent’s stock in the national bank to cover the deficiency.
 
Depositor Preference.   In the event of the “liquidation or other resolution” of an insured depository institution, the claims of deposits payable in the United States (including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution. If an insured depository institution fails, claims of insured and uninsured U.S. depositors, along with claims of the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of unsecured


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creditors, including the Parent, and depositors whose deposits are solely payable at such insured depository institution’s non-U.S. offices.
 
Liability of Commonly Controlled Institutions.   All of the Company’s subsidiary banks are insured by the FDIC. FDIC-insured depository institutions can be held liable for any loss incurred, or reasonably expected to be incurred, by the FDIC due to the default of an FDIC-insured depository institution controlled by the same bank holding company, and for any assistance provided by the FDIC to an FDIC-insured depository institution that is in danger of default and that is controlled by the same bank holding company. “Default” means generally the appointment of a conservator or receiver. “In danger of default” means generally the existence of certain conditions indicating that a default is likely to occur in the absence of regulatory assistance.
 
Dodd-Frank Act  
 
The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted on July 21, 2010, has resulted in broad changes to the U.S. financial system and is the most significant financial reform legislation since the 1930s. Federal regulatory agencies have issued numerous rulemakings to implement its provisions, but a number of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act still require final rulemaking or additional guidance and interpretation by these agencies or will be implemented over time. As a result, the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act is not yet known, but it has affected, and we expect it will continue to affect most of our businesses in some way, either directly through regulation of specific activities or indirectly through regulation of concentration risks, capital or liquidity. At the enterprise level, the FRB has finalized a number of regulations designed to prevent or mitigate the risks that may arise from the material distress or failure of a large BHC. These rules implement enhanced prudential requirements for large BHCs like Wells Fargo regarding risk-based capital and leverage, risk and liquidity management, and stress testing and would impose debt-to-equity limits on any BHC that regulators determine poses a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States. The FRB has also proposed, but not yet finalized, additional enhanced prudential standards that would implement single counterparty credit limits and establish remediation requirements for large BHCs experiencing financial distress. The OCC, under separate authority, has also finalized guidelines establishing heightened governance and risk management standards for large national banks such as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
In addition to rules for the enhanced supervision and regulation of large BHCs and other systemically important firms, the FDIC and FRB have implemented rules under the Dodd-Frank Act requiring large BHCs like Wells Fargo to prepare and submit resolution plans, known as “living wills,” to facilitate the rapid and orderly resolution of the Company in the event of material distress or its failure. We must also prepare and submit to the FRB on an annual basis a recovery plan that identifies a range of options that we may consider during times of idiosyncratic or systemic economic stress to remedy any financial weaknesses and restore market confidence without extraordinary government support, and the OCC has published a notice of proposed rulemaking on guidelines to establish standards for recovery planning by large insured national banks, such as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The FDIC also released a notice regarding a proposed resolution strategy, known as “single point of entry,” designed to resolve a
 
large financial institution in a manner that holds management responsible for its failure, maintains market stability, and imposes losses on shareholders and creditors in accordance with statutory priorities, without imposing a cost on U.S. taxpayers.
Federal regulatory agencies have also finalized rules to implement the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act known as the “Volcker Rule.” The Volcker Rule substantially restricts banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading or owning any interest in or sponsoring or having certain relationships with a hedge fund, a private equity fund or certain structured transactions that are deemed covered funds.
With respect to consumer protection maters, the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB to ensure consumers receive clear and accurate disclosures regarding financial products and to protect consumers from hidden fees and unfair or abusive practices. The CFPB concentrated much of its initial rulemaking efforts on a variety of mortgage-related topics required under the Dodd-Frank Act, including ability-to-repay and qualified mortgage standards, mortgage servicing standards, loan originator compensation standards, high-cost mortgage requirements, appraisal and escrow standards and requirements for higher-priced mortgages. The CFPB finalized rules integrating disclosures required of lenders and settlement agents under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. In addition to the exercise of its rulemaking authority, the CFPB is continuing its on-going examination activities with respect to a number of consumer businesses and products, including mortgage lending and servicing, fair lending requirements, student lending activities, and auto finance.
Federal regulatory agencies issued numerous other rules and proposals to implement various other requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. For example, federal regulatory agencies have adopted rules establishing a comprehensive framework for regulating over-the-counter derivatives. In addition, federal regulatory agencies have issued rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Act’s requirement that sponsors of asset-backed securities (ABS) retain at least a 5% ownership stake in the ABS. The SEC has also adopted a rule governing money market mutual funds that, among other things, requires significant structural changes to these funds, including requiring non-governmental institutional money market funds to maintain a variable net asset value and providing for the imposition of liquidity fees and redemption gates for all non-governmental money market funds during periods in which they experience liquidity impairments of a certain magnitude.
For more information about the Dodd-Frank Act and its effect on our business, see the “Regulatory Reform” section of the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders.
   
Capital Requirements and Planning
 
The Company and each of our insured depository institutions are subject to various regulatory capital adequacy requirements administered by federal banking regulators. These capital rules, among other things, establish required minimum ratios relating capital to different categories of assets and exposures. Federal banking regulators have also finalized rules to impose a supplementary leverage ratio on large BHCs like Wells Fargo and our insured depository institutions and to implement a liquidity coverage ratio. The FRB has also proposed rules to address the amount of equity and unsecured long-term debt a G-SIB must hold to improve its resolvability and resiliency, often referred to as total loss absorbing capacity.


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From time to time, the FRB and the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) propose changes and amendments to, and issue interpretations of, risk-based capital guidelines and related reporting instructions. In addition, the FRB closely monitors capital levels of the institutions it supervises and may require such institutions to modify capital levels based on FRB determinations. Such determinations, proposals or interpretations could, if implemented in the future, affect our reported capital ratios and net risk-adjusted assets.
As an additional means to identify problems in the financial management of depository institutions, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act) requires federal banking regulators to establish certain non-capital safety and soundness standards for institutions for which they are the primary federal regulator. The standards relate generally to operations and management, asset quality, interest rate exposure, executive compensation and risk management. The agencies are authorized to take action against institutions that fail to meet such standards.
The FDI Act requires federal banking regulators to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to FDIC-insured depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. A depository institution’s treatment for purposes of the prompt corrective action provisions will depend upon how its capital levels compare to various capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation.
In addition, the FRB's capital plan rule requires large BHCs to submit capital plans annually for review to determine if the FRB has any objections before making any capital distributions. The rule requires updates to capital plans in the event of material changes in a BHC’s risk profile, including as a result of any significant acquisitions. Federal banking regulators also require stress tests to evaluate whether an institution has sufficient capital to continue to operate during periods of adverse economic and financial conditions.
For more information on our capital requirements and planning, see the “Capital Management” section of the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders.
 
Deposit Insurance Assessments
 
Our subsidiary banks, including Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., are members of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) maintained by the FDIC. Through the DIF, the FDIC insures the deposits of our banks up to prescribed limits for each depositor and funds the DIF through assessments on member banks. To maintain the DIF, member institutions are assessed an insurance premium based on an assessment base and an assessment rate.
The Dodd-Frank Act gave the FDIC greater discretion to manage the DIF, changed the assessment base from domestic deposits to consolidated average assets less average tangible equity, and mandated a minimum Designated Reserve Ratio (reserve ratio or DRR) of 1.35%. The FDIC Board adopted a Restoration Plan to ensure that the DIF reserve ratio reaches 1.35% by September 30, 2020, as required by the Dodd-Frank Act, and, in October 2015, issued a proposed rule to meet this DRR level. The proposed rule would impose on insured depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets, such as Wells Fargo, a surcharge of 4.5 cents per $100 of their assessment base, after making certain adjustments. The proposed surcharge would be in addition to the base assessments paid by the affected institutions and could significantly increase the overall amount of their deposit insurance assessments. The FDIC Board has also finalized a
 
comprehensive, long-range plan for DIF management, whereby the FDIC Board set the DRR at 2%.
In addition to the base assessments and any proposed surcharge, all FDIC-insured depository institutions must also pay a quarterly assessment towards interest payments on bonds (commonly referred to as FICO bonds) issued by the Financing Corporation, a federal corporation chartered under the authority of the Federal Housing Finance Board. This assessment was 0.60% of the assessable deposit base for the first, second and fourth quarters of 2015 , and was 0.58% for third quarter 2015. The assessment is 0.58% of the assessable deposit base for first quarter 2016 . For the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company’s FDIC deposit insurance assessments, including FICO assessments, totaled $973 million.
The FDIC may terminate a depository institution’s deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution’s financial condition is unsafe or unsound or that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices or has violated any applicable rule, regulation, order or condition enacted or imposed by the institution’s regulatory agency. The termination of deposit insurance for one or more of our bank subsidiaries could have a material adverse effect on our earnings, depending on the collective size of the particular banks involved.
 
Fiscal and Monetary Policies
 
Our business and earnings are affected significantly by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies. We are particularly affected by the policies of the FRB, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the FRB are (a) conducting open market operations in United States government securities, (b) changing the discount rates of borrowings of depository institutions, (c) imposing or changing reserve requirements against depository institutions’ deposits, and (d) imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by banks and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. The policies of the FRB may have a material effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
Privacy Provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and Restrictions on Affiliate Marketing
 
Federal banking regulators, as required under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the GLB Act), have adopted rules limiting the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose nonpublic information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties. The rules require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to nonaffiliated third parties. The privacy provisions of the GLB Act affect how consumer information is transmitted through diversified financial services companies and conveyed to outside vendors. Federal financial regulators have issued regulations under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act that have the effect of increasing the length of the waiting period, after privacy disclosures are provided to new customers, before information can be shared among different


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affiliated companies for the purpose of marketing products and services by those affiliated companies. 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley) implemented a broad range of corporate governance and accounting measures to increase corporate responsibility, to provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies, and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of disclosures under federal securities laws. We are subject to Sarbanes-Oxley because we are required to file periodic reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Among other things, Sarbanes-Oxley and/or its implementing regulations established membership requirements and additional responsibilities for our audit committee, imposed restrictions on the relationship between us and our outside auditors (including restrictions on the types of non-audit services our auditors may provide to us), imposed additional responsibilities for our external financial statements on our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, expanded the disclosure requirements for our corporate insiders, required our management to evaluate our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting, and required our independent registered public accounting firm to issue a report on our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Patriot Act
 
The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Patriot Act) is intended to strengthen the ability of U.S. law enforcement agencies and intelligence communities to work together to combat terrorism on a variety of fronts. The Patriot Act has significant implications for depository institutions, brokers, dealers and other businesses involved in the transfer of money. The Patriot Act required us to implement new or revised policies and procedures relating to anti‑money laundering, compliance, suspicious activities, and currency transaction reporting and due diligence on customers. The Patriot Act also requires federal banking regulators to evaluate the effectiveness of an applicant in combating money laundering in determining whether to approve a proposed bank acquisition.
 
Future Legislation or Regulation
 
In light of recent conditions in the U.S. and global financial markets and the U.S. and global economy, legislators, the presidential administration and regulators have continued their increased focus on regulation of the financial services industry. Proposals that further increase regulation of the financial services industry have been and are expected to continue to be introduced in the U.S. Congress, in state legislatures and abroad. In addition, not all regulations authorized or required under the Dodd-Frank Act have been proposed, finalized or implemented. Further legislative changes and additional regulations may change  our operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such legislation and regulations could increase our cost of doing business, affect our compensation structure, restrict or expand the activities in which we may engage or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and
 
other financial institutions. We cannot predict whether future legislative proposals will be enacted and, if enacted, the effect that they, or any implementing regulations, would have on our business, results of operations or financial condition. The same uncertainty exists with respect to regulations authorized or required under the Dodd-Frank Act but that have not yet been proposed or finalized.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
Additional information in response to this Item 1 can be found in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Review” and under “Financial Statements.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS

Information in response to this Item 1A can be found in this report on pages 2-6 and in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Review – Risk Factors.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
 
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
Not applicable.


6


ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
  
  
  
City
  
State
  
  
  
State
We own our corporate
  
  
  
We lease office space
 
  
  
  
headquarters
  
 
 
 
  
 
for various administrative
 
 
  
building in:
  
San Francisco
  
California
  
  
departments in major
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
locations in:
Alabama
  
New Jersey
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
Arizona
  
New York
We own administrative
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
California
  
North Carolina
  
facilities in:
  
Anchorage
  
Alaska
  
  
  
Colorado
  
Ohio
  
  
  
Chandler
  
Arizona
  
  
  
Delaware
  
Oregon
  
  
  
Glendale
  
Arizona
  
  
  
Florida
  
Pennsylvania
  
  
  
Mesa
  
Arizona
  
  
  
Georgia
  
South Carolina
  
  
  
Phoenix
  
Arizona
  
  
  
Idaho
  
South Dakota
  
  
  
Tempe
  
Arizona
  
  
  
Illinois
  
Texas
  
  
  
Tucson
  
Arizona
  
  
  
Indiana
  
Utah
  
  
  
Irvine
  
California
  
  
  
Iowa
  
Virginia
  
  
  
Millbrae
  
California
  
  
  
Maryland
  
Washington
  
  
  
Sacramento
  
California
  
  
  
Massachusetts
  
West Virginia
  
  
  
San Francisco
  
California
  
  
  
Minnesota
  
Wisconsin
  
  
  
San Jose
  
California
  
  
  
Nebraska
  
Washington, DC
  
  
  
Santa Clara
  
California
  
 
 
Nevada
 
Puerto Rico
  
  
  
Walnut Creek
  
California
  
 
 
New Mexico
 
 
  
  
  
Greenwood Village
  
Colorado
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
Littleton
  
Colorado
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
Coeur D'Alene
  
Idaho
  
We lease office space for
 
  
  
  
  
  
West Des Moines
  
Iowa
  
  
various operations/
 
  
  
  
  
  
Marquette
  
Michigan
  
  
servicing centers in:
Alaska
  
Nevada
  
  
  
Anoka
  
Minnesota
  
  
  
Arizona
  
New York
  
  
  
Maplewood
  
Minnesota
  
  
  
California
  
Oregon
 
 
 
Minneapolis
 
Minnesota
 
 
 
Colorado
 
Pennsylvania
  
  
  
Minnetonka
  
Minnesota
  
  
  
Florida
  
South Carolina
  
  
  
Rochester
  
Minnesota
  
  
  
Georgia
  
South Dakota
  
  
  
St. Louis
  
Missouri
  
 
 
Iowa
 
Tennessee
  
  
  
Omaha
  
Nebraska
 
 
 
Kentucky
 
Texas
  
  
  
Summit
  
New Jersey
 
 
 
Maryland
 
Virginia
 
 
 
Las Vegas
 
Nevada
 
 
 
Minnesota
 
Washington
 
 
 
Charlotte
 
North Carolina
 
 
 
Missouri
 
Wisconsin
 
 
 
Fargo
 
North Dakota
 
 
 
North Carolina
 
Puerto Rico
 
 
 
Eugene
 
Oregon
 
 
 
North Dakota
 
 
 
 
 
Portland
 
Oregon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austin
 
Texas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
Texas
 
 
 
City
 
State
 
 
 
Round Rock
 
Texas
 
We are also a joint
 
 
 
 
 
 
San Antonio
 
Texas
 
 
venture partner
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clearfield
 
Utah
 
 
in an office building in:
Minneapolis
 
Minnesota
 
 
 
Salt Lake City
 
Utah
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Menomonee Falls
  
Wisconsin
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(continued on next page)


7



(continued from prior page)
 
 
 
City
  
State
 
  
  
Country
We own operations/servicing
  
  
  
We lease office space
 
  
  
  
centers in:
  
Anchorage
  
Alaska
  
 
for international
Argentina
  
Italy
  
  
  
Birmingham
  
Alabama
  
  
operations in:
Australia
 
Japan
  
  
  
Homewood
  
Alabama
  
  
  
Bahamas
  
Malaysia
  
  
  
Chandler
  
Arizona
  
 
 
Bangladesh
 
Mexico
  
  
  
Phoenix
  
Arizona
  
 
 
Brazil
 
Netherlands
  
  
  
Tempe
  
Arizona
  
 
 
Canada
 
Philippines
  
  
  
Tucson
  
Arizona
  
 
 
Chile
 
Russia
  
  
  
El Monte
  
California
  
 
 
China
 
Singapore
  
  
  
Fremont
  
California
  
 
 
Colombia
 
South Africa
  
  
  
Fresno
  
California
  
 
 
Dominican Republic
 
South Korea
  
  
  
Irvine
  
California
  
 
 
Ecuador
 
Spain
  
  
  
Pleasant Hill
  
California
  
 
 
France
 
Taiwan
  
  
  
Sacramento
  
California
  
 
 
Germany
 
Thailand
  
  
  
San Diego
  
California
  
 
 
India
 
Turkey
  
  
  
San Francisco
  
California
  
 
 
Indonesia
 
United Arab Emirates
  
  
  
San Leandro
  
California
  
 
 
Ireland
 
United Kingdom
  
  
  
Walnut Creek
  
California
  
 
 
Israel
 
Vietnam
  
  
  
Denver
  
Colorado
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
Orlando
 
Florida
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Riviera Beach
 
Florida
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boise
 
Idaho
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Springfield
 
Illinois
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clive
 
Iowa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Des Moines
 
Iowa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Des Moines
 
Iowa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Columbia
 
Maryland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Minneapolis
 
Minnesota
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shoreview
 
Minnesota
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
St. Louis
 
Missouri
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Billings
 
Montana
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Omaha
 
Nebraska
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Albuquerque
 
New Mexico
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Las Vegas
 
Nevada
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reno
 
Nevada
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charlotte
 
North Carolina
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Winston-Salem
 
North Carolina
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Winterville
 
North Carolina
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portland
 
Oregon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salem
 
Oregon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sioux Falls
 
South Dakota
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Irving
 
Texas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lubbock
 
Texas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
San Antonio
 
Texas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salt Lake City
 
Utah
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glen Allen
 
Virginia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tukwila
 
Washington
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

As of December 31, 2015 , we provided banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations under ownership and lease agreements.
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
Additional information in response to this Item 2 can be found in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Statements – Notes to Financial Statements – Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other


8


Assets).” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information in response to this Item 3 can be found in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Statements – Notes to Financial Statements – Note 15 (Legal Actions).” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.

PART II
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
MARKET INFORMATION
 
The Company’s common stock is listed on the NYSE (symbol “WFC”). The Quarterly Financial Data table of the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders provides the quarterly prices of, and quarterly dividends paid on, the Company’s common stock for the two-year period ended December 31, 2015 , and is incorporated herein by reference. Prices shown represent the daily high and low, and the quarter-end sale prices of the Company’s common stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transaction Reporting System for the periods indicated. The “Stock Performance” section of the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders provides stockholder return comparisons and is incorporated herein by reference. At January 31,  2016 , there were 183,833 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
The dividend restrictions discussions on page 3 of this report and in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Statements – Notes to Financial Statements – Note 3 (Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions)” are incorporated into this item by reference.

 
REPURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
In March 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 350 million shares of our common stock. In January 2016, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 350 million shares of our common stock. The authorizations cover shares repurchased to meet team member benefit plan requirements. The Company maintains a variety of retirement plans for its team members and typically is a net issuer of shares of common stock to these plans. From time to time, it also purchases shares of common stock from these plans to accommodate team member preferences. Share repurchases are subtracted from the Company’s repurchase authority without offset for share issuances. Shares may be repurchased as part of employee stock option exercises, from the different benefit plans or in the open market, subject to regulatory approval.
The amount and timing of stock repurchases will be based on various factors, including our capital requirements, the number of shares we expect to issue for employee benefit plans and acquisitions, market conditions (including the trading price of our stock), and regulatory and legal considerations. In June 2010, our Board of Directors also authorized the repurchase of up to $1 billion of warrants to purchase our common stock. The warrants are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “WFCWS.” The amount and timing of warrant repurchases will be based on various factors including market conditions. See the “Capital Management” section in the 2015  Annual Report to Stockholders for additional information about our common stock and warrant repurchases.



9


The following table shows Company repurchases of its common stock for each calendar month in the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
Maximum number of 

  
 
  
 
Total number 

 
 
 
shares that may yet 

  
 
  
 
of shares 

 
Weighted-average

 
be repurchased under 

Calendar month
 
repurchased (1) 

 
price paid per share

 
the authorization

October
 
1,881,955

 
$
53.20

 
102,134,773

November
 
4,975,556

 
55.21

 
97,159,217

December (2)
 
20,179,945

 
54.46

 
76,979,272

  
 
Total
 
27,037,456

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
All shares were repurchased under an authorization covering up to 350 million shares of common stock approved by the Board of Directors and publicly announced by the Company on March 26, 2014. In addition, the Company publicly announced on January 26, 2016, that the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 350 million shares of common stock. Unless modified or revoked by the Board, these authorizations do not expire.
(2)
Includes a private repurchase transaction of 4,633,760 shares at a weighted-average price paid per share of $ 53.95 .
The following table shows Company repurchases of the warrants for each calendar month in the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
Total number 

 
  

 
Maximum dollar value 

  
 
  
 
of warrants 

 
Average price 

 
of warrants that 

Calendar month
 
repurchased (1) 

 
paid per warrant 

 
may yet be purchased 

October
 
—

 
$
—

 
451,944,402

November
 
—

 
—

 
451,944,402

December
 
—

 
—

 
451,944,402

  
 
Total
 
—

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Warrants are purchased under the authorization covering up to $1 billion in warrants approved by the Board of Directors (ratified and approved on June 22, 2010). Unless modified or revoked by the Board, this authorization does not expire.

ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
Information in response to this Item 6 can be found in the 2015  Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Review” in Table 1. That information is incorporated into this item by reference.

ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANACIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Information in response to this Item 7 can be found in the 2015  Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Review.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.

 
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Information in response to this Item 7A can be found in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Review – Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
Information in response to this Item 8 can be found in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Financial Statements,” under “Notes to Financial Statements” and under “Quarterly Financial Data.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.



10


ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
 
Information in response to this Item 9A can be found in the
2015 Annual Report to Stockholders under “Controls and
Procedures.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
Not applicable.



PART III

ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
David M. Carroll (age 58)
Senior Executive Vice President (Wealth and Investment Management) since January 2009.
Mr. Carroll has served with the Company or its predecessors for 34 years.
 
Hope A. Hardison (age 51)
Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Human Resources Director since September 2015;
Executive Vice President (Human Resources) from September 2010 to September 2015.
Ms. Hardison has served with the Company or its predecessors for 23 years.

Richard D. Levy (age 58)
Executive Vice President and Controller since February 2007.
Mr. Levy has served with the Company for 13 years.
 
Michael J. Loughlin (age 60)
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer since July 2011;
Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer from November 2010 to July 2011.
Mr. Loughlin has served with the Company or its predecessors for 34 years.
 
Avid Modjtabai (age 54)
Senior Executive Vice President (Consumer Lending) since July 2011;
Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer from April 2007 to July 2011.
Ms. Modjtabai has served with the Company or its predecessors for 22 years.
 
Kevin A. Rhein (age 62)
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since July 2011;
Executive Vice President (Card Services and Consumer Lending) from January 2009 to July 2011.
Mr. Rhein has served with the Company or its predecessors for 37 years.
 
John R. Shrewsberry (age 50)
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May 2014;
President and Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC from November 2009 to May 2014.
Mr. Shrewsberry has served with the Company or its predecessors for 17 years.

11


Timothy J. Sloan (age 55)
President and Chief Operating Officer since November 2015;
Senior Executive Vice President (Wholesale Banking) from May 2014 to November 2015;
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from February 2011 to May 2014;
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer from September 2010 to February 2011.
Mr. Sloan has served with the Company or its predecessors for 28 years.
 
James M. Strother (age 64)
Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel since July 2011;
Executive Vice President and General Counsel from January 2004 to July 2011.
Mr. Strother has served with the Company or its predecessors for 29 years.

John G. Stumpf (age 62)
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since November 2015;
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2010 to November 2015.
Mr. Stumpf has served with the Company or its predecessors for 34 years.
 
Carrie L. Tolstedt (age 56)
Senior Executive Vice President (Community Banking) since June 2007.
Ms. Tolstedt has served with the Company or its predecessors for 26 years.
 
There is no family relationship between any of the Company’s executive officers or directors. All executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

  
AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION
 
The Audit and Examination Committee is a standing audit committee of the Board of Directors established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee has six members: John D. Baker II, Enrique Hernandez, Jr., Federico F. Peña, James H. Quigley (Chair), Susan G. Swenson, and Suzanne M. Vautrinot. Each member is independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined by NYSE rules. The Board of Directors has determined, in its business judgment, that each member of the Audit and Examination Committee is financially literate, as required by NYSE rules, and that each of Messrs. Baker, Hernandez, Peña, and Quigley and Ms. Swenson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC regulations.

CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS
CONDUCT
 
The Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applicable to team members (including executive officers) as well as directors, the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, and the charters for the Audit and Examination, Governance and Nominating, Human Resources, Corporate Responsibility, Credit, Finance, and Risk Committees are available at www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate/governance . This information is also available in print to any stockholder upon written request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, Wells Fargo & Company, MAC D1053-300, 301 S. College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202.


 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
Additional information in response to this Item 10 can be found in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement under “Ownership of Our Common Stock – Directors and Executive Officers – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” under “Corporate Governance – Item 1 – Election of Directors – Director Nominees for Election,” “Corporate Governance – Additional Information – Other Matters Relating to Directors,” and “Corporate Governance – Director Election Standard and Nomination Process – Director Nomination Process.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.

ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Information in response to this Item 11 can be found in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance – Additional Information – Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” under “Corporate Governance – Director Compensation,” under “Information About Related Persons – Related Person Transactions,” and under “Executive Compensation – Compensation Committee Report,” “Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion & Analysis,” “Executive Compensation – Executive Compensation Tables,” and “Executive Compensation – Compensation Governance and Risk Management.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.



12


ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
 
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information about our equity compensation plans in effect on December 31, 2015 , separately aggregated for plans approved by stockholders and for plans not approved by stockholders. A description of the material features of each equity compensation plan not approved by stockholders follows the table. All outstanding awards relate to shares of our common stock. Information is as of December 31, 2015 , unless otherwise indicated. 

Equity Compensation Plan Information  (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
 
 
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
# of shares remaining 

 
 
 
 
 
# of shares to be 

 
 
 
  
 
available for future 

 
 
 
 
 
issued upon exercise 

 
 
 
Weighted-average 

 
issuance under equity 

 
 
 
 
 
of outstanding 

 
 
 
exercise price of 

 
compensation plans 

 
 
 
 
 
options, warrants 

 
 
 
outstanding options, 

 
(excluding securities 

 
Plan category
 
and rights 

 
 
 
warrants and rights (2) 

 
reflected in column (a)) 

 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
 
120,926,070

 
(3)
 
$
27.29

 
216,647,712

(4)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
14,957,377

 
(5)
 
137.26

 
2,638,882

(6)
 
 
Total
 
135,883,447

 
 
 
40.64

 
219,286,594

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
 
The table above does not include information about equity compensation plans assumed in mergers that we froze at the time of the merger. Under these assumed plans a total of 148,613 shares of common stock were issuable upon exercise of options. The weighted average exercise price per share of our common stock of the outstanding options was $186.77. We assumed the amended and restated Wachovia Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (2003 SIP) in the Wachovia merger and in February 2009 used substantially all remaining available shares for stock option grants to legacy Wachovia team members. Information for the 2003 SIP is included in the table above under the plan category for equity compensation plans not approved by security holders. No awards have been granted since February 2009, and no future awards will be granted under the 2003 SIP.
 
(2)
 
Does not reflect restricted share rights (RSRs), restricted share units (RSUs), or restricted share awards (RSAs) or deferred compensation benefits because they have no exercise price.
 
(3)
 
For the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (LTICP), consists of 66,010,260 shares subject to options, 40,634,792 shares subject to unvested RSRs, and a maximum of 10,257,980 performance shares. For the Supplemental 401(k) Plan, consists of 3,045,445 shares issuable upon distribution of benefits. For the Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan (Directors Plan), consists of 306,890 shares subject to options, 315,594 shares issuable upon distribution of vested but deferred stock awards, and 355,109 shares issuable upon distribution of deferred compensation benefits.
 
(4)
 
We could have issued the number of shares of our common stock indicated in the following table pursuant to any of the award types listed for the plan or, if indicated for the plan, pursuant to distributions of deferred compensation benefits. Each share of common stock issued under the LTICP pursuant to awards other than options or SARs counts as two shares.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plan
 
# of shares 

 
 
 
Award types 
 
 
 
LTICP
 
214,108,716

 
 
 
Stock options, stock, SARs, restricted stock, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RSRs, performance shares, performance units
 
Supplemental 401(k) Plan
 
2,020,018

 
 
 
Deferral distribution 
 
Directors Plan
 
518,978

 
 
 
Stock options, deferral distribution 
 
 
 
 
 
(5)
 
For the 2003 SIP, consists of 9,160,887 shares subject to options. For the other plans, consists of 5,796,490 shares of common stock issuable upon distribution of deferred compensation benefits.
 
(6)
 
We could have issued the number of shares of our common stock indicated in the following table pursuant to distributions of deferred compensation benefits. No information is provided for the 2003 SIP, the Norwest Corporation Directors’ Formula Stock Award Plan or the Norwest Corporation Directors’ Stock Deferral Plan because no future awards or deferrals will be made under these plans and because column (a) reflects all shares issuable under those plans upon exercise or distribution of outstanding awards or deferred compensation benefits.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plan
 
# of shares 

 
 
 
Award types 
 
 
 
Deferred Compensation Plan
 
2,400,732

 
 
 
Deferral distribution 
 
 
 
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Contractors
 
238,150

 
 
 
Deferral distribution 
 
 
 


13


Material Features of Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders
 
The 2003 SIP .  The amended and restated Wachovia Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (2003 SIP) was originally approved by Wachovia’s shareholders in 2003 and prior to the merger had been used for equity awards to Wachovia’s executive officers and other key employees. We assumed the 2003 SIP in the merger and in February 2009 used substantially all remaining available shares for stock option grants to legacy Wachovia team members. No awards have been granted since then, and no future awards will be granted under the 2003 SIP.
At December 31, 2015 , only options were outstanding under the 2003 SIP. The options generally expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date and vest ratably over a three-year period from the grant date. The option price is payable to us in full by methods the Board’s Human Resources Committee (HRC) designates, including, but not limited to, in cash or its equivalent, by tendering or withholding shares of our common stock having a fair market value at the time of exercise equal to the total option price, or by a combination of the foregoing. Unless the HRC determines otherwise or except as prohibited by applicable law, options may also be exercised by a “cashless exercise” where the participant gives irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to us the amount of sale proceeds from the shares covered by the option exercised, together with any withholding taxes due to the Company. The proceeds from any cash payments upon option exercise are added to our general funds and used for general corporate purposes.
 
Deferred Compensation Plan .  Under the Deferred Compensation Plan eligible team members may defer receipt of salary, bonuses and certain other compensation subject to the terms of the plan. Deferral elections are irrevocable once made except for limited re-deferral opportunities. We treat amounts deferred by a participant as if invested in the earnings options selected by the participant, and determine the deferred compensation benefit payable to the participant based on the performance of those earnings options. The plan offers a number of earnings options, including one based on our common stock with dividends reinvested. We generally distribute amounts allocated to the common stock option in shares of common stock. Participants have no direct interest in any of the earnings options and are general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to their deferred compensation benefits under the plan.
 
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractors .  Under the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractors participants who performed qualifying investment or other financial services for participating affiliates as independent contractors were able to defer all or part of their eligible compensation payable to them by the affiliate subject to the terms of the plan. Deferral elections were irrevocable once made. Amounts deferred by a participant were treated as if invested in the earnings options selected by the participant, which determine the deferred compensation benefit payable to the participant. The plan offered a number of earnings options, including one based on our common stock with dividends reinvested. We generally distribute amounts allocated to the common stock option in shares of common stock. No future deferrals may be made under this plan and participants may no longer reallocate their existing account balances under the plan among different
 
investment options. Shares remaining available for issuance under the plan consist of shares issuable as a result of amounts credited to participant accounts denominated in our common stock to reflect cash dividends paid on the common stock. The plan is sponsored by a wholly owned subsidiary, WF Deferred Compensation Holdings, Inc. We have guaranteed its obligations under the plan. Participants have no direct interest in any of the earnings options and are general unsecured creditors of the plan sponsor and the Company with respect to their deferred compensation benefits under the plan.
 
Norwest Corporation Directors’ Formula Stock Award Plan .  Under the Norwest Corporation Directors’ Formula Stock Award Plan we awarded shares of common stock to non-employee directors. The plan allowed participants to defer receipt of all or a portion of their awards, with dividends reinvested, until a future year or years as selected by the participants subject to the terms of the plan. Participants can elect one time to defer commencement of distribution of their deferral accounts if the election is made sufficiently in advance of the original distribution commencement date and the new distribution commencement date is sufficiently beyond the original distribution commencement date. Participants have no direct interest in the shares deferred under the plan and are general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to payment of their deferred stock awards under the plan. No future stock awards or deferrals may be made under this plan.
 
Norwest Corporation Directors’ Stock Deferral Plan . Under the Norwest Corporation Directors’ Stock Deferral Plan a participating director could defer receipt of all or part of the annual cash retainer and meeting fees payable to the director until a future year or years as selected by the director subject to the terms of the plan. A participating director could elect distribution of his or her deferral account in a lump sum in either cash or whole shares of common stock, or a combination of both. Alternatively, the director could elect to receive the distribution in up to ten annual installments of cash. A participant can elect one time to defer commencement of distribution of his or her deferral account if the election is made sufficiently in advance of the original distribution commencement date and the new distribution commencement date is sufficiently beyond the original distribution commencement date. No future deferrals may be made under this plan.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
Additional information in response to this Item 12 can be found in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement under “Ownership of Our Common Stock – Directors and Executive Officers – Director and Executive Officer Stock Ownership Table” and “Ownership of Our Common Stock – Principal Stockholders.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.



14


ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
Information in response to this Item 13 can be found in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” and under “Information About Related Persons.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
 
Information in response to this Item 14 can be found in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement under “Audit Matters – Item 3 – Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2016 – KPMG Fees” and “Audit Matters – Item 3 – Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2016 – Audit and Examination Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.” That information is incorporated into this item by reference.

PART IV
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
The Company’s consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are set forth in the 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders, and are incorporated into this item by reference.
 
2.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
All financial statement schedules for the Company have been included in the consolidated financial statements or the related footnotes, or are either inapplicable or not required.
 

 
3.  EXHIBITS 
 
A list of exhibits to this Form 10-K is set forth on the Exhibit Index immediately preceding such exhibits and is incorporated into this item by reference.
Stockholders may obtain a copy of any of the following exhibits, upon payment of a reasonable fee, by writing to Wells Fargo & Company, Office of the Corporate Secretary, MAC D1053-300, 301 S. College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202.
The Company’s SEC file number is 001-2979. On and before November 2, 1998, the Company filed documents with the SEC under the name Norwest Corporation. The former Wells Fargo & Company filed documents under SEC file number 001-6214. The former Wachovia Corporation filed documents under SEC file number 001-10000.



15


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 24, 2016 .
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
 
By:      /s/ JOHN G. STUMPF                                           
John G. Stumpf
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
 
By:      /s/ JOHN G. STUMPF                                           
John G. Stumpf
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
February 24, 2016
 
 
By:      /s/ JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY                            
John R. Shrewsberry
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
February 24, 2016
 
 
By:      /s/ RICHARD D. LEVY                                         
Richard D. Levy
Executive Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
February 24, 2016
 
 
The Directors of Wells Fargo & Company listed below have duly executed powers of attorney empowering James H. Quigley to sign this document on their behalf.
 
John D. Baker II
Elizabeth A. Duke
Cynthia H. Milligan
John G. Stumpf
Elaine L. Chao
Susan E. Engel
Federico F. Peña
Susan G. Swenson
John S. Chen
Enrique Hernandez, Jr.
James H. Quigley
Suzanne M. Vautrinot
Lloyd H. Dean
Donald M. James
Stephen W. Sanger
 
 
 
By:      /s/ JAMES H. QUIGLEY                                       
James H. Quigley
Director and Attorney-in-fact
February 24, 2016
 


16


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
Location
       3(a) 
 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.
 
Filed herewith.
      3(b) 
 
By-Laws.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 22, 2015.
       4(a) 
 
See Exhibits 3(a) and 3(b).
 
 
      4(b) 
 
The Company agrees to furnish upon request to the Commission a copy of each instrument defining the rights of holders of senior and subordinated debt of the Company.
 
 
10(a) *
 
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and restated on April 23, 2013), which includes Performance-Based Compensation Policy.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 26, 2013.
 
 
Amendment to Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2016.  
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan.    
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
 
 
Forms of Performance Share Award Agreement:
 
 
 
 
For grants on or after February 23, 2016;
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
For grants on or after February 24, 2015;
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
 
For grants on or after February 26, 2013;
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
 
For grants on February 28, 2012; 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
 
For grants on February 22, 2011; and
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
For grants to John G. Stumpf, David M. Carroll, David A. Hoyt, and Carrie L. Tolstedt on June 22, 2010.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2010.
 
 
Forms of Award Agreement for grants of stock awards to John G. Stumpf and David A. Hoyt.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10(a) and
10(c) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 6, 2009.
 
 
Forms of Restricted Share Rights Award Agreement:
 
 
 
 
For grants on or after February 23, 2016, including grants to John G. Stumpf, John R. Shrewsberry, David M. Carroll, Avid Modjtabai, Timothy J. Sloan, and Carrie L. Tolstedt;
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
For grants on or after February 24, 2015, including grants to John G. Stumpf, John R. Shrewsberry, David M. Carroll, Avid Modjtabai, Timothy J. Sloan, and Carrie L. Tolstedt;
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
 
For grants on or after February 26, 2013, including grants to John G. Stumpf, Timothy J. Sloan, David M. Carroll, David A. Hoyt, and Carrie L. Tolstedt;
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
 
For grants on February 28, 2012, including grants to John G. Stumpf, Timothy J. Sloan, David M. Carroll, David A. Hoyt, and Carrie L. Tolstedt;
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
 
 
*  Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
 

17


Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
Location
 
 
For grants on February 22, 2011, including grants to John G. Stumpf, David M. Carroll, David A. Hoyt, Timothy J. Sloan, and Carrie L. Tolstedt;
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
For grants prior to February 22, 2011, including grants to John G. Stumpf, David M. Carroll, David A. Hoyt, Timothy J. Sloan, and Carrie L. Tolstedt; and
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
 
For grants to David A. Hoyt and Carrie L. Tolstedt on February 24, 2009, as amended on November 16, 2010.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 27, 2009, and Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, including grants to John G. Stumpf, David M. Carroll, David A. Hoyt, Timothy J. Sloan, and Carrie L. Tolstedt.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
10(b)*
 
Long-Term Incentive Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the former Wells Fargo’s Proxy Statement filed March 14, 1994.
10(c)*
 
Wells Fargo Bonus Plan, as amended effective January 1, 2015.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
10(d)*
 
Performance-Based Compensation Policy.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 5, 2008.
10(e)*
 
Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended effective January 1, 2008.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2016.
 
Filed herewith.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2015. 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2013.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2011.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan, effective December 1, 2009.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
10(f)*
 
Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
 
Amendment to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective April 1, 2013.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
 
 
Amendment to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective January 1, 2013.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.
 
 
Amendment to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective January 24, 2012.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

18


Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
Location
 
 
Amendment to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective January 25, 2011.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
 
 
Amendment to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective February 24, 2009.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
 
 
Amendments to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective September 23, 2008.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.
 
 
Amendment to Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective January 22, 2008.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
 
Action of Governance and Nominating Committee Increasing Amount of Formula Stock and Option Awards Under Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan, effective January 1, 2007.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
 
 
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for grants to directors on or before April 29, 2008.
 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
10(g)*
 
Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors of the former Norwest.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective November 1, 2000.
 
Filed as paragraph (4) of Exhibit 10(ff) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2000.
 
 
Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective January 1, 2004.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
10(h)*
 
Directors’ Stock Deferral Plan for directors of the former Norwest.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999.
 
 
Amendment to Directors’ Stock Deferral Plan, effective November 1, 2000.
 
Filed as paragraph (5) of Exhibit 10(ff) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2000.
 
 
Amendment to Directors’ Stock Deferral Plan, effective January 1, 2004.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
10(i)*
 
Directors’ Formula Stock Award Plan for directors of the former Norwest.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999.
 
 
Amendment to Directors’ Formula Stock Award Plan, effective November 1, 2000.
 
Filed as paragraph (6) of Exhibit 10(ff) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2000.
 
 
Amendment to Directors’ Formula Stock Award Plan, effective January 1, 2004.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
10(j)*
 
Deferral Plan for Directors of the former Wells Fargo.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the former Wells Fargo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.

19


Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
Location
 
 
Amendment to Deferral Plan, effective January 1, 2004.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
10(k)*
 
Supplemental 401(k) Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 4, 2009.
 
 
Amendment to Supplemental 401(k) Plan, effective January 1, 2015.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
10(l)*
 
Supplemental Cash Balance Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 4, 2009.
10(m)*
 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990.
 
 
Amendment to Supplemental Long-Term Disability Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992.
10(n)*
 
Description of Relocation Program.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(y) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
    10(o) 
 
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractors.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(x) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
 
Amendment to Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractors, effective January 1, 2014.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(o) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
 
Amendment to Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractors, effective January 1, 2009.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(w) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
10(p)*
 
Description of Chairman/CEO Post-Retirement Policy.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(w) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
10(q)*
 
Description of the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Program, effective January 1, 2016.
 
Filed herewith.
10(r)*
 
Description of the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Program, effective January 1, 2015.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(q) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
10(s)*
 
Description of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Director Compensation Program, effective January 1, 2015.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(s) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
10(t)*
 
Amended and Restated Wachovia Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(f) to Wachovia Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 29, 2008.
 
 
Amendment to Amended and Restated Wachovia Corporation Deferred Compensation   Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective June 1, 2009.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(aa) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
10(u)*
 
Wachovia Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(d) to Wachovia   Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.
10(v)*
 
Wachovia Corporation Supplemental Executive Long-Term   Disability Plan, as amended and restated.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (99) to Wachovia Corporation’s   Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 5, 2005.
10(w)*
 
Wachovia Corporation Savings Restoration Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(gg) to Wachovia   Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.
10(x)*
 
Amendment 2007-1 to Wachovia Corporation Savings Restoration   Plan. 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(b) to Wachovia Corporation’s   Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2007.

20


Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
Location
 
 
Amendment 2008-1 to Wachovia Corporation Savings Restoration   Plan. 
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(c) to Wachovia   Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 29, 2008.
10(y)*
 
Amended and Restated Wachovia Corporation Savings   Restoration Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(b) to Wachovia   Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 29, 2008.
10(z)*
 
Form of stock award agreement for Executive Officers of   Wachovia Corporation, including David M. Carroll.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)(ss) to Wachovia   Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
10(aa)*
 
Amended and Restated Wachovia Corporation 2003 Stock   Incentive Plan.
 
Incorporated by reference to Appendix E to Wachovia Corporation’s   Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-134656) filed   on July 24, 2006.
 
 
Amendment to Amended and Restated Wachovia Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, effective February 24, 2009.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
10(bb)*
 
Amended and Restated SouthTrust Corporation Additional Retirement Benefit Plan (Pension) effective July 15, 1992, Addendum thereto dated April 20, 1994, and Amendment 2008-1 thereto dated December 29, 2008.
 
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(bb) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
12(a)
 
  
 
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
 
Filed herewith.
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

 
  
  
 
  
 
Including interest on deposits
 
8.60

 
8.56

 
7.91

 
6.08

 
4.32

 
  
  
 
  
 
Excluding interest on deposits
 
10.74

 
11.05

 
10.68

 
8.40

 
5.92

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12(b)
 
  
 
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends:
 
Filed herewith.
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

 
  
  
 
  
 
Including interest on deposits
 
5.84

 
6.27

 
5.99

 
4.90

 
3.67

 
  
  
 
  
 
Excluding interest on deposits
 
6.68

 
7.44

 
7.36

 
6.21

 
4.69

 
  

13
2015 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Filed herewith. 
21
Subsidiaries of the Company.
Filed herewith.
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Filed herewith.
24
Powers of Attorney.
Filed herewith.
31(a)
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Filed herewith.
31(b)
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Filed herewith.
32(a)
Certification of Periodic Financial Report by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
Furnished herewith.
32(b)
Certification of Periodic Financial Report by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
Furnished herewith.
 
99
Description of Replacement Capital Covenants of Wells Fargo and Wachovia.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
Filed herewith.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
Filed herewith.
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
Filed herewith.
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
Filed herewith.
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
Filed herewith.
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase Document.
Filed herewith.


21
Exhibit 3(a)
 
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
 
OF
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
___________________________________
 
Pursuant to Section 245 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________

Wells Fargo & Company, a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:
 
1.                   The present name of the corporation is Wells Fargo & Company. 
 
2.                   The corporation was originally incorporated under the name Northwest Bancorporation, and its original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 24, 1929.  On April 26, 1983 the corporation filed an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation to change its name from Northwest Bancorporation to Norwest Corporation effective April 29, 1983, and on November 2, 1998 the corporation filed an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation to change its name from Norwest Corporation to Wells Fargo & Company.
 
3.                   The corporation’s Board of Directors has duly adopted this Restated Certificate of Incorporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  This Restated Certificate of Incorporation only restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, as theretofore amended or supplemented or restated, and there is no discrepancy between those provisions and the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
 
4.                   The text of the corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended or supplemented or restated, is hereby restated to read in its entirety as follows:
 
FIRST:  The name of this corporation is Wells Fargo & Company.
 
SECOND:  Its registered office in the State of Delaware is located in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle.  The name and address of its registered agent is Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808.
 
THIRD:  The nature of the business, or objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on, are:
 
To acquire by purchase, subscription or otherwise, and to own and hold, for investment purposes, the capital stock, scrip or any voting trust certificates in respect of the shares of capital stock issued or created by any moneyed, financial or investment corporation or association created and organized, or to be created and organized, under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or territory

0


thereof; and to issue in exchange therefor shares of the capital stock of this corporation; and while the holder or owner of any such shares of capital stock, scrip or voting trust certificates, to possess and exercise in respect thereof any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership, including the right to vote thereon;
 
To loan money to any aforesaid corporation or association, any of whose shares of capital stock, scrip or voting trust certificates aforesaid shall be owned at the time of such loan by this corporation, and to do any and all lawful things designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of any such shares, scrip or voting trust certificates;

In addition to and not in limitation of any of the aforesaid powers, to invest temporarily any of its capital or surplus funds in bonds, mortgages or evidences of indebtedness and any other securities issued or created by any individual, copartnership or other corporation, joint stock company or association, public or private, or of the Government of the United States of America, or of any Foreign Government, or of any State, territory, municipality or other political subdivision or of any governmental agency;
 
To acquire, hold, sell, reissue or cancel any shares of its own capital stock; provided, however, that this corporation may not use any of its funds or property for the purchase of its own shares of capital stock when such use would cause any impairment of the capital of this corporation, and provided further that the shares of its own capital stock belonging to this corporation shall not be voted, directly or indirectly;
 
To organize, incorporate and reorganize subsidiary corporations for all lawful purposes;
 
To conduct all or any part of its operations and business without restriction or limit as to amount in the State of Delaware or in any or all other States, territories, districts, colonies and dependencies of the United States of America;
 
To have and to exercise any and all powers and privileges now or hereafter conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware upon corporations formed under the Acts hereinafter referred to, or under any Act amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto or substituted therefor;
 
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers; and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the powers of this corporation.
 
FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is Six Billion Twenty-Four Million (6,024,000,000), consisting of Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock without par value, Four Million (4,000,000) shares of Preference Stock without par value, and Six Billion (6,000,000,000) shares of Common Stock of the par value of $1-2/3 per share. *

*On April 29, 2010, Wells Fargo & Company filed a Certificate of Amendment Amending Article Fourth to increase the authorized common stock to 9,000,000,000 shares.
 
The designations and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the Preferred Stock, the Preference Stock and the Common Stock which are fixed by the Certificate of Incorporation and the express grant of authority to the Board of Directors of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Board of Directors”)

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to fix by resolution or resolutions the designations and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the Preferred Stock and the Preference Stock which are not fixed by the Certificate of Incorporation are as follows:
 
1.         The Preferred Stock may be issued at any time or from time to time in any amount, provided not more than 20,000,000 shares thereof shall be outstanding at any one time, as Preferred Stock of one or more series, as hereinafter provided.  Each share of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects except as to the date from which dividends thereon may be cumulative, each series of Preferred Stock shall be distinctly designated by letter or descriptive words, and all series of Preferred Stock shall rank equally and be identical in all respects except as permitted by the provisions of Section 2 of this Article FOURTH.  Shares of Preferred Stock shall be issued only as fully paid and non-assessable shares.
 
The Preference Stock may be issued at any time or from time to time in any amount, provided not more than 4,000,000 shares thereof shall be outstanding at any one time, as Preference Stock of one or more series, as hereinafter provided.  Each share of any one series of Preference Stock shall be identical in all respects except as to the date from which dividends thereon may be cumulative, each series of Preference Stock shall be distinctly designated by letter or descriptive words, and all series of Preference Stock shall rank equally and be identical in all respects except as permitted by the provisions of Section 2 of this Article FOURTH.  Shares of Preference Stock shall be issued only as fully paid and non-assessable shares.
 
2.         Authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board of Directors at any time or from time to time to issue the Preferred Stock as Preferred Stock of any series and the Preference Stock as Preference Stock of any series and, in connection with the creation of each such series, to fix by resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of shares
thereof the designations and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series so far as not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article FOURTH applicable to all series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock, respectively, and to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, including the following:
 
(a)        The distinctive designation of such series and the number of shares which shall constitute such series, which number may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in creating such series) or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors;
 
(b)        The annual rate or rates of dividends payable on shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the date or dates from which dividends shall be cumulative on the shares of such series, the preferences, restrictions, limitations and conditions upon the payment of dividends, and the dates on which dividends, if declared, shall be payable;
 
(c)        Whether shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;
 

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(d)        The rights of the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of such series;
 
(e)        Whether shares of such series shall have a purchase, retirement or sinking fund for the purchase, retirement, or redemption of shares of such series and, if so, the terms and provisions thereof;
 
(f)        Whether shares of such series shall have conversion privileges and, if so, the terms and provisions thereof, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;
 
(g)        Whether shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms and provisions thereof; and
 
(h)        Any other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
 
3.         The holders of the Preferred Stock of each series and the holders of the Preference Stock of each series, respectively, shall be entitled to receive such dividends, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor, as they may be entitled to in accordance with the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series, payable on such dates as may be fixed in such resolution or resolutions.  So long as there shall be outstanding any shares of Preferred Stock of any series or any shares of Preference Stock of any series entitled to cumulative dividends pursuant to the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series, no dividend, whether in cash or property, shall be paid or declared, nor shall any distribution be made, on the Common Stock, nor shall any shares of Common Stock be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for value by the corporation, if at the time of making such payment, declaration, distribution, purchase, redemption or acquisition the corporation shall be in default with respect to any dividend payable on, or obligation to maintain a purchase, retirement or sinking fund with respect to or to redeem, shares of Preferred Stock of any series or shares of Preference Stock of any series.  The foregoing provisions of this Section 3 shall not, however, apply to a dividend payable in Common Stock or to the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of the proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock.
 
Subject to the foregoing and to any further limitations prescribed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors may declare, out of any funds legally available therefor, dividends upon the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, and shares of Preferred Stock of any series and shares of Preference Stock of any series shall not be entitled to participate therein.

4.         In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series and the holders of the Preference Stock of each series shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, before any distribution of assets shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, the amount per share fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2 of this Article FOURTH, plus in each such case an amount equal to any cumulative dividends thereon to the date of final distribution to the holders of the Preferred Stock or to the holders of the Preference Stock, respectively; and the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled, to the exclusion of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any and all

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series and the holders of the Preference Stock of any and all series, respectively, to participate ratably in all the assets of the corporation then remaining in accordance with their respective rights and preferences.  If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation the assets available for distribution shall be insufficient to pay the holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock or the holders of all outstanding shares of Preference Stock the full amounts to which they respectively shall be entitled, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock of all series and the holders of shares of Preference Stock of all series, respectively, shall participate ratably in any distribution of assets according to the respective amounts which would be payable in respect of the shares of Preferred Stock or shares of Preference Stock held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable in respect of the Preferred Stock of all series or the Preference Stock of all series, respectively, were paid in full.  Neither the statutory merger nor consolidation of the corporation into or with any other corporation, nor the statutory merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with the corporation, nor a sale, transfer or lease of all or any part of the assets of the corporation, shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation within the meaning of this Section 4.
 
5.         The corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem the whole or any part of the Preferred Stock of any series or of the Preference Stock of any series at the price or prices and on the terms and conditions provided in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series.
 
6.         Anything herein or in any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock or any series of Preference Stock contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the rights of the holders of all classes of stock of the corporation in respect of dividends and purchase, retirement or sinking funds, if any, shall at all times be subject to the power of the Board of Directors from time to time to set aside such reserves and to make such other provisions, if any, as the Board of Directors shall deem to be necessary or advisable for working capital, for expansion of the corporation's business (including the acquisition of real and personal property for that purpose) and for any other purpose of the corporation.
 
7.         Except as otherwise provided by the statutes of the State of Delaware or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock or any series of Preference Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock and the holders of the Preference Stock shall have no right to vote.  The holders of the Preferred Stock and the holders of the Preference Stock shall not be entitled to receive notice of any meeting of stockholders at which they are not entitled to vote or consent.  The holders of shares of Preference Stock shall not be entitled to more than one vote per share.
 
8.         Except as otherwise provided by the statutes of the State of Delaware or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Stock or any series of Preference Stock, the vote of the holders of all or any portion of any class of stock, as a class, shall not be required for any action whatsoever to be taken or authorized by the stockholders of the corporation, including any amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation.
 
9.         No holder of shares of the corporation of any class or of any security or obligation convertible into, or of any warrant, option or right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire, shares of the corporation of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized, shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right whatsoever to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of the corporation of any class or any security or obligation convertible into, or any warrant, option or right to subscribe for,

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purchase or otherwise acquire, shares of the corporation of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized.
 
10.       If it deems it desirable so to do, the Board of Directors may from time to time issue scrip for fractional shares of stock.  Such scrip shall not confer upon the holder any voting or other rights of a stockholder of the corporation, but the corporation shall from time to time, within such time as the Board of Directors may determine, issue one whole share
of stock upon the surrender of scrip for fractional shares aggregating one whole share, properly endorsed if in registered form.
 
Pursuant to the authority conferred by this Article FOURTH, the following series of Preferred Stock have been designated, each such series consisting of such number of shares, with such voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as are stated and expressed in the exhibit with respect to such series attached hereto as specified below and incorporated herein by reference:
 
Exhibit A
1997 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock* 
Exhibit B
1998 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock* 
Exhibit C
1999 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock* 
Exhibit D
2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock* 
Exhibit E
2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock* 
Exhibit F
2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock* 
Exhibit G
2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock*
Exhibit H
2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock*
Exhibit I
2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock*
Exhibit J
2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock*
 
*Wells Fargo & Company has filed Certificates Eliminating the Certificates of Designations for each of Wells Fargo's 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Exhibits A through J above)
 
FIFTH:  The amount of capital with which this corporation will commence business is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), being twenty (20) shares of the par value of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) each. 
 
SIXTH:  The names and places of residence of the subscribers to the capital stock and the number of shares subscribed for by each are as follows:
 
                                Name                                 Residence                      No. of Shares
 
A. V. Lane                    Wilmington, Delaware                   18
C. S. Peabbles               Wilmington, Delaware                    1
L. E. Gray                     Wilmington, Delaware                    1
 
SEVENTH:  This corporation is to have perpetual existence.
 
EIGHTH:  The private property of the stockholders shall not be subject to the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
 

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NINTH:  The number of Directors of the corporation shall be as specified in the By-Laws, and such number may from time to time be increased or decreased in such manner as may be prescribed in the By-Laws, provided the number of Directors of the corporation shall not be less than three (3).  In case of any increase in the number of Directors, the additional Directors may be elected by the Board of Directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified.  In case of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, a majority of the remaining members of the Board may elect Directors to fill such vacancy.
 
Directors shall be stockholders.
 
TENTH:  In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized:
 
To make, alter, amend or repeal the By-Laws of the corporation, except as otherwise provided in said By-Laws;
 
To determine from time to time whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the corporation except as conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless and until authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or of the stockholders.
 
To set apart out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for working capital or for any other lawful purpose, and also to abolish any such reserve in the same manner in which it was created;
 
If the By-Laws so provide, to designate two or more of its number to constitute an Executive Committee, which Committee shall for the time being, as provided in said resolution or in the By-Laws of this corporation, have and exercise any or all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of this corporation and have power to authorize the seal of this corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
 
This corporation may in its By-Laws confer powers upon its Directors in addition to the foregoing and in addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred upon them by the Statute.
 
Both stockholders and Directors shall have power, if the By-Laws so provide, to hold their meetings and to have one or more offices within or without the State of Delaware and to keep the books of this corporation (subject to the provisions of the Statutes) outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time designated by the Board of Directors.
 
ELEVENTH:  In the absence of fraud, no contract or transaction between this corporation and any other association or corporation shall be affected by the fact that any of the Directors or officers of this corporation are interested in or are Directors or officers of such other association or corporation, and any Director or officer of this corporation individually may be a party to or may be interested in any such contract or transaction of this corporation; and no such contract or transaction of this corporation with any person or persons, firm, association or corporation shall be affected by the fact that any Director or officer of this corporation is a party to or interested in such contract or transaction in any way connected with such person or persons, firm, association or corporation; provided that such contract or other transaction shall be authorized or ratified by the vote of a majority of the Directors of this corporation not so

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interested; and each and every person who may become a Director or officer of this corporation is hereby relieved from any liability that might otherwise exist from thus contracting with this corporation for the benefit of himself or any person, firm, association or corporation in which he may be in anywise interested.
 
TWELFTH:  This corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by Statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
 
THIRTEENTH:  The Board of Directors is expressly authorized:
 
(i)         to adopt, and from time to time to amend, one or more pension, profit sharing, retirement, and benefit plans benefiting any or all officers and employees and former officers and employees of this corporation and affiliated banks and companies;
 
(ii)        to adopt, and from time to time to amend, one or more stock option, stock purchase, stock bonus, incentive, and compensation plans benefiting any or all officers and employees of this corporation and affiliated banks and corporations; and
 
(iii)       to authorize affiliated banks and companies, on behalf of this corporation as a stockholder therein, to adopt, and from time to time to amend, any of said types of plans enumerated in clause (i) of this Article THIRTEENTH benefiting any or all officers and employees and former officers and employees thereof and any of said types of plans enumerated in clause (ii) of this Article THIRTEENTH benefiting any or all officers and employees thereof.
 
No action shall be taken under this Article except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office at the time such action is taken, and such majority shall not include any director who is a salaried officer of the corporation or of any affiliated bank or company.

FOURTEENTH:  (a)  Elimination of Certain Liability of Directors .  A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
 
(b)(1)   Right to Indemnification .  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be a made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or

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penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in subparagraph (b)(2), the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation.  The right to indemnification conferred in this paragraph (b) shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this paragraph (b) or otherwise.  The corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.
 
(2)  Right of Claimant to Bring Suit .  If a claim under subparagraph (b)(1) is not paid in full by the corporation within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the corporation.  Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
 
(3)  Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this paragraph (b) shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

(4)  Insurance .  The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation is executed on behalf of the corporation by its Chairman and attested by its Secretary this  28 th  day of September, 2006.
 
 
 
            /s/ Richard M. Kovacevich                                     
Richard M. Kovacevich, Chairman
 
 
Attest:        /s/ Laurel A. Holschuh                        
    Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on September 28, 2006.]
 

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2007 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at a meeting of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on March 13, 2007, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:
 
RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
 
RESOLVED that Richard M. Kovacevich is designated to serve as the sole member of the First Committee until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
 
*  *  *  *
 
RESOLVED that any series of ESOP Preferred Stock authorized for issuance by the First Committee . . . shall have the voting rights set forth in Appendix A to these resolutions.
  

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APPENDIX A - VOTING RIGHTS
 
No series of the Preferred Stock, except as hereinafter set forth in this resolution or as otherwise from time to time required by law, shall have voting rights.  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on any shares of a designated series of the Preferred Stock (such shares of such designated series of Preferred Stock being hereinafter referred to as the “Shares of such series”) shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding Shares of such series shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Shares of such series, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Shares of such series shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding Shares of such series (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such Shares of such series (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such Shares of such series shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such Shares of such series shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
So long as any Shares of such series remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding Shares of such series and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such Shares of such series either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such outstanding Shares of such series and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 

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(a)        the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to the Shares of such series with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(b)        the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designation for the Shares of such series designating the Shares of such series and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Shares of such series or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Shares of such series with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding Shares of such series shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
2.         On March 13, 2007, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolutions by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:
 
2007 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2007 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock is 484,000, based on an offering price for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,070.00 per share.  Each share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock.

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(b)  Shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.
2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:
 
(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like

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voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
(c)  So long as any shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 
(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designations designating shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

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3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $107.50 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.
 
(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2008 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2016, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $112.50 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 
 
(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $117.50 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.
 
9)                   Dividend Adjustment Table
10)                             Closing Price on 11/30

 
11)                                   First Target Price

 
12)                                         Second Target Price

2,008,000

 
$
38.649

 
$
43.120

2,009,000

 
41.316

 
49.071

2,010,000

 
44.167

 
55.843

2,011,000

 
47.215

 
63.549

2,012,000

 
50.472

 
72.319

2,013,000

 
53.955

 
82.299

2,014,000

 
57.678

 
93.656

2,015,000

 
61.658

 
106.580

2,016,000

 
65.912

 
121.288

 
(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2010, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $50, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $112.50, with the first quarterly payment of such $112.50 dividend to be made on March 1, 2011.  If on November 30, 2011, the Current Market Price of one share of Common

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Stock is $65, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $117.50, with the first quarterly payment of such $117.50 dividend to be made on March 1, 2012.  If on November 30, 2012, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $45, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $107.50, with the first quarterly payment of such $107.50 dividend to be made on March 1, 2013.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 2007.  Dividends on shares of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock
and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 

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(ii)  So long as any shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:
 
(a)  Each share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.
 
(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section

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4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.
 
(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 
 
(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.
(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designations or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
 
(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.
(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at

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its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, which notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.
 
(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.
(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.
(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of

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2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.
(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.
(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.
(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.
5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.
(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that

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dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).
(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.
(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.
(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2007 ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about March 20, 2007 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).
6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer

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securities” with respect to a holder of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:
(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.
(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.
(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.

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(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.

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(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.
 
(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:

(a)  prior to the shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or

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winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 
9.   Priority of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2007 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 1998 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 1999 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Richard M. Kovacevich, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Rachelle M. Graham, its Assistant Secretary, whereby such Chairman and Chief Executive Officer affirms, under penalties of perjury, that this Certificate of Designations is the act and deed of the Company and that the facts stated herein are true, this 13 th day of March, 2007.
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
 
 
By         /s/ Richard M. Kovacevich              
Richard M. Kovacevich
Chairman and
            Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
/s/ Rachelle M. Graham     
Rachelle M. Graham
Assistant Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 15, 2007.]
 


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2008 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee II of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000 and February 27, 2007, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on March 11, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:
 
RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee II (the “Second Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the Second Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the Second Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
*  *  *  *
 
RESOLVED that any series of ESOP Preferred Stock authorized for issuance by the . . . Second Committee shall have the voting rights set forth in Appendix A to these resolutions.
 
APPENDIX A - VOTING RIGHTS
 
No series of the Preferred Stock, except as hereinafter set forth in this resolution or as otherwise from time to time required by law, shall have voting rights.  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends

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payable on any shares of a designated series of the Preferred Stock (such shares of such designated series of Preferred Stock being hereinafter referred to as the “Shares of such series”) shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding Shares of such series shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Shares of such series, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Shares of such series shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding Shares of such series (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such Shares of such series (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such Shares of such series shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such Shares of such series shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
So long as any Shares of such series remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding Shares of such series and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such Shares of such series either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such outstanding Shares of such series and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 
(a)        the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to the Shares of such series with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(b)        the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set

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forth in a Certificate of Designation for the Shares of such series designating the Shares of such series and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Shares of such series or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Shares of such series with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding Shares of such series shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
2.         Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 27, 2007, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 25, 2007.
 
3.         On March 11, 2008, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolutions by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:
2008 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2008 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock is 520,500, based on an offering price for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,058.00 per share.  Each share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 
(b)  Shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any

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company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.
2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:
 
(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until

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such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
(c)  So long as any shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 
(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designations designating shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the

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Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $105.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.

(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2009 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2017, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $110.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 
 
(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $115.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.
13)                 
14)               Dividend Adjustment Table
 
15)                             Closing Price on 11/30

 
16)                                   First Target Price

 
17)                                         Second Target Price

2,009,000

 
33.444

 
37.899

2,010,000

 
36.120

 
43.963

2,011,000

 
39.009

 
50.997

2,012,000

 
42.130

 
59.157

2,013,000

 
45.500

 
68.622

2,014,000

 
49.140

 
79.601

2,015,000

 
53.072

 
92.338

2,016,000

 
57.317

 
107.112

2,017,000

 
61.903

 
124.249

 
(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2011, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $50.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $110.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $110.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2012.  If on November 30, 2012, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $60.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $115.00, with the first quarterly payment of

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such $115.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2013.  If on November 30, 2013, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $105.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $105.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2014.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 2008.  Dividends on shares of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
(ii)  So long as any shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to

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subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:
 
(a)  Each share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.
 
(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.

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(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 
 
(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.
(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designations or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
 
(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.
(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time

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be designated by notice to the holders of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, which notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.
 
(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.
(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.
(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.

9


(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.
(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.
(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.
5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.
(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a

10


share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).
(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.
(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.
(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2008 ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about March 13, 2008 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).
6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a

11


cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:
            (1)  After such transaction each share of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.
(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.
(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.
(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at

12


least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.
 
(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger or

13


consolidation of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.

(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:
 
(a)  prior to the shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 

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9.   Priority of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2008 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 1999 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2000 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, whereby such President and Chief Executive Officer affirms, under penalties of perjury, that this Certificate of Designations is the act and deed of the Company and that the facts stated herein are true, this 12th day of March, 2008.
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
 
 
By /s/ John G. Stumpf                                   
John G. Stumpf
           President and
          Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                        
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 12, 2008.]
 

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware

 
DIVIDEND EQUALIZATION PREFERRED SHARES
(Without Par Value)

 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 20, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated October 2, 2008, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

1.         Designation. 

(a)        The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares (“DEPs”), and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 97,000.

(b)        DEPs redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (other than in a bona fide fiduciary capacity) shall be cancelled and may not be reissued.  DEPs may be issued in fractional shares which are whole number multiples of one one-millionth of a share, which fractional shares shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional share, to all rights of a holder of a whole share of DEPs.

(c)        DEPs shall, with respect to distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Corporation, rank (x) senior to the Common Stock for the Liquidation Preference stated and defined in Section 3(a) below and (y) junior to each class or series of preferred stock issued in exchange for preferred stock of Wachovia Corporation established by the board of directors of Wachovia Corporation after September 1, 2001 and each class or series of preferred stock established by the Board of Directors after the date hereof.


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2.         Dividends.  DEPs shall not entitle the holders thereof to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property, stock or otherwise.

3.         Liquidation. 

(a)        In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of full and fractional DEPs shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment is made on any date to the holders of the Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the DEPs upon liquidation, to be paid in full an amount per whole share of DEPs equal to $10.00 (the “Liquidation Preference”), together with accrued dividends to such distribution or payment date, whether or not earned or declared.  If such payment shall have been made in full to all holders of DEPs, the holders of DEPs as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. 
(b)        In the event the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to the holders of DEPs upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to Section 3(a), no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the DEPs upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the DEPs, ratably in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. 

(c)        Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of DEPs then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 3 before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior upon liquidation to the DEPs. 

(d)        For the purposes of this Section 3, the consolidation or merger of, or binding statutory share exchange by, the Corporation with any other corporation shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. 

4.         Redemption, Conversion, Exchange.

(a)        The DEPs shall not be convertible or exchangeable.  Other than as described in the next sentence, the DEPs shall not be redeemable.  The DEPs shall be redeemable by the Corporation, at the Corporation’s option and in its sole discretion, for an amount in cash equal to the Liquidation Preference per share of DEPs, after December 31, 2021.

(b)        In case of redemption of less than all of the DEPs at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata or by lot as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, provided that the Corporation may redeem all shares held by holders of fewer than 0.100 DEPs (or by holders that would hold fewer than 0.100 DEPs following such redemption) prior to its redemption of other DEPs. 

(c)        Notice of any redemption shall be sent by or on behalf of the Corporation no less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date specified for redemption in such notice (the “Redemption Date”), by first class mail, postage prepaid, to all holders of record of the DEPs at their last addresses as they appear on the books of the Corporation; provided, however, that no failure to give such

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notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any DEPs except as to the holder to whom the Corporation has failed to give notice or except as to the holder to whom notice was defective.  In addition to any information required by applicable law or regulation or the rules of any exchange upon which the DEPs may be listed or admitted to trading, such notice shall state (1) that such redemption is being made pursuant to the redemption provisions of this Section 5, (2) the Redemption Date, (3) the redemption price, (4) the total number of DEPs to be redeemed and, if less than all shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed, and (5) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price, including any procedures applicable to redemption to be accomplished through book-entry transfers.  Upon the mailing of any such notice of redemption, the Corporation shall become obligated to redeem, on the Redemption Date, all shares called for redemption. 

5.         Voting Rights .  Except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation or the rules of a securities exchange upon which the DEPs may be listed or quoted, holders of the DEPs shall have no voting rights.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Laurel A. Holschuh, its Secretary, this  30 th  day of December, 2008.
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By:                   /s/ Barbara S. Brett                  

            Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
            and Assistant Treasurer
/s/ Laurel A. Holschuh            
Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 30, 2008.]

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware

 
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES H
(Without Par Value)

 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 20, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated October 2, 2008, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

1. Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Class A Preferred Stock, Series H, with no par value and with a liquidation preference of $20,000.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as the “Series H Preferred Stock”), and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 50,000, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The Series H Preferred Stock shall rank prior to the common stock of the Corporation, $1-2/3 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and on a parity with each series of the Corporation’s Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation as expressly provided for herein.

2. Defined Terms .  As used in this Certificate of Designations, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

“Affiliate” of any specified Person shall mean (i) any other Person which, directly or indirectly, is in Control of, is controlled by or is under common Control with such specified Person, or (ii) any other Person who is a director or executive officer (A) of such specified Person, (B) of any subsidiary of such specified Person, or (C) of any Person described in clause (i) above.

“Applicable Rate” means, with respect to distributions on each Dividend Period, (i) a rate per annum equal to Three-Month LIBOR plus 1.83%, or (ii) upon the occurrence of an initial Fixed Rate Event and thereafter, a fixed rate equal to the Assigned Fixed Rate.

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“Assigned Fixed Rate” means the fixed rate equal to the Applicable Rate on the date of the occurrence of the initial Fixed Rate Event.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks located in the City of New York, New York or Charlotte, North Carolina generally are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.

“Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“Conditional Exchange” shall mean the exchange of one Depositary Share for each share of WPFC Series B Preferred Securities following the occurrence of a Supervisory Event.

“Control” means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of any Person whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Corporation” means Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation, together with its successors and assigns.

“Depositary Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

“Depositary Share” means a depositary share representing a one-eight hundredth interest in one share of Series H Preferred Stock.

“Dividend Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

“Dividend Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

“Dividend Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

“Dividend Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

“Federal Reserve Board” means the United States Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

“Fixed Rate Event” means any Transfer with respect to all or a portion of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, subsequent to the initial issuance of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, through an initial public offering, private placement or otherwise, to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the Corporation.

“Initial Dividend Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

“Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and all other classes and series of securities of the Corporation that rank below the Series H Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up, or dissolution.


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“LIBOR Business Day” means any day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open for general business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London and New York.

“LIBOR Determination Date” means, as to each Dividend Period, commencing with the Initial Dividend Period, the date that is two LIBOR Business Days prior to the first day of such Dividend Period.

“OCC” means the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

“Parity Stock” means any outstanding class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking, in accordance to its terms, as to dividends and upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of affairs of the Corporation on parity with the Series H Preferred Stock.

“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (or portion thereof), association, private foundation, joint stock company or other entity or any government or agency or political subdivision thereof and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Preferred Stock” means the Corporation’s preferred stock, no par value, of which 20,000,000 shares are authorized as of the date hereof.

“Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

“Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

“Regulatory Capital Event” means a determination by the Corporation, based on the receipt by the Corporation of an opinion or letter of counsel, rendered by a law firm experienced in such matters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, which states that there is a significant risk that the Series H Preferred Stock will no longer constitute Tier 1 capital of the Corporation for purposes of the capital adequacy regulations or guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve Board, or its successor, as the Corporation’s primary Federal banking regulator, as a result of (i) any amendment to, clarification of, or change in applicable laws or related regulations, guidelines, policies or official interpretations thereof, or (ii) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or related regulations, guidelines, policies or official interpretations thereof.

“Series H Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“Supervisory Event” means the occurrence of one of the following:  (i) Wachovia Bank becomes “undercapitalized” under the OCC’s prompt corrective action regulations, (ii) Wachovia Bank is placed into conservatorship or receivership, or (iii) the OCC, in its sole discretion, anticipates Wachovia Bank becoming “undercapitalized” in the near term or takes supervisory action that limits the payment of dividends by WPFC and in connection therewith the OCC directs an exchange of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities for the Series H Preferred Stock.

“Three-Month LIBOR” means, with respect to any LIBOR Determination Date, a rate determined on the basis of the offered rates for three-month U.S. dollar deposits of not less than a principal amount equal to that which is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time, commencing on the second LIBOR Business Day immediately following such LIBOR Determination

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Date, which appears on US LIBOR Telerate Page 3750 as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR Determination Date.

If on any LIBOR Determination Date no rate appears on US LIBOR Telerate Page 3750 as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, the Corporation shall on such LIBOR Determination Date require four major reference banks in the London interbank market selected by the Corporation to provide the Corporation with a quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in U.S. dollars, commencing on the second LIBOR Business Day immediately following such LIBOR Determination Date, are offered by them to prime banks in the London interbank market as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount equal to that which is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time.  If at least two such quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR for such LIBOR Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations as calculated by the Corporation.  If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR for such LIBOR Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such LIBOR Determination Date by three major banks in the London inter-bank market selected by the Corporation for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity commencing on the second LIBOR Business Day immediately following such LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount equal to that which is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time; provided, however, that, if the banks selected as aforesaid by the Corporation are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, Three-Month LIBOR for such LIBOR Determination Date will be the Three-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the immediately preceding Dividend Period.

“Transfer” means any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, including, but not limited to, (i) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of such securities, or (ii) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise.

“Wachovia Bank” means Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, or its successors and assigns.

“WPFC” means Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp., a Delaware corporation.

“WPFC Series B Preferred Securities” means the Floating Rate Non-cumulative Series B Preferred Securities, par value $0.01, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, of WPFC.

3. Dividends .  (a) The dividend rate for the Series H Preferred Stock shall be the Applicable Rate per share per annum of the initial liquidation preference of $20,000.00 per share, accruing from the effective date of the Conditional Exchange to and including the last day of March, the last day of June, the last day of September or the last day of December, whichever occurs first, after issuance of the Series H Preferred Stock following the Conditional Exchange (such period being the “Initial Dividend Period”) and then for each quarterly period thereafter, commencing on April 1, July 1, October 1 or January 1, as the case may be, of each year and ending on and including the day next preceding the first day of the next such quarterly period (each such period, including the Initial Dividend Period, being a “Dividend Period”), payable to holders of record of the Series H Preferred Stock on the respective record dates fixed for such purpose by the Board of Directors in advance of payment of such dividend, which shall be the 15th calendar day of the last calendar month of the applicable Dividend Period (each such date, a “Dividend Record Date”).  If such Dividend Record Date is not a Business Day, then the Dividend

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Record Date for the applicable Dividend Period shall be the first Business Day immediately following the 15th calendar day of the last calendar month of the applicable Dividend Period, except if such Business Day falls in the calendar month following the last calendar month of the applicable Dividend Period, the Dividend Record Date shall be the last Business Date immediately preceding the 15th calendar day of the last calendar month of the applicable Dividend Period.  Until no longer outstanding, the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive such cash dividends, and the Corporation shall be bound to pay the same, but only as, if and when declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment thereof (each such payment, a “Dividend Payment”), on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each a “Dividend Payment Date”) for the respective Dividend Period ending on such date; provided, however, that the Dividend Payment for the Initial Dividend Period shall include any unpaid dividends accrued from the payment date of the last dividend paid prior to such date on the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities.  If a Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, the Dividend Payment due on such Dividend Payment Date shall be paid on the first Business Day immediately following such Dividend Payment Date, except if such Business Day falls in a different calendar year than such Dividend Payment Date, such Dividend Payment shall be paid on the last Business Date immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date.  The amount of dividends payable for the Initial Dividend Period or any period shorter than a full Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year having 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in the period.

(b)  Dividends shall be non-cumulative.  If the Board of Directors fails to or chooses not to declare a dividend on the Series H Preferred Stock for a Dividend Period, then holders of the Series H Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive a dividend for that Dividend Period, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay a dividend for that Dividend Period, whether or not dividends are declared and paid for any future Dividend Period, with respect to either the Series H Preferred Stock, other series of preferred stock of the Corporation, or the Common Stock.

(c)  Holders of Series H Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full dividends for each Dividend Period, as herein provided, on the Series H Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments or failure to make any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments.

(d)  Unless full dividend payments on the Series H Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for such payment has been set apart for payment for the immediately preceding Dividend Period, no dividends shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no other distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment upon any shares of Junior Stock, nor shall shares of Junior Stock be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, except by conversion into or exchange for other Junior Stock.

4. Liquidation Preference .  (a) The amount payable on the Series H Preferred Stock in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of affairs of the Corporation shall be $20,000.00 per share, plus authorized, declared but unpaid dividends up to the date of such liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of affairs of the Corporation, and no more before any distribution shall be made to the holders of any shares of Junior Stock.  The holders of Series H Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 4(a).

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(b)  If the amounts available for distribution in respect of the Series H Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock are not sufficient to satisfy the full liquidation rights of all of the outstanding Series H Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, then the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective liquidation preference to which they are entitled.

(c)  The sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or Person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or Person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation.

5. Redemption .  (a) The Series H Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable by the Corporation prior to the fifth anniversary of the initial issuance of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, except upon the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Event.  On or after the fifth anniversary of the initial issuance of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, the Corporation may, with the prior approval of the OCC, redeem the Series H Preferred Stock for cash, in whole or in part, at a price equal to $20,000.00 per share of Series H Preferred Stock, plus authorized, declared, but unpaid dividends to the Redemption Date, without interest, on shares redeemed (collectively, the “Redemption Price”) from funds legally available for such purpose.

(b)  On or after the fifth anniversary of the initial issuance of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, the Corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may at any time redeem fewer than all the outstanding Series H Preferred Stock.  In that event, the shares to be redeemed shall be determined by lot, pro rata, or by such other method as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion determines to be equitable.

(c)  Prior to the fifth anniversary of the initial issuance of the WPFC Series B Preferred Securities, but only upon or after the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Event, the Corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem the outstanding Series H Preferred Stock, in whole, but not in part, for the Redemption Price from funds legally available for such purpose.

(d)  Not more than 60 days and not less than 30 days prior to the date established for such redemption by the Board of Directors (the “Redemption Date”), notice of the proposed redemption shall be mailed to the holders of record of the Series H Preferred Stock to be redeemed, such notice to be addressed to each such stockholder at his last known address shown on the records of the Corporation, and the time of mailing such notice shall be deemed to be the time of the giving thereof.  On or after the Redemption Date, the Series H Preferred Stock called for redemption shall automatically, and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, be deemed to have been redeemed and the former holder thereof shall thereupon only be entitled to receive payment of the Redemption Price.  If such notice of redemption shall have been given as aforesaid, and if on or before the Redemption Date the funds necessary for the redemption shall have been set aside so as to be available therefore, then the dividends thereon shall cease to accrue after the Redemption Date and all rights with respect to the Series H Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall forthwith after such Redemption Date cease, except the right of the holders to receive the Redemption Price, without interest.  If such notice of redemption of all or any part of the Series H Preferred Stock shall have been mailed as aforesaid and the Corporation shall thereafter deposit money for the payment of the Redemption Price pursuant thereto with any bank or trust

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company (the “Depositary Company”), including any Affiliate of the Corporation, selected by the Board of Directors for that purpose, to be applied to such redemption, then from and after the making of such deposit, such Series H Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose, and the rights of the holders thereof shall be limited to the rights to receive payment of the Redemption Price, without interest but including any declared, authorized, but unpaid, dividends to the Redemption Date, from the Depositary Company, if applicable, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of the certificates therefore.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company, the interest, if any, allowed on such moneys deposited with it, and the holders of any Series H Preferred Stock so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any moneys so deposited and remaining unclaimed at the end of three years from the Redemption Date shall, if thereafter requested by resolution of the Board of Directors, be repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, such holders of record of the Series H Preferred Stock so redeemed which shall not have made claim against such moneys prior to such repayment to the Corporation shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated above for the redemption of the Series H Preferred Stock and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest.

(e)  Subject to the provisions herein, the Board of Directors shall have authority to prescribe from time to time the manner in which the Series H Preferred Stock shall be redeemed.

(f)  Nothing contained herein shall limit any legal right of the Corporation to purchase any shares of the Series H PreferredStock.

6. Conversion .  The holders of the Series H Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such Series H Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

7. Rank .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the Board of Directors, without the vote of the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock, Parity Stock or any class or series of stock ranking senior to Series H Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of affairs of the Corporation.

8. Repurchase .  Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell Series H Preferred Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the Board of Directors may determine; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not use any of its funds for any such purchase when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is, or by such purchase would be, rendered insolvent.

9. Voting Rights .  The holders of Series H Preferred Stock will have no voting rights except as expressly provided by applicable law.

10. Unissued or Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series H Preferred Stock not issued or which have been issued and converted, redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

11. No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series H Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Laurel A. Holschuh, its Secretary, this  30 th  day of December, 2008.
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By:                   /s/ Barbara S. Brett                              

            Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
            and Assistant Treasurer
/s/ Laurel A. Holschuh            
Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary

[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 30, 2008.]

8


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware

 
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES I
(Without Par Value)

 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 20, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated October 2, 2008, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

Section 1.         Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, with no par value and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share (hereinafter referred to as the “Series I Preferred Stock”).  Each share of Series I Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series I Preferred Stock.  Series I Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock, if any, and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 2.         Number of Shares .  The number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall be 25,010.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of preferred stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the board of directors.  Shares of Series I Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock undesignated as to series.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series I Preferred Stock.

Section 3.         Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series I Preferred Stock:

“Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Depositary Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

“Dividend Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).


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“Dividend Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“DTC” means The Depositary Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“Junior Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized over which Series I Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

“London Banking Day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars) in London.

“Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on a par with Series I Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

“Series I Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“Telerate Page 3750” means the display page so designated on the Moneyline/Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace that page on that service, or such other service as may be nominated as the information vendor, for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits).

“Three-Month LIBOR” means, with respect to any Dividend Period, the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum ) for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the first day of that Dividend Period that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second London Banking Day preceding the first day of that Dividend Period.  If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750, Three-Month LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the first day of that Dividend Period and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Corporation, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time on the second London Banking Day preceding the first day of that Dividend Period.  Wachovia Bank, National Association, as calculation agent for the Preferred Stock, will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate.  If at least two such quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of such quotations.  If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the rates quoted by three major banks in New York City selected by the calculation agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first day of that Dividend Period for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period commencing on the first day of that Dividend Period and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000.  However, if the banks selected by the calculation agent to provide quotations are not quoting as described above, Three-Month LIBOR for that Dividend Period will be the same as Three-Month LIBOR as determined for the previous Dividend Period, or in the case of the first Dividend Period, the most recent rate that could have been determined in accordance with the first sentence of this paragraph had Series I Preferred Stock been outstanding.  The calculation agent’s establishment of Three-Month LIBOR and calculation of the amount of dividends for each Dividend Period will be on file at the principal offices of the Corporation, will be made available to any holder of Series I Preferred Stock upon request and will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.

Section 4.         Dividends . 

(a)        Rate .  Holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the board of directors, but only out of funds legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference of $100,000 per share of Series I Preferred Stock, and no

2


more, payable:  (1) if the Series I Preferred Stock is issued prior to March 15, 2011, semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15 through March 15, 2011 and (2) from and including the later of March 15, 2011 and the date of issuance, quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15.  If any date prior to March 15, 2011 specified pursuant to the preceding sentence is not a Business Day, then dividends will be payable on the first Business Day following such date, without accrual to the actual payment date; if any date on or after March 15, 2011 specified pursuant the preceding sentence is not a Business Day, then dividends will be payable on the first Business Day following such date and dividends shall accrue to the actual payment date.  The term “Dividend Payment Date” means each of the following dates occurring after the date of issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock:  (i) each March 15 and September 15 through September 15, 2010 and (ii) each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, or if any such day in the case of this clause (ii) is not a Business Day, the next Business Day.  The term “Dividend Period” means each period from and including a Dividend Payment Date (or the date of issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock for the first Dividend Payment Date) to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date.  For any Dividend Period ending prior to the Dividend Payment Date in March 2011 dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.80%, and for any Dividend Period ending after the Dividend Payment Date in March 2011, dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to the greater of (x) Three-Month LIBOR for the related Dividend Period plus 0.93% and (y) 5.56975%.  The amount of dividends payable for any Dividend Period (1) ending prior to the Dividend Payment Date in March 2011 shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and (2) beginning on or after the Dividend Payment Date in March 2011 shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed.

(b)        Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series I Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on such Dividend Payment Date, then such unpaid dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for the Dividend Period ending immediately prior to such Dividend Payment Date after such Dividend Payment Date or to pay interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series I Preferred Stock, Parity Stock, Junior Stock or any other class or series of authorized preferred stock of the Corporation.  Holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full dividends for each Dividend Period on the Series I Preferred Stock. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments or failure to make any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any share of Series I Preferred Stock remains outstanding, (i) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock, other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock, (ii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, and (iii) no shares of Parity Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series I Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Stock, unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment.  The foregoing shall not restrict the ability of the Corporation, or any affiliate of the Corporation, to engage in any market-

3


making transactions in the Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary course of business.  When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series I Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of Series I Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock shall be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current Dividend Period per share on Series I Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations on Parity Stock, bear to each other.  No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment on such offered stock that may be in arrears.  If the board of directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock prior to such date.  Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the board of directors may be declared and paid on any Junior Stock from time to time out of any funds legally available therefor, and the shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

Section 5.         Liquidation Rights . 

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of any Junior Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with Series I Preferred Stock upon liquidation and the rights of the Corporation’s depositors and other creditors, to receive in full a liquidation preference in an amount equal to $100,000 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period to the date of liquidation.  The holder of Series I Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.
(b)        Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the liquidation preference to all holders of Series I Preferred Stock and the liquidation preferences of any Parity Stock to all holders of such Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series I Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preferences of Series I Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.
(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the liquidation preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series I Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)        Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.         Redemption . 

(a)        Optional Redemption .  So long as full dividends for all outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, the Corporation, at the option of the board of directors, may redeem in whole or in part the shares of Series I Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on or after

4


the later of March 15, 2011 and the date of original issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock, upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below, at the redemption price in effect at the redemption date as provided in this Section 6.  The redemption price for shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall be $100,000 per share plus dividends that have been declared but not paid plus accrued and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period to the redemption date.

(b)        Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series I Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series I Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series I Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the Series I Preferred Stock are to be redeemed; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series I Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series I Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro  rata from the holders of record of Series I Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series I Preferred Stock held by such holders or by lot or in such other manner as the board of directors may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions hereof, the board of directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)        Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the board of directors (the “Depositary Company”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company at any time after the redemption date the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, the holders of record of the shares so called for redemption shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated above for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest.

Section 7.         Voting Rights .  The holders of Series I Preferred Stock will have no voting rights and will not be entitled to elect any directors, except as expressly provided by law.


5


Section 8.         Conversion .  The holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such Series I Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 9.         Rank .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate  of Incorporation of the Corporation or this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the board of directors, without the vote of the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock, Parity Stock or any class of securities ranking senior to the Series I Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 10.       Repurchase .  Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell Series I Preferred Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not use any of its funds for any such purchase when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is, or by such purchase would be, rendered insolvent.

Section 11.       Unissued or Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series I Preferred Stock not issued or which have been issued and converted, redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 12.       No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series I Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Laurel A. Holschuh, its Secretary, this  30 th  day of December, 2008.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By:                   /s/ Barbara S. Brett                              
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
            and Assistant Treasurer
/s/ Laurel A. Holschuh            
Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 30, 2008.]

 

6


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware

8.00% NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES J
(Without Par Value)
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 20, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated October 2, 2008, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

Section 1.         Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series J, with no par value and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (hereinafter referred to as the “ Series J Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series J Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series J Preferred Stock.  Series J Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock, if any, and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 2.         Number of Shares .  The number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be 2,300,000.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the board of directors.  Shares of Series J Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series J Preferred Stock.

Section 3.         Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series J Preferred Stock:

“ Business Day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

7



“ Depositary Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

“ Dividend Payment Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ Dividend Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ DTC ” means The Depositary Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“ Junior Stock ” means the Corporation’s common stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized over which Series J Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on a par with Series J Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Series J Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series J Preferred Stock.

Section 4.         Dividends. 

(a)        Rate .  Holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the board of directors, but only out of funds legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of Series J Preferred Stock, and no more, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15.  If any date specified pursuant the preceding sentence is not a Business Day, then dividends will be payable on the first Business Day following such date and dividends shall accrue to the actual payment date.  The term “ Dividend Payment Date ” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, or if any such day in the case of this clause is not a Business Day, the next Business Day.  The term “ Dividend Period ” means each period from and including a Dividend Payment Date (or the date of issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock for the first Dividend Payment Date) to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date; provided that the first Dividend Period shall be deemed to have commenced on December 15, 2008.  Dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 8.00%.  The amount of dividends payable for any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

(b)        Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series J Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on such Dividend Payment Date, then such unpaid dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for the Dividend Period ending immediately prior to such Dividend Payment Date after such Dividend Payment Date, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series J Preferred Stock, Parity Stock, Junior Stock or any other class or series of authorized preferred stock of the Corporation.  Holders of Series J Preferred Stock

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shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full dividends for each Dividend Period on the Series J Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments or failure to make any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any share of Series J Preferred Stock remains outstanding, unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment, (i) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock, other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock, (ii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, and (iii) no shares of Parity Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into Parity Stock or Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or for or into Junior Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series J Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock.  The foregoing shall not restrict the ability of the Corporation, or any affiliate of the Corporation, to engage in any market-making transactions in the Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary course of business.  When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series J Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of Series J Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock shall be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current Dividend Period per share on Series J Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, on Parity Stock, bear to each other.  No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment on such Parity Stock that may be in arrears.  If the board of directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of the Series J Preferred Stock prior to such date.  Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the board of directors may be declared and paid on any Junior Stock from time to time out of any funds legally available therefor, and the shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

Section 5.         Liquidation Rights.

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of any Junior Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with Series J Preferred Stock upon liquidation and the rights of the Corporation’s depositors and other creditors, to receive in full a liquidation preference in an amount equal to $1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period to the date of liquidation.  The holder of Series J Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to

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any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)        Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the liquidation preference to all holders of Series J Preferred Stock and the liquidation preferences of any Parity Stock to all holders of such Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series J Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preferences of Series J Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the liquidation preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series J Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)        Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.         Redemption. 

(a)        Optional Redemption .  So long as full dividends for all outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, and subject to applicable regulatory approvals, the Corporation, at the option of the board of directors, may redeem in whole or in part the shares of Series J Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, on any Dividend Payment Date on or after December 15, 2017 upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below, at the redemption price in effect at the redemption date as provided in this Section 6.  The redemption price for shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be $1,000 per share plus declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period, without interest.

(b)        Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series J Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series J Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series J Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; and (iv) the place or places where the Series J Preferred Stock are to be redeemed.


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(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series J Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series J Preferred Stock held by such holders or by lot or in such other manner as the board of directors may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions hereof, the board of directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)        Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the board of directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company at any time after the redemption date the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, the holders of record of the shares so called for redemption shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated above for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest.

Section 7.         Voting Rights .  The holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by applicable law.

(a)        Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events .  If and whenever the dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to full dividends for at least six Dividend Periods or their equivalent (whether or not consecutive) (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the number of directors then constituting the board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of Series J Preferred Stock, voting together as a single and separate class with the holders of any outstanding shares of Voting Parity Stock, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast, provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any such Preferred Stock Director that the election of such director shall not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors, and provided further that the board of directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).


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In the event that the holders of Series J Preferred Stock and such other holders of Voting Parity Stock shall be entitled to vote for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors following a Nonpayment Event, such directors shall be initially elected following such Nonpayment Event at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of shareholders, and, except as provided below, at each subsequent annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation.

When dividends have been paid in full on the Series J Preferred Stock and any and all Voting Parity Stock for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods or their equivalent after a Nonpayment Event, then the right of the holders of Series J Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future Nonpayment Event), and, if and when all rights of holders of Series J Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the Preferred Stock Directors shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a single and separate class).  In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series J Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a single and separate class.  The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the board of directors for a vote.

(b)        Other Voting Rights .  So long as any shares of Series J Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by the certificate of incorporation, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting separately as a single class with all other series of preferred stock ranking equally with the Series J Preferred Stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

(i)               Issuance of Senior Stock .  The issuance of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series J Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(ii)              Amendment Affecting Series J Preferred Stock .  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series J Preferred Stock;

(iii) Authorization of Senior Stock .  Any amendment or alteration of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series J Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; or


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(iv)             Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations .  Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series J Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Series J Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting corporation, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or a corporation controlling such corporation, and (y) such Series J Preferred Stock shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series J Preferred Stock, taken as a whole;
provided ,  however , that any amendment of the certificate of incorporation to authorize or create or to increase the authorized amount of any Junior Stock or any class or series or any securities convertible into shares of any class or series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series J Preferred Stock, and the Series J Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(b) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series J Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a single class (in lieu of all other series of preferred stock).

(c)        Changes for Clarification .  Without the consent of the holders of Series J Preferred Stock, so long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of the Series J Preferred Stock, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series J Preferred Stock:

(i)               to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective or inconsistent; or

(ii)              to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series J Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.

(d)        Changes after Provision for Redemption .  No vote or consent of the holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to this Section 7 if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 6.

(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents .  The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series J Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the board of directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the certificate of incorporation, the bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series J Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.  Whether the vote or consent of the holders of a plurality, majority or other portion of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock and any Voting Parity Stock has been

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cast or given on any matter on which the holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock are entitled to vote shall be determined by the Corporation by reference to the specified liquidation amounts of the shares voted or covered by the consent.

For purposes of determining the voting rights of the holders of Series J Preferred Stock under this Section 7, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 of liquidation preference to which his or her shares are entitled.  Holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share of Series J Preferred Stock held by them.

Section 8.         Conversion.    The holders of Series J Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such Series J Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 9.         Rank .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the certificate of incorporation or this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the board of directors, without the vote of the holders of the Series J Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock.

Section 10.       Repurchase .  Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell Series J Preferred Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine; provided ,  however , that the Corporation shall not use any of its funds for any such purchase when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is, or by such purchase would be, rendered insolvent.

Section 11.       Unissued or Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series J Preferred Stock not issued or which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 12.       No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series J Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Laurel A. Holschuh, its Secretary, this  30 th  day of December, 2008.
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By:                   /s/ Barbara S. Brett                              
            Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
            and Assistant Treasurer
/s/ Laurel A. Holschuh            
Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 30, 2008.]

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law

of the State of Delaware

 
FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES K
(Without Par Value)

 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 20, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated October 2, 2008, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

Section 1.         Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Fixed-to-Floating Rate non Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series K, with no par value and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (hereinafter referred to as the “ Series K Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series K Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series K Preferred Stock.  Series K Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock, if any, and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 2.         Number of Shares .  The number of shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall be 3,500,000.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series K Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the board of directors.  Shares of Series K Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series K Preferred Stock.

Section 3.         Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series K Preferred Stock:


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“ Business Day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“ Depositary Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

“ Dividend Payment Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ Dividend Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ DTC ” means The Depositary Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“ Fixed Rate Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ Floating Rate Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ Junior Stock ” means the Corporation’s common stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized over which Series K Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ London Banking Day ” means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars) in London.

“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on a par with Series K Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

“ Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page ” means the display page so designated on Reuters (or such other page as may replace that page on that service, or such other service as may be nominated as the information vendor, for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits).
“ Series K Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“ Three-Month LIBOR ” means, with respect to any Dividend Period beginning on or after March 15, 2018, the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period that appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page as of 11:00 a.m.  (London time) on the second London Banking Day preceding the first day of that Dividend Period.  If the rate described above does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page, Three-Month LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in the London interbank market selected by us, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time on the second London Banking Day preceding the first day of that Dividend Period.  Wachovia Bank, National Association, as calculation agent for the Preferred Stock, will request the principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation of its rate.  If

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at least two such quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of such quotations.  If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the rates quoted by three major banks in New York, New York, selected by the calculation agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first day of that Dividend Period for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000.  However, if the banks selected by the calculation agent to provide quotations are not quoting as described above, Three-Month LIBOR for that Dividend Period will be the same as Three-Month LIBOR as determined for the previous Dividend Period, or in the case of the first Dividend Period, the most recent rate that could have been determined in accordance with the first sentence of this paragraph had the Preferred Stock been outstanding.  The calculation agent’s establishment of Three-Month LIBOR and calculation of the amount of dividends for each Dividend Period will be on file at our principal offices, will be made available to any holder of Preferred Stock upon request and will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series K Preferred Stock.

Section 4.         Dividends . 

(a)        Rate .  Holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the board of directors, but only out of funds legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of Series K Preferred Stock, and no more, from the date of issuance to, but excluding March 15, 2018 at a rate of 7.98% per annum (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”) payable semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15, beginning on September 15, 2008.  Thereafter, declared dividends will be at a floating rate equal to Three-Month LIBOR plus 3.77% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2018 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”).  If any date specified pursuant to the preceding sentence is not a Business Day, then dividends will be payable on the first Business Day following such date and dividends shall accrue to the actual payment date.  The term “ Dividend Payment Date ” means, with respect to the Fixed Rate Period, March 15 and September 15, and with respect to the Floating Rate Period, March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, or if any such day in the case of this clause is not a Business Day, the next Business Day.  The term “ Dividend Period ” means each period from and including a Dividend Payment Date (or the date of issuance of the Series K Preferred Stock for the first Dividend Payment Date) to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date; provided that the first Dividend Period shall be deemed to have commenced on December 15, 2008.  The amount of dividends payable for any Dividend Period during the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of dividends payable for any Dividend Period during the Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of actual number of days in a Dividend Period and a 360-day year.

(b)        Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series K Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on such Dividend Payment Date, then such unpaid dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for the Dividend Period ending immediately prior to such Dividend Payment Date after such Dividend Payment Date, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series K Preferred Stock, Parity Stock, Junior Stock or any

17


other class or series of authorized preferred stock of the Corporation.  Holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full dividends for each Dividend Period on the Series K Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments or failure to make any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any share of Series K Preferred Stock remains outstanding, unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series K Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment, (i) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock, other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock, (ii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, and (iii) no shares of Parity Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into Parity Stock or Junior Stock, or the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or for or into Junior Stock, and other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series K Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock.  The foregoing shall not restrict the ability of the Corporation, or any affiliate of the Corporation, to engage in any market-making transactions in the Junior Stock or Parity Stock in the ordinary course of business.  When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series K Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of Series K Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock shall be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current Dividend Period per share on Series K Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, on Parity Stock, bear to each other.  No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment on such Parity Stock that may be in arrears.  If the board of directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of the Series K Preferred Stock prior to such date.  Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the board of directors may be declared and paid on any Junior Stock from time to time out of any funds legally available therefor, and the shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

Section 5.         Liquidation Rights . 

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of any Junior Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with Series K Preferred Stock upon liquidation and the rights of the Corporation’s depositors and other creditors, to receive in full a liquidation preference in an amount equal to $1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period to the date of liquidation.  The holder of Series K Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to

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any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)        Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the liquidation preference to all holders of Series K Preferred Stock and the liquidation preferences of any Parity Stock to all holders of such Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series K Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preferences of Series K Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the liquidation preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series K Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)        Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.         Redemption . 

(a)        Optional Redemption .  So long as full dividends for all outstanding shares of Series K Preferred Stock and Parity Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, and subject to applicable regulatory approvals, the Corporation, at the option of the board of directors, may redeem in whole or in part the shares of Series K Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, on any Dividend Payment Date on or after March 15, 2018 upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below, at the redemption price in effect at the redemption date as provided in this Section 6.  The redemption price for shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall be $1,000 per share plus declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period, without interest.

(b)        Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series K Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series K Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series K Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series K Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; and (iv) the place or places where the Series K Preferred Stock are to be redeemed.

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series K Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series K Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series K Preferred Stock in proportion to the number

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of Series K Preferred Stock held by such holders or by lot or in such other manner as the board of directors may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions hereof, the board of directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)        Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the   pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the board of directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company at any time after the redemption date the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, and in the event of such repayment to the Corporation, the holders of record of the shares so called for redemption shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount equivalent to the amount deposited as stated above for the redemption of such shares and so repaid to the Corporation, but shall in no event be entitled to any interest.

Section 7.         Voting Rights .  The holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by applicable law.

(a)        Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events .  If and whenever the dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to full dividends for at least six Dividend Periods or their equivalent (whether or not consecutive) (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the number of directors then constituting the board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of Series K Preferred Stock, voting together as a single and separate class with the holders of any outstanding shares of Voting Parity Stock, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast, provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any such Preferred Stock Director that the election of such director shall not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors, and provided further that the board of directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).

In the event that the holders of Series K Preferred Stock and such other holders of Voting Parity Stock shall be entitled to vote for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors following a Nonpayment Event, such directors shall be initially elected following such Nonpayment Event at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of shareholders, and, except as provided below, at each subsequent annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation.

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When dividends have been paid in full on the Series K Preferred Stock and any and all Voting Parity Stock for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods or their equivalent after a Nonpayment Event, then the right of the holders of Series K Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future Nonpayment Event), and, if and when all rights of holders of Series K Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the Preferred Stock Directors shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series K Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a single and separate class).  In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series K Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a single and separate class.  The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the board of directors for a vote.

(b)        Other Voting Rights .  So long as any shares of Series K Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by the certificate of incorporation, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Series K Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting separately as a single class with all other series of preferred stock ranking equally with the Series K Preferred Stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

(i)         Issuance of Senior Stock .  The issuance of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series K Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(ii)        Amendment Affecting Series K Preferred Stock .  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series K Preferred Stock;

(iii)       Authorization of Senior Stock .  Any amendment or alteration of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series K Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; or

(iv)       Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations .  Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series K Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Series K Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting corporation, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or a

21


corporation controlling such corporation, and (y) such Series K Preferred Stock shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series K Preferred Stock, taken as a whole;
provided ,  however , that any amendment of the certificate of incorporation to authorize or create or to increase the authorized amount of any Junior Stock or any class or series or any securities convertible into shares of any class or series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series K Preferred Stock, and the Series K Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(b) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series K Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a single class (in lieu of all other series of preferred stock).

(c)        Changes for Clarification .  Without the consent of the holders of Series K Preferred Stock, so long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of the Series K Preferred Stock, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series K Preferred Stock:

(i)         to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective or inconsistent; or

(ii)        to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series K Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.

(d)        Changes after Provision for Redemption .  No vote or consent of the holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to this Section 7 if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of Series K Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 6.

(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents .  The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series K Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the board of directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the certificate of incorporation, the bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series K Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.  Whether the vote or consent of the holders of a plurality, majority or other portion of the shares of Series K Preferred Stock and any Voting Parity Stock has been cast or given on any matter on which the holders of shares of Series K Preferred Stock are entitled to vote shall be determined by the Corporation by reference to the specified liquidation amounts of the shares voted or covered by the consent.

For purposes of determining the voting rights of the holders of Series K Preferred Stock under this Section 7, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 of liquidation preference to which

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his or her shares are entitled.  Holders of shares of Series K Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share of Series K Preferred Stock held by them.

Section 8.         Conversion .  The holders of Series K Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such Series K Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 9.         Rank .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the certificate of incorporation or this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the board of directors, without the vote of the holders of the Series K Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock.

Section 10.       Repurchase .  Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell Series K Preferred Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine; provided ,  however , that the Corporation shall not use any of its funds for any such purchase when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is, or by such purchase would be, rendered insolvent.

Section 11.       Unissued or Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series K Preferred Stock not issued or which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 12.       No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series K Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Laurel A. Holschuh, its Secretary, this  30 th  day of December, 2008.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By:                   /s/ Barbara S. Brett                              
            Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
            and Assistant Treasurer
/s/ Laurel A. Holschuh            
Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 30, 2008.]

 

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware

7.50% NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CONVERTIBLE
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES L
(Without Par Value)

 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 20, 2008, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated October 2, 2008, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

Section 1.     Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred Stock, Series L, with no par value and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (hereinafter referred to as the “ Series L Preferred Stock ”). Each share of Series L Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series L Preferred Stock. Series L Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock, if any, and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up and liquidation of the Corporation.

Section 2.     Number of Shares .  The authorized number of shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall be 4,025,000. Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series L Preferred Stock then outstanding) by the board of directors. Shares of Series L Preferred Stock that are converted in accordance with the terms hereof, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series. The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series L Preferred Stock.

Section 3.     Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series L Preferred Stock:


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“ Applicable Conversion Price ” at any given time means, for each share of Series L Preferred Stock, the price equal to $1,000 divided by the Applicable Conversion Rate in effect at such time.

“ Applicable Conversion Rate ” means the Conversion Rate in effect at any given time.

“ Base Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(d)(i).

“ Business Day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“ Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

“ Closing Price ” of the Common Stock on any date of determination means the closing sale price or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price of the shares of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. If the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange on any date of determination, the Closing Price of the Common Stock on such date of determination means the closing sale price as reported in the composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or securities exchange in the European Economic Area on which the Common Stock is so listed or quoted, or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or securities exchange in the European Economic Area on which the Common Stock is so listed or quoted, or if the Common Stock is not so listed or quoted on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange or securities exchange in the European Economic Area, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by Pink Sheets LLC or a similar organization, or, if that bid price is not available, the market price of the Common Stock on that date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm (unaffiliated with the Corporation) retained by the Corporation for this purpose. The “Closing Price” for any other share of Capital Stock shall be determined on a comparable basis, mutatis mutandis . 

For purposes of this Certificate of Designations, all references herein to the “Closing Price” and “last reported sale price” of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange shall be such closing sale price and last reported sale price as reflected on the website of the New York Stock Exchange (http://www.nyse.com) and as reported by Bloomberg Professional Service; provided that in the event that there is a discrepancy between the closing sale price or last reported sale price as reflected on the website of the New York Stock Exchange and as reported by Bloomberg Professional Service, the closing sale price and last reported sale price on the website of the New York Stock Exchange will govern.

For purposes of calculating the Closing Price, if a Reorganization Event has occurred and (1) the Exchange Property consists only of shares of common securities, the Closing Price shall be based on the Closing Price of such common securities; (2) the Exchange Property consists only of cash, the Closing Price shall be the cash amount paid per share; and (3) the Exchange Property consists of securities, cash and/or other property, the Closing Price shall be based on the sum, as applicable, of (x) the Closing Price of such common securities, (y) the cash amount paid per share of Common Stock and

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(z) the value (as determined by the board of directors from time-to-time) of any other securities or property paid to holders of Common Stock in connection with the Reorganization Event.

“ Common Stock ” means the common stock, $1-2/3 par value per share, of the Corporation.

“ Conversion Agent ” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting in its capacity as conversion agent for the Series L Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns or any other conversion agent appointed by the Corporation.

“ Conversion Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a)(iv)(B).

“ Conversion Rate ” means for each share of Series L Preferred Stock, 6.3814 shares of Common Stock, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

“ Current Market Price ” per share of Common Stock on any date of determination means the average of the VWAP per share of Common Stock on each of the 10 consecutive VWAP Trading Days ending on the earlier of the day in question and the day before the Ex-Date or other specified date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation, appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence during such period of any event described in Section 14(a)(i) through (v).

“ Depositary ” means DTC or its nominee or any successor depositary appointed by the Corporation.

“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

“ Dividend Threshold Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14(a)(iv).

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“ Exchange Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15(a).

“ Ex-Date ” when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, means the first date on which such shares of Common Stock or other securities trade without the right to receive an issuance or distribution with respect thereto.

“ Expiration Time ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)(v).

“ Expiration Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14(a)(v).

“ Fiscal Quarter ” means, with respect to the Corporation, the fiscal quarter publicly disclosed by the Corporation.

“ Fundamental Change ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(d)(i).


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“ Holder ” means the Person in whose name the shares of Series L Preferred Stock are registered, which may be treated by the Corporation, Transfer Agent, Registrar, paying agent and Conversion Agent as the absolute owner of the shares of Series L Preferred Stock for the purpose of making payment and settling conversions and for all other purposes.

“ Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized over which Series L Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Make-Whole Acquisition ” means the occurrence, prior to any Conversion Date, of one of the following:

(a)        “ person ” or “ group ” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect ultimate “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of common equity of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Common Stock; or

(b)        consummation of any consolidation or merger of the Corporation or similar transaction or any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Corporation’s subsidiaries, in each case, pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities, or other property, other than pursuant to a transaction in which the Persons that “beneficially owned” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly, Voting Shares immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Voting Shares representing a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of Voting Shares of the continuing or surviving Person immediately after the transaction; provided ,  however that a Make-Whole Acquisition will not be deemed to have occurred if at least 90% of the consideration received by holders of the Common Stock in the transaction or transactions (as determined by the board of directors) consists of shares of common securities of a Person or American Depositary Receipts in respect of such common securities that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or a securities exchange in the European Economic Area or that will be traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or a securities exchange in the European Economic Area when issued or exchanged in connection with a Make-Whole Acquisition.

“ Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(c)(i).

“ Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(c)(i).

“ Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(c)(i).

“ Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price ” means the price paid per share of Common Stock in the event of a Make-Whole Acquisition. If the holders of shares of Common Stock receive only cash in the Make-Whole Acquisition in a single per-share amount, other than with respect to appraisal and similar rights, the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share of Common Stock. For purposes of the preceding sentence as applied to a Make-Whole Acquisition of the type set forth in clause (a) of the definition Make-Whole Acquisition, a single price per share of Common Stock

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shall be deemed to have been paid only if the transaction or transactions that caused the Make-Whole Acquisition to occur was a tender offer for more than 50% of the then-outstanding Common Stock. Otherwise, the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price shall be the average of the Closing Price per share of Common Stock on the ten Trading Days up to, but not including, the Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date.

“ Make-Whole Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(c)(i).

“ Mandatory Conversion Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(b)(iii).

“ Market Disruption Event ” means any of the following events that has occurred:

(a)        change or quotation system on which the VWAP is determined pursuant to the definition of the VWAP Trading Day (a “ Relevant Exchange ”) during the one-hour period prior to the close of trading for the regular trading session on the Relevant Exchange (or for purposes of determining the VWAP per share of Common Stock any period or periods aggregating one half-hour or longer during the regular trading session on the relevant day) and whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the Relevant Exchange, or otherwise relating to Common Stock or in futures or options contracts relating to the Common Stock on the Relevant Exchange;

(b)        any event (other than an event described in clause (c)) that disrupts or impairs (as determined by the Corporation in its reasonable discretion) the ability of market participants during the one-hour period prior to the close of trading for the regular trading session on the Relevant Exchange (or for purposes of determining the VWAP per share of Common Stock any period or periods aggregating one half-hour or longer during the regular trading session on the relevant day) in general to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, the Common Stock on the Relevant Exchange or to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, futures or options contracts relating to the Common Stock on the Relevant Exchange; or

(c)        the failure to open of the Relevant Exchange on which futures or options contracts relating to the Common Stock, are traded or the closure of such Relevant Exchange prior to its respective scheduled closing time for the regular trading session on such day (without regard to after hours or any other trading outside of the regular trading session hours) unless such earlier closing time is announced by such Relevant Exchange at least one hour prior to the earlier of the actual closing time for the regular trading session on such day and the submission deadline for orders to be entered into such Relevant Exchange for execution at the actual closing time on such day.

“ Nonpayment Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

“ Notice of Mandatory Conversion ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(b)(iii).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on a par with Series L Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up and liquidation of the Corporation.

“ Person ” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company or trust.


28


“ Preferred Stock Directors ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

“ Purchased Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(a)(v).

“ Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12(d), except for purposes of Section 14.

“ Reference Price ” means the applicable Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price.

“ Registrar ” means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting in its capacity as registrar for the Series L Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns or any other registrar appointed by the Corporation.

“ Relevant Exchange ” has the meaning set forth above in the definition of Market Disruption Event.

“ Reorganization Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15(a).

“ Series L Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“ Trading Day ” means a day on which the shares of Common Stock:

(a)        are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business; and

(b)        have traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the Common Stock.

“ Transfer Agent ” shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting in its capacity as transfer agent for the Series L Preferred Stock, and its successors and assigns or any other transfer agent appointed by the Corporation.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series L Preferred Stock.

“ Voting Shares ” of a Person means shares of all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

“ VWAP ” per share of the Common Stock on any VWAP Trading Day means the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg page WFC<equity>AQR (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the open of trading on the relevant VWAP Trading Day until the close of trading on the relevant VWAP Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market price of one share of Common Stock on such VWAP Trading Days determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm (unaffiliated with the Corporation) retained for this purpose by the Corporation). The VWAP for any other share of Capital Stock shall be determined on a comparable basis, mutatis mutandis.


29


“ VWAP Trading Day ” means, for purposes of determining a VWAP per share of Common Stock, a Business Day on which the Relevant Exchange (as defined in the definition of Market Disruption Event) is scheduled to be open for business and on which there has not occurred or does not exist a Market Disruption Event.

Section 4.     Dividends . 

(a)        Rate .  Holders of Series L Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, if, as and when declared by the board of directors, but only out of funds legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the
liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of Series L Preferred Stock, and no more, from the date of issuance at a rate per annum equal to 7.50%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2008. The term “Dividend Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. If any date specified pursuant the preceding sentence is not a Business Day, then dividends will be payable on the first Business Day following such date and dividends shall be payable to the actual payment date and no interest or other payment shall be paid with respect of such delay. The term “Dividend Period” means each period from and including a Dividend Payment Date (or the date of issuance of the Series L Preferred Stock for the first Dividend Payment Date) to but excluding the next Dividend Payment Date; provided that the first Dividend Period shall be deemed to have commenced on December 15, 2008. The amount of dividends payable for any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

(b)        Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative. To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series L Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared and paid, in full or otherwise, on such Dividend Payment Date, then such unpaid dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to be payable and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series L Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends payable in respect of the Dividend Period ending immediately prior to such Dividend Payment Date after such Dividend Payment Date, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to the Series L Preferred Stock, any Parity Stock, any Junior Stock or any other class or series of authorized preferred stock of the Corporation. Holders of Series L Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full dividends for each Dividend Period on the Series L Preferred Stock. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments or failure to make any Dividend Payment or Dividend Payments.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any share of Series L Preferred Stock remains outstanding and, as to any Junior Stock or Parity Stock then outstanding, unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series L Preferred Stock for the Dividend Period ending on or immediately prior to the dividend payment date or other payment date for such Junior Stock or Parity Stock have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment, (i) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on such Junior Stock (other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Stock) or on such Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, (ii) no shares of Junior Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than (1) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock for or into Junior Stock, (2) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (3) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock or (4) in connection with the

30


satisfaction of the Corporation’s obligations pursuant to any contract entered into in the ordinary course prior to the beginning of such Dividend Period), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation, and (iii) no shares of Parity Stock shall be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly (other than (1) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (2) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or for or into Junior Stock, (3) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock or (4) in connection with the satisfaction of the Corporation’s obligations pursuant to any contract entered into in the ordinary course prior to the beginning of such Dividend Period), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation (other than through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale described in clause (ii)(3) or (iii)(3) above), otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series L Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock.

When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series L Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, dividends upon shares of the Series L Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock will be declared on a proportional basis, based upon the ratio of the amount of dividends declared on the Series L Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock to the amount that, if declared, would be full dividends (including accrued and unpaid dividends as to any Parity Stock that bears dividends on a cumulative basis) on the Series L Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock through the next succeeding applicable dividend payment date. If the board of directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Corporation will provide written notice to the holders of the Series L Preferred Stock prior to such date. Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the board of directors may be declared and paid on any Junior Stock from time to time out of any funds legally available therefor, and the shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

Section 5.     Liquidation Rights . 

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up and liquidation of the Corporation, holders of Series L Preferred Stock shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of any Junior Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any Parity Stock or class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series L Preferred Stock upon liquidation and the rights of the Corporation’s creditors, to receive in full a liquidation preference in an amount equal to $1,000 per share, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current Dividend Period to the date of liquidation. The holder of Series L Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up and liquidation of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)        Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the liquidation preference to all holders of Series L Preferred Stock and the liquidation preferences of any Parity Stock to all holders of such Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series L Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be   pro rata   in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preferences of Series L Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the applicable liquidation preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series L Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of

31


Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)        Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.     Redemption .  The shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

Section 7.     Voting Rights .  The holders of Series L Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by applicable law.

(a)        Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events .  If after the issuance of the Series L Preferred Stock the Corporation fails to pay, or declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Series L Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock for six Dividend Periods or their equivalent (whether or not consecutive) (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the number of directors then constituting the board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of Series L Preferred Stock, voting together as a single and separate class with the holders of all outstanding shares of Voting Parity Stock, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any such Preferred Stock Director that the election of such director shall not cause the Corporation to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Corporation may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors; and provided further that the board of directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).

In the event that the holders of Series L Preferred Stock and such other holders of Voting Parity Stock shall be entitled to vote for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors following a Nonpayment Event, such directors shall be initially elected following such Nonpayment Event at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of shareholders, and, except as provided below, at each subsequent annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation.

When dividends have been paid in full on the Series L Preferred Stock and any and all Voting Parity Stock for at least four consecutive Dividend Periods or their equivalent after a Nonpayment Event, then the right of then holders of Series L Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such rights in the case of any future Nonpayment Event), and, if and when all rights of holders of Series L Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the Preferred Stock Directors shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.


32


Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series L Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a single and separate class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series L Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a single and separate class. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the board of directors for a vote.

(b)        Other Voting Rights .  So long as any shares of Series L Preferred Stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66   2/3 % of the shares of Series L Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, voting separately as a single class with all other classes or series of preferred stock ranking equally with the Series L Preferred Stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

(i)         Amendment Affecting Series L Preferred Stock .  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series L Preferred Stock.

(ii)        Authorization or Issuance of Senior Stock .  Any amendment or alteration of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series L Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up and liquidation of the affairs of the Corporation; or

(iii)       Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations .  Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series L Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another Person, unless in each case (x) the shares of Series L Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting Person, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting Person or a Person controlling such Person, and (y) such Series L Preferred Stock shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series L Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided ,  however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of Series L Preferred Stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series L Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series L Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(b) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series L Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a single class (in lieu of all other series of preferred stock).


33


(c)        Changes for Clarification .  Without the consent of the holders of Series L Preferred Stock, so long as such action does not adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and
limitations and restrictions thereof, of the Series L Preferred Stock, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement or repeal any terms of the Series L Preferred Stock:

(i)         to cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designations that may be defective or inconsistent; or

(ii)        to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising with respect to the Series L Preferred Stock that is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Designations.

(d)        Procedures for Voting and Consents .  The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series L Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the board of directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the certificate of incorporation, the bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series L Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time. Whether the vote or consent of the holders of a plurality, majority or other portion of the shares of Series L Preferred Stock and any Voting Parity Stock has been cast or given on any matter on which the holders of shares of Series L Preferred Stock are entitled to vote shall be determined by the Corporation by reference to the specified liquidation amounts of the shares voted or covered by the consent.

For purposes of determining the voting rights of the holders of Series L Preferred Stock under this Section 7, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 of liquidation preference to which his or her shares are entitled. Holders of shares of Series L Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share of Series L Preferred Stock held by them.

Section 8.     Rank .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the certificate of incorporation or this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the board of directors, without the vote of the holders of the Series L Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock or Parity Stock.

Section 9.     Repurchase .  Subject to the limitations imposed herein, the Corporation may purchase and sell Series L Preferred Stock from time to time to such extent, in such manner, and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine; provided ,  however , that the Corporation shall not use any of its funds for any such purchase when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is, or by such purchase would be, rendered insolvent.

Section 10.   Unissued or Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series L Preferred Stock not issued or which have been issued and converted in accordance with the terms hereof or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Ssection 11.  No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series L Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.


34


Section 12.   Right to Convert .  Each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, at any time, to convert all or any portion of such Holder’s Series L Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Applicable Conversion Rate (subject to the conversion procedures set forth in Section 13 herein) plus cash in lieu of fractional shares.

Section 13.   Conversion . 

(a)        Conversion Procedures . 

(i)         Effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Mandatory Conversion Date or any applicable Conversion Date, dividends shall no longer be declared on any converted shares of Series L Preferred Stock and such shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall cease to be outstanding, in each case, subject to the right of Holders to receive any declared and unpaid dividends on such shares and any other payments to which they are otherwise entitled pursuant to Section 12, Section 13(b), Section 13(c), Section 13(d), Section 15 or Section 16, as applicable.

(ii)        Prior to the close of business on the Mandatory Conversion Date or any applicable Conversion Date, shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of, or other securities issuable upon conversion of, any shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall not be deemed outstanding for any purpose, and Holders shall have no rights with respect to the Common Stock or other securities issuable upon conversion (including voting rights, rights to respond to tender offers for the Common Stock and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on the Common Stock and/or other securities issuable upon conversion), by virtue of holding shares of Series L Preferred Stock.

(iii)       The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock and/or other securities issuable upon conversion of Series L Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder(s) of such shares of Common Stock and/or such other securities as of the close of business on the Mandatory Conversion Date or any applicable Conversion Date except to the extent that all or a portion of such Common Stock is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 18. In the event that a Holder shall not by written notice designate the name in which shares of Common Stock and/or cash, other securities or other property (including payments of cash in lieu of fractional shares) to be issued or paid upon conversion of shares of Series L Preferred Stock should be registered or paid or the manner in which such shares should be delivered, the Corporation shall be entitled to register and deliver such shares, and make such payment, in the name of the Holder and in the manner shown on the records of the Corporation through book-entry transfer through the Depositary.

(iv)       Conversion into shares of Common Stock will occur on the Mandatory Conversion Date or any applicable Conversion Date as follows:

(A)       On the Mandatory Conversion Date or applicable Conversion Date, certificates or evidence of shares in book-entry form representing shares of Common Stock shall be issued and delivered to Holders or their designee upon presentation and surrender of the certificate evidencing the Series L Preferred Stock to the Conversion Agent if shares of the Series L Preferred Stock are held in certificated form, and, if required, the furnishing of appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the payment of all transfer and similar taxes. If a Holder’s interest is a beneficial interest in a global certificate representing Series L Preferred Stock, a book-entry transfer through the Depositary will be made by the Conversion Agent upon compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a global security.


35


(B)       On the date of any conversion at the option of Holders pursuant to Section 12, Section 13(c) or Section 13(d), if a Holder’s interest is in certificated form, a Holder must do each of the following in order to convert:

(1)        complete and manually sign the conversion notice provided by the Conversion Agent, or a facsimile of the conversion notice, and deliver this irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent;

(2)        surrender the shares of Series L Preferred Stock to the Conversion Agent;

(3)        if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents;

(4)        if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes; and

(5)        if required, pay funds equal to any declared and unpaid dividend payable on the next Dividend Payment Date.

If a Holder’s interest is a beneficial interest in a global certificate representing Series L Preferred Stock, in order to convert a Holder must comply with clauses (3) through (5) listed above and comply with the Depositary’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a global security.

The date on which a Holder complies with the procedures in this clause (v) is the “Conversion Date.”

(C)       Conversion Agent shall, on a Holder’s behalf, convert the Series L Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock and/or cash, other securities or other property (involving payments of cash in lieu of fractional shares), in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered by such Holder described in clause (B) above. If a Conversion Date on which a Holder elects to convert Series L Preferred Stock is prior to the Record Date relating to any declared dividend for the Dividend Period, such Holder will not have the right to receive any declared dividends for that Dividend Period. If a Conversion Date on which a Holder elects to convert Series L Preferred Stock or the Mandatory Conversion Date is after the Record Date for any declared dividend and prior to the Dividend Payment Date, such Holder shall receive that dividend on the relevant Dividend Payment Date if such Holder was the Holder of record on the Record Date for that dividend. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Conversion Date is after the Record Date and prior to the Dividend Payment Date, whether or not such Holder was the Holder of record on the Record Date, the Holder must pay to the Conversion Agent upon conversion of the shares of Series L Preferred Stock an amount in cash equal to the full dividend actually paid on the Dividend Payment Date for the then-current Dividend Period on the shares of Series L Preferred Stock being converted, unless the Holder’s shares of Series L Preferred Stock are being converted pursuant to Section 13(b), Section 13(c) or Section 13(d).

(b)        Mandatory Conversion at the Corporation’s Option . 

(i)         On or after March 15, 2013, the Corporation may, at its option, at any time or from time to time, cause some or all of the Series L Preferred Stock to be converted into shares of Common Stock at the Applicable Conversion Rate if, for 20 Trading Days during any period of 30 consecutive Trading Days, including the last Trading Day of such period, the Closing Price of the

36


Common Stock exceeds 130% of the Applicable Conversion Price of the Series L Preferred Stock. The Corporation will provide Notice of Mandatory Conversion as set forth in Section 13(b)(iii) within three Trading Days after the end of the 30 consecutive Trading Day period.

(ii)        If the Corporation elects to cause less than all of the Series L Preferred Stock to be converted under clause (i) above, the Conversion Agent will select the Series L Preferred Stock to be converted by lot, or on a pro rata basis or by another method the Conversion Agent considers fair and appropriate, including any method required by the Depositary (so long as such method is not prohibited by the rules of any stock exchange or quotation association on which the Series L Preferred Stock is then traded or quoted). If the Conversion Agent selects a portion of a Holder’s Series L Preferred Stock for partial conversion at the Corporation’s option and such Holder converts a portion of its shares of Series L Preferred Stock at the same time, the portion converted at such Holder’s option will reduce the portion selected for conversion at the Corporation’s option under this Section 13(b).

(iii)       If the Corporation exercises the optional conversion right described in this Section 13(b), the Corporation shall give notice (such notice a “ Notice of Mandatory Conversion ”) by (i) providing a notice of such conversion by first class mail to each Holder of record for the shares of Series L Preferred Stock to be converted or (ii) issuing a press release and making this information available on its website. The Conversion Date shall be a date selected by the Corporation (the “ Mandatory Conversion Date ”), not less than 10 days, and not more than 20 days, after the date on which the Corporation provides the Notice of Mandatory Conversion. In addition to any information required by applicable law or regulation, the Notice of Mandatory Conversion shall state, as appropriate:

(A)       the Mandatory Conversion Date;

(B)       the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of each share of Series L Preferred Stock; and

(C)       the aggregate number of shares of Series L Preferred Stock to be converted.

(c)        Conversion upon Make-Whole Acquisition . 

(i)         In the event of a Make-Whole Acquisition occurring prior to a Mandatory Conversion Date or Conversion Date, each Holder shall have the option to convert its shares of Series L Preferred Stock (a “ Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion ”) during the period (the “ Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion Period ”) beginning on the effective date of the Make-Whole Acquisition (the “ Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date ”) and ending on the date that is 30 days after the Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date and receive an additional number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Make-Whole Shares ”) as set forth in clause (ii) below.

(ii)        The number of Make-Whole Shares per share of Series L Preferred Stock shall be determined by reference to the table below for the applicable Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date and the applicable Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price:

Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price

37


Effective Date
 
$
120.54

 
$
125.57

 
$
138.12

 
$
150.68

 
$
156.71

 
$
175.79

 
$
203.72

 
$
226.02

 
$
251.13

 
$
301.36

 
$
401.81

 
$
502.26

April 17, 2008
 
1.9153

 
1.8855

 
1.5191

 
1.1110

 
0.9497

 
0.6471

 
0.3962

 
0.2847

 
0.2091

 
0.1354

 
0.0757

 
0.0458

March 15, 2009........
 
1.9153

 
1.8775

 
1.5052

 
1.0951

 
0.9437

 
0.6331

 
0.3763

 
0.2588

 
0.1852

 
0.1175

 
0.0697

 
0.0438

March 15, 2010........
 
1.9153

 
1.8397

 
1.4913

 
1.0871

 
0.9378

 
0.6073

 
0.3365

 
0.2210

 
0.1533

 
0.0956

 
0.0577

 
0.0358

March 15, 2011........
 
1.9153

 
1.7899

 
1.4694

 
1.0731

 
0.9238

 
0.5794

 
0.2887

 
0.1712

 
0.1075

 
0.0657

 
0.0398

 
0.0259

March 15, 2012........
 
1.9153

 
1.7561

 
1.4355

 
1.0652

 
0.9139

 
0.5356

 
0.2051

 
0.0896

 
0.0458

 
0.0299

 
0.0199

 
0.0119

March 15, 2013........
 
1.9153

 
1.6704

 
1.4275

 
1.0592

 
0.9119

 
0.5097

 
0.0916

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Thereafter................
 
1.9153

 
1.6704

 
1.4275

 
1.0592

 
0.9119

 
0.5097

 
0.0916

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—


 
(A)       The exact Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Prices and Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table, in which case:

(1)        if the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price is between two Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price amounts in the table or the Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date is between two dates in the table, the number of Make-Whole Shares will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the number of Make-Whole Shares set forth for the higher and lower Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price amounts and the two Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year;

(2)        if the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price is in excess of $502.26 per share (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 14), no Make-Whole Shares will be issued upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock; and

(3)        if the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price is less than $120.54 per share (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 14), no Make-Whole Shares will be issued upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock.

(B)       The Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Prices set forth in the table above are subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 14 hereof and shall be adjusted as of any date the Conversion Rate is adjusted. The adjusted Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Prices will equal the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Prices adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. Each of the number of Make-Whole Shares in the table shall also be subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.

(iii)       On or before the twentieth day prior to the date the Corporation anticipates being the effective date for the Make-Whole Acquisition or within two business days of becoming aware of a Make-Whole Acquisition of the type set forth in clause (a) of the definition Make-Whole Acquisition, a written notice shall be sent by or on behalf of the Corporation, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders as they appear in the records of the Corporation. Such notice shall contain:


38


(A)       the anticipated effective date or effective date of the Make-Whole Acquisition; and

(B)       the date, which shall be 30 days after the Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date, by which a Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion must be exercised.

(iv)       On the Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, another written notice shall be sent by or on behalf of the Corporation, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders as they appear in the records of the Corporation. Such notice shall contain:

(A)       the date that shall be 30 days after the Make-Whole Acquisition Effective Date;

(B)       the number of Make-Whole Shares;

(C)       the amount of cash, securities and other consideration receivable by a Holder of Series L Preferred Stock upon conversion; and

(D)       the instructions a Holder must follow to exercise its conversion option in connection with such Make-Whole Acquisition.

(v)        To exercise a Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion option, a Holder must, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on or before the date by which the Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion option must be exercised as specified in the notice delivered under clause (iv) above, comply with the procedures set forth in Section 13(a)(iv)(B).

(vi)       If a Holder does not elect to exercise the Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion option in accordance with the provisions specified in this Section 13(c), the shares of Series L Preferred Stock or successor security held by it shall remain outstanding (unless otherwise converted as provided herein), and the Holder will not be eligible to receive Make-Whole Shares.

(vii)      Upon a Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion, the Conversion Agent shall, except as otherwise provided in the instructions provided by the Holder thereof in the written notice provided to the Corporation or its successor as set forth in Section 13(a)(iv) above, deliver to the Holder such cash, securities or other property as are issuable with respect to Make-Whole Shares in the Make-Whole Acquisition.

(viii)     In the event that a Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion is effected with respect to shares of Series L Preferred Stock or a successor security representing less than all the shares of Series L Preferred Stock or a successor security held by a Holder, upon such Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion the Corporation or its successor shall execute and the Conversion Agent shall, unless otherwise instructed in writing, countersign and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation or its successors, a certificate evidencing the shares of Series L Preferred Stock or such successor security held by the Holder as to which a Make-Whole Acquisition Conversion was not effected.

(d)        Conversion Upon Fundamental Change . 

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(i)         If the Reference Price in connection with a Make-Whole Acquisition is less than $120.54 (a “ Fundamental Change ”), a Holder may elect to convert each share of Series L Preferred Stock during the period beginning on the effective date of the Fundamental Change and ending on the date that is 30 days after the effective date of such Fundamental Change at an adjusted conversion price equal to the greater of (1) the Reference Price and (2) $60.27, subject to adjustment as described in clause (ii) below (the “ Base Price ”). If the Reference Price is less than the Base Price, Holders will receive a maximum of 16.5916 shares of Common Stock per share of Series L Preferred Stock converted, subject to adjustment as a result of any adjustment to the Base Price described in clause (ii) below.

(ii)        The Base Price shall be adjusted as of any date the Conversion Rate of the Series L Preferred Stock is adjusted pursuant to Section 14. The adjusted Base Price shall equal the Base Price applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the Conversion Rate adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted.

(iii)       In lieu of issuing Common Stock upon conversion in the event of a Fundamental Change, the Corporation may at its option, and if it obtains any necessary regulatory approval, pay an amount in cash (computed to the nearest cent) equal to the Reference Price for each share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon conversion.

(iv)       On or before the twentieth day prior to the date the Corporation anticipates being the effective date for the Fundamental Change or within two business days of becoming aware of the Fundamental Change if it is a Make-Whole Acquisition of the type set forth in clause (a) of the definition Make-Whole Acquisition, a written notice shall be sent by or on behalf of the Corporation, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders as they appear in the records of the Corporation. Such notice shall contain:

(A)       the anticipated effective date of the Fundamental Change; and

(B)       the date, which shall be 30 days after the anticipated effective date of a Fundamental Change, by which a Fundamental Change conversion must be exercised.

(v)        On the effective date of a Fundamental Change or as soon as practicable thereafter, another written notice shall be sent by or on behalf of the Corporation, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders as they appear in the records of the Corporation. Such notice shall contain:

(A)       the date that shall be 30 days after the effective date of the Fundamental Change;

(B)       the adjusted conversion price following the Fundamental Change;

(C)       the amount of cash, securities and other consideration received by a Holder of Series L Preferred Stock upon conversion; and


40


(D)       the instructions a Holder must follow to exercise its conversion option in connection with such Fundamental Change.

(vi)       To exercise its conversion option upon a Fundamental Change, a Holder must, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on or before the date by which the conversion option upon the Fundamental Change must be exercised as specified in the notice delivered under clause (v) above, comply with the procedures set forth in Section 13 (a)(v)(B) and indicate that it is exercising the Fundamental Change conversion option.

(vii)      If a Holder does not elect to exercise its conversion option upon a Fundamental Change in accordance with the provisions specified in this Section 13(d), the shares of Series L Preferred Stock or successor security held by it shall remain outstanding (unless otherwise converted as provided herein) and the Holder will not be eligible to convert its shares pursuant to this Section 13(d).

(viii)     Upon a conversion upon a Fundamental Change, the Conversion Agent shall, except as otherwise provided in the instructions provided by the Holder thereof in the written notice provided to the Corporation or its successor as set forth in Section 13(a)(iv), deliver to the Holder such cash, securities or other property as are issuable with respect to the adjusted conversion price following the Fundamental Change.

(ix)       In the event that a conversion upon a Fundamental Change is effected with respect to shares of Series L Preferred Stock or a successor security representing less than all the shares of Series L Preferred Stock or a successor security held by a Holder, upon such conversion the Corporation or its successor shall execute and the Conversion Agent shall, unless otherwise instructed in writing, countersign and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation, a certificate evidencing the shares of Series L Preferred Stock or such successor security held by the Holder as to which a conversion upon a Fundamental Change was not effected.

Section 14.   Anti-Dilution Adjustments . 

(a)        Adjustments .  The Conversion Rate will be subject to adjustment, without duplication, under the following circumstances:

(i)         The issuance of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution to all holders of Common Stock or a subdivision or combination of Common Stock (other than in connection with a Reorganization Event), in which event the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x (OS 1 / OS 0 )

where,

CR 0          =          the Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the Record Date
CR 1          =          the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Record Date
OS 0          =          the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the Record Date prior to giving effect to such event
OS 1          =          the number of shares of Common Stock that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such event

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) no adjustment will be made for the issuance of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution to all holders of Common Stock that is made in lieu of a quarterly or annual cash dividend or distribution to such holders, to the extent such dividend or distribution does not exceed the applicable Dividend Threshold Amount (with the amount of any such dividend or distribution equaling the number of such shares being issued multiplied by the average of the VWAP of the Common Stock over each of the five consecutive VWAP Trading Days prior to the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution) and (2) in the event any dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination that is the subject of this Section 14(a)(i) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the board of directors publicly announces its decision not to pay or make such dividend or distribution or effect such subdivision or combination, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared or such subdivision or combination had not been announced.

(ii)        The issuance to all holders of Common Stock of certain rights or warrants (other than rights issued pursuant to a shareholder rights plan or rights or warrants issued in connection with a Reorganization Event) entitling them for a period expiring 60 days or less from the date of issuance of such rights or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common Stock) at less than (or having a conversion price per share less than) the Current Market Price as of the Record Date, in which event each Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [(OS 0 + X) / (OS 0 + Y)]

where,

CR 0          =          the Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the Record Date
CR 1          =          the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Record Date
OS 0          =          the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the Record Date
X           =          the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights or warrants (or upon conversion of such securities)
Y           =          the number of shares equal to the quotient of the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights or warrants (or the conversion price for such securities paid upon conversion) divided by the average of the VWAP of the Common Stock over each of the ten consecutive VWAP Trading Days prior to the Business Day immediately preceding the announcement of the issuance of such rights or warrants

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) in the event that such rights or warrants described in this Section 14(a)(ii) are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the board of directors publicly announces its decision not to issue such rights or warrants, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such issuance had not been declared and (2) to the extent that such rights or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration or shares of the Common Stock are otherwise not delivered pursuant to such rights or warrants upon the exercise of such rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered.


42


In determining the aggregate price payable for such shares of the Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Corporation for such rights or warrants and the value of such consideration (if other than cash, to be determined by the board of directors). If an adjustment to the Conversion Rate may be required pursuant to this Section 14(a)(ii), delivery of any additional shares of Common Stock that may be deliverable upon conversion as a result of an adjustment required pursuant to this Section 14(a)(ii) shall be delayed to the extent necessary in order to complete the calculations provided for in this Section 14(a)(ii).

(iii)       The dividend or other distribution to all holders of Common Stock of shares of capital stock of the Corporation (other than Common Stock) or evidences of its indebtedness or its assets (excluding any dividend, distribution or issuance covered by clauses (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above or (a)(iv) below, any dividend or distribution in connection with a Reorganization Event or any spin-off to which the provisions set forth below in this clause (a)(iii) apply) in which event the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [SP 0 / (SP 0 – FMV)]

where,

CR 0          =          the Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the Record Date
CR 1          =          the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Record Date
SP 0           =          the Current Market Price as of the Record Date
FMV     =          the fair market value (as determined by the board of directors) on the Record Date of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, evidences of indebtedness or assets so distributed, applicable to one share of Common Stock

However, if the transaction that gives rise to an adjustment pursuant to this clause (iii) is one pursuant to which the payment of a dividend or other distribution on Common Stock consists of shares of capital stock of the Corporation of, or similar equity interests in, a subsidiary or other business unit of the Corporation ( i.e.,  a spin-off) that are, or, when issued, will be, traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other national or regional securities exchange or market, then the Conversion Rate will instead be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [(FMV 0 + MP 0 ) / MP 0 ]

where,

CR 0          =          the Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the Record Date
CR 1          =          the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Record Date
FMV 0      =          the average of the VWAP of the Capital Stock distributed to holders of Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock over each of the 10 consecutive VWAP Trading Days commencing on and including the third VWAP Trading Day after the date on which “ex-distribution trading” commences for such dividend or distribution on the NYSE or such other national or regional exchange or association or over-the-counter market, or, if not so traded or quoted, the fair market value of the capital stock or similar equity interests distributed to holders of Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock as determined by the board of directors
MP 0      =          the average of the VWAP of the Common Stock over each of the 10 consecutive VWAP Trading Days commencing on and including the third VWAP Trading Day after the date on which “ex-distribution trading” commences for such dividend or distribution on the NYSE or such other

43


national or regional exchange or association or over-the-counter market on which Common Stock is then traded or quoted

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) if any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 14(a)(iii) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of
the date the board of directors publicly announces its decision not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. If an adjustment to the Conversion Rate may be required under this Section 14(a)(iii), delivery of any additional shares of Common Stock that may be deliverable upon conversion as a result of an adjustment required under this Section 14(a)(iii) shall be delayed to the extent necessary in order to complete the calculations provided for in this Section 14(a)(iii).

(iv)       The Corporation makes a distribution consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of Common Stock, excluding (a) any regular cash dividend on Common Stock to the extent that the aggregate cash dividend per share of Common Stock does not exceed $1.8835 in any fiscal quarter (the “ Dividend Threshold Amount ”) and (b) any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Corporation or any its subsidiaries referred to in clause (v) below, in which event, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [SP 0 / (SP 0 – C)]

where,

CR 0          =          the Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the Record Date
CR 1          =          the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Record Date
SP 0           =          the Current Market Price as of the Record Date
C           =          the amount in cash per share equal to (1) in the case of a regular quarterly dividend, the amount the Corporation distributes to holders or pays, less the Dividend Threshold Amount or (2) in any other case, the amount the Corporation distributes to holders or pays

The Dividend Threshold Amount is subject to adjustment on an inversely proportional basis whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted; provided that no adjustment will be made to the Dividend Threshold Amount for any adjustment made to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this clause (iv).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 14(a)(iv) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the board of directors publicly announces its decision not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

(v)        The Corporation or one or more of its subsidiaries make purchases of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation for Common Stock to the extent that the cash and value (as determined by the board of directors) of any other consideration included in the payment per share of Common Stock validly tendered or exchanged exceeds the VWAP per share of Common Stock on the VWAP Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (the “ Expiration Date ”), in which event the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

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CR 1 = CR 0 x [(FMV + (SP 1 x OS 1 ) / (SP 1 x OS 0 )]

where,

CR 0          =          the Conversion Rate in effect at the close of business on the Expiration Date
CR 1          =          the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Expiration Date
FMV     =          the fair market value (as determined by the board of directors), on the Expiration Date, of the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration paid or payable for shares validly tendered or exchanged and not withdrawn as of the Expiration Date (the “ Purchased Shares ”) 
OS 1          =          the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the last time tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (the “ Expiration Time ”) less any Purchased Shares
OS 0          =          the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the Expiration Time, including any Purchased Shares
SP 1           =          the average of the VWAP of the Common Stock over each of the ten consecutive VWAP Trading Days commencing with the VWAP Trading Day immediately after the Expiration Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Corporation, or one of its subsidiaries, is obligated to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer, but the Corporation or such subsidiary is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such purchases are rescinded, then the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made. If an adjustment to the Conversion Rate may be required under this Section 14(a)(v), delivery of any additional shares of Common Stock that may be deliverable upon conversion as a result of an adjustment required under this Section 14(a)(v) shall be delayed to the extent necessary in order to complete the calculations provided for in this Section 14(a)(v).

(b)        Calculation of Adjustments .  All adjustments to the Conversion Rate shall be calculated by the Corporation to the nearest 1/10,000th of one share of Common Stock (or if there is not a nearest 1/10,000th of a share, to the next lower 1/10,000th of a share). No adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent; provided , however , that any such minor adjustments that are not required to be made will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment, and provided further that any such adjustment of less than one percent that has not been made will be made prior to any conversion pursuant to Section 13(b), Section 13(c) or Section 13(d).

(c)        When No Adjustment Required . 

(i)         Except as otherwise provided in this Section 14, the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing or for the repurchase of Common Stock.

(ii)        Rights Plans .  To the extent that the Corporation has a stockholders’ rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock into Common Stock, Holders will receive, in addition to any of Common Stock deliverable and in lieu of any adjustment to the Conversion Rate, the rights under the stockholders’ rights plan, unless prior to any conversion, the rights

45


have separated from Common Stock, in which case the Conversion Rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if we distributed to all holders of Common Stock, shares of the Corporation’s Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets as described in Section 14(a)(iii). A further adjustment will occur as described in Section 14(a)(iii), if such rights become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or assets, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

(iii)       No adjustment to the Conversion Rate need be made:

(A)       upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on securities of the Corporation and the investment of additional optional amounts in Common Stock under any plan;

(B)       upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; or

(C)       upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right, or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security outstanding as of the date the Series L Preferred Stock was first issued.

(iv)       No adjustment to the Conversion Rate need be made for a transaction referred to in Section 14(a)(i) through (v) if Holders may participate in the transaction on a basis and with notice that the board of directors determines to be fair and appropriate in light of the basis and notice on which holders of Common Stock participate in the transaction.

(v)        No adjustment to the Conversion Rate need be made for a change in the par value or no par value of the Common Stock.

(vi)       No adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made to the extent that such adjustment would result in the Conversion Price being less than the par value of the Common Stock.

(d)        Record Date .  For purposes of this Section 14, “Record Date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of the Common Stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of the Common Stock entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the board of directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).

(e)        Successive Adjustments .  After an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under this Section 14 shall cause an adjustment to such Conversion Rate as so adjusted.

(f)        Multiple Adjustments .  For the avoidance of doubt, if an event occurs that would trigger an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 14 under more than one

46


subsection hereof, such event, to the extent fully taken into account in a single adjustment, shall not result in multiple adjustments hereunder.

(g)        Other Adjustments .  The Corporation may (but is not required to) make such increases in the Conversion Rate, in addition to those required by Section 14(a)(i) through (v), as the board of directors considers to be advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes.

In addition to the foregoing, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the Corporation from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for any period of time if the period is at least 20 business days, the increase is irrevocable during the period and the board of directors shall have made a determination that such increase would be in the best interests of the Corporation, which determination shall be conclusive.

(h)        Notice of Adjustments .  Whenever a Conversion Rate is adjusted as provided under Section 14, the Corporation shall within 10 Business Days following the occurrence of an event that requires such adjustment (or if the Corporation is not aware of such occurrence, as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming so aware) or within 15 calendar days of the date the Corporation makes an adjustment pursuant to Section 14(g):

(i)         compute the adjusted applicable Conversion Rate in accordance with Section 14 and prepare and transmit to the Conversion Agent an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the applicable Conversion Rate, as the case may be, the method of calculation thereof in reasonable detail, and the facts requiring such adjustment and upon which such adjustment is based; and

(ii)        provide a written notice to the Holders of the occurrence of such event and a statement in reasonable detail setting forth the method by which the adjustment to the applicable Conversion Rate was determined and setting forth the adjusted applicable Conversion Rate.

(i)         Conversion Agent .  The Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment of the applicable Conversion Rate or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed in making the same. The Conversion Agent shall be fully authorized and protected in relying on any Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 14(h) and any adjustment contained therein and the Conversion Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment unless and until it has received such certificate. The Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities or property, that may at the time be issued or delivered with respect to any of the Series L Preferred Stock; and the Conversion Agent makes no representation with respect thereto. The Conversion Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Corporation to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to a the conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Corporation contained in this Section 14.

Section 15.   Reorganization Events . 

(a)        In the event of:


47


(i)         any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into another Person, in each case pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities, or other property of the Corporation or another Person;

(ii)        any sale, transfer, lease, or conveyance to another Person of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities, or other property; or

(iii)       any reclassification of the Common Stock into securities, including securities other than the Common Stock; or

(iv)       any statutory exchange of the Corporation’s securities with another Person (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition); (any such event specified in this Section 15(a), a “ Reorganization Event ”); each share of Series L Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization Event shall, without the consent of Holders, become convertible into the types and amounts of securities, cash, and other property that is or was receivable in such Reorganization Event by a holder of the shares of Common Stock that was not the counterparty to the Reorganization Event or an affiliate of such other party in exchange for such Common Stock (such securities, cash, and other property, the “ Exchange Property ”). 

(b)        In the event that holders of the shares of the Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such transaction, the consideration that the Holders are entitled to receive upon conversion shall be deemed to be the types and amounts of consideration received by the majority of the holders of the shares of the Common Stock that affirmatively make an election (or of all such holders if none make an election). On each Conversion Date following a Reorganization Event, the Conversion Rate then in effect will be applied to the value on such Conversion Date of the securities, cash, or other property received per share of Common Stock, determined as set forth above. The amount of Exchange Property receivable upon conversion of any Series L Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 12, Section 13(b), Section 13(c) or Section 13(d) hereof shall be determined based upon the then Applicable Conversion Rate.

(c)        The above provisions of this Section 15 shall similarly apply to successive Reorganization Events and the provisions of Section 14 shall apply to any shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation (or any successor) received by the holders of the Common Stock in any such Reorganization Event.

(d)        The Corporation (or any successor) shall, within 20 days of the occurrence of any Reorganization Event, provide written notice to the Holders of such occurrence of such event and of the type and amount of the cash, securities or other property that constitutes the Exchange Property. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the operation of this Section 15.

Section 16.   Fractional Shares . 

(a)        No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued as a result of any conversion of shares of Series L Preferred Stock.

(b)        In lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock otherwise issuable in respect of any conversion at the Corporation’s option pursuant to Section 13(b) hereof or any conversion

48


at the option of the Holder pursuant to Section 12, Section 13(c) or Section 13(d) hereof, the Corporation shall pay an amount in cash (computed to the nearest cent) equal to the same fraction of the Closing Price of the Common Stock determined as of the second Trading Day immediately preceding the effective date of conversion.

(c)        If more than one share of the Series L Preferred Stock is surrendered for conversion at one time by or for the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of the Series L Preferred Stock so surrendered.
Section 17.   Reservation of Common Stock . 

(a)        The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of Series L Preferred Stock as provided in this Certificate of Designations, free from any preemptive or other similar rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of Series L Preferred Stock then outstanding, calculated assuming the Applicable Conversion Price equals the Base Price, subject to adjustment as described under Section 14. For purposes of this Section 17(a), the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be deliverable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series L Preferred Stock shall be computed as if at the time of computation all such outstanding shares were held by a single Holder.

(b)        All shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests and other encumbrances (other than liens, charges, security interests and other encumbrances created by the Holders).

(c)        Prior to the delivery of any securities that the Corporation shall be obligated to deliver upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all federal and state laws and regulations thereunder requiring the registration of such securities with, or any approval of or consent to the delivery thereof by, any governmental authority.

(d)        The Corporation hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as the Common Stock shall be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Corporation will, if permitted by the rules of such exchange or automated quotation system, list and keep listed all the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock; provided ,  however , that if the rules of such exchange or automated quotation system permit the Corporation to defer the listing of such Common Stock until the first conversion of Series L Preferred Stock into Common Stock in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Corporation covenants to list such Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series L Preferred Stock in accordance with the requirements of such exchange or automated quotation system at such time.

Ssection 18.  Limitations on Beneficial Ownership .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, and subject to the last sentence of this Section 18, no holder of Series L Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock upon conversion pursuant to Section 12 and Section 13 hereof to the extent, but only to the extent, that such receipt would cause such converting holder to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of more than 9.9% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time. Any delivery of shares of Common Stock

49


upon a purported conversion of Series L Preferred Stock shall be void and have no effect and such shares shall for all purposes continue to represent outstanding shares of Series L Preferred Stock to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in the converting holder becoming the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time. If any delivery of shares of Common Stock owed to a holder upon conversion of Series L Preferred Stock is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this limitation, the Corporation’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and the Corporation shall deliver such shares as promptly as practicable after any such converting holder gives notice to the Corporation that such delivery would not result in it being the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, these limitations on beneficial ownership shall not be applicable to or limit the number of shares of Series L Preferred Stock to be converted as a result of a mandatory conversion by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(b).

Section 19.   Preemptive or Subscription Rights .  The Holders of Series L Preferred Stock shall not have any preemptive or subscription rights.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Laurel A. Holschuh, its Secretary, this  30 th  day of December, 2008.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By:                   /s/ Barbara S. Brett                              
            Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
            and Assistant Treasurer
/s/ Laurel A. Holschuh            
Laurel A. Holschuh, Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 30, 2008.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2010 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000 and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on March 23, 2010, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:
 
RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
 
2.         Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.

3.         On March 23, 2010, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolutions by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 

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RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:
 
2010 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2010 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock is 1,000,000, based on an offering price for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,080.00 per share.  Each share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 
(b)  Shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2010 ESOP

52


Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.
2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:

(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
(c)  So long as any shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such

53


outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 
(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designations designating shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.

(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $95.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.
 
(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2011 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2019, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $100.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 
 
(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $105.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in

54


the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.
                
             Dividend Adjustment Table
 
                            Closing Price on 11/30

 
                                  First Target Price

 
                                        Second Target Price

2,011,000

 
35.445

 
41.275

2,012,000

 
38.990

 
49.530

2,013,000

 
42.889

 
59.436

2,014,000

 
47.178

 
71.323

2,015,000

 
51.895

 
85.588

2,016,000

 
57.085

 
102.706

2,017,000

 
62.793

 
123.247

2,018,000

 
69.073

 
147.896

2,019,000

 
75.980

 
177.475

 
(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2011, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $100.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $100.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2012.  If on November 30, 2012, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $60.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $105.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $105.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2013.  If on November 30, 2013, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $95.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $95.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2014.

(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 2010.  Dividends on shares of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15

55


days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
(ii)  So long as any shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:

(a)  Each share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully

56


paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.
 
(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.
 
(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 
 
(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock

57


Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.
(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designations or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
 
(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.
(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, which notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.
 
(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been

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surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.
(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.

(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.

(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.

(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per

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share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.

(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).

(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.

(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.


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(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about March 26, 2010 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).

6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:

(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.
(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.

(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of

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qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.

(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any

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successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.
 
(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.
 
(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior

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to the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:
 
(a)  prior to the shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 
9.   Priority of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2010 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2001 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, whereby such President and Chief Executive Officer affirms, under penalties of perjury, that this Certificate of Designations is the act and deed of the Company and that the facts stated herein are true, this  23 rd  day of March, 2010.
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
   
By         /s/ John G. Stumpf                                  
John G. Stumpf
            Chairman, President and
          Chief Executive Officer
  Attest:
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                    
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 23, 2010.]

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_______________
 
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF  
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION 
_______________
 
Pursuant to Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
_______________
 
Laurel A. Holschuh, Senior Vice President, and Rachelle M. Graham, Assistant Secretary, of Wells Fargo & Company, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), do hereby certify:
 
FIRST:  That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company duly held on February 23, 2010, a resolution was duly adopted setting forth a proposed amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, declaring the advisability of the amendment, and directing that the amendment be presented to stockholders of the Company for their consideration at the next annual meeting of the stockholders to be held on April 27, 2010.  The resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:
 
RESOLVED that an amendment to ARTICLE FOURTH of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the authorized common stock to 9,000,000,000 shares is hereby proposed and declared advisable, and the following amendment to the first sentence of ARTICLE FOURTH is hereby directed to be presented to the stockholders of the Company for consideration at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 27, 2010:

FOURTH:  The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is Nine Billion Twenty-Four Million (9,024,000,000), consisting of Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock without par value, Four Million (4,000,000) shares of Preference Stock without par value, and Nine Billion (9,000,000,000) shares of Common Stock of the par value of $1 2/3 per share.
 
SECOND:  That at such annual meeting of stockholders, duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which notice set forth in full the proposed amendment, a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company were voted in favor of the amendment.
 
THIRD:  That the amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused this Certificate to be signed by Laurel A. Holschuh, its Senior Vice President, and attested by Rachelle M. Graham, its Assistant Secretary, this  29 th  day of April, 2010.
  

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY:
 
(Corporate Seal)
 
By:             /s/ Laurel A. Holschuh                
Senior Vice President
 
 
ATTEST:
 
 
 
By:         /s/ Rachelle M. Graham       
Assistant Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on April 29, 2010.]
 

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2011 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000 and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on March 15, 2011, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:
 
RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
 
2.         Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.
 
3.         On March 15, 2011, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolutions by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 

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RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:
 
2011 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2011 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock is 1,200,000, based on an offering price for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,085.00 per share.  Each share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 
(b)  Shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2011 ESOP

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Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.

2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:
 
(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
(c)  So long as any shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such

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outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 
(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designations designating shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $90.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.
 
(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2012 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2020, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $95.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 
 
(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $100.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in

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the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.

28)               Dividend Adjustment Table
 
29)                             Closing Price on 11/30
 
30)                                   First Target Price
 
31)                                         Second Target Price
2,012,000
 
38.559

 
45.346

2,013,000
 
42.705

 
55.095

2,014,000
 
47.295

 
66.941

2,015,000
 
52.380

 
81.333

2,016,000
 
58.010

 
98.820

2,017,000
 
64.247

 
120.066

2,018,000
 
71.153

 
145.880

2,019,000
 
78.802

 
177.244

2,020,000
 
87.273

 
215.352

 
(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2012, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $95.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $95.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2013.  If on November 30, 2013, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $60.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $100.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $100.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2014.  If on November 30, 2014, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $90.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $90.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2015.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 2011.  Dividends on shares of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they

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appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends
with 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
(ii)  So long as any shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:
 

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(a)  Each share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.
 
(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.

(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 
 
(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall

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mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.

(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designations or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
 
(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.

(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, which notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.

(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand

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delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.

(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.

(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.

(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.

(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

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5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.

(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).

(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.

(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:


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(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.

(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about March 18, 2011 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).

6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:

(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.

(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.


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(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.

(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)

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(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.
 
(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.
 
(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 

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(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:
 
(a)  prior to the shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 
9.   Priority of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2011 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2002 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and its 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, whereby such President and Chief Executive Officer affirms, under penalties of perjury, that this Certificate of Designations is the act and deed of the Company and that the facts stated herein are true, this 17th day of March, 2011.
  
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
By         /s/ John G. Stumpf                           
John G. Stumpf
           Chairman, President and
           Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                        
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary
 
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 17, 2011.]
 

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2012 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorizes the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000 and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on January 9, 2012, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:

RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
 
2.         Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.
 
3.         On January 9, 2012, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolutions by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 

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RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:
 
2012 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2012 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2012 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock is 940,000, based on an offering price for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,094.00 per share.  Each share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 
(b)  Shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2012 ESOP

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Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.

2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:
 
(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or on the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Preferred Stock ranking on such a parity and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) to elect members of the Board as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for directors as herein provided, the term of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders may choose a successor to fill such vacancy, which such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this resolution.
 
(c)  So long as any shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, by a vote of at least two-thirds of all such

85


outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following:
 
(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or

(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designations designating shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $100.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.
 
(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2013 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2021, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $105.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 
 
(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $110.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in

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the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.
32)                 
33)               Dividend Adjustment Table
 
34)                             Closing Price on 11/30
 
35)                                   First Target Price
 
36)                                         Second Target Price
2,013,000
 
28.424

 
30.617

2,014,000
 
31.124

 
34.980

2,015,000
 
34.081

 
39.964

2,016,000
 
37.319

 
45.659

2,017,000
 
40.864

 
52.166

2,018,000
 
44.746

 
59.599

2,019,000
 
48.997

 
68.092

2,020,000
 
53.652

 
77.795


(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2013, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $30.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $105.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $105.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2014.  If on November 30, 2014, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $110.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $110.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2015.  If on November 30, 2015, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $30.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $100.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $100.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2016.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2012.  Dividends on shares of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15

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days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
(ii)  So long as any shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:
 
(a)  Each share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully

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paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.
 
(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.
 
(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 

(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock

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Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.

(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designations or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
 
(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.
(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, which notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.
 
(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of

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which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.

(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.

(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.

(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.

(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal

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to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.

(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).

(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.

(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.

(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the

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average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2012 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about January 12, 2012 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).

6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:

(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.

(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.

(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if

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applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.

(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be

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withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.
 
(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.
 
(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and

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provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:
 
(a)  prior to the shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 
9.   Priority of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2012 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2003 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and its 2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designations to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, whereby such President and Chief Executive Officer affirms, under penalties of perjury, that this Certificate of Designations is the act and deed of the Company and that the facts stated herein are true, this 10th day of January, 2012.
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
 
 
By         /s/ John G. Stumpf                                  
John G. Stumpf
            Chairman, President and
            Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                        
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 10, 2012.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES N

(Without Par Value)
_____________________
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on August 14, 2012, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 27, 2009, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
 
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
 
            Section 1.        Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series N, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share  (the “ Series N Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series N Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series N Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series N Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
 
            Section 2.        Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series N Preferred Stock shall be 30,000.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in

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excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series N Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series N Preferred Stock.

Section 3.        Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series N Preferred Stock:

“ 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.

“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series N Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

“Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series N Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series N Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.


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“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation. 

“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series N Preferred Stock.

“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any shares of Series N Preferred Stock; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any shares of Series N Preferred Stock; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any shares of Series N Preferred Stock, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series N Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series N Preferred Stock is outstanding.

“ Series N Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series N Preferred Stock.
                                                                                
Section 4.        Dividends.

(a)        Rate .  Dividends on the Series N Preferred Stock will not be mandatory.  Holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series N Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on December 15, 2012); provided , however , if any such day is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, August 16, 2012 to, but excluding, December 15, 2012.  Dividends on each share of Series N Preferred Stock will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.20%.  The record date for payment of dividends on the Series N Preferred Stock shall be the

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last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.  The amount of dividends payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.

(b)       Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series N Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series N Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series N Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series N Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
 
(1)                no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);
 
(2)                no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements)

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adopted before or after August 9, 2012, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
 
(3)                no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series N Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after August 9, 2012, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business), unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series N Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
 
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series N Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series N Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series N Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series N Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. 
 
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series N Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.


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Section 5.        Liquidation Rights.

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series N Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)       Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series N Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series N Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series N Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock. 

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series N Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)       Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.        Redemption.

(a)        Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series N Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after September 15, 2017, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series N Preferred Stock

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shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series N Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to September 15, 2017, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series N Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

(b)       Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series N Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series N Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series N Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series N Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series N Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series N Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series N Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series N Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series N Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series N Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)       Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in

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trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

Section 7.        Voting Rights.

(a)        General.  The holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.

(b)       Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events.  Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series N Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series N Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series N Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series N Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them).  The right of the holders of the Series N Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend

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Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series N Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).

Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series N Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series N Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series N Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).

(c)     Other Voting Rights .  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series N Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series N Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series N Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series N Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series N Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series N Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series N Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series N Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series N Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or

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exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series N Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series N Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series N Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect
the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series N Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series N Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series N Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a  class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).

Each holder of the Series N Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series N Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

(1)           (d)       Changes after Provision for Redemption.  No vote or consent of the holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series N Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series N Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series N Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8.        Preemption and Conversion .  The holders of Series N Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series N Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.


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Section 9.        Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series N Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 10.      No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series N Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series N Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series N Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series N Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 14 th day of August, 2012.
 
Wells Fargo & Company
By : 
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
and Assistant Treasurer
 
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                           
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on August 15, 2012.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES O
(Without Par Value)
_____________________

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on November 16, 2012, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 27, 2009, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
 
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
 
            Section 1.        Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series O, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share  (the “ Series O Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series O Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series O Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series O Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
 

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            Section 2.        Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall be 27,600.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series O Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series O Preferred Stock.

Section 3.        Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series O Preferred Stock:

“ 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.

“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series O Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

“Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series O Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series O Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation. 

“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series O Preferred Stock.

“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after November 13, 2012; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after November 13, 2012; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after November 13, 2012, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series O Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series O Preferred Stock is outstanding.

“ Series O Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

v)                                                                                           “ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series O Preferred Stock.
 
vi)                     Section 4.        Dividends.
(a)        Rate .  Dividends on the Series O Preferred Stock will not be mandatory.  Holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series O Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on March 15, 2013); provided , however , if any such day is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, November 20, 2012 to, but excluding, March 15, 2013.  Dividends on each share of Series O Preferred Stock will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.125%.  The record date for payment of dividends on the Series O Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of

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Directors.  The amount of dividends payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.

(b)       Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series O Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series O Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series O Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
 
(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);
 
(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after November 13, 2012, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such

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Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
 
(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series O Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after November 13, 2012, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business), unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series O Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
 
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series O Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series O Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series O Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series O Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. 
 
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
 
Section 5.        Liquidation Rights.


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(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series O Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)       Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series O Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series O Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series O Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock. 

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series O Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)       Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.        Redemption.

(a)        Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series O Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after December 15, 2017, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series O Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to December 15, 2017, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

(b)       Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series O Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series O Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series O Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series O Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series O Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series O Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series O Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series O Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series O Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)       Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company

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selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

Section 7.        Voting Rights.

(a)        General.  The holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.

(b)       Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events.  Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series O Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series O Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series O Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series O Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them).  The right of the holders of the Series O Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series O Preferred Stock

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shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).

Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series O Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series O Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series O Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).

(c)     Other Voting Rights .  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series O Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series O Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series O Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series O Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series O Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series O Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series O Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series O Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series O Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and

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(b) such shares of Series O Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series O Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series O Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series O Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series O Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series O Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a  class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).
 
Each holder of the Series O Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series O Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

(1)           (d)       Changes after Provision for Redemption.  No vote or consent of the holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series O Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series O Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series O Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8.        Preemption and Conversion .  The holders of Series O Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series O Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.


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Section 9.        Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series O Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 10.      No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series O Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series O Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series O Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series O Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

DMS.US.51005459.05
 
 
 

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 19 th day of November, 2012.
 
Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By : 
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
and Assistant Treasurer
 
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                          
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary



[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 19, 2012.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2013 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000, January 27, 2009, and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on January 7, 2013, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolution (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:
 
RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
 

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2.         On January 27, 2009, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “January 2009 Resolutions”) amending the ESOP Board Resolutions to allow the ESOP Committee to establish the voting rights of any series of ESOP Preferred Stock:
 
RESOLVED that the resolution set forth in the [ESOP Board Resolutions] under the caption “Voting Rights of ESOP Preferred Stock” is hereby deleted in its entirety.

RESOLVED that the [ESOP Board Resolutions] are hereby further amended to delete “Appendix A – Voting Rights” in its entirety.
 
3.         Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.
 
4.         On January 7, 2013, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions as amended by the January 2009 Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolution by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:
 
2013 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2013 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2013 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock is 1,200,000, based on an offering price for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,090.00 per share.  Each share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 

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(b)  Shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.

2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:
 
(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock, as defined in paragraph (e) of this Section 2,whose voting rights are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company’s Board at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors

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shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) to elect Preferred Stock Directors as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2(b).

(c)  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least two-thirds in voting power of all such outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and such series of Voting Parity Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:
 

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(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on the Company’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designation designating shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
 
(e)  As used in this Section 2, “Voting Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Company now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company and having similar voting rights as the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 
3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $85.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.
 
(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2014 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2021, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock

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will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $90.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 

(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $95.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.

Dividend Adjustment Table
 
Closing Price on 11/30
 
First Target Price
 
Second Target Price
2,014,000
 
$
36.562

 
$
39.174

2,015,000
 
$
39.761

 
$
44.316

2,016,000
 
$
43.240

 
$
50.132

2,017,000
 
$
47.023

 
$
56.712

2,018,000
 
$
51.138

 
$
64.156

2,019,000
 
$
55.612

 
$
72.576

2,020,000
 
$
60.479

 
$
82.102

2,021,000
 
$
65.770

 
$
92.878

 
(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2014, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $37.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $90.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $90.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2015.  If on November 30, 2015, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $45.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $95.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $95.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2016.  If on November 30, 2016, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $40.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $85.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $85.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2017.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted

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Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2013.  Dividends on shares of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
(ii)  So long as any shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2013

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ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:
 
(a)  Each share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.

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(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.
 
(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 
 
(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.

(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
 

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(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.

(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, which Conversion Notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.
 
(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.

(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP

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Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of a conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.

(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.

(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.

(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable out of assets legally available therefor, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred

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Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.

(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).

(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.

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(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.

(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2013 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about January 10, 2013 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).

6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the

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qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:

(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.

(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.

(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.

(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this

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Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before

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any payment or distribution shall be made on or set aside for the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or senior to the 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.
 
(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.
 
(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or prior to the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:
 
(a)  prior to the shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or

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winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 
9.   Priority of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2013 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2004 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, and its 2012 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, on this 9th day of January, 2013.
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
 
 
By         /s/ John G. Stumpf                          
John G. Stumpf
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                       
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 9, 2013.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES P
(Without Par Value)
_____________________

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on March 19, 2013, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 27, 2009, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
 
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
 
            Section 1.        Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series P, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share  (the “ Series P Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series P Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series P Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series P Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
 

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            Section 2.        Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall be 26,400.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series P Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series P Preferred Stock.

Section 3.        Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series P Preferred Stock:

“ 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.

“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series P Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series P Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series P Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation. 

“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series P Preferred Stock.

“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after March 15, 2013; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after March 15, 2013; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after March 15, 2013, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series P Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series P Preferred Stock is outstanding.

“ Series P Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series P Preferred Stock.

            Section 4.        Dividends.

(a)        Rate .  Dividends on the Series P Preferred Stock will not be mandatory.  Holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series P Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on June 15, 2013); provided , however , if any such day is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, March 22, 2013 to, but excluding, June 15, 2013.  Dividends on each share of Series P Preferred Stock will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.25%.  The record date for payment of dividends on the Series P Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls

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or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.  The amount of dividends payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.

(b)       Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series P Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series P Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series P Preferred Stock remain outstanding,

(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);

(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before

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or after March 15, 2013, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series P Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after March 15, 2013, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business), unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series P Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series P Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series P Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series P Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series P Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. 

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

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Section 5.        Liquidation Rights.

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series P Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)       Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series P Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series P Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series P Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock. 

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series P Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)       Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.        Redemption.

(a)        Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series P Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after June 15, 2018, upon notice given as provided in

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Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series P Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to June 15, 2018, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

(b)       Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series P Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series P Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series P Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series P Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series P Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series P Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series P Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series P Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series P Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)       Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption

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have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

Section 7.        Voting Rights.

(a)        General.  The holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.

(b)       Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events.  Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series P Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series P Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series P Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series P Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them).  The right of the holders of the Series P Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as

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the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series P Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).

Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series P Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series P Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series P Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).

(c)     Other Voting Rights .  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series P Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series P Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series P Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series P Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series P Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series P Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series P Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series P Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series P Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with

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respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series P Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series P Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series P Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series P Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series P Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series P Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).

Each holder of the Series P Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series P Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

(d)       Changes after Provision for Redemption .  No vote or consent of the holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series P Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series P Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series P Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8.        Preemption and Conversion .  The holders of Series P Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series P Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

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Section 9.        Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series P Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 10.      No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series P Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series P Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series P Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series P Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 21 st day of March, 2013.
 
Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President
and Assistant Treasurer
 
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                           
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary

[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 21, 2013.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
5.85% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES Q
(Without Par Value)
_____________________

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on July 19, 2013, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 27, 2009, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
 
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
 
            Section 1.        Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated 5.85% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series Q, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series Q Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series Q Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series Q Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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            Section 2.        Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be 69,000.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series Q Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series Q Preferred Stock.

Section 3.        Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series Q Preferred Stock:

“ Business Day ” means for dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period (as defined below) 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 dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period (as defined below), it means any date that would be considered a Business Day during the Fixed Rate Period that is also a London Banking Day (as defined below).

“ Calculation Agent ”  means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or any other successor appointed by the Corporation, acting as Calculation Agent.

“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series Q Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

“ Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on page LIBOR01, or any other page as may replace that page on that service, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates for U.S. dollars.

“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“ Fixed Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Floating Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

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“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series Q Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ LIBOR Determination Date ” means the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the first day of the relevant Dividend Period.

“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

“ London Banking Day ” means any day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments in London.

“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series Q Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation. 

“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series Q Preferred Stock.

“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after July 15, 2013; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after July 15, 2013; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after July 15, 2013, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series Q Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series Q Preferred Stock is outstanding.

“ Series Q Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.


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“ Three-month LIBOR ” means, for any LIBOR Determination Date, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date, if at least two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, provided that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be used.  If (i) fewer than two offered rates appear or (ii) no rate appears and the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.  If at least two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR determined on that LIBOR Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations.  If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that LIBOR Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.  If the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth above, Three-month LIBOR for that LIBOR Determination Date will remain Three-month LIBOR for the immediately preceding Dividend Period or, in the case of the Dividend Period beginning September 15, 2023, 5.85%.  All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-month LIBOR will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentages point, with .000005% rounded up to .00001%.  The determination of Three-month LIBOR for each relevant Dividend Period by the Calculation Agent will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series Q Preferred Stock.

            Section 4.        Dividends.

(a)        Rate .  Dividends on the Series Q Preferred Stock will not be mandatory.  Holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series Q Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15 th day of March, June, September and December, commencing September 15, 2013.  From July 22, 2013 to, but excluding, September 15, 2023 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at an annual rate of 5.85%, and from, and including, September 15, 2023 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at an annual rate equal to Three-month LIBOR plus 3.09%.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any date on or prior to September 15, 2023 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then

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payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay, and if any date after September 15, 2023 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day unless that day falls in the next calendar month, in which case payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be the immediately preceding Business Day, and dividends will accrue to the actual payment date (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, July 22, 2013 to, but excluding, September 15, 2013.  The record date for payment of dividends on the Series Q Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.  The amount of dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.  The Calculation Agent’s determination of any dividend rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices.

(b)       Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series Q Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series Q Preferred Stock remain outstanding,

(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);


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(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after July 15, 2013, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series Q Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after July 15, 2013, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business), unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all

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outstanding shares of the Series Q Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series Q Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series Q Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series Q Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series Q Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. 

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

Section 5.        Liquidation Rights.

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series Q Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)       Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series Q Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series Q Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series Q Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock. 

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series Q Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the

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holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)       Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.        Redemption.

(a)        Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after September 15, 2023, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to September 15, 2023, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

(b)       Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series Q Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series Q Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series Q Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if

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applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series Q Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series Q Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series Q Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)       Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

Section 7.        Voting Rights.

(a)        General.  The holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.


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(b)       Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events.  Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series Q Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series Q Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series Q Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series Q Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them).  The right of the holders of the Series Q Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series Q Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).

Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series Q Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series Q Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series Q Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).

(c)     Other Voting Rights .  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series Q Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series Q

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Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series Q Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series Q Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series Q Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series Q Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series Q Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series Q Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series Q Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series Q Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series Q Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series Q Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series Q Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series Q Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series Q Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).

Each holder of the Series Q Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series Q Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

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(d)       Changes after Provision for Redemption .  No vote or consent of the holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series Q Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series Q Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series Q Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8.        Preemption and Conversion .  The holders of Series Q Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series Q Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 9.        Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series Q Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 10.      No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series Q Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series Q Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series Q Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series Q Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.


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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 19th day of July, 2013.
 
Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and
Assistant Treasurer
 
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                           
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary



[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on July 19, 2013.]
 

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
6.625% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES R
(Without Par Value)
_____________________

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on December 11, 2013, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 27, 2009, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
 
            Section 1.        Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series R, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series R Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series R Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series R Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series R Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
 

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            Section 2.        Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall be 34,500.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series R Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series R Preferred Stock.

Section 3.        Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series R Preferred Stock:

“ Business Day ” means for dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period (as defined below) 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 dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period (as defined below), it means any date that would be considered a Business Day during the Fixed Rate Period that is also a London Banking Day (as defined below).

“ Calculation Agent ”  means Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. or any other successor appointed by the Corporation, acting as Calculation Agent.

“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series R Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

“ Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on page LIBOR01, or any other page as may replace that page on that service, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates for U.S. dollars.

“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.

“ Fixed Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

“ Floating Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.


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“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series R Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ LIBOR Determination Date ” means the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the first day of the relevant Dividend Period.

“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

“ London Banking Day ” means any day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments in London.

“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series R Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation. 

“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series R Preferred Stock.

“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after December 11, 2013; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after December 11, 2013; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after December 11, 2013, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series R Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series R Preferred Stock is outstanding.

“ Series R Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.


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“ Three-month LIBOR ” means, for any LIBOR Determination Date, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date, if at least two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, provided that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be used.  If (i) fewer than two offered rates appear or (ii) no rate appears and the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.  If at least two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR determined on that LIBOR Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations.  If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that LIBOR Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.  If the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth above, Three-month LIBOR for that LIBOR Determination Date will remain Three-month LIBOR for the immediately preceding Dividend Period or, in the case of the Dividend Period beginning March 15, 2024, 6.625%.  All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-month LIBOR will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentages point, with .000005% rounded up to .00001%.  The determination of Three-month LIBOR for each relevant Dividend Period by the Calculation Agent will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding.

“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series R Preferred Stock.

            Section 4.        Dividends.

(a)        Rate .  Dividends on the Series R Preferred Stock will not be mandatory.  Holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series R Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15 th day of March, June, September and December, commencing March 15, 2014,   From December 18, 2013 to, but excluding, March 15, 2024 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at an annual rate of 6.625%, and from, and including, March 15, 2024 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at an annual rate equal to Three-month LIBOR plus 3.69%.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any date on or prior to March 15, 2024 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any

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dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay, and if any date after March 15, 2024 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day unless that day falls in the next calendar month, in which case payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be the immediately preceding Business Day, and dividends will accrue to the actual payment date (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, December 18, 2013 to, but excluding, March 15, 2014.  The record date for payment of dividends on the Series R Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.  The amount of dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half
cent being rounded upward.  The Calculation Agent’s determination of any dividend rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices.

(b)       Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series R Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series R Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.

(c)        Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series R Preferred Stock remain outstanding,

(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);


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(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after December 11, 2013, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series R Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after December 11, 2013, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business), unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all

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outstanding shares of the Series R Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series R Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series R Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series R Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series R Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. 

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

Section 5.        Liquidation Rights.

(a)        Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series R Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.

(b)       Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series R Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series R Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series R Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock. 

(c)        Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series R Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the

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holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)       Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6.        Redemption.

(a)        Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series R Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after March 15, 2024, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series R Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to March 15, 2024, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

(b)       Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series R Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series R Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series R Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if

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applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series R Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 

(c)        Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series R Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series R Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series R Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series R Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the New York Stock Exchange as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series R Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)       Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

Section 7.        Voting Rights.

(a)        General.  The holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.


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(b)       Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events.  Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series R Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series R Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series R Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series R Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them).  The right of the holders of the Series R Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series R Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).

Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series R Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series R Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series R Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).

(c)     Other Voting Rights .  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series R Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series R

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Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series R Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series R Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series R Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series R Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series R Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series R Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series R Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series R Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series R Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series R Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series R Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series R Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series R Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).

Each holder of the Series R Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series R Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

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(d)       Changes after Provision for Redemption .  No vote or consent of the holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series R Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(e)        Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series R Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series R Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8.        Preemption and Conversion .  The holders of Series R Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series R Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 9.        Reacquired Shares .  Shares of Series R Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.

Section 10.      No Sinking Fund .  Shares of Series R Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.

Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock .  Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series R Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series R Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series R Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

dms.us.53285252.04

 

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 17 th day of December, 2013.
 
Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and
Assistant Treasurer
 
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                                   
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary
 

 [As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 17, 2013.]

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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________
 
2014 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000, January 27, 2009, and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on January 7, 2014, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
1.         On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolution (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:
 
RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
 

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2.         On January 27, 2009, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “January 2009 Resolutions”) amending the ESOP Board Resolutions to allow the ESOP Committee to establish the voting rights of any series of ESOP Preferred Stock:
 
RESOLVED that the resolution set forth in the [ESOP Board Resolutions] under the caption “Voting Rights of ESOP Preferred Stock” is hereby deleted in its entirety.
 
RESOLVED that the [ESOP Board Resolutions] are hereby further amended to delete “Appendix A – Voting Rights” in its entirety.
 
3.         Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.
 
4.         On January 7, 2014, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions as amended by the January 2009 Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolution by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:
 
RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:

2014 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue . 
 
(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2014 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2014 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock is 1,217,000, based on an offering price for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,089.00 per share.  Each share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share.  The number of authorized shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased.  All shares of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred
Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 

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(b)  Shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”).  All references to the holder of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan.  In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted.  In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer.  Shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option.  Certificates representing shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions.  In the case of uncertificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account.  The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.

2.   Voting Rights .  No shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:
 
(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock, as defined in paragraph (e) of this Section 2,whose voting rights are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company’s Board at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors

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shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights).  At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them).  Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) as herein set forth.  The right of such holders of such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or
more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) to elect Preferred Stock Directors as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.
 
(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately.  Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.  Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2(b).
 
(c)  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least two-thirds in voting power of all such outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and such series of Voting Parity Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:
 

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(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on the Company’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or
 
(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designation designating shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(e)  As used in this Section 2, “Voting Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Company now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company and having similar voting rights as the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock.
 
3.         Dividends .  (a)(i)  Holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $87.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.
 
(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2015 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2022, as follows: 
 
(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock

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will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $92.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”). 
 
(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $97.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).
 
(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.

Dividend Adjustment Table
 
Closing Price on 11/30
 
First Target Price
 
Second Target Price
2,015,000
 
$
50.366

 
$
53.676

2,016,000
 
$
54.396

 
$
60.117

2,017,000
 
$
58.747

 
$
67.331

2,018,000
 
$
63.447

 
$
75.411

2,019,000
 
$
68.523

 
$
84.461

2,020,000
 
$
74.005

 
$
94.596

2,021,000
 
$
79.925

 
$
105.947

2,022,000
 
$
86.319

 
$
118.661

 
(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2015, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $51.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $92.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $92.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2016.  If on November 30, 2016, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $61.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $97.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $97.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2017.  If on November 30, 2017, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $55.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $87.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $87.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2018.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted

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Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).
 
(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.
 
(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2014.  Dividends on shares of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock.  Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.  The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable.  The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other.  Holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock.  No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.
 
(ii)  So long as any shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in

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paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.
 
4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:
 
(a)  Each share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.
 
(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.

(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).
 
(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.
 

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(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.
 
(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.
 
(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.
 
Each share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted. 
 
(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.

(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.


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(vi)  “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.

(d)  In connection with any conversion of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, which Conversion Notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4.  Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.
 
(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4,  the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion.  If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.

(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP

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Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4.  On and after the effective date of a conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.

(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.

(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.

(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable out of assets legally available therefor, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred

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Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption.  Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5.  From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.  Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1.  If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.

(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date.  Each such notice shall state:  (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined.  The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).

(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.

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(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.

(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period.  The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof.  The “Fair Market Value” of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section).  For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2014 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about January 10, 2014 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).

6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the

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qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:

(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.

(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.

(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.  However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction.  If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.

(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this

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Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated.  No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.
 
(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.
 
For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
(i)  “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.
 
7.   Liquidation Rights .  (a)  Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before

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any payment or distribution shall be made on or set aside for the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or senior to the 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.
 
(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.
 
(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.
 
(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
 
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or prior to the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
 
8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:
 
(a)  prior to the shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or

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winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock;
 
(b)  on a parity with shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock; and
 
(c)  junior to shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.
 
9.   Priority of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2014 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2012 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, and its 2013 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, on this 8th day of January, 2014.
 
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
 
 
By         /s/ John G. Stumpf                          
John G. Stumpf
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Attest:
 
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                                       
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary
 
 
[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 8, 2014.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
5.90% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES S
(Without Par Value)
_____________________
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on April 17, 2014, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated January 27, 2009, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

Section 1.      Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated 5.90% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series S, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series S Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series S Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series S Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series S Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or

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involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 2.      Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall be 80,000.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series S Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series S Preferred Stock.
Section 3.      Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series S Preferred Stock:
“ Business Day ” means for dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period (as defined below) 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 dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period (as defined below), it means any date that would be considered a Business Day during the Fixed Rate Period that is also a London Banking Day (as defined below).
“ Calculation Agent ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or any other successor appointed by the Corporation, acting as Calculation Agent.
“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series S Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“ Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on page LIBOR01, or any other page as may replace that page on that service, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates for U.S. dollars.
“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.
“ Fixed Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

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“ Floating Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series S Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ LIBOR Determination Date ” means the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the first day of the relevant Dividend Period.
“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“ London Banking Day ” means any day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments in London.
“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series S Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation.
“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series S Preferred Stock.
“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after April 14, 2014; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after April 14, 2014; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after April 14, 2014, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series S Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series S Preferred Stock is outstanding.
“ Series S Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

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“ Three-month LIBOR ” means, for any LIBOR Determination Date, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date, if at least two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, provided that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be used. If (i) fewer than two offered rates appear or (ii) no rate appears and the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR determined on that LIBOR Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that LIBOR Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth above, Three-month LIBOR for that LIBOR Determination Date will remain Three-month LIBOR for the immediately preceding Dividend Period or, in the case of the Dividend Period beginning June 15, 2024, 5.90%. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-month LIBOR will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentages point, with .000005% rounded up to .00001%. The determination of Three-month LIBOR for each relevant Dividend Period by the Calculation Agent will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding.
“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series S Preferred Stock.
Section 4.      Dividends.
(a)      Rate . Dividends on the Series S Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series S Preferred Stock, payable (i) from April 22, 2014 to, but excluding, June 15, 2024 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), semi-annually in arrears on the 15 th day of each June and December, commencing December 15, 2014 at an annual rate of 5.90%, and (ii) from, and including, June 15, 2024 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), quarterly in arrears on the 15 th day of each March, June, September and December, commencing September 15, 2024, at an annual rate equal to Three-month LIBOR plus 3.11%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any date on or prior to June 15, 2024 on which dividends

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otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay, and if any date after June 15, 2024 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day unless that day falls in the next calendar month, in which case payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be the immediately preceding Business Day, and dividends will accrue to the actual payment date (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, April 22, 2014 to, but excluding, December 15, 2014. The record date for payment of dividends on the Series S Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. The amount of dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any dividend rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices.
(b)      Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series S Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series S Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.
(c)      Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series S Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);

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(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after April 14, 2014, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series S Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after April 14, 2014, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business),

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unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series S Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series S Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series S Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series S Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series S Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights.
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
Section 5.      Liquidation Rights.
(a)      Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series S Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.
(b)      Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series S Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series S Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series S Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.
(c)      Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series S Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the

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holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d)      Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
Section 6.      Redemption.
(a)      Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series S Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after June 15, 2024, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series S Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to June 15, 2024, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below. The redemption price for shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
(b)      Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series S Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series S Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series S Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption

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price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series S Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 
(c)      Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series S Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series S Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series S Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series S Preferred Stock held by such holders as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series S Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.
(d)      Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
Section 7.      Voting Rights.
(a)      General. The holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.
(b)      Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events. Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series S Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least three semi-annual Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive

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Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series S Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series S Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series S Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series S Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least two semi-annual Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series S Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series S Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series S Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series S Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).
(c)      Other Voting Rights . In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series S Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series S Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series S Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by

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proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series S Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series S Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series S Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series S Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series S Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series S Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series S Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series S Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series S Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series S Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series S Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.
If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series S Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).
Each holder of the Series S Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series S Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.
(d)      Changes after Provision for Redemption . No vote or consent of the holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section,

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all outstanding Series S Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(e)      Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series S Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law.
Section 8.      Preemption and Conversion . The holders of Series S Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series S Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 9.      Reacquired Shares . Shares of Series S Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.
Section 10.      No Sinking Fund . Shares of Series S Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.
Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock . Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series S Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series S Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series S Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
    

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 17 th day of April, 2014.

Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer


/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                         
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary



[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on April 21, 2014.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES T
(Without Par Value)
_____________________
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on July 18, 2014, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated April 29, 2014, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

Section 1.      Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series T, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series T Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series T Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series T Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series T Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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Section 2.      Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series T Preferred Stock shall be 32,200.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series T Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series T Preferred Stock.
Section 3.      Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series T Preferred Stock:
“ 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.
“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series T Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.
“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series T Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series T Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation.
“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series T Preferred Stock.
“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after July 14, 2014; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after July 14, 2014; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after July 14, 2014, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series T Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series T Preferred Stock is outstanding.
“ Series T Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series T Preferred Stock.
Section 4.      Dividends.
(a)      Rate . Dividends on the Series T Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series T Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on September 15, 2014); provided , however , if any such day is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, July 21, 2014 to, but excluding, September 15, 2014. Dividends on each share of Series T Preferred Stock will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 6.00%.  The record date for payment of dividends on the Series T Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. The amount of dividends payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-

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day months.  Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
(b)      Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series T Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series T Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series T Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.
(c)      Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series T Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);
(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after July 14, 2014, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock

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other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series T Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after July 14, 2014, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business), unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series T Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series T Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series T Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series T Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series T Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights.
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series T Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

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Section 5.      Liquidation Rights.
(a)      Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series T Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.
(b)      Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series T Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series T Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series T Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.
(c)      Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series T Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d)      Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
Section 6.      Redemption.
(a)      Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series T Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after September 15, 2019, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series T Preferred Stock

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shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series T Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to September 15, 2019, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below. The redemption price for shares of Series T Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
(b)      Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series T Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series T Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series T Preferred Stock.  Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series T Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series T Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 
(c)      Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series T Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series T Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series T Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series T Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the New York Stock Exchange as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series T Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.
(d)      Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in

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trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
Section 7.      Voting Rights.
(a)      General. The holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.
(b)      Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events. Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series T Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series T Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series T Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series T Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series T Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend

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Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series T Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series T Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series T Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series T Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).
(c)      Other Voting Rights . In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series T Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series T Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series T Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series T Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series T Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series T Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series T Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series T Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series T Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or

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exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series T Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series T Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series T Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series T Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series T Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.
If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series T Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).
Each holder of the Series T Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series T Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.
(d)      Changes after Provision for Redemption . No vote or consent of the holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series T Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(e)      Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series T Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series T Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.
Section 8.      Preemption and Conversion . The holders of Series T Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series T Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

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Section 9.      Reacquired Shares . Shares of Series T Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.
Section 10.      No Sinking Fund . Shares of Series T Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.
Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock . Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series T Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series T Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series T Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
US.54547103.01
        

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 18th day of July, 2014.

Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer


/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn             
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary



[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on July 18, 2014.]



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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
5.875% FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES U
(Without Par Value)
_____________________
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on January 22, 2015, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated April 29, 2014, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

Section 1.      Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated 5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series U, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series U Preferred Stock ”).  Each share of Series U Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to

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every other share of Series U Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series U Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 2.      Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall be 80,000.  Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series U Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized.  The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series U Preferred Stock.
Section 3.      Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series U Preferred Stock:
“ Business Day ” means for dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period (as defined below) 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 dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period (as defined below), it means any date that would be considered a Business Day during the Fixed Rate Period that is also a London Banking Day (as defined below).
“ Calculation Agent ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or any other successor appointed by the Corporation, acting as Calculation Agent.
“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series U Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“ Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on page LIBOR01, or any other page as may replace that page on that service, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates for U.S. dollars.
“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

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“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.
“ Fixed Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Floating Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series U Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ LIBOR Determination Date ” means the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the first day of the relevant Dividend Period.
“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“ London Banking Day ” means any day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments in London.
“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series U Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation.
“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series U Preferred Stock.
“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after January 15, 2015; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after January 15, 2015; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after January 15, 2015, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series U Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking

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agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series U Preferred Stock is outstanding.
“ Series U Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
“ Three-month LIBOR ” means, for any LIBOR Determination Date, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date, if at least two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, provided that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be used. If (i) fewer than two offered rates appear or (ii) no rate appears and the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the second London Banking Day immediately following that LIBOR Determination Date to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR determined on that LIBOR Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, Three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that LIBOR Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth above, Three-month LIBOR for that LIBOR Determination Date will remain Three-month LIBOR for the immediately preceding Dividend Period or, in the case of the Dividend Period beginning June 15, 2025, 5.875%. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-month LIBOR will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentages point, with .000005% rounded up to .00001%. The determination of Three-month LIBOR for each relevant Dividend Period by the Calculation Agent will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding.
“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series U Preferred Stock.
Section 4.      Dividends.
(a)      Rate . Dividends on the Series U Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series U Preferred Stock, payable (i) from January 23, 2015 to, but excluding, June 15, 2025 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), semi-annually in arrears on the 15 th day of each June and December, commencing June 15, 2015 at an

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annual rate of 5.875%, and (ii) from, and including, June 15, 2025 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), quarterly in arrears on the 15 th day of each March, June, September and December, commencing September 15, 2025, at an annual rate equal to Three-month LIBOR plus 3.99%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any date on or prior to June 15, 2025 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay, and if any date after June 15, 2025 on which dividends otherwise would be payable is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day unless that day falls in the next calendar month, in which case payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be the immediately preceding Business Day, and dividends will accrue to the actual payment date (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, January 23, 2015 to, but excluding, June 15, 2015. The record date for payment of dividends on the Series U Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. The amount of dividends payable for the Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any dividend rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period, will be maintained on file at the Calculation Agent’s principal offices.
(b)      Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series U Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series U Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.
(c)      Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series U Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a

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dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);
(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after January 15, 2015, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series U Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after January 15, 2015, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in

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connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business),
unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series U Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series U Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series U Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside.  To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series U Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series U Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights.
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
Section 5.      Liquidation Rights.
(a)      Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series U Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”).  The holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.
(b)      Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series U Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series U Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series U Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.

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(c)      Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series U Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d)      Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
Section 6.      Redemption.
(a)      Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series U Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after June 15, 2025, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series U Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to June 15, 2025, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below. The redemption price for shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
(b)      Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation.  Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption.  Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series U Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series U Preferred Stock. 

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Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series U Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series U Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC. 
(c)      Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series U Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series U Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series U Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series U Preferred Stock held by such holders as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable.  Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series U Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.
(d)      Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders  thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest.  The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest.  Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
Section 7.      Voting Rights.
(a)      General. The holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.

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(b)      Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events. Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series U Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least three semi-annual Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series U Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series U Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series U Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series U Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least two semi-annual Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series U Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series U Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series U Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series U Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).
(c)      Other Voting Rights . In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series U Preferred Stock

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remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series U Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series U Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series U Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series U Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series U Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series U Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series U Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series U Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series U Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series U Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series U Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series U Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series U Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.
If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series U Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).
Each holder of the Series U Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series U Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

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(d)      Changes after Provision for Redemption . No vote or consent of the holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series U Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(e)      Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series U Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law.
Section 8.      Preemption and Conversion . The holders of Series U Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series U Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 9.      Reacquired Shares . Shares of Series U Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.
Section 10.      No Sinking Fund . Shares of Series U Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.
Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock . Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series U Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series U Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series U Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

        

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 22 nd day of January, 2015.

Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer


/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                         
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary


[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 22, 2015.]



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CERTIFICATE ELIMINATING THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
WITH RESPECT TO THE
2005 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

OF

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

_____________________________________

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

_____________________________________


The undersigned DOES HEREBY CERTIFY that the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at a meeting duly convened and held on January 27, 2015, at which a quorum was present and acting throughout:

WHEREAS resolutions were adopted by the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board of Directors, which resolutions are set forth in a Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 15, 2005, providing for and authorizing the issuance of 363,000 shares of 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock; and

WHEREAS as of December 31, 2015, all the outstanding shares of the 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock of the Company.

RESOLVED that none of the authorized shares of the 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding and none will be issued subject to the Certificate of Designations previously filed on March 15, 2005 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to such series.

RESOLVED that the Chairman, the President, any Vice Chairman, any Senior Executive Vice President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary are hereby authorized to execute, acknowledge, and file such instruments and documents as they, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to eliminate from the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, all matters set forth in said Certificate of Designations with respect to the 2005 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.



    

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and this Certificate to be signed by Anthony R. Augliera, its Senior Vice President and Secretary, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 2 nd day of February, 2015.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By      /s/ Anthony R. Augliera             
Senior Vice President and Secretary

ATTEST:



/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                     
Assistant Secretary



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CERTIFICATE ELIMINATING THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
WITH RESPECT TO THE
CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES G

OF

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

_____________________________________

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

_____________________________________


The undersigned DOES HEREBY CERTIFY that the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at a meeting duly convened and held on January 27, 2015, at which a quorum was present and acting throughout:

WHEREAS resolutions were adopted by the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors, which resolutions are set forth in a Certificate of Designations filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 30, 2008, providing for and authorizing the issuance of 50,000 shares Class A Preferred Stock, Series G;

RESOLVED that none of the authorized shares of the Class A Preferred Stock, Series G are outstanding and none will be issued subject to the Certificate of Designations previously filed on December 30, 2008 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to such series.

RESOLVED that the Chairman, the President, any Vice Chairman, any Senior Executive Vice President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary are hereby authorized to execute, acknowledge, and file such instruments and documents as they, or any of them, may deem necessary or advisable to eliminate from the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, all matters set forth in said Certificate of Designations with respect to the Class A Preferred Stock, Series G.







    

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has caused its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and this Certificate to be signed by Anthony R. Augliera, its Senior Vice President and Secretary, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 2 nd day of February, 2015.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By      /s/ Anthony R. Augliera             
Senior Vice President and Secretary

ATTEST:



/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn             
Assistant Secretary


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________

2015 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000, January 27, 2009, and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on March 20, 2015, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

1.      On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolution (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan hereinafter referred to:

RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.

    

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2.      On January 27, 2009, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “January 2009 Resolutions”) amending the ESOP Board Resolutions to allow the ESOP Committee to establish the voting rights of any series of ESOP Preferred Stock:

RESOLVED that the resolution set forth in the ESOP Board Resolutions under the caption “Voting Rights of ESOP Preferred Stock” is hereby deleted in its entirety.

RESOLVED that the ESOP Board Resolutions are hereby further amended to delete “Appendix A - Voting Rights” in its entirety.

3.      Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.

4.      On March 20, 2015, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions as amended by the January 2009 Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolution by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:

2015 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue .

(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2015 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2015 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock is 826,598, based on an offering price for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,088.80 per share. Each share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The number of authorized shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized, provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased. All shares of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without

238


designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock.

(b)  Shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”). All references to the holder of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan. In the event of any transfer of record ownership of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise provided for the conversion of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted. In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer. Shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option. Certificates representing shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions. In the case of uncertificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account. The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.
2.   Voting Rights . No shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:

(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one

239


or more series of Voting Parity Stock, as defined in paragraph (e) of this Section 2,whose voting rights are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company’s Board at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) as herein set forth. The right of such holders of such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) to elect Preferred Stock Directors as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.

(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2(b).

(c)  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least two-thirds in voting power of all such outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and such series of Voting Parity Stock voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to

240


permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on the Company’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or

(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designation designating shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.

(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(e) As used in this Section 2, “Voting Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Company now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company and having similar voting rights as the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock.

3.      Dividends .  (a)(i) Holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $89.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.

(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2016 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2023, as follows:

(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but

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less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $94.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”).

(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $99.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).

(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.

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Dividend Adjustment Table

Closing Price on 11/30
First Target Price
Second Target Price
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
$61.50
$64.98
2017
$65.80
$71.80
2018
$70.41
$79.34
2019
$75.34
$87.67
2020
$80.61
$96.87
2021
$86.25
$107.04
2022
$92.29
$118.28
2023
$98.75
$130.70
 
 
 

(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2016, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $62.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $94.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $94.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2017. If on November 30, 2017, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $72.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $99.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $99.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2018. If on November 30, 2018, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $65.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $89.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $89.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2019.

(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).

(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such

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period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.

(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 2015. Dividends on shares of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock. Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof. The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable. The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends. When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other. Holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

(ii)  So long as any shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration

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(or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.

4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:

(a)  Each share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.

(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.

(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).

(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.

(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.

(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b)

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of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.

(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.

Each share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted.

(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.
(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

(vi) “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.
(d) In connection with any conversion of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the

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Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, which Conversion Notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4. Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.

(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4, the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion. If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.
(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4. On and after the effective date of a conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the

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record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date. The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.
(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.
(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.
(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.
(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.
5.   Redemption At the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable out of assets legally available therefor, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption. Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5. From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price. Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1. If the full cumulative dividends have not been

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paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.
(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date. Each such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined. The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).
(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.
(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.
(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the

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Adjustment Period. The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof. The “Fair Market Value” of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section). For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2015 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about March 26, 2015 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).
6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:
(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.
(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.

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(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction. However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction. If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.
(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated. No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the

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successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.

(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.

For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i) “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.

7.   Liquidation Rights . (a) Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on or set aside for the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or senior to the 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.

(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.


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(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.

(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or prior to the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.

8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:

(a)  prior to the shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock;

(b)  on a parity with shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock; and

(c)  junior to shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts

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distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.

9.   Priority of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2015 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2006 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2012 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2013 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, and its 2014 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, on this 20th day of March, 2015.


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By /s/ John G. Stumpf     
John G. Stumpf
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer


Attest:

/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn     
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary


[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 25, 2015.]




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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES V
(Without Par Value)
_____________________
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on September 10, 2015, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated April 29, 2014, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

Section 1.      Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series V, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series V Preferred Stock ”). Each share of Series V Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series V Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series V Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to

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the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 2.      Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall be 40,000. Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series V Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized. The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series V Preferred Stock.

Section 3.      Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series V Preferred Stock:
“ 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.
“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series V Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.
“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series V Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series V Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of

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assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation.
“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series V Preferred Stock.
“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after September 8, 2015; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after September 8, 2015; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after September 8, 2015, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series V Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series V Preferred Stock is outstanding.
“ Series V Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series V Preferred Stock.
Section 4.      Dividends.
(a)      Rate . Dividends on the Series V Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series V Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on December 15, 2015); provided , however , if any such day is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, September 15, 2015 to, but excluding, December 15, 2015. Dividends on each share of Series V Preferred Stock will accrue at a rate per annum equal to

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6.00%. The record date for payment of dividends on the Series V Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. The amount of dividends payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
(b)      Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series V Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series V Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.
(c)      Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series V Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);
(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or

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any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after September 8, 2015, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series V Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after September 8, 2015, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business),
unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series V Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series V Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series V Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside. To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series V Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series V Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights.
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly

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authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
Section 5.      Liquidation Rights.
(a)      Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series V Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”). The holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.
(b)      Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series V Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series V Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series V Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.
(c)      Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series V Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d)      Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
Section 6.      Redemption.
(a)      Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem,

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subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series V Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after December 15, 2020, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series V Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to December 15, 2020, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below. The redemption price for shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
(b)      Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation. Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series V Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series V Preferred Stock. Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series V Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series V Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC.
(c)      Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series V Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series V Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series V Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series V Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the New York Stock Exchange as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series V Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

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(d)      Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
Section 7.      Voting Rights.
(a)      General. The holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.
(b)      Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events. Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series V Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series V Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series V Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series V Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series V

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Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series V Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series V Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series V Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series V Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).
(c)      Other Voting Rights . In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series V Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series V Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series V Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series V Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series V Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series V Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series V Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series V Preferred

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Stock will have no right to vote under this section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series V Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series V Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series V Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series V Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series V Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series V Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.
If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series V Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).
Each holder of the Series V Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series V Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.
(d)      Changes after Provision for Redemption . No vote or consent of the holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series V Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(e)      Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series V Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series V Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.
Section 8.      Preemption and Conversion . The holders of Series V Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series V Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

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Section 9.      Reacquired Shares . Shares of Series V Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.
Section 10.      No Sinking Fund . Shares of Series V Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.
Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock . Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series V Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series V Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series V Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
[Signature Page Follows]
US.98639891.01

        

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 10 th day of September, 2015.

Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and
Assistant Treasurer



/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                             
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary

[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on September 11, 2015.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
___________________________________

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
___________________________________

2016 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(Without Par Value)
___________________________________


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”), and pursuant to authority conferred upon the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I of the Board (the “ESOP Committee”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”) and by the resolutions of the Board set forth herein, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Board at meetings of the Board duly held on January 25, 2000, January 27, 2009, and February 24, 2009, and by the ESOP Committee pursuant to the written consent of the ESOP Committee duly adopted on January 4, 2016, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

1.      On January 25, 2000, the Board adopted the following resolution (the “ESOP Board Resolutions”) appointing the ESOP Committee and delegating to the ESOP Committee the full powers of the Board, subject to the ESOP Board Resolutions, in all matters relating to issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock (“ESOP Preferred Stock”) to the trustee on behalf of the Company’s 401(k) Plan:

RESOLVED that a committee of one member of the Board of the Company is hereby appointed by the Board as the ESOP Preferred Stock Committee I (the “First Committee”), which shall have and may exercise the full powers of the Board, subject to these resolutions, to issue from time to time one or more series of ESOP Preferred Stock, including any shares of Company common stock ($1 2/3 par value) issuable upon conversion of ESOP Preferred Stock, and in connection therewith, to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences, and all other rights, qualifications and restrictions of such ESOP Preferred Stock, to sell such ESOP Preferred Stock to the Plan on such terms and conditions and for such purchase price as the First Committee in its discretion shall approve, and to take any and all actions as the First Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate.
2.      On January 27, 2009, the Board adopted the following resolutions (the “January 2009 Resolutions”) amending the ESOP Board Resolutions to allow the ESOP Committee to establish the voting rights of any series of ESOP Preferred Stock:

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RESOLVED that the resolution set forth in the ESOP Board Resolutions under the caption “Voting Rights of ESOP Preferred Stock” is hereby deleted in its entirety.

RESOLVED that the ESOP Board Resolutions are hereby further amended to delete “Appendix A - Voting Rights” in its entirety.

3.      Pursuant to resolutions adopted on February 24, 2009, the Board designated John G. Stumpf as the sole member of the ESOP Committee, effective April 29, 2009.

4.      On January 4, 2016, pursuant to authority conferred upon it by the Board in the ESOP Board Resolutions as amended by the January 2009 Resolutions, the ESOP Committee adopted the following resolution by written consent in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

RESOLVED that the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Company is hereby authorized and the designation, voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, are hereby fixed as follows:

2016 ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

1.   Designation and Number of Shares; Restricted Issue .

(a) The designation of the series of Preferred Stock, without par value, provided for herein shall be “2016 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” (hereinafter referred to as the “2016 ESOP Preferred Stock”) and the number of authorized shares constituting the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock is 1,150,000, based on an offering price for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock of $1,086.00 per share. Each share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The number of authorized shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock may be reduced by further resolution duly adopted by the Board or the Securities Committee and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware stating that such reduction has been so authorized; provided, however, that the authorized number of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be decreased below the then outstanding number of such shares, and provided further that the number of authorized shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be increased. All shares of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock purchased, redeemed, or converted by the Company shall be retired and canceled and shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares f Preferred Stock, without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued, but not as shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock.
(b)  Shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be issued only to a trustee (the “Trustee”) acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan, or any successor to such plan (the “Plan”). All references to the holder of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall mean the Trustee or any company with which or into which the Trustee may merge or any successor trustee under the trust agreement with respect to the Plan. In the event of any transfer

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of record ownership of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock to any person other than any successor trustee under the Plan, the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock so transferred, upon such transfer and without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, shall be automatically converted into shares of the common stock, par value $1-2/3 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms otherwise providing for the conversion of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and no such transferee shall have any of the voting powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock hereunder but, rather, only the powers and rights pertaining to the Common Stock into which such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be so converted. In the event of such a conversion, the transferee of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock have been automatically converted as of the date of such transfer. Shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, at the Company’s option. Certificates representing shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall bear a legend to reflect the foregoing provisions. In the case of uncertificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall note the foregoing provisions on each 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock book entry account. The Company may require that, as a condition to transferring record ownership of any uncertificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the proposed transferee acknowledge in writing that the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock are subject to the foregoing provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) of Section 1, shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock (i)(A) shall be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 4 hereof, and (B) may be converted into shares of Common Stock as provided by paragraph (b) of Section 4 hereof and the shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion may be transferred by the holder thereof as permitted by law and (ii) shall be redeemable by the Company upon the terms and conditions provided in Sections 5 and 6(c) hereof.
2.   Voting Rights . No shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have voting rights except such voting rights as may from time to time be required by law and as set forth in this Section 2, as follows:

(a)  Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be in arrears for such number of dividend periods which shall in the aggregate contain not less than 540 days, the holders of the outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right, voting together as a class with holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock, as defined in paragraph (e) of this Section 2,whose voting rights are exercisable, to elect two directors of the Company’s Board at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “Preferred Stock Directors”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). At elections for such directors, each holder of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held (the holders of shares of any series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of

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Preferred Stock held as may be granted to them). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by a vote of the holders of such outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) as herein set forth. The right of such holders of such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more series of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable) to elect Preferred Stock Directors as aforesaid shall continue until such time as all dividends accumulated on such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, at which time such right with respect to such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned.

(b)  Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by such holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this resolution shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws of the Company irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2(b).

(c)  In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least two-thirds in voting power of all such outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and such series of Voting Parity Stock voting
together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at any special or annual meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

(i)  the authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase in the authorized or issued amount, of any class or series of stock ranking prior to shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets on the Company’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or


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(ii)  the amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of the resolutions set forth in a Certificate of Designation designating shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and the preferences, powers and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof which would materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock or of the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of authorized Preferred Stock, or the creation and issuance of other series of Preferred Stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of any series of Preferred Stock, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.

(d)  The foregoing voting provisions shall not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

(e) As used in this Section 2, “Voting Parity Stock” means any other class or series of stock of the Company now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company and having similar voting rights as the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock.

3.      Dividends .  (a)(i) Holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of assets of the Company legally available for payment, an annual cash dividend of $93.00 (the “Base Dividend”) per share, which Base Dividend shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 3.

(ii)  The Base Dividend shall be adjusted, effective on December 1, 2017 and on each December 1 thereafter until December 1, 2024, as follows:

(1)  If the Current Market Price (as hereinafter defined) of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the First Target Price but less than the Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $98.00 per share (the “First Adjusted Dividend”).

(2)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or the next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is equal to or greater than the

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Second Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to $103.00 per share (the “Second Adjusted Dividend”).

(3)  If the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on November 30 (or next preceding Trading Day if November 30 is not a Trading Day) of any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table below is less than the First Target Price shown opposite that year in such table, then the holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a cash dividend for the immediately following twelve month period equal to the Base Dividend.
Dividend Adjustment Table

Closing Price on 11/30
First Target Price
Second Target Price
 
 
 
2017
$63.00
$66.74
2018
$67.10
$73.25
2019
$71.46
$80.39
2020
$76.10
$88.23
2021
$81.05
$96.83
2022
$86.32
$106.27
2023
$91.93
$116.63
2024
$97.91
$128.00
 
 
 

(4)  As an example of the adjustments described in subparagraphs (1) through (3) above, if on November 30, 2017, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $64.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $98.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $98.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2018. If on November 30, 2018, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $74.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $103.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $103.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2019. If on November 30, 2019, the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock is $68.00, then the cash dividend payable for the immediately following twelve month period per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock would equal $93.00, with the first quarterly payment of such $93.00 dividend to be made on March 1, 2020.

(5)  For purposes of this Section 3, the terms “First Adjusted Dividend” and “Second Adjusted Dividend” are sometimes referred to as an “Adjusted

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Dividend;” the term “Current Market Price” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(iv); and the term “Trading Day” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 4(c)(vi).

(iii)  If one share of Common Stock in any year listed in the Dividend Adjustment Table shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class of shares by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, or if a stock dividend thereon shall be declared with a record date within such period, then the First Target Price and the Second Target Price listed in such table for that year and each subsequent year will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted.

(iv)  Dividends payable on shares of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock (whether such dividends are equal to the Base Dividend or to an Adjusted Dividend) shall be payable quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2016. Dividends on shares of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance of such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock. Dividends will be payable, in arrears, to holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such record dates, not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days preceding the payment dates thereof, as shall be fixed by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof. The amount of dividends payable per share for each dividend period shall be computed by dividing by four the Base Dividend or the Adjusted Dividend, whichever is then applicable. The amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(b)(i)  No full dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any stock of the Company ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment on shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such full cumulative dividends. When dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock bear to each other. Holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property, or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

(ii)  So long as any shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of, or options, warrants, or rights

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to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock or any other stock ranking junior to 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation and other than as provided in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 3) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Company ranking junior to or on a parity with 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up be redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment of the then current dividend payment period and all past dividend payment periods.

4.   Conversion .  Shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock are convertible from time to time hereafter pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 4 into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the stated value of each share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock by the then applicable Conversion Price, (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(iii) of this Section 4), as follows:

(a)  Each share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms thereof shall be automatically converted, without any further action by the Company or the holder thereof, as of the date such release occurs (the “Release Date”), into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.

(b)  Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 4, a holder of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled at any time, prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption of such shares pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 hereof, to cause any or all of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock held by such holder to be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price for 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 4.

(c)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)  The “Average Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day occurring prior to the date the “Purchase Offer” is made (as that term is defined in Section 6(d) hereof).

(ii)  A “Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in the State of New York are not required to be open.

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(iii)  (A)  For purposes of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the relevant Release Date.
(B)  For purposes of an optional conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock on the date the Conversion Notice (as that term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 4) is received by the Company, by the transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock or by any agent for conversion of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock designated as such pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 4.

(C)  For purposes of a conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock in connection with a “Purchase Offer” (as defined in Section 6(d) hereof), the “Conversion Price” for such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be the Average Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock.

Each share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be valued at its stated value of $1,000.00 for purposes of computing, based on the applicable Conversion Price, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be converted.

(iv)  The “Current Market Price” of publicly traded shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or other security of the Company or any other issuer for any day shall mean the reported last sale price, regular way, or, in case no sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange only or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, on the National Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by NASDAQ or, if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on each such day shall not have been reported through NASDAQ, the average of the bid and asked prices for such day as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by a New York Stock Exchange member firm regularly making a market in the Common Stock selected for such purpose by the Board or a committee thereof.
(v)  “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.

(vi) “Trading Day” with respect to Common Stock means (x) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another

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national securities exchange, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange is open for business or (y) if the Common Stock is quoted on the National Market System of NASDAQ, a day on which trades may be made on such National Market System or (z) otherwise, any Business Day.
(d) In connection with any conversion of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, a written notice of conversion (the “Conversion Notice”) shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive office or the offices of the transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock or such office or offices in the continental United States of an agent for conversion as may from time to time be designated by notice to the holders of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock by the Company or the transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, which Conversion Notice shall be accompanied by (a) in the case of certificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4, duly assigned or endorsed for transfer to the Company (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers relating thereto) and (b) in the case of uncertificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, duly executed assignment and transfer documents for the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted pursuant to this Section 4. Each Conversion Notice shall specify (i)(y) in the case of a mandatory conversion pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan on the Release Date or (z) in the case of an optional conversion pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, the number of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock being converted, and (ii) in connection with any conversion hereunder, (x) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock and, in the case of certificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, for any shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock not to be so converted to be issued, (y) the address to which such holder wishes delivery to be made of such new certificates to be issued upon such conversion, and (z) such other information as the Company or its agents may reasonably request.

(e)  Upon delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4, the Company shall issue and send by hand delivery, by courier or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the holder thereof or to such holder’s designee, at the address designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon conversion. If there shall have been surrendered a certificate or certificates representing shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock only part of which are to be converted, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder or such holder’s designee, in the manner set forth in the preceding sentence, a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock which shall not have been converted.
(f)  The issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon a conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock made pursuant to this Section 4 shall be effective (i) in the case of a mandatory conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4, as of

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the Release Date; and (ii) in the case of an optional conversion of such shares pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 4, as of the earlier of (A) the delivery to such holder or such holder’s designee of the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof or (B) the commencement of business on the second Business Day after the delivery to the Company or the transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock of the Conversion Notice and all other documentation and certificates required to effect the conversion, as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 4. On and after the effective date of a conversion, the person or persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock, but no allowance or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends payable to holders of Common Stock in respect of any period prior to such effective date. The Company shall not be obligated to pay any dividends which shall have accrued or have been declared and shall be payable to holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock if the date on which such dividends are paid is on or after the effective date of conversion of such shares.
(g)  The Company shall not be obligated to deliver to holders of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock any fractional share or shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, but in lieu thereof may make a cash payment in respect thereof in any manner permitted by law.
(h)  The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from any preemptive rights, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock then outstanding.
(i)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the listing of the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered upon conversion of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock prior to distribution to Plan participants on the national securities exchange, if any, upon which the outstanding Common Stock is listed at the time of such delivery.
(j)  The Company will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversions of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the holder of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or delivery has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.
5.   Redemption at the Option of the Company .  (a)  The 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be redeemable out of assets legally available therefor, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time, at a redemption price per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and (y) the Fair Market Value (as that

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term is defined in paragraph (d) of this Section 5) per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock on the date fixed for redemption. Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Company in cash or shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, as permitted by paragraph (c) of this Section 5. From and after the date fixed for redemption, dividends on shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock called for redemption will cease to accrue and all rights in respect of such shares of the Company shall cease, except the right to receive the redemption price. Upon payment of the redemption price, such shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Company, to be retired as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 1. If the full cumulative dividends have not been paid, or contemporaneously declared and set aside for payment, on all outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5.
(b)  Unless otherwise required by law, notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 5 will be sent to the holders of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock at the address shown on the books of the Company or any transfer agent for the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock by hand delivery, by courier, by standard form of telecommunication or by first-class mail (postage prepaid) delivered, sent or mailed, as the case may be, not less than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date. Each such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the total number of shares of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) whether the redemption price shall be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash; (v) in the case of certificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (vi) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; and (vii) the conversion rights of the shares to be redeemed, the period within which conversion rights may be exercised and the manner in which the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will be determined. The Company shall redeem shares so called for redemption and not previously converted at the date fixed for redemption and at the redemption price set forth in this Section 5, provided that, in the case of certificated 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the redemption price until the certificates for the shares to be redeemed are surrendered (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so require and the notice shall so state).
(c)  The Company, at its option, may make payment of the redemption price required upon redemption of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock in cash or in shares of Common Stock, or in a combination of such Common Stock and cash, any such shares of Common Stock to be valued for such purposes at their Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 5) or their Current Market Price, in either case as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, whichever value will result in the issuance of the greater number of shares of Common Stock to the holder of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock then being redeemed.

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(d)  For purposes of these resolutions, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i)  “Adjustment Period” shall mean the period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days preceding the date as of which the Fair Market Value of a security is to be determined.
(ii)  “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as to shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock or securities of the Company or any other issue which are publicly traded, the average of the Current Market Prices of such shares or securities for each day of the Adjustment Period. The “Fair Market Value” of any security which is not publicly traded (other than the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock) or of any other property shall mean the fair value thereof on the date as of which the Fair Market Value of the security is to be determined, as determined by an independent investment banking or appraisal firm experienced in the valuation of such securities or property selected in good faith by the Board or a committee thereof. The “Fair Market Value” of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 5, and for purposes of paragraph (c) of Section 6 shall mean the fair market value thereof determined by an independent appraiser, appointed by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, as of the date fixed for redemption of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock (in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 5) or as of the date specified in paragraph (c) of Section 6 (in the case of a redemption under that section). For purposes of determining the Fair Market Value of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the independent appraiser shall assume (i) that all dividends on the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock would have been paid when due, and (ii) that the mandatory conversion of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock held by the Plan into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof would have occurred when and as payments of principal (together with accrued interest thereon) would have been made by the Trustee of the Plan in accordance with the terms of that certain 2016 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Note Agreement dated on or about January 7, 2016 between the Company and the Plan (including any amendments or modifications thereto).
6.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.   (a)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged solely for or changed, reclassified or converted solely into stock of any successor or resulting corporation (including the Company) that constitutes “qualifying employer securities” with respect to a holder of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock within the meaning of Section 409(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 407(d)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor provisions of law, and, if applicable, for a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares, if any, the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock of such holder shall, in connection with such consolidation, merger or similar business combination, be assumed by and shall become Preferred Stock of such successor or resulting corporation, having in respect of such corporation, insofar as possible, the same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including the redemption rights provided by Sections 5 and 6 hereof), and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction, subject to the following:

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(1)  After such transaction each share of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be convertible, otherwise on the terms and conditions provided by Section 4 hereof, into the number and kind of qualifying employer securities so receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction.
(2)  The Company shall not consummate any such merger, consolidation or similar transaction unless all then outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be assumed and authorized by the successor or resulting corporation as aforesaid.
(b)  If the Company consummates any consolidation or merger or similar business combination, pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are by operation of law exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into other stock or securities or cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, other than any such consideration which is constituted solely of qualifying employer securities (as referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6) and cash payments, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares, outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, without any action on the part of the Company or any holder thereof (but subject to paragraph (c) of this Section 6), be automatically converted by virtue of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction immediately prior to such consummation into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted at such time so that each share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in like kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction. However, if by virtue of the structure of such transaction, a holder of Common Stock is required to make an election with respect to the nature and kind of consideration to be received in such transaction, which election cannot practicably be made by the holders of the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, then the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall, by virtue of such transaction and on the same terms as apply to the holders of Common Stock, be converted into or exchanged for the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or other property (payable in kind) receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such transaction if such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election as to the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction. If the kind or amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction is not the same for each non-electing share, then the kind and amount of stock, securities, cash or other property receivable upon such transaction for each non-electing share shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares.
(c)  In the event the Company shall enter into any agreement providing for any consolidation or merger or similar business combination described in paragraph (b) of this Section 6 (a “Business Combination”), then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to each holder of 2016 ESOP

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Preferred Stock and each such holder shall have the right to elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive, upon consummation of such transaction (if and when such transaction is consummated), from the Company or the successor of the Company, in redemption and retirement of such 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, a cash payment per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock equal to the higher of (x) $1,000.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date of consummation of such transaction or (y) the Fair Market Value per share of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, as of the last Business Day (as defined in paragraph (c) of Section 4 hereof) immediately preceding the date the Business Combination is consummated. No such notice of redemption shall be effective unless given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction, unless the Company or the successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of redemption so given prior to such time may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the close of business on the last Business Day prior to consummation of such transaction.

(d)  In the event that a Purchase Offer (as defined below) shall have been made and shall be continuing, each holder of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall have the right to convert shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price specified in Section 4(c)(iii)(C) hereof until the date the Purchase Offer is terminated, including without limitation because the original Purchase Offer is withdrawn or because the Purchase Offer has expired and is not renewed, upon notice of such conversion given to the Company not later than the close of business on the date the Purchase Offer terminates (the “Purchase Offer Conversion Period”), unless the Company or any successor of the Company shall waive such prior notice, but any notice of conversion so given may be withdrawn by notice of withdrawal given to the Company prior to the end of the Purchase Offer Conversion Period.

For purposes of this paragraph (d), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i) “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and “person” shall have the meanings specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

(ii)  A “Purchase Offer” shall have been made when any person (other than the Company or any affiliate of the Company) shall have “commenced” (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase shares of Common Stock, such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person would have Beneficial Ownership (as defined herein) or the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the Company.

7.   Liquidation Rights . (a) Upon the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, the holders of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on or set aside for the Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking junior to 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock and subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or senior to the 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, the amount of $1,000.00 per share, plus a sum equal to all

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dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such shares accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution.

(b)  Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property and assets of the Company, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company into or with any other corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or other business combination of any other corporation into or with the Company shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation, or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.

(c)  After the payment to the holders of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the holders of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.

(d)  In the event the assets of the Company available for distribution to the holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock upon any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company ranking on a parity with the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation, or winding up.
(e)  Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series or class or classes of stock ranking on parity with or prior to the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock as provided in this Section 7, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of stock ranking junior to the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock upon liquidation shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.

8.   Ranking .  For the purposes of these resolutions, any stock of any series or class or classes of the Company shall be deemed to rank:

(a)  prior to the shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such series or class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock;

(b)  on a parity with shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates, or redemption or liquidation prices per share, or sinking fund provisions, if any,

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be different from those of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock; and

(c)  junior to shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if such class shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of the Company, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such series or class or classes.

9.   Priority of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock .  The shares of 2016 ESOP Preferred Stock will rank on a parity, both as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, with the Company’s 2006 ESOP Cumulative Preferred Stock, its 2007 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2008 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2010 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2011 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2012 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2013 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, its 2014 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, and its 2015 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by John G. Stumpf, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and attested by Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, on this 4th day of January, 2016.


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY



By      /s / John G. Stumpf                 
John G. Stumpf
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer


Attest:

/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn             
Jeannine E. Zahn
Assistant Secretary


[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 5, 2016.]


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WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
_____________________
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151(g) of the
General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
_____________________
NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL CLASS A PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES W
(Without Par Value)
_____________________
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), HEREBY CERTIFIES that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) by the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, which authorize the issuance of not more than 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, and pursuant to authority conferred upon the Securities Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”) in accordance with Section 141(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”), the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Committee pursuant to the unanimous written consent of the Committee duly adopted on January 27, 2016, in accordance with Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law:

Resolved, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Committee and in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors dated April 29, 2014, the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws of the Corporation, and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

Section 1.      Designation .  The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series W, with no par value and a liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share (the “ Series W Preferred Stock ”). Each share of Series W Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series W Preferred Stock except with respect to the date from which dividends may accrue. Series W Preferred Stock will rank equally with Parity Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation and will rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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Section 2.      Number of Shares .  The number of authorized shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall be 40,000. Such number may from time to time be increased (but not in excess of the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Series W Preferred Stock then outstanding) by further resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and by the filing of a certificate pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law stating that such increase or decrease, as the case may be, has been so authorized. The Corporation shall have the authority to issue fractional shares of Series W Preferred Stock.

Section 3.      Definitions .  As used herein with respect to Series W Preferred Stock:
“ 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.
“ Certificate of Designation ” means this Certificate of Designation relating to the Series W Preferred Stock, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Corporation, par value $1⅔ per share, as the same exists at the date of this Certificate of Designation or as such stock may be constituted from time to time.
“ Depositary Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
“ Dividend Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ Dividend Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, together with its successors and assigns.
“Junior Stock ” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized over which the Series W Preferred Stock has preference or priority in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
“ Liquidation Preference ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“ Nonpayment Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Parity Stock ” means any other class or series of stock of the Corporation now existing or hereafter authorized that ranks on par with the Series W Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or in the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

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“ Preference Stock ” means any and all series of preference stock, having no par value, of the Corporation.
“ Preferred Stock ” means any and all series of preferred stock, having no par value, of the Corporation, including the Series W Preferred Stock.
“ Preferred Stock Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“ Regulatory Capital Treatment Event ” means the Corporation’s reasonable determination that as a result of any (i) amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective on or after January 19, 2016; (ii) proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced or becomes effective on or after January 19, 2016; or (iii) official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced on or after January 19, 2016, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation preference amount of all shares of Series W Preferred Stock then outstanding as Tier 1 capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series W Preferred Stock is outstanding.
“ Series W Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.
“ Voting Parity Stock ” means any Parity Stock having similar voting rights as the Series W Preferred Stock.
Section 4.      Dividends.
(a)      Rate . Dividends on the Series W Preferred Stock will not be mandatory. Holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but only out of assets legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount of $25,000 per share of the Series W Preferred Stock, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (commencing on March 15, 2016); provided , however , if any such day is not a Business Day, then payment of any dividend otherwise payable on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay (each such day on which dividends are payable a “ Dividend Payment Date ”).  A “ Dividend Period ” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, except for the initial Dividend Period, which will be the period from, and including, January 29, 2016 to, but excluding, March 15, 2016. Dividends on each share of Series W Preferred Stock will accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.70%. The record date for payment of dividends on the Series W Preferred Stock shall be the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the month during which the Dividend Payment Date falls or such other date as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

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The amount of dividends payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.
(b)      Non-Cumulative Dividends .  Dividends on shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall be non-cumulative.  To the extent that any dividends payable on the shares of Series W Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date are not declared prior to such Dividend Payment Date, then such dividends shall not cumulate and shall cease to accrue and be payable, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay, and the holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall have no right to receive, dividends accrued for such Dividend Period on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period or at any time in the future or interest with respect to such dividends, whether or not dividends are declared for any subsequent Dividend Period with respect to Series W Preferred Stock or any other series of authorized Preferred Stock, Preference Stock, or Common Stock of the Corporation.
(c)      Priority of Dividends .  So long as any shares of Series W Preferred Stock remain outstanding,
(1) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Common Stock, and no shares of Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable in Common Stock or (ii) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock in exchange for, or through application of proceeds of the sale of, shares of Common Stock);
(2) no dividend shall be declared and paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared and made or set aside for payment on any Junior Stock other than Common Stock, and no shares of Junior Stock other than Common Stock shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Junior Stock other than Common Stock by the Corporation (other than (i) a dividend payable solely in shares of Junior Stock, (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan, (iii) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such stock, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into other Junior Stock, (v) the exchange or conversion of one share of Junior Stock other than Common Stock for or into another share of Junior Stock, (vi) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Junior Stock, (vii) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Junior Stock other than Common Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after January 19, 2016, (viii) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Junior Stock

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other than Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Junior Stock other than Common Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (ix) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (x) the purchase of Junior Stock other than Common Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business); and
(3) no shares of Parity Stock will be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation otherwise than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series W Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock during a Dividend Period (other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Parity Stock for or into another share of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iii) through the use of proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, (iv) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Parity Stock pursuant to any of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ employee, consultant or director incentive or benefit plans or arrangements (including any employment, severance or consulting arrangements) adopted before or after January 19, 2016, (v) any purchase of fractional interests in shares of Parity Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Parity Stock or the securities being converted or exchanged, (vi) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with the distribution thereof or (vii) the purchase of Parity Stock by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or any other affiliate of the Corporation, in connection with market-making or other secondary market activities in the ordinary course of business),
unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of the Series W Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.
Subject to the succeeding sentence, for so long as any shares of Series W Preferred Stock remain outstanding, no dividends shall be declared, paid, or set aside for payment on any Parity Stock for any period unless full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series W Preferred Stock for the then-current Dividend Period have been paid in full or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside. To the extent the Corporation declares dividends on the Series W Preferred Stock and on any Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, the Corporation will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series W Preferred Stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights.
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other stock that is Parity Stock or Junior Stock, from time to time

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out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
Section 5.      Liquidation Rights.
(a)      Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of assets available for distribution to its stockholders before any distribution or payment out of the assets of the Corporation may be made to or set aside for the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any stock of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series W Preferred Stock as to such distribution, a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends which have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation (the “ Liquidation Preference ”). The holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any further payments in the event of any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation other than what is expressly provided for in this Section 5.
(b)      Partial Payment .  If the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference to all holders of Series W Preferred Stock and all holders of any Parity Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series W Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Parity Stock shall be pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidation preference of Series W Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock.
(c)      Residual Distributions .  If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Series W Preferred Stock and all other amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation have been paid in full to all holders of any Parity Stock, the holders of Common Stock and any other Junior Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.
(d)      Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation .  For purposes of this Section 5, the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, nor shall the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or person or the merger, consolidation or any other business combination transaction of any other corporation or person into or with the Corporation be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
Section 6.      Redemption.
(a)      Optional Redemption .  The Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in part, the shares of Series W Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at

291


any time on any Dividend Payment Date on or after March 15, 2021, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below.  The redemption price for shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid up to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days of the Corporation’s good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event has occurred, the Corporation, at the option of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, may, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem out of funds legally available therefor, in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series W Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, prior to March 15, 2021, upon notice given as provided in Section 6(b) below. The redemption price for shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall be $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
(b)      Notice of Redemption .  Notice of every redemption of shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of such shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the stock register of the Corporation. Such mailing shall be at least 40 days and not more than 70 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Section 6(b) shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Series W Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Series W Preferred Stock. Each notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series W Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, if applicable, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates for those shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Series W Preferred Stock is held in book-entry form through DTC, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC.
(c)      Partial Redemption .  In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series W Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares of Series W Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of Series W Preferred Stock in proportion to the number of Series W Preferred Stock held by such holders or in such other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the New York Stock Exchange as the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions of this Section 6, the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series W Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

292


(d)      Effectiveness of Redemption .  If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation, separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, so as to be and continue to be available therefor, or deposited by the Corporation with a bank or trust company selected by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Depositary Company ”) in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date all shares so called for redemption shall cease to be outstanding, all dividends with respect to such shares shall cease to accrue after such redemption date, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from the Depository Company at any time after the redemption date from the funds so deposited, without interest. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the Depositary Company any interest accrued on such funds, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim to any such interest. Any funds so deposited and unclaimed at the end of two years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released or repaid to the Corporation, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
Section 7.      Voting Rights.
(a)      General. The holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter except as set forth in paragraph 7(b) below or as required by applicable law.
(b)      Right To Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment Events. Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series W Preferred Stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive Dividend Periods (a “ Nonpayment Event ”), the holders of the outstanding Series W Preferred Stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the Corporation’s next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Preferred Stock Directors ”) by a plurality of the votes cast; provided that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two Preferred Stock Directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series W Preferred Stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of the Series W Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series W

293


Preferred Stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect Preferred Stock Directors shall continue until such time as the Corporation has paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly Dividend Periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series W Preferred Stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character described in this Section 7(b).
Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series W Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for Preferred Stock Directors, the term of office of all Preferred Stock Directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series W Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a class). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Series W Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock having the voting rights described above, voting together as a class, unless the vacancy has already been filled. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders as provided in this Section 7(b) shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to this Section 7(b).
(c)      Other Voting Rights . In addition to any other vote required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, so long as any shares of the Series W Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of Series W Preferred Stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all such outstanding Series W Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law: (i) the issuance of any class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock ranking senior to the Series W Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or the Bylaws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series W Preferred Stock; (iii) any amendment or alteration of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation, or Bylaws to authorize, create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking senior to the Series W Preferred Stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets in the event of the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or (iv) any consummation of a reclassification involving the Series W Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series W Preferred

294


Stock will have no right to vote under this Section 7(c)(iv) if in each case (a) the shares of Series W Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (b) such shares of Series W Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series W Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of the Series W Preferred Stock or any Parity Stock or Junior Stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or Junior Stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series W Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series W Preferred Stock shall have no right to vote thereon.
If any amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation specified in this Section 7(c) would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting Preferred Stock (including the Series W Preferred Stock), then only those series affected by and entitled to vote on the matter shall vote on the matter together as a class (in lieu of all other series of Preferred Stock).
Each holder of the Series W Preferred Stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series W Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of stock of the Corporation (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.
(d)      Changes after Provision for Redemption . No vote or consent of the holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding Series W Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or notice of redemption has been given and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
(e)      Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Series W Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility in which the Series W Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.
Section 8.      Preemption and Conversion . The holders of Series W Preferred Stock shall not have any rights of preemption or rights to convert such Series W Preferred Stock into shares of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation.

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Section 9.      Reacquired Shares . Shares of Series W Preferred Stock which have been issued and redeemed or otherwise purchased or acquired by the Corporation shall be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series.
Section 10.      No Sinking Fund . Shares of Series W Preferred Stock are not subject to the operation of a sinking fund.
Section 11.      Additional Classes or Series of Stock . Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Certificate of Designation to the contrary, the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (i) without the vote of the holders of the Series W Preferred Stock, may authorize and issue additional shares of Junior Stock and Parity Stock and (ii) with the requisite vote of the holders of the Series W Preferred Stock and Parity Stock entitled to vote thereon, may authorize and issue any additional class or series of Preferred Stock or Preference Stock senior to the Series W Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
[Signature Page Follows]
US.103920609.06
        

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In Witness Whereof, Wells Fargo & Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by Barbara S. Brett, its Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, and Jeannine E. Zahn, its Assistant Secretary, this 28th day of January, 2016.

Wells Fargo & Company
 
 
By:
/s/ Barbara S. Brett
 
Barbara S. Brett, Senior Vice President and
Assistant Treasurer



/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn                         
Jeannine E. Zahn, Assistant Secretary

[As filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on January 28, 2016.]


297


Exhibit 10(a)

Amendment to Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective January 1, 2016


Amendment to the
Wells Fargo & Company Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan
(As Amended and Restated Effective as of April 23, 2013)

Effective January 1, 2016, Section 13 of the Wells Fargo & Company Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

13.
Nontransferability of Rights . Unless the Committee provides otherwise with respect to transfers to a Participant’s family members or to trusts or partnerships for the benefit of a Participant or the Participant’s family members, (i) no rights under any Award will be assignable or transferable and no Participant or Beneficiary will have any power to anticipate, alienate, dispose of, pledge or encumber any rights under any Award, and (ii) the rights and the benefits of any Award may be exercised and received during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or by the Participant’s legal representative. The Participant may, by completing and executing a beneficiary designation in the form prescribed by the Company, which is delivered to and accepted by the Company, designate a beneficiary to receive any payment and/or exercise any rights with respect to outstanding Awards upon the Participant’s death to the extent such designations are permitted and enforceable under applicable law as determined by the Company. If at the time of the Participant’s death there is not on file a fully effective designation of beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary did not survive the Participant, the person or persons surviving at the time of the Participant’s death in the first of the following classes of beneficiaries in which there is a survivor, shall have the right to receive any payment and/or exercise any rights with respect to outstanding Awards, share and share alike:
(a)
The Participant’s spouse or domestic partner.
(b)
The Participant’s biological and adopted children, except that if any of his or her children predecease the Participant but leave descendants surviving the Participant, such descendants shall take by right of representation the share their parent would have taken if living.
(c)
The Participant’s parents.
(d)
The Participant’s brothers and sisters.
(e)
The Participant’s estate.




If a beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before receiving any payment and/or exercising any rights with respect to outstanding Awards (or the beneficiary’s share of any payment and/or rights in case of more than one beneficiary), that beneficiary’s share of any payment and/or rights with respect to outstanding Awards will be payable to or exercisable by the beneficiary’s estate.

For all purposes under this Plan, the following terms have the meanings assigned to them below
(1)      The term “spouse” means a person to whom the Participant is legally married at the relevant time under the laws of any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction having the legal authority to sanction marriages, including the common-law spouse of a Participant in a legally recognized common-law marriage. The term “spouse” does not include an individual who has entered into a registered domestic partnership, civil union or other similar formal relationship with a Participant recognized under the law of any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction that is not denominated as a marriage under the laws of that U.S. or foreign jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this provision shall be construed in accordance with Federal law.

(2)      The term “domestic partner” means a person who is not the spouse of the Participant as defined in subsection (1) of this section, but who at the relevant time is the Participant's significant other (together referred to as “partners”) with whom the Participant lives and shares financial responsibility. A domestic partner may be the same gender as the Participant or of opposite gender. A person will be considered a domestic partner of the Participant if the person and the Participant are joined in a civil union (or other similar formal relationship) that is recognized as creating some or all of the rights of marriage under the laws of the state or country in which the union was created, but which is not denominated or recognized as marriage under the laws of that state or country. A person will be considered a domestic partner of the Participant if the Participant or other person can provide a domestic partnership certificate to the Plan Administrator from a city, county, state or country which offers the ability to register a domestic partnership. A person who is not joined in civil union (or similar formal relationship) and is not registered in a domestic partnership with the Participant will not be considered a domestic partner unless the Participant and/or domestic partner provide sufficient evidence to the Plan Administrator that all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(a)      The partners have shared a single, intimate, and committed relationship of mutual caring for at least six months and intend to remain in the relationship indefinitely.
(b)      The partners reside together in the same residence and have lived in a spouse-like relationship for at least six months.
(c)      The partners are not related by blood or a degree of closeness which would prohibit marriage under the law of the state in which they

2


reside.
(d)      Neither partner is married to another person under federal, state, or common law, and neither has another domestic partner or is a member of another domestic partnership.
(e)      Each partner is mentally competent to consent or contract.
(f)      Both partners are at least 18 years of age.
(g)      The partners are financially interdependent, are jointly responsible for each other’s basic living expenses, and are able to provide documents proving at least three of the following situations to demonstrate such financial interdependence:
(i)
Joint ownership of real property or a common leasehold interest in real property.

(ii)
Common ownership of an automobile.

(iii)
Joint bank or credit accounts.

(iv)
A will which designates the other as primary beneficiary.

(v)
A beneficiary designation form for a retirement plan or life insurance policy signed and completed to the effect that one partner is a beneficiary of the other.

(vi)
Designation of one partner as holding power of attorney for health care decisions for the other.





3


Form of Performance Share Award Agreement for Grants on or after February 23, 2016
Brackets identify provisions that may vary depending on the particular grant, grant recipient
and/or other relevant factor.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT

Name:
 
Grant Date:
 
I.D. Number:
 
Target Award Number
of Performance Shares:
 

1.
Award. Wells Fargo & Company (the “Company”) has awarded you Performance Shares to provide an incentive for you to remain in the employment of the Company or an Affiliate and provide valuable services to the Company or an Affiliate. The target number of Performance Shares (“Target Award Number”) awarded you [ if award agreement posted on plan administrator’s website: is identified as the “Total Granted” on the acknowledgement screen for your grant on this website] [ if award agreement not posted: is set forth above] . The Target Award Number is subject to upward and downward adjustments based on Company performance during the [ performance period ] (the “Performance Period”) as set forth on Exhibit A. The “Final Award Number” is the number of Performance Shares awarded to you under this Award Agreement after adjusting the Target Award Number in accordance with Exhibit A. This Award Agreement also grants Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided in paragraph 4. Each Performance Share entitles you to receive one share of Wells Fargo & Company common stock ("Common Stock") contingent upon earning such Performance Share based on the Company performance criteria set forth on Exhibit A, vesting as set forth in paragraph 2 and subject to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s Long‑Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”) and this Award Agreement, including the performance conditions in paragraph 8, Exhibits A and B hereto and the attached Wells Fargo Agreement Regarding Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, and Non-Solicitation.

2.
Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in this Award Agreement, the Final Award Number of Performance Shares will vest on the Determination Date as set forth on Exhibit A (“Determination Date”), subject to the performance conditions in paragraph 8, which apply through the Settlement Date. Shares of Common Stock will be issued to you or, in case of your death, your Beneficiary determined in accordance with the Plan. You will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to your Performance Shares (including any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) until settlement. However, you may be entitled to dividend equivalents as set forth in paragraph 4. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Award Agreement, vested Performance Shares will be settled and distributed in shares of Common Stock on [ applicable date ] (the “Settlement Date”).

3.
Termination.
(a)
If prior to [ end of Performance Period ] you cease to be an Employee due to your death, the Target Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement after giving effect to any Net Operating Loss adjustments determined in accordance with Exhibit A for any years in the Performance Period completed prior to the year in which you die (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest upon the date of your death and will be distributed to your Beneficiary in shares of Common Stock between January 2 and March 1 of the year following the year in which you die. If you cease to be an Employee due to your death on or after [ end of Performance Period ] and prior to the Determination Date, the Final Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will vest upon the Determination Date and will be distributed to your Beneficiary on [ applicable date ]. Notwithstanding the

4


foregoing, if by the applicable last payment date set forth herein your Beneficiary has not presented evidence deemed satisfactory by the Company to allow transfer of the shares of Common Stock to the Beneficiary under applicable laws, the Company may treat all Performance Shares awarded hereby as cancelled, in which case the Company shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock or benefits in lieu of such shares to your Beneficiary and shall have no liability therefor.

(b)
If prior to the Determination Date you have an involuntary Separation from Service due to (i) application of the Company’s Extended Absence Policy to you in connection with a Disability, (ii) your displacement and receipt of an immediate lump sum severance benefit, placement on a Salary Continuation Leave of Absence or placement on another leave of absence associated with your displacement which will result in your receipt of a severance benefit in connection with that leave, or (iii) the Company or an Affiliate entering into a corporate transaction with another company (the “buyer”) (including a transaction where the buyer acquires all or any portion of the assets, stock or operations of the Company or Affiliate) and pursuant to the terms of the transaction your continuing in employment with the buyer after completion of the transaction, then the Final Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will vest upon the Determination Date and will be distributed to you (or your Beneficiary if you have died before such distribution) in shares of Common Stock on [ applicable date ], subject to the performance conditions in paragraph 8 below. For purposes of this Award, the term “Separation from Service” is determined by the Company in accordance with Section 409A (as defined in paragraph 12 below) and in accordance with the definition set forth on Exhibit B to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein. For purposes of this Award, the term “Disability” is defined as set forth on Exhibit B to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you die following any such involuntary Separation from Service and prior to [ end of Performance Period ], the Target Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement after giving effect to any Net Operating Loss adjustments determined in accordance with Exhibit A for any years in the Performance Period completed prior to the year in which you die (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest and will be distributed to your Beneficiary in accordance with paragraph 3(a) above.

(c)
If prior to the Determination Date, the Affiliate that employs you incurs a Change in Control and you do not continue employment with the Company or another Affiliate immediately after the Change in Control, then the Final Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will continue to vest upon the Determination Date and will be distributed to you (or your Beneficiary if you have died before such distribution) in shares of Common Stock on [ applicable date ], subject to the conditions and restrictions in paragraphs 7 and 8 below. For purposes of this Award, the term “Change in Control” is defined as set forth on Exhibit B to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you die following such event and prior to [ end of Performance Period ], the Target Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement after giving effect to any Net Operating Loss adjustments determined in accordance with Exhibit A for any years in the Performance Period completed prior to the year in which you die (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest and will be distributed to your Beneficiary in accordance with paragraph 3(a) above.

(d)
If prior to the Determination Date you have a Separation from Service for a reason other than Cause and you have satisfied the definition of Retirement under the Plan on your Separation from Service date or you satisfy the definition of Retirement following your Separation from Service date at the end of an approved leave of absence not to exceed six months, the Final Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will continue to vest upon the Determination Date and will be distributed to you (or your Beneficiary if you have died before such distribution) in shares of Common Stock on [ applicable date ] subject to the conditions and restrictions in paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 below, and provided that beginning immediately after you cease to be an Employee and continuing until the Determination Date you satisfy each of the following conditions (“vesting conditions”): (i) you comply with the terms of the attached Wells Fargo Agreement Regarding Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, and Non-Solicitation, which agreement is incorporated by reference

5


herein, (ii) you do not express any derogatory or damaging statements about the Company or any Affiliate, the management or the board of directors of the Company or any Affiliate, the products, services or the business condition of the Company or any Affiliate in any public way or to anyone who could make those statements public, and (iii) to the fullest extent enforceable under the applicable state law, you do not perform services as an officer, director, employee, consultant or otherwise for any business which is in competition with any line of business of the Company or any Affiliate for which you had executive responsibilities while you were employed by the Company or any Affiliate (including predecessors thereof) and which does business in any location in the geographic footprint of the Company or any Affiliate in which you had executive responsibilities. For purposes of this Award, the term “Cause” is defined as set forth on Exhibit B to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you die following your Retirement and prior to [ end of Performance Period ] and have satisfied the vesting conditions set forth above through your date of death, the Target Award Number of Performance Shares under this Award Agreement after giving effect to any Net Operating Loss adjustments determined in accordance with Exhibit A for any years in the Performance Period completed prior to the year in which you die (and any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest and will be distributed to your Beneficiary in accordance with paragraph 3(a) above.

(e)
If you incur a Separation from Service other than for a reason described in paragraph 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d), or you fail to comply with any applicable vesting condition (including the vesting conditions set forth in paragraph 3(d)), any then unvested Performance Shares awarded hereby (including any Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately terminate without notice to you and will be forfeited. For avoidance of doubt, a “Separation from Service other than as described in paragraph 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d)” includes, without limitation, a voluntary Separation from Service that does not constitute a Retirement and an involuntary Separation from Service for Cause.

4.
Dividend Equivalents. During the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the Settlement Date for the Performance Shares or the date the Performance Shares are forfeited or cancelled, whichever occurs first, if the Company pays a dividend on the Common Stock, you will automatically receive, as of the payment date for such dividend, dividend equivalents in the form of additional Performance Shares based on the amount or number of shares that would have been paid on the Final Award Number of Performance Shares (or the NOL Adjusted Target Award Number of Performance Shares as applicable under paragraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d)) had they been issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the record date and, if a cash dividend, the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as of the dividend payment date. You will also automatically receive dividend equivalents with respect to such additional Performance Shares, to be determined in the same manner. Performance Shares granted with respect to dividend equivalents will be subject to the same vesting schedule and other terms and conditions as the underlying Performance Shares, including the Company’s right of recoupment or forfeiture, and will be distributed in shares of Common Stock when, and if, the underlying Performance Shares are settled and distributed.

5.
Tax Withholding. The Company will withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable hereunder (including with respect to dividend equivalents) a number of shares necessary to satisfy any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations and employment-related tax requirements (“Tax-Related Items”). In addition, the Company (or your employer, if different) may withhold from your compensation any and all applicable Tax-Related Items in the event all or a portion of the Performance Shares are treated as taxable prior to or other than on the vesting date set forth in paragraph 2 above and the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable (if any) is insufficient to satisfy such Tax-Related Items withholding obligations. Finally, you shall pay to the Company (or your employer, if different) any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or your employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of your participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the shares of Common Stock if you fail to comply with your obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.


6


6.
Nontransferable. Unless the Committee provides otherwise, (i) no rights under this Award will be assignable or transferable, and neither you nor your Beneficiary will have any power to anticipate, alienate, dispose of, pledge or encumber any rights under this Award, and (ii) the rights and the benefits of this Award may be exercised and received during your lifetime only by you or your legal representative.

7.
Other Restrictions; Amendment. The issuance of Common Stock hereunder is subject to compliance by the Company and you with all legal requirements applicable thereto, including tax withholding obligations, and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed at the time of issuance. Subject to paragraphs 12 and 13 below, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without your consent, reduce, delay vesting, modify, revoke, cancel, impose additional conditions and restrictions on or recover all or a portion of this Award if the Committee deems it necessary or advisable to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations. This Award is subject to any applicable recoupment or “clawback” policies of the Company, as amended from time to time, and any applicable recoupment or clawback requirements imposed under laws, rules and regulations.

8.
Performance Conditions. This Award is fully conditioned on and subject to performance adjustments, which include the right of the Committee to cancel all or any unpaid portion of an Award, if the Committee determines in its sole discretion that:
▪
You engage in misconduct which has or might reasonably be expected to have reputational or other harm to the Company or any conduct that constitutes Cause;
▪
You engage in misconduct or commit a material error that causes or might reasonably be expected to cause significant financial or reputational harm to the Company or your business group;
▪
The Award was based on materially inaccurate performance metrics, whether or not you were responsible for the inaccuracy;
▪
You improperly or with gross negligence, including in a supervisory capacity, fail to identify, escalate, monitor, or manage, in a timely manner and as reasonably expected, risks material to the Company or your business group; or
▪
The Company or your business group suffers a material downturn in its financial performance or suffers a material failure of risk management.
The Committee may consider any factors it determines necessary or appropriate for purposes of making a determination whether a performance adjustment is appropriate and the amount of the adjustment based on the particular facts and circumstances. All determinations by the Committee will be final and binding.
9.
Stock Ownership Provision. In accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock ownership policy, as may be amended from time to time: (a) if you are an Executive Officer of the Company or a member of its Operating Committee, as a condition to receiving this Award, you agree to hold, while employed by the Company or any Affiliate and for a period of one year after your Retirement, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to at least 50% of the after-tax shares of Common Stock (assuming a 50% tax rate) acquired upon vesting and settlement of Company stock-based awards or pursuant to the exercise of Company stock options (if applicable), subject to a maximum holding requirement of shares with a value equal to ten (10) times your cash salary; and (b) if you are not an Executive Officer or member of the Operating Committee, you are expected to hold that number of shares while employed by the Company or any Affiliate. 

10.
Additional Provisions. This Award Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Plan. Capitalized terms not defined in this Award Agreement or by reference to another document are used as defined in the Plan. If the Plan and this Award Agreement conflict, the provisions of the Plan will govern. Interpretations of the Plan and this Award Agreement by the Committee are binding on you and the Company.

11.
No Employment Agreement. Neither the award to you of the Performance Shares nor the delivery to you of this Award Agreement or any other document relating to the Performance Shares will confer on you the right to continued employment with the Company or any Affiliate. You understand that your employment with the Company or any Affiliate is “at will” and nothing in this document changes, alters or modifies your “at will” status or your obligation to comply with all policies, procedures and rules of the Company, as they may be adopted or amended from time to time.

7



12.
Section 409A . This Award is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the applicable Treasury regulations or other binding guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”). Accordingly, all provisions included in this Award Agreement, or incorporated by reference, will be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. If any provision of the Plan or this Award Agreement would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, that provision will be interpreted and deemed amended or limited so as to avoid the conflict; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation that the Award is exempt from or complies with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to the Award. The Company will have no liability to you or to any other party if the Award or payment of the Award that is intended to be compliant with Section 409A is not so compliant or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto.

13.
Six-month Delay . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or this Award Agreement to the contrary, if, upon your Separation from Service for any reason, the Company determines that you are a “Specified Employee” as defined in Section 409A and in accordance with the definition set forth on Exhibit B to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein, your Performance Shares, if subject to settlement upon your Separation from Service and if required pursuant to Section 409A, will not settle before the date that is the first business day following the six-month anniversary of such Separation from Service, or, if earlier, upon your death.

14.
No Fractional Shares. The number of Performance Shares to be distributed to you under this Award Agreement will be rounded down to the nearest whole share.

15.
Severability and Judicial Modification. If any provision of this Award Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable under pertinent state law or otherwise or Wells Fargo elects not to enforce such restriction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be modified only to the extent necessary to render that provision valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If the invalid or unenforceable provision cannot be, or is not, modified, that provision shall be severed from the Award Agreement and all other provisions shall remain valid and enforceable.

16.
Applicable Law. This Award Agreement and the award of Performance Shares evidenced hereby will be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware (without regard to its choice-of-law provisions), except to the extent Federal law would apply.

17.
Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on your participation in the Plan, on the Award and on any shares of Common Stock acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with applicable law or facilitate the administration of the Plan and provided the imposition of the term or condition will not result in adverse accounting expense to the Company, and to require you to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

18.
Electronic Delivery and Acceptance. The Company is electronically delivering documents related to current or future participation in the Plan and is requesting your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agree to participate in the Plan through the current plan administrator’s on-line system, or any other on-line system or electronic means that the Company may decide, in its sole discretion, to use in the future.

19.
Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Award Agreement (including Exhibits A and B attached hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Award and supersede in their entirety all prior proposals, undertakings and agreements, written or oral, and all other communications between the Company and the Participant with respect to the Award.
[Insert requirement to acknowledge and accept grant terms]

8


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT

Exhibit A to Performance Share Award Agreement

This Exhibit A sets forth the manner in which the Final Award Number will be determined.

Definitions

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein (including, but not limited to, Return on Realized Common Equity) shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the Plan and the Award Agreement. In addition, the following terms used in the text of this Exhibit A shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Average Return on Realized Common Equity” means for each of the Financial Performance Group Companies the sum of such company’s Return on Realized Common Equity for each of the 12-month periods ending [ applicable dates during the Performance Period ] , which sum is then divided by [ applicable divisor ], rounded to two decimals.

“Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking” means the rank of the Company’s Average Return on Realized Common Equity relative to the Average Return on Realized Common Equity achieved by each of the other Financial Performance Group Companies.

“Final Award Number Percentage” means the “Final Award Number Percentage” determined in accordance with the Determination of Final Award Number section of this Exhibit A.

“Financial Performance Group Companies” means, in addition to the Company, the companies listed below provided that any such company for which financial data as of [ end of Performance Period ], is not publicly available shall be eliminated as a Financial Performance Group Company.

[ Financial Performance Group Companies ]

“Net Operating Loss” means for any year in the Performance Period a loss that results from adjusting a net loss as reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements to eliminate the effect of the following items, each determined based on generally accepted accounting principles: (1) losses resulting from discontinued operations; (2) extraordinary losses; (3) the cumulative effect of changes in generally accepted accounting principles; and (4) any other unusual or infrequent loss which is separately identified and quantified.

Determination of Final Award Number

Net Operating Loss Adjustments . If the Company incurs a Net Operating Loss for any year in the Performance Period, the Target Award Number will be reduced by one-third for each such year, effective upon certification by the Committee of a Net Operating Loss for such year. The Target Award Number after giving effect to each such Net Operating Loss adjustment is referred to herein as the “NOL Adjusted Target Award Number.” If the Company does not incur a Net Operating Loss in any year in the Performance Period, your NOL Adjusted Target Award Number will be the same as your Target Award Number.

RORCE Adjustment . The NOL Adjusted Target Award Number will be adjusted upward or downward depending on the Company’s Average Return on Realized Common Equity performance over the Performance Period as follows:

1.
Absolute RORCE . If the Company Average Return on Realized Common Equity is equal to or greater than [ applicable % ], your Final Award Number will be determined by multiplying the NOL Adjusted Target Award Number by [ applicable % ]. If the Company Average Return on Realized Common Equity is less than [ applicable % ], your Final Award Number will be [ applicable % or other applicable number ].

9



2.
Relative RORCE . If the Company Average Return on Realized Common Equity is less than [ applicable % ] but equal to or greater than [ applicable % ], the Final Award Number will be determined by the Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking in accordance with the chart below to calculate your Final Award Number of Performance Shares. The Final Award Number of Performance Shares will be determined by multiplying (i) the Final Award Number Percentage (rounded to the nearest whole percent) by (ii) your NOL Adjusted Target Award Number. Each Final Award Number Percentage in the chart below will be based on the Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking in each quartile among the Financial Performance Group Companies and apply to the lowest ranking percentile in each quartile that is equal to or greater than the Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking percentile shown.

Company Return on Realized
Common Equity Ranking
Final Award Number Percentage
Final Award Number of
  Performance Shares
[ applicable ranking ]
[ applicable % ]
[ applicable % ] x NOL Adjusted Target Award Number
 [ applicable ranking ]
[ applicable % ]
[ applicable % ] x NOL Adjusted Target Award Number
 [ applicable ranking ]
[ applicable % ]
[ applicable % ] x NOL Adjusted Target Award Number
----
[ applicable % ]
[ applicable % ] x NOL Adjusted Target Award Number

If the Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking is [ applicable ranking range ], the Final Award Number Percentage shall be interpolated on a straight-line basis between [ applicable percentage range ] and the Final Award Number of Performance Shares shall be interpolated on a corresponding straight-line basis between [ applicable percentage range ]of the NOL Adjusted Target Award Number.

If the Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking is [ applicable ranking range ], the Final Award Number Percentage shall be interpolated on a straight-line basis between [ applicable percentage range ] and the Final Award Number of Performance Shares shall be interpolated on a corresponding straight-line basis between [ applicable percentage range ] of the NOL Adjusted Target Award Number.

If the Company does not have the lowest Average Return on Realized Common Equity among the Financial Performance Group Companies and the Company Return on Realized Common Equity Ranking is [ applicable ranking range ], the Final Award Number Percentage shall be interpolated on a straight-line basis between [ applicable percentage range ] and the Final Award Number of Performance Shares shall be interpolated on a straight-line basis between [ applicable percentage range ]of the NOL Adjusted Target Award Number.

In no event shall the Final Award Number Percentage be greater than [ applicable percentage ] nor shall the Final Award Number of Performance Shares be greater than [ applicable percentage ] of the NOL Adjusted Target Award Number.

As provided in paragraph 4, you will be entitled to receive Performance Shares with respect to dividend equivalents on the Final Award Number (or the Target Award Number, as applicable and as may be adjusted under paragraphs 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d)) to determine the total number of Performance Shares that will be distributed to you upon settlement.

Committee Determination

The Committee shall determine the Final Award Number of Performance Shares after the end of the Performance Period and not later than [ applicable date ] and the date the Committee makes such determination is referred to in this Award as the “Determination Date.” The Committee shall make all determinations in calculating the Final Award Number of Performance Shares and the Committee’s determination shall be binding.

10


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT

Exhibit B to Performance Share Award Agreement

Cause

“Cause” means your termination of employment by the Company or an Affiliate arising from or on or after (1) the continued failure by you to substantially perform your duties; (2) your conviction of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust, conviction of a felony, or commission of any act that makes you ineligible for coverage under Wells Fargo's fidelity bond or otherwise makes you ineligible for continued employment; or (3) your violation of the Company’s policies, including but not limited to Wells Fargo’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, Information Security Policies and Compliance and Risk Management Accountability Policy.

Change in Control

“Change in Control” means a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or the Affiliate that employs you, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company or the Affiliate that employs you within the meaning of Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(i)(5) as determined by the Company.

Disability

You will be considered to have a “Disability” if you are (1) receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under the Company’s or an Affiliate’s long-term disability plan as a result of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or (b) determined by the Social Security Administration to be eligible for social security disability benefits.

Separation from Service

A “Separation from Service” occurs upon your death, retirement or other termination of employment or other event that qualifies as a “separation from service” under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the applicable regulations thereunder as in effect from time to time. The Company shall determine in each case when a Separation from Service has occurred, which determination shall be made in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). The Company shall determine that a Separation from Service has occurred as of a certain date when the facts and circumstances indicate that the Company (or an Affiliate, if applicable) and you reasonably anticipate that, after that date, you will render no further services, or your level of bona fide services (either as an employee or independent contractor) will permanently decrease to a level that is 20% or less than the average level of your bona fide services (either as an employee or independent contractor) previously in effect for you over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or your entire period of service, if you have been providing services for less than 36 months).

The following presumptions shall also apply to all such determinations:

(1)
Transfers . A Separation from Service has not occurred upon your transfer of employment from the Company to an Affiliate or vice versa, or from an Affiliate to another Affiliate.

(2)
Medical leave of absence . Where you have a medical leave of absence due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months, and you have not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, a Separation from Service has occurred on the earlier of: (A) the first day on which you would not be considered “disabled” under any disability policy of the Company or Affiliate under which you are then receiving a benefit; or (B) the first day on which your medical leave of absence period exceeds 29 months.


11


(3)
Military leave of absence . Where you have a military leave of absence, and you have not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, a Separation from Service has occurred on the day next following the last day on which you are entitled to reemployment rights under USERRA.

(4)
Salary continuation leave . A Separation from Service has occurred on the first day of your salary continuation leave taken under the Company’s salary continuation leave program.

(5)
Other leaves of absence . In the event that you are on a bona fide leave of absence, not otherwise described in this definition, from which you have not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, your Separation from Service has occurred on the first day on which your leave of absence period exceeds six months or, if earlier, upon your termination of employment (provided that such termination of employment constitutes a Separation from Service in accordance with the last sentence of the first paragraph of this definition).

(6)
Asset purchase transaction . If, in connection with the sale or other disposition of substantial assets (such as a division or substantially all assets of a trade or business) of the Company or an Affiliate to an unrelated buyer, you become an employee of the buyer or an affiliate of the buyer upon the closing of or in connection with such transaction, a Separation from Service has not occurred if the Company and the buyer have specified that such transaction will not, with respect to any individual affected by such transaction who becomes an employee of the buyer or an affiliate, be considered a “separation from service” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), and such specification meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(4).

Specified Employee

A “Specified Employee” means:

(1)
Any Participant who is a “key employee” under Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on the specified employee identification date. For purposes of determining “key employee” status under Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), except as required under such provision and the regulations thereunder, the term “officer” shall refer to an employee of the Company or an Affiliate with the title Senior Vice President or above, and

(2)
Any participant who served as a member of the Company’s Management Committee at any time during the 12-month period ending on the specified employee identification date.

For purposes of applying Internal Revenue Code section 409A, the “specified employee identification date” is each December 31. Any person described in (1) or (2) above on a specified employee identification date shall be treated as a Specified Employee for the entire 12-month period beginning on the following April 1.

Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a corporate transaction to which the Company or an Affiliate is a party, the Company may, in its discretion, establish a method for determining Specified Employees pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)(6).

12


Wells Fargo Agreement
Regarding Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, and Non-Solicitation

I. Introduction
In consideration for the Performance Share Award granted to me by Wells Fargo & Company on [ insert date ], on the terms and conditions contained in the Performance Share Award Agreement (“Performance Share Award Agreement”), I acknowledge that the nature of my employment with and performance of services for Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates (the “Company”) permits me to have access to certain of its trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information and that such information is, and shall always remain, the sole property of the Company. Any unauthorized disclosure or use of this information would be wrongful and would cause the Company irreparable harm. Therefore, I agree as follows:

II. Trade Secrets and Confidential Information
During the course of my employment I have acquired, and will acquire, knowledge of the Company’s Trade Secrets and other proprietary information relating to its business, business methods, personnel, and customers (collectively referenced as “Confidential Information”). “Trade Secrets” are defined as information, including but not limited to, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that: (1) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use and (2) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. The Company’s Trade Secrets include, but are not limited to, the following:

•
the names, address, and contact information of the Company’s customers and prospective customers, as well as any other personal or financial information relating to any customer or prospect, including, without limitation, account numbers, balances, portfolios, maturity and/or expiration or renewal dates, loans, policies, investment activities, purchasing practices, insurance, annuity policies and objectives;
•
any information concerning the Company’s operations, including without limitation, information related to its methods, services, pricing, costs, margins and mark-ups, finances, practices, strategies, business plans, agreements, decision-making, systems, technology, policies, procedures, marketing, sales, techniques, agent information and processes;
•
any other proprietary and/or confidential information relating to the Company’s customers, employees, products, services, sales, technologies, or business affairs.

I understand that Records of the Company also constitute Confidential Information and that my obligation to maintain the confidentiality thereof continues at all times during and after my employment. “Records” include, but are not limited to, original, duplicated, computerized, memorized, handwritten or any other form of information, whether contained in materials provided to me by the Company, or by any institution acquired by the Company, or compiled by me in any form or manner including information in documents or electronic devices, such as software, flowcharts, graphs, spreadsheets, resource manuals, videotapes, calendars, day timers, planners, rolodexes, or telephone directories maintained in personal computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants or any other device. These records do not become any less confidential or proprietary to the Company because I may commit some of them to memory or because I may otherwise maintain them outside of the Company’s offices.

I agree that Confidential Information of the Company is to be used by me solely and exclusively for the purpose of conducting business on behalf of the Company. I am expected to keep such Confidential Information confidential and not to divulge, use or disclose this information except for that purpose. If I resign or am terminated from my employment for any reason, I agree to immediately return to the Company all Records and Confidential Information, including information maintained by me in my office, personal electronic devices, and/or at home.

III. Non-Solicitation of Company’s Employees and Customers
I agree that for the period beginning on my termination date with the Company through the greater of (i) the period beginning on my termination date through the Determination Date as defined in the Performance Share Award Agreement or (ii) the one-year period following my termination date (“the Non-Solicitation Period”), I will not do any of the following, either directly or indirectly or through associates, agents, or employees:




a.
solicit, recruit or promote the solicitation or recruitment of any employee or consultant of the Company for the purpose of encouraging that employee or consultant to leave the Company’s employ or sever an agreement for services; or

b.
to the fullest extent enforceable under the applicable state law, solicit, participate in or promote the solicitation of any of the Company's clients, customers, or prospective customers with whom I had Material Contact and/or regarding whom I received Confidential Information, for the purpose of providing products or services (“Competitive Products/Services”). “Material Contact” means interaction between me and the customer, client or prospective customer within one (1) year prior to my Separation of Service (as defined in the Performance Award Agreement) which takes place to manage, service or further the business relationship.

This limitation is not intended to limit the Company’s right to prevent misappropriation of its Confidential Information beyond the Non-Solicitation Period.

IV. Assignment of Inventions
I acknowledge and agree that all inventions and all worldwide intellectual property rights that I make, conceive or first reduce to practice (alone or in conjunction with others) during my employment with the Company are owned by the Company that (1) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company whether or not I made, conceived or first reduced the inventions to practice during normal working hours; and (2) involve the use of any time, material, information, or facility of the Company.

V. Partial Invalidity
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be modified only to the extent necessary to render that provision valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If the invalid or unenforceable provision cannot be modified, that provision shall be severed from the Agreement and all other provisions shall remain valid and enforceable.

VI. Choice of Law/Integration/Survival
This Agreement and any dispute, controversy or claim which arises under or relates in any way to it shall be governed by the law of the state where the incident(s) giving rise to the dispute or claim arose. This Agreement supersedes any prior written or verbal agreements pertaining to the subject matter herein, and is intended to be a final expression of our Agreement with respect only to the terms contained herein. There may be no modification of this Agreement except in writing signed by me and an executive officer of the Company. This Agreement shall survive my employment by the Company, inure to the benefit of successors and assigns of the Company, and is binding upon my heirs and legal representatives.

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and received a copy of this Agreement, and will abide by its terms.


                                        
[Name of Executive]                    Date


End of Form of Performance Share Award Agreement
For Grants on or after February 23, 2016





Form of Restricted Share Rights Award Agreement for Grants on or after February 23, 2016
Brackets identify provisions that may vary depending on the particular grant, grant recipient
and/or other relevant factor.

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
RESTRICTED SHARE RIGHTS AWARD AGREEMENT

Name:
 
Grant Date:
 
I.D. Number:
 
Number of RSRs:
 
1.
Award. To encourage your continued employment with the Company or any Affiliate and to motivate you to help the Company increase stockholder value over the long term, Wells Fargo & Company (the “Company”) has awarded you the number of Restricted Share Rights [ if award agreement posted on plan administrator’s website : as set forth on the acknowledgement screen for your grant on this website] [ if not posted : indicated above] (the “Award”). Each Restricted Share Right entitles you to receive one share of Wells Fargo & Company common stock ("Common Stock") contingent upon vesting and subject to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s Long‑Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”) and this Award Agreement.

2.
Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in this Award Agreement, and subject to the Company’s right to recoup or forfeit all or any portion of this Award and other conditions as provided in this Award Agreement[, including but not limited to the performance conditions in [applicable paragraphs] below], the Restricted Share Rights will vest and be settled according to the following schedule:
[ Vesting Schedule ]
Shares of Common Stock in settlement of the RSRs will be issued to you or, in case of your death, your Beneficiary determined in accordance with the Plan. Although you may receive dividend equivalents as provided below, you will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to your Restricted Share Rights until settlement. Upon vesting, each Restricted Share Right will be settled and distributed as one share of Common Stock except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Award Agreement.
3.
Termination.
(a)
If you cease to be an Employee due to your death, any then unvested Restricted Share Right awarded hereby (including any Restricted Share Right granted with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest upon your date of death and will be settled and distributed to your Beneficiary in shares of Common Stock between January 2 and March 1 of the year following the year in which you die. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if by the last date set forth herein your Beneficiary has not presented evidence deemed satisfactory by the Company to allow transfer of the shares of Common Stock to the Beneficiary under applicable laws, the Company may treat all unvested Restricted Share Rights as cancelled, in which case the Company shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock or benefits in lieu of such shares to your Beneficiary and shall have no liability therefor.
(b)
If you incur an involuntary [Separation from Service][termination from employment] as a result of one of the following:
(1)
application of the Company’s Extended Absence Policy to you in connection with a Disability,
(2)
your displacement and receipt of an immediate lump sum severance benefit, placement on a Salary Continuation Leave of Absence or placement on another leave of absence associated with your displacement which will result in your receipt of a severance benefit in connection with that leave, or
(3)
the Company or an Affiliate entering into a corporate transaction with another company (the “buyer”) (including a transaction where the buyer acquires all or any portion of the assets, stock or operations of the Company or Affiliate) and pursuant to the terms of the transaction your continuing in employment with the buyer after completion of the corporate transaction,



any then unvested Restricted Share Right awarded hereby (including any Restricted Share Right granted with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest and will be settled and distributed to you in shares of Common Stock within 90 days from your [Separation from Service][termination of employment or, if earlier, by March 1 of the year following the year in which the Restricted Share Rights vest][, subject to the performance conditions in [applicable paragraphs] below.
The definitions of the terms [“Separation from Service” (which is determined by the Company in accordance with Section 409A (as defined in paragraph 11 below)),] and “Disability” are set forth on Exhibit A to this Award Agreement, which definitions are incorporated by reference herein.
(c)
[If you have a Separation from Service that is not addressed in paragraph 3(b) above for a reason other than Cause and you satisfy the definition of Retirement under the Plan on your Separation from Service date or you satisfy the definition of Retirement following your Separation from Service date at the end of an approved leave of absence not to exceed six months, any then unvested Restricted Share Right awarded hereby (including any Restricted Share Right granted with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will continue to vest and be settled upon the scheduled vesting date as set forth in paragraph 2 above[, subject to the conditions and restrictions in [applicable paragraphs] below]; provided, however, if you die following Retirement, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph 3(a), any then unvested Restricted Share Right will vest immediately upon your date of death and will be settled and distributed to your Beneficiary in shares of Common Stock between January 2 and March 1 of the year following the year in which you die. The definition of the term “Cause” is set forth on Exhibit A to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein.]
(d)
If the Affiliate that employs you incurs a Change in Control and you do not continue employment with the Company or another Affiliate of the Company immediately after the Change in Control, any then unvested Restricted Share Right awarded hereby (including any Restricted Share Right granted with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately vest and will be settled and distributed to you in shares of Common Stock within 90 days from the date the Change in Control occurred [or, if earlier, by March 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the Change in Control occurred][, subject to the conditions and restrictions in [applicable paragraphs] below]. Exhibit A to this Award Agreement sets forth the definition of the term “Change in Control,” which definition is incorporated in this Award Agreement by reference.
(a)
If you [incur a Separation from Service][terminate employment] other than for a reason described in paragraphs 3(a), (b), (c), or (d) above, any then unvested Restricted Share Right awarded hereby (including any Restricted Share Right granted with respect to dividend equivalents as provided below) will immediately terminate without notice to you and will be forfeited.

4.
Dividend Equivalents. During the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the date the applicable Restricted Share Rights vest and are distributed, or are forfeited or cancelled, whichever occurs first, if the Company pays a dividend on the Common Stock, you will automatically receive, as of the payment date for such dividend, dividend equivalents in the form of additional Restricted Share Rights based on the amount or number of shares that would have been paid on the Restricted Share Rights had they been issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the record date and, if a cash dividend, the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as of the dividend payment date. You will also automatically receive dividend equivalents with respect to such additional Restricted Share Rights, to be granted in the same manner. Restricted Share Rights granted with respect to dividend equivalents will be subject to the same vesting schedule and other terms and conditions as the underlying Restricted Share Rights, including the Company’s right of recoupment or forfeiture, and will be distributed in shares of Common Stock when, and if, the underlying Restricted Share Rights are settled and distributed.

5.
Tax Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or an Affiliate which is your employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to your participation in the Plan and legally applicable to you or deemed by the Company or the Employer to be an appropriate charge to you even if technically due by the Company or the Employer (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains your responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. You further acknowledge that the Company and/



or the Employer: (a) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Award, including the grant, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Share Rights, the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon settlement of the Restricted Share Rights, the subsequent sale of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to such issuance and the receipt of any dividends and/or any dividend equivalents; and (b) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Award to reduce or eliminate your liability for such Tax-Related Items or to achieve any particular tax result. Further, if you are subject to tax on the Award in more than one jurisdiction at the time of any relevant taxable event, you acknowledge that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, you shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion and pursuant to such procedures as the Company may specify from time to time, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following: (1) withholding from any wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer; (2) withholding from proceeds of the sale of shares of Common Stock acquired upon vesting and settlement of the Restricted Share Rights either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf pursuant to this authorization); or (3) withholding in shares of Common Stock to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the Restricted Share Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you are subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Company will withhold in shares of Common Stock upon the relevant tax withholding event[, except with respect to any Tax-Related Items required to be withheld prior to the vesting dates set forth in paragraph 2 which may be withheld from your wages or other cash compensation]. Only if withholding in shares of Common Stock is prevented by applicable law or has materially adverse accounting or tax consequences, may the Tax-Related Items withholding obligation for individuals subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act be satisfied by one or a combination of methods (1) and (2) above.
To avoid negative accounting treatment, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding amounts or other applicable withholding rates. Anything to the contrary in this paragraph 5 notwithstanding, the Company or the Employer’s right to withhold any amounts payable pursuant to this Award to cover Tax-Related Items for any portion of the Award that is considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A shall be limited to the minimum amount permitted to avoid a prohibited acceleration under Section 409A. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in shares of Common Stock, for tax purposes, you will be deemed to have been issued the full number of shares of Common Stock subject to the vested Restricted Share Rights, notwithstanding that a number of the shares of Common Stock are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items due as a result of any aspect of your participation in the Plan.
Finally, you shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of your participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the shares or the proceeds of the sale of shares of Common Stock, if you fail to comply with your obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
6.
Nontransferable. Unless the Committee provides otherwise, (i) no rights under this Award will be assignable or transferable, and neither you nor your Beneficiary will have any power to anticipate, alienate, dispose of, pledge or encumber any rights under this Award, and (ii) the rights and the benefits of this Award may be exercised and received during your lifetime only by you or your legal representative.

7.
Other Restrictions; Amendment. The issuance of Common Stock hereunder is subject to compliance by the Company and you with all legal requirements applicable thereto, including tax withholding obligations, and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed at the time of issuance. Subject to paragraph[s] 11 [and 12] below, the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without your consent, reduce, delay vesting, modify, revoke, cancel, impose additional conditions and restrictions on or recover all or a portion of this Award if the Committee deems it necessary or advisable to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations. This Award is subject to any applicable recoupment or “clawback” policies of the Company, as



amended from time to time, and any applicable recoupment or clawback requirements imposed under laws, rules and regulations.

8.
Performance Conditions. The Award is fully conditioned on and subject to performance adjustments, which include the right of the Committee to cancel all or any unpaid portion of an Award, if the Committee determines in its sole discretion that:
▪
You engage in misconduct which has or might reasonably be expected to have reputational or other harm to the Company or any conduct that constitutes Cause;
▪
You engage in misconduct or commit a material error that causes or might reasonably be expected to cause significant financial or reputational harm to the Company or your business group;
▪
The Award was based on materially inaccurate performance metrics, whether or not you were responsible for the inaccuracy;
▪
You improperly or with gross negligence, including in a supervisory capacity, fail to identify, escalate, monitor, or manage, in a timely manner and as reasonably expected, risks material to the Company or your business group; or
▪
The Company or your business group suffers a material downturn in its financial performance or suffers a material failure of risk management.
The Committee may consider any factors it determines necessary or appropriate for purposes of making a determination whether a performance adjustment is appropriate and the amount of the adjustment based on the particular facts and circumstances. All determinations by the Committee will be final and binding.

9.
Restrictive Covenants. In consideration of the terms of this Award and your access to Confidential Information, you agree to the restrictive covenants and associated remedies as set forth below, which exist independently of and in addition to any obligation to which you are subject under the terms of the Wells Fargo Agreement Regarding Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, Non-Solicitation, And Assignment Of Inventions (the “TSA”):
(a)
Trade Secrets and Confidential Information. During the course of your employment, you will acquire knowledge of the Company’s and/or any Affiliate’s (collectively “WFC”) Trade Secrets and other proprietary information relating to its business, business methods, personnel, and customers (collectively, “Confidential Information”). “Trade Secrets” means WFC’s confidential information, which has an economic value in being secret and which WFC has taken steps to keep secret and you understand and agree that Trade Secrets include, but are not limited to, confidentially maintained client and customer lists and information, and confidentially maintained prospective client and customer lists and information. You agree that Confidential Information of WFC is to be used solely and exclusively for the purpose of conducting business on behalf of WFC. You agree to keep such Confidential Information confidential and will not divulge, use or disclose this information except for that purpose. In addition, you agree that, both during and after your employment, you will not remove, share, disseminate or otherwise use WFC’s Trade Secrets to directly or indirectly solicit, participate in or promote the solicitation of any of WFC’s clients, customers, or prospective customers for the purpose of providing products or services that are in competition with WFC’s products or services.
(b)
Assignment of Inventions. You acknowledge and agree that all inventions and all worldwide intellectual property rights that you make, conceive or first reduce to practice (alone or in conjunction with others) during your employment with WFC are owned by WFC that (1) relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to WFC’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of WFC whether or not you made, conceived or first reduced the inventions to practice during normal working hours; and (2) involve the use of any time, material, information, or facility of WFC.
(c)
Non-solicitation. If you are currently subject to a TSA, you shall continue to be bound by the terms of the TSA. If you are not currently subject to a TSA, you agree to the following:
For a period of one year immediately following termination of your employment for any reason, you will not do any of the following, either directly or indirectly or through associates, agents, or employees:
i.
solicit, recruit  or promote the solicitation or recruitment of any employee or consultant of WFC for the purpose of encouraging that employee or consultant to leave WFC’s employ or sever an agreement for services; or  
ii.
to the fullest extent enforceable under the applicable state law, solicit, participate in or promote the



solicitation of any of WFC’s clients, customers, or prospective customers with whom you had Material Contact and/or regarding whom you received Confidential Information, for the purpose of providing products or services that are in competition with WFC’s products or services. "Material Contact" means interaction between you and the customer, client or prospective customer within one (1) year prior to your last day as a team member which takes place to manage, service or further the business relationship.
The one-year limitation is not intended to limit WFC’s right to prevent misappropriation of its Confidential Information beyond the one-year period.
(d)
Violation of TSA or Restrictive Covenants. If you breach any of the terms of a TSA and/or the restrictive covenants above, all unvested Restricted Share Rights shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited. For any Restricted Share Rights that vested within one (1) year prior to the termination of your employment with WFC or at any time after your termination, you shall be required to repay or otherwise reimburse WFC an amount having a value equal to the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date of vesting) of such vested shares. This paragraph does not constitute the Company’s exclusive remedy for violation of your restrictive covenant obligations, and WFC may seek any additional legal or equitable remedy, including injunctive relief, for any such violation.

10.
No Employment Agreement. Neither the award to you of the Restricted Share Rights nor the delivery to you of this Award Agreement or any other document relating to the Restricted Share Rights will confer on you the right to continued employment with the Company or any Affiliate. You understand that your employment with the Company or any Affiliate is “at will” and nothing in this document changes, alters or modifies your “at will” status or your obligation to comply with all policies, procedures and rules of the Company, as they may be adopted or amended from time to time.

11.
Section 409A . This Award is intended to [comply with the requirements of][be exempt from] Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the applicable Treasury Regulations or other binding guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”). Accordingly, all provisions included in this Award Agreement, or incorporated by reference, will be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. [Therefore, all Restricted Share Rights will be settled and distributed no later than March 1 of the year following the year when such Restricted Share Rights vest.] If any provision of the Plan or this Award Agreement would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, that provision will be interpreted and deemed amended or limited so as to avoid the conflict; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation that the Award is exempt from or complies with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to the Award. The Company will have no liability to you or to any other party if the Award or payment of the Award that is intended to be [compliant with][exempt from] Section 409A is not so [compliant][exempt] or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto.

12.
[Six-month Delay . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or this Award Agreement to the contrary, if, upon your Separation from Service for any reason, the Company determines that you are a “Specified Employee” as defined in Section 409A and in accordance with the definition set forth on Exhibit A to this Award Agreement, which definition is incorporated by reference herein, your Restricted Share Rights, if subject to settlement upon your Separation from Service and if required pursuant to Section 409A, will not settle before the date that is the first business day following the six-month anniversary of such Separation from Service, or, if earlier, upon your death.]

13.
Stock Ownership Provision. In accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock ownership policy, as may be amended from time to time: (a) if you are an Executive Officer of the Company or a member of its Operating Committee, as a condition to receiving this Award, you agree to hold, while employed by the Company or any Affiliate and for a period of one year after your Retirement, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to at least 50% of the after-tax shares of Common Stock (assuming a 50% tax rate) acquired upon vesting and settlement of Company stock-based awards or pursuant to the exercise of Company stock options (if applicable), subject to a maximum holding requirement of shares with a value equal to ten (10) times your cash salary; and (b) if you are not an Executive Officer or member of the Operating Committee, you are expected to hold that number of shares while employed by the Company or any Affiliate.



14.
Severability and Judicial Modification. If any provision of this Award Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable under pertinent state law or otherwise or Wells Fargo elects not to enforce such restriction, including but not limited to paragraph 9(c)ii, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be modified only to the extent necessary to render that provision valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.  If the invalid or unenforceable provision cannot be, or is not, modified, that provision shall be severed from the Award Agreement and all other provisions shall remain valid and enforceable.
15.
Additional Provisions. This Award Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Plan. Capitalized terms not defined in this Award Agreement are used as defined in the Plan. If the Plan and this Award Agreement are inconsistent, the provisions of the Plan will govern. Interpretations of the Plan and this Award Agreement by the Committee are binding on you and the Company.
16.
Applicable Law. This Award Agreement and the award of Restricted Share Rights evidenced hereby will be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware (without regard to its choice-of-law provisions), except to the extent Federal law would apply.
17.
Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on your participation in the Plan, on the Award and on any shares of Common Stock acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with applicable law or facilitate the administration of the Plan and provided the imposition of the term or condition will not result in adverse accounting expense to the Company, and to require you to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
18.
Electronic Delivery and Acceptance. The Company is electronically delivering documents related to current or future participation in the Plan and is requesting your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agree to participate in the Plan through the current plan administrator’s on-line system, or any other on-line system or electronic means that the Company may decide, in its sole discretion, to use in the future.
19.
Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Award Agreement (including Exhibits A and B attached hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Award and supersede in their entirety all prior proposals, undertakings and agreements, written or oral, and all other communications between the Company and the Participant with respect to the Award.
[Insert requirement to acknowledge and accept grant terms]




Exhibit A
Certain Definitions
[Separation from Service

A Participant’s “Separation from Service” occurs upon his or her death, retirement or other termination of employment or other event that qualifies as a “separation from service” under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the applicable regulations thereunder as in effect from time to time. The Company shall determine in each case when a Participant’s Separation from Service has occurred, which determination shall be made in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h). The Company shall determine that a Separation from Service has occurred as of a certain date when the facts and circumstances indicate that the Company (or an Affiliate, if applicable) and the Participant reasonably anticipate that, after that date, the Participant will render no further services, or the Participant’s level of bona fide services (either as an employee or independent contractor) will permanently decrease to a level that is 20% or less than the average level of the Participant’s bona fide services (either as an employee or independent contractor) previously in effect for such Participant over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the Participant’s entire period of service, if the Participant has been providing services for less than 36 months).

The following presumptions shall also apply to all such determinations:

(1)
Transfers . A Separation from Service has not occurred upon the Participant’s transfer of employment from the Company to an Affiliate or vice versa, or from an Affiliate to another Affiliate.

(2)
Medical leave of absence . Where the Participant has a medical leave of absence due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months, and he or she has not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, a Separation from Service has occurred on the earlier of: (A) the first day on which the Participant would not be considered “disabled” under any disability policy of the Company or Affiliate under which the Participant is then receiving a benefit; or (B) the first day on which the Participant’s medical leave of absence period exceeds 29 months.

(3)
Military leave of absence . Where the Participant has a military leave of absence, and he or she has not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, a Separation from Service has occurred on the day next following the last day on which the Participant is entitled to reemployment rights under USERRA.

(4)
Salary continuation leave . A Separation from Service has occurred on the first day of the Participant’s salary continuation leave taken under the Company’s salary continuation leave program.

(5)
Other leaves of absence . In the event that the Participant is on a bona fide leave of absence, not otherwise described in this definition, from which he or she has not returned to employment with the Company or an Affiliate, the Participant’s Separation from Service has occurred on the first day on which the Participant’s leave of absence period exceeds six months or, if earlier, upon the Participant’s termination of employment (provided that such termination of employment constitutes a Separation from Service in accordance with the last sentence of the first paragraph of this definition).

(6)
Asset purchase transaction . If, in connection with the sale or other disposition of substantial assets (such as a division or substantially all assets of a trade or business) of the Company or an Affiliate to an unrelated buyer, the Participant becomes an employee of the buyer or an affiliate of the buyer upon the closing of or in connection with such transaction, a Separation from Service has not occurred if the Company and the buyer have specified that such transaction will not, with respect to any individual affected by such transaction who becomes an employee of the buyer or an affiliate, be considered a “separation from service” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), and such specification meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(4).]






[Specified Employee

A “Specified Employee” means:

(1)
Any Participant who is a “key employee” under Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on the specified employee identification date. For purposes of determining “key employee” status under Internal Revenue Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), except as required under such provision and the regulations thereunder, the term “officer” shall refer to an employee of the Company or an Affiliate with the title Senior Vice President or above, and

(2)
Any participant who served as a member of the Company’s Management Committee at any time during the 12-month period ending on the specified employee identification date.

For purposes of applying Internal Revenue Code section 409A, the “specified employee identification date” is each December 31. Any person described in (1) or (2) above on a specified employee identification date shall be treated as a Specified Employee for the entire 12-month period beginning on the following April 1.

Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a corporate transaction to which the Company or an Affiliate is a party, the Company may, in its discretion, establish a method for determining Specified Employees pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)(6).]

Disability
You will be considered to have a “Disability” if you are (1) receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under the Company’s or an Affiliate’s long-term disability plan as a result of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or (2) determined by the Social Security Administration to be eligible for social security disability benefits.

Cause
“Cause” means your termination of employment by the Company or an Affiliate arising from or on or after (1) the continued failure by you to substantially perform your duties; (2) your conviction of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust, conviction of a felony, or commission of any act that makes you ineligible for coverage under Wells Fargo's fidelity bond or otherwise makes you ineligible for continued employment; or (3) your violation of the Company’s policies, including but not limited to Wells Fargo’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, Information Security Policies and Compliance and Risk Management Accountability Policy.

Change in Control
“Change in Control” means a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or the Affiliate that employs you, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company or the Affiliate that employs you within the meaning of Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(i)(5) as determined by the Company.



End of Form of Restricted Share Rights Award Agreement
For Grants on or after February 23, 2016






Exhibit 10(e)

AMENDMENT TO WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

The Wells Fargo & Company Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is amended effective January 1, 2016 as follows:

1.
Section 2(G) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(G)      Deferral Accounts . Bookkeeping accounts maintained for a Participant to which are credited the amounts deferred under Deferral Elections, Stock Option Gain Deferral Elections and amounts credited pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan, together with any increase or decrease thereon, based on the earnings option(s) selected by the Participant or mandated by the Plan.

2.
Section 2(H) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as full as follows:

(H)      Deferral Election . An irrevocable election made by an Eligible Employee during an enrollment period specified by the Plan Administrator or the Plan to defer the receipt of Compensation for a given Deferral Year. The term “Deferral Election” does not include a Stock Option Gain Deferral Election or the automatic deferral of supplemental Company matching contributions credited pursuant to Appendix B of the Plan and/or supplemental discretionary profit sharing contributions credited pursuant to Appendix C of the Plan.

3.
Section 2(J) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(J)      Eligible Employee . Each employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates who has been selected for participation in the Plan for a given Plan Year pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan and/or who receives an allocation pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan for a given Plan Year.

4.
Section 2(O) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(O)      Participant . Each Eligible Employee who enters into a Deferral Election, who receives an allocation pursuant to Appendix B of the Plan, who receives an allocation pursuant to Appendix C of the Plan, who prior to 2004 entered into a Stock Option Gain Deferral Election, or who has a Transferred Account set up under the Plan. An employee who has become a Participant shall remain a Participant in the Plan until the date of the Participant’s death, or if earlier, the date the Participant no longer has any accounts under the Plan.

5.
Section 3 of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:


1


3.      Eligibility . Each employee of the Company or an Affiliate who has been selected for participation in the Plan by the Plan Administrator, or by such officers of the Company to whom the Plan Administrator has delegated its authority, shall be considered an Eligible Employee and shall be eligible to make Deferral Elections under the Plan until such time as the employee’s selection has been revoked. In addition, each employee of the Company or an Affiliate who receives an allocation pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C for a given Plan Year shall be considered an Eligible Employee but only with respect to the allocations under Appendix B and/or Appendix C, unless the employee has also been selected for participation pursuant to the previous sentence. Selection of an employee for participation in this Plan shall be deemed to occur on the date notice of the employee’s selection is sent to the employee in accordance with the notice procedures established by the Plan Administrator. In the event an employee’s selection is revoked and the employee ceases to be an Eligible Employee, such revocation shall have no effect on any outstanding deferral elections.

6.
Section 7(A) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(A)      Earnings Options . At the time of the Participant’s Deferral Election, a Participant must choose to allocate the amounts that will be credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account among the following earnings options in increments of one (1) percent:
(1)      Common Stock Earnings Option
(2)      CD Option     
(3)      Fund Options
All deferred Stock Option Gain Compensation will automatically be allocated to the Common Stock Earnings Option. All allocations credited pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan shall be automatically allocated to one or more Fund Options (other than the Common Stock Earnings Option) as selected by the Plan Administrator from time to time until the Participant makes a subsequent investment election applicable to those allocations. Except with respect to amounts allocated to the Common Stock Earnings Option, which may not subsequently be reallocated to another earnings option, a Participant may change the earnings options as of each business day or less frequently if and as determined by the Plan Administrator. A reallocation election will not change the allocation of future deferrals.
7.
Section 8(C) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(C)      Upon Death . If a Participant dies before receiving all payments under the Plan, payment of the balance in the Participant’s Deferral Accounts shall be made to the Participant’s designated beneficiary in the forms of distribution elected by the Participant on the Participant’s Deferral Elections as soon as practicable after the March 1 following the date of the Participant’s death. To be valid, any such designation shall be in such

2


form as the Plan Administrator may prescribe, and shall be filed with the Plan Administrator or its agent prior to the Participant’s death.

If at the time of a Participant’s death the Plan Administrator or its designated agent is not in possession of a fully effective designation of beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Participant, the Participant’s beneficiary shall be the person or persons surviving in the first of the following classes in which there is a survivor, share and share alike:

(1)
The Participant’s spouse or domestic partner.

(2)
The Participant’s biological and adopted children, except that if any of his or her children predecease the Participant but leave descendants surviving the Participant, such descendants shall take by right of representation the share their parent would have taken if living.

(3)
The Participant’s parents.

(4)
The Participant’s brothers and sisters.

(5)
The Participant’s estate.

If a beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before receiving the balance of the Participant’s Deferral Accounts (or the beneficiary’s share of such Participant’s Deferral Accounts balance in the case of more than one beneficiary), that beneficiary’s share of the Participant’s Deferral Accounts shall be made to the beneficiary’s estate.


8.
Section 8(I) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(I)
Definitions Relating to Marital Status . For all purposes under this Plan, the following terms have the meanings assigned to them below

(1)      The term “spouse” means a person to whom the Participant is legally married at the relevant time under the laws of any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction having the legal authority to sanction marriages, including the common-law spouse of a Participant in a legally recognized common-law marriage. The term “spouse” does not include an individual who has entered into a registered domestic partnership, civil union or other similar formal relationship with a Participant recognized under the law of any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction that is not denominated as a marriage under the laws of that U.S. or foreign jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this provision shall be construed in accordance with Federal law.


3


(2)      The term “domestic partner” means a person who is not the spouse of the Participant as defined in subsection (1) of this section, but who at the relevant time is the Participant's significant other (together referred to as “partners”) with whom the Participant lives and shares financial responsibility. A domestic partner may be of the same gender as the Participant or of opposite gender. A person will be considered a domestic partner of the Participant if the person and the Participant are joined in a civil union (or other similar formal relationship) that is recognized as creating some or all of the rights of marriage under the laws of the state or country in which the union was created, but which is not denominated or recognized as marriage under the laws of that state or country. A person will be considered a domestic partner of the Participant if the Participant or other person can provide a domestic partnership certificate to the Plan Administrator from a city, county, state or country which offers the ability to register a domestic partnership. A person who is not joined in civil union (or similar formal relationship) and is not registered in a domestic partnership with the Participant will not be considered a domestic partner unless the Participant and/or domestic partner provide sufficient evidence to the Plan Administrator that all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(a)      The partners have shared a single, intimate, and committed relationship of mutual caring for at least six months and intend to remain in the relationship indefinitely.

(b)      The partners reside together in the same residence and have lived in a spouse-like relationship for at least six months.

(c)      The partners are not related by blood or a degree of closeness which would prohibit marriage under the law of the state in which they reside.

(d)      Neither partner is married to another person under federal, state, or common law, and neither has another domestic partner or is a member of another domestic partnership.

(e)      Each partner is mentally competent to consent or contract.

(f)      Both partners are at least 18 years of age.

(g)      The partners are financially interdependent, are jointly responsible for each other’s basic living expenses, and are able to provide documents proving at least three of the following situations to demonstrate such financial interdependence:

(i)
Joint ownership of real property or a common leasehold interest in real property.

4



(ii)
Common ownership of an automobile.

(iii)
Joint bank or credit accounts.

(iv)
A will which designates the other as primary beneficiary.

(v)
A beneficiary designation form for a retirement plan or life insurance policy signed and completed to the effect that one partner is a beneficiary of the other.

(vi)
Designation of one partner as holding power of attorney for health care decisions for the other.

9.
Section 9(A) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(A)
Lump Sum or Installment Distributions . The Participant must elect to receive the balance of each Deferral Account in either a lump sum or in annual installments over a period of years up to ten (10) years, except that the total amount accumulated pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan shall automatically be paid in a lump sum.

10.
The first sentence in Section 9(B) of the Plan is amended to read in full as follows:

“Except with respect to the total amount accumulated pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan, the Participant must designate on his or her Deferral Election the year that distribution from the resulting Deferral Account shall commence.”

11.
The first sentence in Section 9(C) of the Plan is amended to read in full as follows:

“A Participant who has not had a Separation from Service may elect to delay the distribution of any one or more of such Participant’s Deferral Accounts except any amounts accumulated under Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan, subject to the provisions of Section 9(B) above regarding payment following Separation from Service, by electing a new distribution commencement year that is a least five (5) years beyond the originally elected distribution commencement year.”

12.
Section 9(D) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(D)
Upon Death . If a Participant dies before receiving all payments under the Plan, payment of the balance in the Participant’s Deferral Accounts, excluding the amounts accumulated under Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan shall be made to the Participant’s designated beneficiary in the forms of distribution elected by the Participant on the Participant’s Deferral Elections. Payment of the amounts accumulated under Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan shall be

5


paid in a lump sum to the Participant’s designated beneficiary as soon as practicable after the March the March 1 following the date of the Participant’s death. If a payment of a Deferral Account, excluding the amounts accumulated under Appendix B and/or Appendix C commenced prior to the Participant’s death, payments from that Deferral Account after the Participant’s death shall be made to the Participant’s designated beneficiary when they would have been made to the Participant if the Participant had survived. If payment of a Deferral Account, excluding the amounts accumulated under Appendix B and/or Appendix C did not commence prior to the Participant’s death, payments from that Deferral Account after the Participant’s death shall commence as soon as practicable after the March 1 following the date of the Participant’s death. To be valid, any such designation shall be in such form as the Plan Administrator may prescribe, and shall be filed with the Plan Administrator or its agent prior to the Participant’s death.

If at the time of a Participant’s death the Plan Administrator or its designated agent is not in possession of a fully effective designation of beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Participant, the Participant’s beneficiary shall be the person or persons surviving in the first of the following classes in which there is a survivor, share and share alike:

(1)      The Participant’s spouse or domestic partner.

(1)
The Participant’s biological and adopted children, except that if any of his or her children predecease the Participant but leave descendants surviving the Participant, such descendants shall take by right of representation the share their parent would have taken if living.

(2)
The Participant’s parents.

(3)
The Participant’s brothers and sisters.

(4)
The Participant’s estate.

If a beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before receiving the balance of the Participant’s Deferral Accounts (or the beneficiary’s share of such Participant’s Deferral Accounts balance in the case of more than one beneficiary), that beneficiary’s share of the Participant’s Deferral Accounts shall be made to the beneficiary’s estate.


13.
Section 9(H) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(H) Definitions Relating to Marital Status . For all purposes under this Plan, the following terms have the meanings assigned to them below

6



(1)
The term “spouse” means a person to whom the Participant is legally married at the relevant time under the laws of any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction having the legal authority to sanction marriages, including the common-law spouse of a Participant in a legally recognized common-law marriage. The term “spouse” does not include an individual who has entered into a registered domestic partnership, civil union or other similar formal relationship with a Participant recognized under the law of any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction that is not denominated as a marriage under the laws of that U.S. or foreign jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this provision shall be construed in accordance with Federal law.

(2)
The term “domestic partner” means a person who is not the spouse of the Participant as defined in subsection (1) of this section, but who at the relevant time is the Participant's significant other (together referred to as “partners”) with whom the Participant lives and shares financial responsibility. A domestic partner may be of the same gender as the Participant or of opposite gender. A person will be considered a domestic partner of the Participant if the person and the Participant are joined in a civil union (or other similar formal relationship) that is recognized as creating some or all of the rights of marriage under the laws of the state or country in which the union was created, but which is not denominated or recognized as marriage under the laws of that state or country. A person will be considered a domestic partner of the Participant if the Participant or other person can provide a domestic partnership certificate to the Plan Administrator from a city, county, state or country which offers the ability to register a domestic partnership. A person who is not joined in civil union (or similar formal relationship) and is not registered in a domestic partnership with the Participant will not be considered a domestic partner unless the Participant and/or domestic partner provide sufficient evidence to the Plan Administrator that all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(a)
The partners have shared a single, intimate, and committed relationship of mutual caring for at least six months and intend to remain in the relationship indefinitely.

(b)
The partners reside together in the same residence and have lived in a spouse-like relationship for at least six months.

(c)
The partners are not related by blood or a degree of closeness which would prohibit marriage under the law of the state in which they reside.


7


(d)
Neither partner is married to another person under federal, state, or common law, and neither has another domestic partner or is a member of another domestic partnership.

(e)      Each partner is mentally competent to consent or contract.

(f)      Both partners are at least 18 years of age.

(g)
The partners are financially interdependent, are jointly responsible for each other’s basic living expenses, and are able to provide documents proving at least three of the following situations to demonstrate such financial interdependence:

(i)
Joint ownership of real property or a common leasehold interest in real property.

(ii)      Common ownership of an automobile.

(iii)      Joint bank or credit accounts.

(iv)
A will which designates the other as primary beneficiary.

(v)
A beneficiary designation form for a retirement plan or life insurance policy signed and completed to the effect that one partner is a beneficiary of the other.

(i)
Designation of one partner as holding power of attorney for health care decisions for the other.

14.
The opening paragraph to Section 9(G) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read as full as follows:

(G)      Withdrawals Due to Unforeseeable Emergency . Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 9 to the contrary, a Participant may withdraw all or a portion of the balance of the Participant’s Deferral Accounts, except the total amount accumulated pursuant to Appendix B and/Appendix C of the Plan, established for Deferral Years commencing on or after January 1, 2013 (the “eligible Deferral Accounts”) due to unforeseeable emergency, subject to the following:





8


15.
Section 9(I) of the Plan is amended in its entirety to read in full as follows:

(I)
Accounts Less Than Code §402(g) Threshold . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, if

(1)
the aggregate value of the Participant’s Deferral Accounts that are subject to the distribution rules in this Section 9, Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan due to Separation from Service or death is less than the applicable dollar amount under Code §402(g)(1)(B) as of the end of the month following the Participant’s Separation from Service or death, and

(2)
a lump sum payment of the value referred to in (1) above would result in the termination and liquidation of the entirety of the Participant’s interest under the Plan and any other agreements, methods, programs or other arrangements with respect to which deferrals of compensation are treated as having been deferred under a single nonqualified deferred compensation plan under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(c)(2), taking into account only such interests as are subject to Code §409A,

then the value of the Deferral Accounts except the total amount accumulated pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan shall be distributed in a single lump sum on the date that the first payment would occur pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 9. The total amount accumulated pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C of the Plan shall be distributed in a single lump sum pursuant to Appendix B and/or Appendix C as applicable.



9


Exhibit 10(q)  
 
Wells Fargo & Company Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Program
(Effective January 1, 2016)
Stock Awards
 
•
Award Value :  

◦
Each non-employee director elected at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders shall automatically be granted, as of the date of such meeting, under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (LTICP), an award of Company common stock having an award value of $180,000.

◦
A non-employee director who joins the Board effective as of any other date shall automatically be granted, as of such other date, under the LTICP, an award of Company common stock having an award value based on the award value of the most recent annual grant prorated to reflect the number of months (rounded up to the next whole month) remaining until the next annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is not open on the day such director joins the Board, the award shall be granted as of the next following day on which the NYSE is open.
 
•
Number of Shares Subject to Award : The number of shares of Company common stock subject to an award shall be determined by dividing the award value by the NYSE-only closing price of Company common stock on the date of grant (rounded up to the nearest whole share).

•
Vesting : The stock awards shall vest in full immediately upon grant.

•
Deferral : Non-employee directors may elect to defer receipt of their stock awards in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan.


221



EXHIBIT 12(a)
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  Year ended December 31,
 
($ in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Earnings including interest on deposits   (1):
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
Income before income tax expense
 
$
33,641

 
33,915

 
32,629

 
28,471

 
23,656

  
Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
 
382

 
551

 
346

 
471

 
342

  
Income before income tax expense and after noncontrolling interests
 
33,259

 
33,364

 
32,283

 
28,000

 
23,314

  
Fixed charges
 
4,378

 
4,415

 
4,673

 
5,511

 
7,013

  
  
 
$
37,637

 
37,779

 
36,956

 
33,511

 
30,327

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges (1):
 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

  
Interest expense
 
$
3,976

 
4,025

 
4,289

 
5,161

 
6,649

  
Estimated interest component of net rental expense
 
402

 
390

 
384

 
350

 
364

  
  
 
$
4,378

 
4,415

 
4,673

 
5,511

 
7,013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)
 
8.60

 
8.56

 
7.91

 
6.08

 
4.32

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings excluding interest on deposits:
 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

  
Income before income tax expense and after noncontrolling interests
 
$
33,259

 
33,364

 
32,283

 
28,000

 
23,314

  
Fixed charges
 
3,415

 
3,319

 
3,336

 
3,784

 
4,738

  
  
 
$
36,674

 
36,683

 
35,619

 
31,784

 
28,052

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges:
 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

  
Interest expense
 
$
3,976

 
4,025

 
4,289

 
5,161

 
6,649

  
Less: Interest on deposits
 
963

 
1,096

 
1,337

 
1,727

 
2,275

  
Estimated interest component of net rental expense
 
402

 
390

 
384

 
350

 
364

  
  
 
$
3,415

 
3,319

 
3,336

 
3,784

 
4,738

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)
 
10.74

 
11.05

 
10.68

 
8.40

 
5.92

 
 

(1)
As defined in Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K.
(2)
These computations are included herein in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.  However, management believes that fixed charge ratios are not meaningful measures for the business of the Company because of two factors. First, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline with an increase in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt or, conversely, they would increase with a decrease in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt. Second, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline if interest income and interest expense increase by the same amount due to an increase in the level of interest rates or, conversely, they would increase if interest income and interest expense decrease by the same amount due to a decrease in the level of interest rates.





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT 12(b)
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Earnings including interest on deposits   (1): 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
Income before income tax expense
 
$
33,641

 
33,915

 
32,629

 
28,471

 
23,656

  
Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
 
382

 
551

 
346

 
471

 
342

  
Income before income tax expense and after noncontrolling interests
 
33,259


33,364


32,283


28,000


23,314

  
Fixed charges
 
4,378

 
4,415

 
4,673

 
5,511

 
7,013

  
  
 
$
37,637

 
37,779

 
36,956

 
33,511

 
30,327

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred dividend requirement
 
1,426

 
1,235

 
1,017

 
898

 
844

Tax factor (based on effective tax rate)    
 
1.45

 
1.30

 
1.48

 
1.48

 
1.47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred dividends (2)
 
$
2,072

 
1,611

 
1,501

 
1,331

 
1,240

Fixed charges (1):
 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

  
Interest expense
 
$
3,976

 
4,025

 
4,289

 
5,161

 
6,649

  
Estimated interest component of net rental expense
 
402

 
390

 
384

 
350

 
364

  
  
 
4,378

 
4,415

 
4,673

 
5,511

 
7,013

  
Fixed charges and preferred dividends
 
$
6,450

 
6,026

 
6,174

 
6,842

 
8,253

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends (3)
 
5.84

 
6.27

 
5.99

 
4.90

 
3.67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings excluding interest on deposits:
 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

  
Income before income tax expense and after noncontrolling interests
 
$
33,259

 
33,364

 
32,283

 
28,000

 
23,314

  
Fixed charges
 
3,415

 
3,319


3,336


3,784


4,738

  
  
 
$
36,674

 
36,683

 
35,619

 
31,784

 
28,052

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred dividends (2)
 
2,072

 
1,611


1,501


1,331


1,240

Fixed charges:
 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

 
  

  
Interest expense
 
$
3,976

 
4,025

 
4,289

 
5,161

 
6,649

  
Less: Interest on deposits
 
963

 
1,096

 
1,337

 
1,727

 
2,275

  
Estimated interest component of net rental expense
 
402

 
390

 
384

 
350

 
364

  
  
 
3,415

 
3,319


3,336


3,784


4,738

  
Fixed charges and preferred dividends
 
$
5,487

 
4,930

 
4,837


5,115


5,978

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends (3)
 
6.68

 
7.44

 
7.36

 
6.21

 
4.69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
As defined in Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K.
(2)
The preferred dividends were increased to amounts representing the pretax earnings that would be required to cover such dividend requirements.
(3)
These computations are included herein in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. However, management believes that fixed charge ratios are not meaningful measures for the business of the Company because of two factors. First, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline with an increase in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt or, conversely, they would increase with a decrease in the proportion of income which is tax-exempt. Second, even if there was no change in net income, the ratios would decline if interest income and interest expense increase by the same amount due to an increase in the level of interest rates or, conversely, they would increase if interest income and interest expense decrease by the same amount due to a decrease in the level of interest rates.


263
Exhibit 13



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
 
 
 
 
Financial Review
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview
 
 
3

 
Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions
 
 
 
Earnings Performance
 
 
4

 
Federal Funds Sold, Securities Purchased under Resale Agreements and Other Short-Term Investments
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Analysis
 
 
5

 
Investment Securities
 
 
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
 
6

 
Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses
 
 
 
Risk Management
 
 
7

 
Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets
 
 
 
Capital Management
 
 
8

 
Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities
 
 
 
Regulatory Reform
 
 
9

 
Mortgage Banking Activities
 
 
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
 
10

 
Intangible Assets
 
 
 
Current Accounting Developments
 
 
11

 
Deposits
 
 
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
 
12

 
Short-Term Borrowings
 
 
 
Risk Factors
 
 
13

 
Long-Term Debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14

 
Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral
 
 
 
 
Controls and Procedures
 
 
15

 
Legal Actions
 
 
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
 
16

 
Derivatives
 
 
 
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
 
17

 
Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
 
 
 
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
 
18

 
Preferred Stock
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
19

 
Common Stock and Stock Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20

 
Employee Benefits and Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements
 
 
21

 
Income Taxes
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Income
 
 
22

 
Earnings Per Common Share
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
 
 
23

 
Other Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
 
24

 
Operating Segments
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
 
 
25

 
Parent-Only Financial Statements
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
 
 
26

 
Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
1

 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
 
 
 
Quarterly Financial Data
 
2

 
Business Combinations
 
 
 
 
Glossary of Acronyms


 
Wells Fargo & Company
29


This Annual Report, including the Financial Review and the Financial Statements and related Notes, contains forward-looking statements, which may include forecasts of our financial results and condition, expectations for our operations and business, and our assumptions for those forecasts and expectations. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements due to several factors. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements are described in this Report, including in the “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” sections, and in the “Regulation and Supervision” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 ( 2015 Form 10-K).
 
When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” in this Report, we mean Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated). When we refer to the “Parent,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company. When we refer to “legacy Wells Fargo,” we mean Wells Fargo excluding Wachovia Corporation (Wachovia). See the Glossary of Acronyms for terms used throughout this Report.
 
Financial Review

Overview
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, we provide banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and we have offices in 36 countries to support our customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 active, full-time equivalent team members, we serve one in three households in the United States and ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s  2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. We ranked third in assets and first in the market value of our common stock among all U.S. banks at December 31, 2015 . 
We use our Vision and Values to guide us toward growth and success. Our vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs, help them succeed financially, be recognized as the premier financial services company in our markets and be one of America’s great companies. We aspire to create deep and enduring relationships with our customers by providing them with an exceptional experience and by discovering their needs and delivering the most relevant products, services, advice, and guidance.
We have five primary values, which are based on our vision and provide the foundation for everything we do. First, we value and support our people as a competitive advantage and strive to attract, develop, retain and motivate the most talented people we can find. Second, we strive for the highest ethical standards with our team members, our customers, our communities and our shareholders. Third, with respect to our customers, we strive to base our decisions and actions on what is right for them in everything we do. Fourth, for team members we strive to build and sustain a diverse and inclusive culture – one where they feel valued and respected for who they are as well as for the skills and experiences they bring to our company. Fifth, we also look to each of our team members to be leaders in establishing, sharing and communicating our vision. In addition to our five primary values, one of our key day-to-day priorities is to make risk
management a competitive advantage by working hard to ensure
appropriate controls are in place to reduce risks to our customers, maintain and increase our competitive market position, and protect Wells Fargo’s long-term safety, soundness and reputation.
 
Financial Performance
In 2015, we generated $22.9 billion of net income and record diluted earnings per common share (EPS) of $4.12 and ended
 
the year as the world's most valuable bank by market capitalization. We produced strong loan and deposit growth, grew the number of customers we serve, improved credit quality, enhanced our risk management practices, increased our capital and liquidity levels and rewarded our shareholders by increasing our dividend and continuing to repurchase shares of our common stock. Our achievements during 2015 continued to demonstrate the benefit of our diversified business model and our continued focus on the real economy. Our contribution to the real economy in 2015 was broad based and included originating $213.2 billion in residential mortgage loans, $31.1 billion of auto loans, $18.8 billion in new loan commitments to our small business customers, who primarily have less than $20 million in annual revenue, and $34.4 billion of middle market loans.
Noteworthy items included: 
•
revenue of $86.1 billion, up 2% from 2014;
•
pre-tax pre-provision profit (PTPP) of $36.1 billion, up 2%;
•
an increase in loans of $54.0 billion, up 6%, even with the planned runoff in our non-strategic/liquidating portfolios, and growth in our core loan portfolio of $62.8 billion, up 8%;
•
strong customer deposit growth generated by our deposit franchise, with total deposits up $55.0 billion, or 5%;
•
strong credit performance as our net charge-off ratio declined to 33 basis points of average loans;
•
loan loss allowance releases declined from $1.6 billion in 2014 to $450 million in 2015;
•
strengthening our capital levels as our Common Equity Tier I ratio (fully phased-in) was 10.77% ; and
•
returning $12.6 billion in capital to our shareholders, our 5th consecutive year of increased returns, through increased common stock dividends and additional net share repurchases.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Our balance sheet grew 6% in 2015 to $1.8 trillion, as we increased our liquidity position, improved the quality of our assets and held more capital. We grew deposits by 5% while reducing our deposit costs by two basis points. We also grew our loans each quarter on a year-over-year basis to end 2015 with our 18th consecutive quarter of growth (for the past 15 quarters year-over-year loan growth has been 3% or greater) despite the planned runoff from our non-strategic/liquidating portfolios. Our non-strategic/liquidating loan portfolios decreased $8.8 billion during the year (to less than 6% of total loans) and


30
Wells Fargo & Company
 

our core loan portfolios increased $62.8 billion from the prior year. Our core loan portfolio growth included $11.5 billion from the GE Capital commercial real estate loan purchase and related financing transaction announced in first quarter 2015. We grew our investment securities portfolio by $34.6 billion in 2015 and our federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments (collectively referred to as federal funds sold and other short-term investments elsewhere in this Report) increased by $11.7 billion, or 5%, during the year. While we believe our liquidity position continued to remain strong with increased regulatory expectations, we have added to our position over the past year.
The strength of our balance sheet during 2015 positioned us for the agreement we announced in third quarter 2015 to purchase GE Capital's Commercial Distribution Finance and Vendor Finance businesses as well as a portion of its Corporate Finance business – an acquisition that will help us serve more markets and meet more of our customers' financial needs. The acquisition is expected to include total assets of approximately $31 billion and is expected to close in two phases. The North American portion, which represents approximately 90% of total assets to be acquired, is expected to close late in first quarter 2016. The international portion is expected to close in second quarter 2016. Also, in January 2016 we closed our purchase of GE Railcar Services, which included $4.0 billion of operating and capital leases, comprised of 77,000 railcars and just over 1,000 locomotives that were added to our existing First Union Rail business. During fourth quarter 2015 we issued long-term debt to partially fund the anticipated closing of these GE Capital acquisitions.
Deposit growth remained strong with period-end deposits up $55.0 billion from 2014. This increase reflected solid growth across both our commercial and consumer businesses. We grew our primary consumer checking customers by 5.6% and primary small business and business banking checking customers by 4.8% from a year ago (November 2015 compared with November 2014). Our ability to grow primary customers is important to our results because these customers have more interactions with us and are significantly more profitable than non-primary customers.
 
Credit Quality
Credit quality remained strong in 2015, demonstrating the benefit of our diversified loan portfolio. Solid performance in several of our commercial and consumer loan portfolios was evidenced by losses remaining near historically low levels, reflecting our long-term risk focus. Net charge-offs of $2.9 billion were 0.33% of average loans, down 2 basis points from a year ago. Net losses in our commercial portfolio were $387 million, or 9 basis points of average loans. Net consumer losses declined to 55 basis points in 2015 from 65 basis points in 2014. Our commercial real estate portfolios were in a net recovery position for each quarter of the last three years, reflecting our conservative risk discipline and improved market conditions. Losses on our consumer real estate portfolios declined $497 million, or 44%, from a year ago. The consumer loss levels reflected the benefit of the improving housing market and our continued focus on originating high quality loans. Approximately 67% of the consumer first mortgage portfolio was originated after 2008, when new underwriting standards were implemented.
Our provision for credit losses in 2015 was $2.4 billion compared with $1.4 billion a year ago reflecting a release of
 
$450 million from the allowance for credit losses, compared with a release of $1.6 billion a year ago. We did not release or build our allowance in the last half of 2015 as the credit improvement in our residential real estate portfolios was offset by higher commercial allowance reflecting deterioration in our oil and gas portfolio. Total loans in the oil and gas portfolio were down 6% from a year ago and are now less than 2% of our total loans outstanding. Approximately $1.2 billion of the allowance at December 31, 2015 was allocated to our oil and gas portfolio; however the entire allowance is available to absorb credit losses inherent in the total loan portfolio. If oil prices remain low for a prolonged period of time, there could be additional performance deterioration in our oil and gas portfolio resulting in higher criticized assets, nonperforming loans, allowance levels and ultimately credit losses. Deteriorated performance can take the form of increased downgrades, borrower defaults, potentially higher commitment drawdowns prior to default, and downgraded borrowers being unable to fully access the capital markets. Furthermore, our loan exposure in communities where the employment base has a concentration in the oil and gas sector may experience some credit challenges.
Future allowance levels may increase or decrease based on a variety of factors, including loan growth, portfolio performance and general economic conditions.
In addition to lower net charge-offs, nonperforming assets (NPAs) through the end of 2015 have declined for 13 consecutive quarters and were down $2.7 billion, or 17%, from 2014. Nonaccrual loans declined $1.5 billion from the prior year while foreclosed assets were down $1.2 billion from 2014.

Capital
Our capital levels remained strong in 2015, even as we returned more capital to our shareholders, with total equity increasing to $193.9 billion at December 31, 2015, up $8.6 billion from the prior year. We returned $12.6 billion to shareholders in 2015 ($12.5 billion in 2014) through common stock dividends and net share repurchases and our net payout ratio (which is the ratio of (i) common stock dividends and share repurchases less issuances and stock compensation-related items, divided by (ii) net income applicable to common stock) was 59%. During 2015 we increased our quarterly common stock dividend by 7% to $0.375 per share. In 2015, our common shares outstanding declined by 78.2 million shares as we continued to reduce our common share count through the repurchase of 163.4 million common shares during the year. We also entered into a $500 million forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party in December 2015 that settled in January 2016 for 9.2 million shares. In addition, we entered into a $750 million forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party in January 2016 that settled in first quarter 2016 for 15.9 million shares. We expect our share count to continue to decline in 2016 as a result of anticipated net share repurchases.
We believe an important measure of our capital strength is the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio on a fully phased-in basis, which increased to 10.77 % in 2015 from 10.43% a year ago. Likewise, our other regulatory capital ratios remained strong. See the “Capital Management” section in this Report for more information regarding our capital, including the calculation of our regulatory capital amounts.




 
Wells Fargo & Company
31


Overview (continued)

Table 1: Six-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data
(in millions, except per share amounts)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

 
2010

 
%
Change
2015/
2014

 
Five-year
compound
growth
rate 

Income statement
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income
$
45,301

 
43,527

 
42,800

 
43,230

 
42,763

 
44,757

 
4
 %
 
—

Noninterest income
40,756

 
40,820

 
40,980

 
42,856

 
38,185

 
40,453

 
—

 
—

Revenue
86,057

 
84,347


83,780


86,086


80,948


85,210

 
2

 
—

Provision for credit losses
2,442

 
1,395

 
2,309

 
7,217

 
7,899

 
15,753

 
75

 
(31
)
Noninterest expense
49,974

 
49,037

 
48,842

 
50,398

 
49,393

 
50,456

 
2

 
—

Net income before noncontrolling interests
23,276

 
23,608

 
22,224

 
19,368

 
16,211

 
12,663

 
(1
)
 
13

Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
382

 
551

 
346

 
471

 
342

 
301

 
(31
)
 
5

Wells Fargo net income
22,894

 
23,057


21,878


18,897


15,869


12,362

 
(1
)
 
13

Earnings per common share
4.18

 
4.17

 
3.95

 
3.40

 
2.85

 
2.23

 
—

 
13

Diluted earnings per common share
4.12

 
4.10

 
3.89

 
3.36

 
2.82

 
2.21

 
—

 
13

Dividends declared per common share
1.475

 
1.350

 
1.150

 
0.880

 
0.480

 
0.200

 
9

 
49

Balance sheet  (at year end)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities
$
347,555

 
312,925

 
264,353

 
235,199

 
222,613

 
172,654

 
11
 %
 
15

Loans
916,559

 
862,551

 
822,286

 
798,351

 
769,631

 
757,267

 
6

 
4

Allowance for loan losses
11,545

 
12,319

 
14,502

 
17,060

 
19,372

 
23,022

 
(6
)
 
(13
)
Goodwill
25,529

 
25,705

 
25,637

 
25,637

 
25,115

 
24,770

 
(1
)
 
1

Assets
1,787,632

 
1,687,155

 
1,523,502

 
1,421,746

 
1,313,867

 
1,258,128

 
6

 
7

Deposits
1,223,312

 
1,168,310

 
1,079,177

 
1,002,835

 
920,070

 
847,942

 
5

 
8

Long-term debt
199,536

 
183,943

 
152,998

 
127,379

 
125,354

 
156,983

 
8

 
5

Wells Fargo stockholders' equity
192,998

 
184,394

 
170,142

 
157,554

 
140,241

 
126,408

 
5

 
9

Noncontrolling interests
893

 
868

 
866

 
1,357

 
1,446

 
1,481

 
3

 
(10
)
Total equity
193,891

 
185,262

 
171,008

 
158,911

 
141,687

 
127,889

 
5

 
9




32
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 2: Ratios and Per Common Share Data
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Profitability ratios
 
 
 
 
 
Wells Fargo net income to average assets (ROA)
1.31
%
 
1.45

 
1.51

Wells Fargo net income applicable to common stock to average Wells Fargo common stockholders' equity (ROE)
12.60

 
13.41

 
13.87

Efficiency ratio  (1)
58.1

 
58.1

 
58.3

Capital ratios (2)(3)
 
 
 
 
 
At year end:
 
 
 
 
 
Wells Fargo common stockholders' equity to assets
9.62

 
9.86

 
10.17

Total equity to assets
10.85

 
10.98

 
11.22

Risk-based capital:
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1
11.07

 
11.04

 
10.82

Tier 1 capital
12.63

 
12.45

 
12.33

Total capital
15.45

 
15.53

 
15.43

Tier 1 leverage
9.37

 
9.45

 
9.60

Average balances:
 
 
 
 
 
Average Wells Fargo common stockholders' equity to average assets
9.78

 
10.22

 
10.41

Average total equity to average assets
10.99

 
11.32

 
11.41

Per common share data
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend payout (4)
35.8

 
32.9

 
29.6

Book value
$
33.78

 
32.19

 
29.48

Market price (5)
 
 
 
 
 
High
58.77

 
55.95

 
45.64

Low
47.75

 
44.17

 
34.43

Year end
54.36

 
54.82

 
45.40

(1)
The efficiency ratio is noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income).
(2)
The risk-based capital ratios presented at December 31, 2015 , were calculated under the lower of Standardized or Advanced Approach determined pursuant to Basel III with Transition Requirements. Accordingly, the total capital ratio was calculated under the Advanced Approach and the other ratios were calculated under the Standardized Approach. The risk-based capital ratios were calculated under the Basel III General Approach at December 31, 2014 , and under Basel I at December 31, 2013.
(3)
See the "Capital Management" section and Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information.
(4)
Dividends declared per common share as a percentage of diluted earnings per common share.
(5)
Based on daily prices reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transaction Reporting System.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
33


Earnings Performance
Wells Fargo net income for 2015 was $22.9 billion ( $4.12 diluted earnings per common share), compared with $23.1 billion ( $4.10  diluted per share) for 2014 and $21.9 billion ( $3.89  diluted per share) for 2013 . Our 2015 earnings reflected continued strong execution of our business strategy as well as growth in many of our businesses. Our financial performance in 2015 benefited from a $1.8 billion increase in net interest income, which was offset by a $1.0 billion increase in our provision for credit losses and a $937 million increase in noninterest expense.
Revenue, the sum of net interest income and noninterest income, was $86.1 billion in 2015 , compared with $84.3 billion in 2014 and $83.8 billion in 2013 . The increase in revenue for 2015 compared with 2014 was predominantly due to an increase in net interest income, reflecting increases in income from trading assets, investment securities, and loans. Our diversified sources of revenue generated by our businesses continued to be balanced between net interest income and noninterest income. In 2015 , net interest income of $45.3 billion represented 53% of revenue, compared with $43.5 billion ( 52% ) in 2014 and $42.8 billion ( 51% ) in 2013 .
 
Noninterest income was $ 40.8 billion in 2015 , representing 47% of revenue, compared with $40.8 billion ( 48% ) in 2014 and $41.0 billion ( 49% ) in 2013 . Noninterest income was relatively stable in 2015 compared with a year ago, reflecting our continued ability to generate fee income despite fluctuations in market sensitive revenue.
Noninterest expense was $50.0 billion in 2015 , compared with $49.0 billion in 2014 and $48.8 billion in 2013 . The increase in noninterest expense in 2015 , compared with 2014 , reflected higher compensation expense and operating losses. Noninterest expense as a percentage of revenue (efficiency ratio) was 58.1% in 2015 , 58.1% in 2014 and 58.3% in 2013 , reflecting our expense management efforts.
Table 3 presents the components of revenue and noninterest expense as a percentage of revenue for year-over-year results.


34
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 3: Net Interest Income, Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense as a Percentage of Revenue
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
% of revenue 

 
2014

 
% of revenue 

 
2013

 
% of revenue 

Interest income (on a taxable equivalent basis)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets
$
2,010

 
2
 %
 
$
1,712

 
2
 %
 
$
1,406

 
2
 %
Investment securities
9,906

 
12

 
9,253

 
11

 
8,841

 
11

Mortgages held for sale (MHFS)
785

 
1

 
767

 
1

 
1,290

 
2

Loans held for sale (LHFS)
19

 
—

 
78

 
—

 
13

 
—

Loans
36,663

 
43

 
35,715

 
42

 
35,618

 
43

Other interest income
990

 
1

 
932

 
1

 
724

 
1

Total interest income (on a taxable equivalent basis)
50,373

 
59

 
48,457

 
57

 
47,892

 
57

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
963

 
1

 
1,096

 
1

 
1,337

 
2

Short-term borrowings
64

 
—

 
62

 
—

 
71

 
—

Long-term debt
2,592

 
4

 
2,488

 
3

 
2,585

 
3

Other interest expense
357

 
—

 
382

 
—

 
307

 
—

Total interest expense
3,976

 
5

 
4,028

 
4

 
4,300

 
5

Net interest income (on a taxable-equivalent basis)
46,397

 
54

 
44,429

 
53

 
43,592

 
52

Taxable-equivalent adjustment
(1,096
)
 
(1
)
 
(902
)
 
(1
)
 
(792
)
 
(1
)
Net interest income  (A) 
45,301

 
53

 
43,527

 
52

 
42,800

 
51

Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
5,168

 
6

 
5,050

 
6

 
5,023

 
6

Trust and investment fees (1)
14,468

 
16

 
14,280

 
17

 
13,430

 
16

Card fees
3,720

 
4

 
3,431

 
4

 
3,191

 
4

Other fees (1)
4,324

 
5

 
4,349

 
5

 
4,340

 
5

Mortgage banking (1)
6,501

 
7

 
6,381

 
8

 
8,774

 
10

Insurance
1,694

 
2

 
1,655

 
2

 
1,814

 
2

Net gains from trading activities
614

 
1

 
1,161

 
1

 
1,623

 
2

Net gains (losses) on debt securities
952

 
1

 
593

 
1

 
(29
)
 
—

Net gains from equity investments
2,230

 
3

 
2,380

 
3

 
1,472

 
2

Lease income
621

 
1

 
526

 
1

 
663

 
1

Other
464

 
1

 
1,014

 
1

 
679

 
1

Total noninterest income (B)
40,756

 
47

 
40,820

 
48

 
40,980

 
49

Noninterest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries
15,883

 
19

 
15,375

 
18

 
15,152

 
18

Commission and incentive compensation
10,352

 
12

 
9,970

 
12

 
9,951

 
12

Employee benefits
4,446

 
5

 
4,597

 
5

 
5,033

 
6

Equipment
2,063

 
2

 
1,973

 
2

 
1,984

 
2

Net occupancy
2,886

 
3

 
2,925

 
3

 
2,895

 
3

Core deposit and other intangibles
1,246

 
1

 
1,370

 
2

 
1,504

 
2

FDIC and other deposit assessments
973

 
1

 
928

 
1

 
961

 
1

Other (2)
12,125

 
15

 
11,899

 
14

 
11,362

 
14

Total noninterest expense
49,974

 
58

 
49,037

 
58

 
48,842

 
58

Revenue (A) + (B)
$
86,057

 
 
 
$
84,347

 
 
 
$
83,780

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
See Table 7 – Noninterest Income in this Report for additional detail.
(2)
See Table 8 – Noninterest Expense in this Report for additional detail.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
35


Earnings Performance (continued)

Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the interest earned on debt securities, loans (including yield-related loan fees) and other interest-earning assets minus the interest paid for deposits, short-term borrowings and long-term debt. The net interest margin is the average yield on earning assets minus the average interest rate paid for deposits and our other sources of funding. Net interest income and the net interest margin are presented on a taxable-equivalent basis in Table 5 to consistently reflect income from taxable and tax-exempt loans and securities based on a 35% federal statutory tax rate.
While the Company believes that it has the ability to increase net interest income over time, net interest income and the net interest margin in any one period can be significantly affected by a variety of factors including the mix and overall size of our earning assets portfolio and the cost of funding those assets. In addition, some variable sources of interest income, such as resolutions from purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans, loan prepayment fees and collection of interest on nonaccrual loans, can vary from period to period. Net interest income growth has been challenged during the prolonged low interest rate environment as higher yielding loans and securities runoff have been replaced with lower yielding assets.
Net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis was $46.4 billion  in 2015 , compared with $44.4 billion in 2014 , and $43.6 billion in 2013 . The net interest margin was 2.95% in 2015 , down 16 basis points from 3.11% in 2014 , which was down 29 basis points from 3.40% in 2013 . The increase in net interest income for 2015 , compared with 2014 , was primarily driven by loan growth, the benefit of swapping a portion of our variable rate commercial loans to fixed rate, securities purchases, higher trading balances, and reduced deposit costs. Strong growth in commercial loans, retained first lien real estate loans and credit cards contributed to higher net interest income as originations more than replaced runoff in the non-strategic/liquidating portfolios. This increase was partially offset by the impact of increased interest expense on higher long-term debt balances and reduced interest income from loans held for sale (LHFS) following the sale of substantially all of the government guaranteed student loan portfolio in 2014. Funding costs in 2015 remained relatively flat compared with 2014 due to lower deposit costs as a result of disciplined pricing, partially offset by increased long-term debt interest expense. The decline in net interest margin in 2015, compared with 2014, was primarily due to customer-driven deposit growth and higher long-term debt balances, partially offset by growth in loans and securities. The growth in customer-driven deposits and funding balances during 2015 kept cash, federal funds sold, and other short-term investments elevated, which diluted net interest margin but was essentially neutral to net interest income. During fourth quarter 2015, we issued long-term debt to partially fund the previously announced acquisition of certain commercial lending businesses and assets from GE Capital, with the majority of assets anticipated to close in first quarter 2016.


 
Table 4 presents the components of earning assets and funding sources as a percentage of earning assets to provide a more meaningful analysis of year-over-year changes that influenced net interest income.
Average earning assets increased $142.4 billion in 2015 from a year ago, as average investment securities increased $55.1 billion and average federal funds sold and other short-term investments increased $25.6 billion for the same period, respectively. In addition, average loans increased $51.0 billion in 2015 , compared with a year ago.
Deposits are an important low-cost source of funding and affect both net interest income and the net interest margin. Deposits include noninterest-bearing deposits, interest-bearing checking, market rate and other savings, savings certificates, other time deposits, and deposits in foreign offices. Average deposits rose to $1.2 trillion in 2015 , compared with $1.1 trillion in 2014 , and funded 135% of average loans compared with 134% a year ago. Average deposits decreased to 76% of average earning assets in 2015 , compared with 78% a year ago. The cost of these deposits has continued to decline due to a sustained low interest rate environment and a shift in our deposit mix from higher cost certificates of deposit to lower yielding checking and savings products.
Table 5 presents the individual components of net interest income and the net interest margin. The effect on interest income and costs of earning asset and funding mix changes described above, combined with rate changes during 2015 , are analyzed in Table 6 .


36
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 4: Average Earning Assets and Funding Sources as a Percentage of Average Earnings Assets
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Average
balance

 
% of
earning
assets

 
Average
balance

 
% of
earning
assets

Earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments
$
266,832

 
17
%
 
$
241,282

 
17
%
Trading assets
66,679

 
4

 
55,140

 
4

Investment securities:
 
 


 
 
 


Available-for-sale securities:
 
 


 
 
 


Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
32,093

 
2

 
10,400

 
1

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
47,404

 
3

 
43,138

 
3

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 


 
 
 


Federal agencies
100,218

 
6

 
114,076

 
8

Residential and commercial
22,490

 
2

 
26,475

 
2

Total mortgage-backed securities
122,708

 
8

 
140,551

 
10

Other debt and equity securities
49,752

 
3

 
47,488

 
3

Total available-for-sale securities
251,957

 
16

 
241,577

 
17

Held-to-maturity securities
74,048

 
5

 
29,319

 
2

Mortgages held for sale (1)
21,603

 
2

 
19,018

 
2

Loans held for sale (1)
573

 
—

 
4,226

 
—

Loans:
 
 


 
 
 


Commercial:
 
 


 
 
 


Commercial and industrial - U.S.
237,844

 
15

 
204,819

 
14

Commercial and industrial - Non U.S.
46,028

 
3

 
42,661

 
3

Real estate mortgage
116,893

 
7

 
112,710

 
8

Real estate construction
20,979

 
1

 
17,676

 
1

Lease financing
12,301

 
1

 
12,257

 
1

Total commercial
434,045

 
27

 
390,123

 
27

Consumer:
 
 


 
 
 


Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
268,560

 
17

 
261,620

 
18

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
56,242

 
4

 
62,510

 
4

Credit card
31,307

 
2

 
27,491

 
2

Automobile
57,766

 
4

 
53,854

 
4

Other revolving credit and installment
37,512

 
2

 
38,834

 
3

Total consumer
451,387

 
29

 
444,309

 
31

Total loans (1)
885,432

 
56

 
834,432

 
58

Other
4,947

 
—

 
4,673

 
—

Total earning assets
$
1,572,071

 
100
%
 
$
1,429,667

 
100
%
Funding sources
 
 


 
 
 


Deposits:
 
 


 
 
 


Interest-bearing checking
$
38,640

 
2
%
 
$
39,729

 
3
%
Market rate and other savings
625,549

 
40

 
585,854

 
41

Savings certificates
31,887

 
2

 
38,111

 
3

Other time deposits
51,790

 
3

 
51,434

 
3

Deposits in foreign offices
107,138

 
7

 
95,889

 
7

Total interest-bearing deposits
855,004

 
54

 
811,017

 
57

Short-term borrowings
87,465

 
6

 
60,111

 
4

Long-term debt
185,078

 
12

 
167,420

 
12

Other liabilities
16,545

 
1

 
14,401

 
1

Total interest-bearing liabilities
1,144,092

 
73

 
1,052,949

 
74

Portion of noninterest-bearing funding sources
427,979

 
27

 
376,718

 
26

Total funding sources
$
1,572,071

 
100
%
 
$
1,429,667

 
100
%
Noninterest-earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
17,327

 
 
 
16,361

 
 
Goodwill
25,673

 
 
 
25,687

 
 
Other
127,848

 
 
 
121,634

 
 
Total noninterest-earning assets
$
170,848

 
 
 
163,682

 
 
Noninterest-bearing funding sources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
$
339,069

 
 
 
303,127

 
 
Other liabilities
68,174

 
 
 
56,985

 
 
Total equity
191,584

 
 
 
180,288

 
 
Noninterest-bearing funding sources used to fund earning assets
(427,979
)
 
 
 
(376,718
)
 
 
Net noninterest-bearing funding sources
$
170,848

 
 
 
163,682

 
 
Total assets
$
1,742,919

 
 
 
1,593,349

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Nonaccrual loans are included in their respective loan categories.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
37


Earnings Performance (continued)

Table 5: Average Balances, Yields and Rates Paid (Taxable-Equivalent Basis) (1)(2)
 
 
 
 
 
2015

 
 
 
 
 
2014

(in millions) 
Average 
balance 

 
Yields/ 
rates 

 
Interest 
income/ 
expense 

 
Average 
balance 

 
Yields/ 
rates 

 
Interest 
income/ 
expense 

Earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds sold, securities purchased under
resale agreements and other short-term investments
$
266,832

 
0.28
%
 
$
738

 
241,282

 
0.28
%
 
$
673

Trading assets
66,679

 
3.01

 
2,010

 
55,140

 
3.10

 
1,712

Investment securities (3):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
32,093

 
1.58

 
505

 
10,400

 
1.64

 
171

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
47,404

 
4.23

 
2,007

 
43,138

 
4.29

 
1,852

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
100,218

 
2.73

 
2,733

 
114,076

 
2.84

 
3,235

Residential and commercial
22,490

 
5.73

 
1,289

 
26,475

 
6.03

 
1,597

Total mortgage-backed securities
122,708

 
3.28

 
4,022

 
140,551

 
3.44

 
4,832

Other debt and equity securities
49,752

 
3.42

 
1,701

 
47,488

 
3.66

 
1,741

Total available-for-sale securities
251,957

 
3.27

 
8,235

 
241,577

 
3.56

 
8,596

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
44,173

 
2.19

 
968

 
17,239

 
2.23

 
385

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
2,087

 
5.40

 
113

 
246

 
4.93

 
12

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
21,967

 
2.23

 
489

 
5,921

 
2.55

 
151

Other debt securities
5,821

 
1.73

 
101

 
5,913

 
1.85

 
109

Held-to-maturity securities
74,048

 
2.26

 
1,671

 
29,319

 
2.24

 
657

Total investment securities
326,005

 
3.04

 
9,906

 
270,896

 
3.42

 
9,253

Mortgages held for sale (4)
21,603

 
3.63

 
785

 
19,018

 
4.03

 
767

Loans held for sale (4)
573

 
3.25

 
19

 
4,226

 
1.85

 
78

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial - U.S.
237,844

 
3.29

 
7,836

 
204,819

 
3.35

 
6,869

Commercial and industrial - non U.S.
46,028

 
1.90

 
877

 
42,661

 
2.03

 
867

Real estate mortgage
116,893

 
3.41

 
3,984

 
112,710

 
3.64

 
4,100

Real estate construction
20,979

 
3.57

 
749

 
17,676

 
4.21

 
744

Lease financing
12,301

 
4.70

 
577

 
12,257

 
5.63

 
690

Total commercial
434,045

 
3.23

 
14,023

 
390,123

 
3.40

 
13,270

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
268,560

 
4.10

 
11,002

 
261,620

 
4.19

 
10,961

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
56,242

 
4.25

 
2,391

 
62,510

 
4.30

 
2,686

Credit card
31,307

 
11.70

 
3,664

 
27,491

 
11.98

 
3,294

Automobile
57,766

 
5.84

 
3,374

 
53,854

 
6.27

 
3,377

Other revolving credit and installment
37,512

 
5.89

 
2,209

 
38,834

 
5.48

 
2,127

Total consumer
451,387

 
5.02

 
22,640

 
444,309

 
5.05

 
22,445

Total loans (4)
885,432

 
4.14

 
36,663

 
834,432

 
4.28

 
35,715

Other
4,947

 
5.11

 
252

 
4,673

 
5.54

 
259

Total earning assets
$
1,572,071

 
3.20
%
 
$
50,373

 
1,429,667

 
3.39
%
 
$
48,457

Funding sources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing checking
$
38,640

 
0.05
%
 
$
20

 
39,729

 
0.07
%
 
$
26

Market rate and other savings
625,549

 
0.06

 
367

 
585,854

 
0.07

 
403

Savings certificates
31,887

 
0.63

 
201

 
38,111

 
0.85

 
323

Other time deposits
51,790

 
0.45

 
232

 
51,434

 
0.40

 
207

Deposits in foreign offices
107,138

 
0.13

 
143

 
95,889

 
0.14

 
137

Total interest-bearing deposits
855,004

 
0.11

 
963

 
811,017

 
0.14

 
1,096

Short-term borrowings
87,465

 
0.07

 
64

 
60,111

 
0.10

 
62

Long-term debt
185,078

 
1.40

 
2,592

 
167,420

 
1.49

 
2,488

Other liabilities
16,545

 
2.15

 
357

 
14,401

 
2.65

 
382

Total interest-bearing liabilities
1,144,092

 
0.35

 
3,976

 
1,052,949

 
0.38

 
4,028

Portion of noninterest-bearing funding sources
427,979

 
—

 
—

 
376,718

 
—

 
—

Total funding sources
$
1,572,071

 
0.25

 
3,976

 
1,429,667

 
0.28

 
4,028

Net interest margin and net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis   (5) 
 
 
2.95
%
 
$
46,397

 
 
 
3.11
%
 
$
44,429

Noninterest-earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
17,327

 
 
 
 
 
16,361

 
 
 
 
Goodwill
25,673

 
 
 
 
 
25,687

 
 
 
 
Other
127,848

 
 
 
 
 
121,634

 
 
 
 
Total noninterest-earning assets
$
170,848

 
 
 
 
 
163,682

 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing funding sources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
$
339,069

 
 
 
 
 
303,127

 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
68,174

 
 
 
 
 
56,985

 
 
 
 
Total equity
191,584

 
 
 
 
 
180,288

 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing funding sources used to
fund earning assets
(427,979
)
 
 
 
 
 
(376,718
)
 
 
 
 
Net noninterest-bearing funding sources
$
170,848

 
 
 
 
 
163,682

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
1,742,919

 
 
 
 
 
1,593,349

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Our average prime rate was 3.26% for the year ended December 31, 2015 , and 3.25% for the years ended December 31, 2014 , 2013 , 2012 , and 2011 , respectively. The average three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) was 0.32% , 0.23% , 0.27% , 0.43% , and 0.34% for the same years, respectively.
(2)
Yield/rates and amounts include the effects of hedge and risk management activities associated with the respective asset and liability categories.

38
Wells Fargo & Company
 


 
 
 
 
2013

 
 
 
 
 
2012

 
 
 
 
 
2011

Average 
balance 

 
Yields/ 
rates 

 
Interest 
income/ 
expense 

 
Average 
balance 

 
Yields/ 
rates 

 
Interest 
income/ 
expense 

 
Average 
balance 

 
Yields/ 
rates 

 
Interest 
income/ 
expense 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
154,902

 
0.32
%
 
$
489

 
84,081

 
0.45
%
 
$
378

 
87,186

 
0.40
%
 
$
345

44,745

 
3.14

 
1,406

 
41,950

 
3.29

 
1,380

 
39,737

 
3.68

 
1,463

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,750

 
1.66

 
112

 
3,604

 
1.31

 
47

 
5,503

 
1.25

 
69

39,922

 
4.38

 
1,748

 
34,875

 
4.48

 
1,561

 
24,035

 
5.09

 
1,223

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
107,148

 
2.83

 
3,031

 
92,887

 
3.12

 
2,893

 
74,665

 
4.36

 
3,257

30,717

 
6.47

 
1,988

 
33,545

 
6.75

 
2,264

 
31,902

 
8.20

 
2,617

137,865

 
3.64

 
5,019

 
126,432

 
4.08

 
5,157

 
106,567

 
5.51

 
5,874

55,002

 
3.53

 
1,940

 
49,245

 
4.04

 
1,992

 
38,625

 
5.03

 
1,941

239,539

 
3.68

 
8,819

 
214,156

 
4.09

 
8,757

 
174,730

 
5.21

 
9,107

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

701

 
3.09

 
22

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

16

 
1.99

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

717

 
3.06

 
22

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

240,256

 
3.68

 
8,841

 
214,156

 
4.09

 
8,757

 
174,730

 
5.21

 
9,107

35,273

 
3.66

 
1,290

 
48,955

 
3.73

 
1,825

 
37,232

 
4.42

 
1,644

163

 
7.95

 
13

 
661

 
6.22

 
41

 
1,104

 
5.25

 
58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
185,813

 
3.66

 
6,807

 
173,913

 
4.01

 
6,981

 
157,608

 
4.37

 
6,894

40,987

 
2.03

 
832

 
38,838

 
2.34

 
910

 
35,042

 
2.13

 
745

107,316

 
3.94

 
4,233

 
105,492

 
4.19

 
4,416

 
102,320

 
4.07

 
4,167

16,537

 
4.76

 
787

 
18,047

 
4.97

 
897

 
21,672

 
4.88

 
1,057

12,373

 
6.10

 
755

 
13,067

 
7.18

 
939

 
13,223

 
7.52

 
994

363,026

 
3.70

 
13,414

 
349,357

 
4.05

 
14,143

 
329,865

 
4.20

 
13,857

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
254,012

 
4.22

 
10,717

 
235,011

 
4.55

 
10,704

 
227,676

 
4.90

 
11,156

70,264

 
4.29

 
3,014

 
80,887

 
4.28

 
3,460

 
90,755

 
4.33

 
3,930

24,757

 
12.46

 
3,084

 
22,809

 
12.68

 
2,892

 
21,556

 
13.04

 
2,811

48,476

 
6.94

 
3,365

 
44,986

 
7.54

 
3,390

 
43,834

 
8.14

 
3,568

42,135

 
4.80

 
2,024

 
42,174

 
4.57

 
1,928

 
43,458

 
4.56

 
1,980

439,644

 
5.05

 
22,204

 
425,867

 
5.25

 
22,374

 
427,279

 
5.49

 
23,445

802,670

 
4.44

 
35,618

 
775,224

 
4.71

 
36,517

 
757,144

 
4.93

 
37,302

4,354

 
5.39

 
235

 
4,438

 
4.70

 
209

 
4,929

 
4.12

 
203

$
1,282,363

 
3.73
%
 
$
47,892

 
1,169,465

 
4.20
%
 
$
49,107

 
1,102,062

 
4.55
%
 
$
50,122

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
35,570

 
0.06
%
 
$
22

 
30,564

 
0.06
%
 
$
19

 
47,705

 
0.08
%
 
$
40

550,394

 
0.08

 
450

 
505,310

 
0.12

 
592

 
464,450

 
0.18

 
836

49,510

 
1.13

 
559

 
59,484

 
1.31

 
782

 
69,711

 
1.43

 
995

28,090

 
0.69

 
194

 
13,363

 
1.68

 
225

 
13,126

 
2.04

 
268

76,894

 
0.15

 
112

 
67,920

 
0.16

 
109

 
61,566

 
0.22

 
136

740,458

 
0.18

 
1,337

 
676,641

 
0.26

 
1,727

 
656,558

 
0.35

 
2,275

54,716

 
0.13

 
71

 
51,196

 
0.18

 
94

 
51,781

 
0.18

 
94

134,937

 
1.92

 
2,585

 
127,547

 
2.44

 
3,110

 
141,079

 
2.82

 
3,978

12,471

 
2.46

 
307

 
10,032

 
2.44

 
245

 
10,955

 
2.88

 
316

942,582

 
0.46

 
4,300

 
865,416

 
0.60

 
5,176

 
860,373

 
0.77

 
6,663

339,781

 
—

 
—

 
304,049

 
—

 
—

 
241,689

 
—

 
—

$
1,282,363

 
0.33

 
4,300

 
1,169,465

 
0.44

 
5,176

 
1,102,062

 
0.61

 
6,663

 
 
3.40
%
 
$
43,592

 
 
 
3.76
%
 
$
43,931

 
 
 
3.94
%
 
$
43,459

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
16,272

 
 
 
 
 
16,303

 
 
 
 
 
17,388

 
 
 
 
25,637

 
 
 
 
 
25,417

 
 
 
 
 
24,904

 
 
 
 
121,711

 
 
 
 
 
130,450

 
 
 
 
 
125,911

 
 
 
 
$
163,620

 
 
 
 
 
172,170

 
 
 
 
 
168,203

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
280,229

 
 
 
 
 
263,863

 
 
 
 
 
215,242

 
 
 
 
58,178

 
 
 
 
 
61,214

 
 
 
 
 
57,399

 
 
 
 
164,994

 
 
 
 
 
151,142

 
 
 
 
 
137,251

 
 
 
 
(339,781
)
 
 
 
 
 
(304,049
)
 
 
 
 
 
(241,689
)
 
 
 
 
$
163,620

 
 
 
 
 
172,170

 
 
 
 
 
168,203

 
 
 
 
$
1,445,983

 
 
 
 
 
1,341,635

 
 
 
 
 
1,270,265

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3)
The average balance amounts represent amortized cost for the periods presented.
(4)
Nonaccrual loans and related income are included in their respective loan categories.
(5)
Includes taxable-equivalent adjustments of $1.1 billion , $902 million , $792 million , $701 million and $696 million for 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively, primarily related to tax-exempt income on certain loans and securities. The federal statutory tax rate utilized was 35% for the periods presented.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
39


Earnings Performance (continued)

Table 6 allocates the changes in net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis to changes in either average balances or average rates for both interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Because of the numerous simultaneous volume and rate changes during any period, it is not possible to precisely allocate such changes between volume and rate. For
 
this table, changes that are not solely due to either volume or rate are allocated to these categories on a pro-rata basis based on the absolute value of the change due to average volume and average rate.


Table 6: Analysis of Changes of Net Interest Income
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
 
2015 over 2014
 
 
2014 over 2013
 
(in millions)
Volume 

 
Rate 

 
Total 

 
Volume 

 
Rate 

 
Total 

Increase (decrease) in interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments
$
65

 
—

 
65

 
252

 
(68
)
 
184

Trading assets
349

 
(51
)
 
298

 
324

 
(18
)
 
306

Investment securities:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
340

 
(6
)
 
334

 
60

 
(1
)
 
59

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
181

 
(26
)
 
155

 
140

 
(36
)
 
104

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Federal agencies
(381
)
 
(121
)
 
(502
)
 
193

 
11

 
204

Residential and commercial
(232
)
 
(76
)
 
(308
)
 
(262
)
 
(129
)
 
(391
)
Total mortgage-backed securities
(613
)
 
(197
)
 
(810
)
 
(69
)
 
(118
)
 
(187
)
Other debt and equity securities
79

 
(119
)
 
(40
)
 
(270
)
 
71

 
(199
)
Total available-for-sale securities
(13
)
 
(348
)
 
(361
)
 
(139
)
 
(84
)
 
(223
)
Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
590

 
(7
)
 
583

 
385

 
—

 
385

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
100

 
1

 
101

 
12

 
—

 
12

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
359

 
(21
)
 
338

 
137

 
(8
)
 
129

Other debt securities
(2
)
 
(6
)
 
(8
)
 
109

 
—

 
109

Total held-to-maturity securities
1,047

 
(33
)
 
1,014

 
643

 
(8
)
 
635

Mortgages held for sale
98

 
(80
)
 
18

 
(643
)
 
120

 
(523
)
Loans held for sale
(95
)
 
36

 
(59
)
 
82

 
(17
)
 
65

Loans:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Commercial:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Commercial and industrial - U.S.
1,092

 
(125
)
 
967

 
664

 
(602
)
 
62

Commercial and industrial - non U.S.
66

 
(56
)
 
10

 
35

 
—

 
35

Real estate mortgage
149

 
(265
)
 
(116
)
 
203

 
(336
)
 
(133
)
Real estate construction
127

 
(122
)
 
5

 
52

 
(95
)
 
(43
)
Lease financing
2

 
(115
)
 
(113
)
 
(7
)
 
(58
)
 
(65
)
Total commercial
1,436

 
(683
)
 
753

 
947

 
(1,091
)
 
(144
)
Consumer:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
283

 
(242
)
 
41

 
320

 
(76
)
 
244

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
(265
)
 
(30
)
 
(295
)
 
(335
)
 
7

 
(328
)
Credit card
448

 
(78
)
 
370

 
332

 
(122
)
 
210

Automobile
237

 
(240
)
 
(3
)
 
354

 
(342
)
 
12

Other revolving credit and installment
(74
)
 
156

 
82

 
(167
)
 
270

 
103

Total consumer
629

 
(434
)
 
195

 
504

 
(263
)
 
241

Total loans
2,065

 
(1,117
)
 
948

 
1,451

 
(1,354
)
 
97

Other
14

 
(21
)
 
(7
)
 
17

 
7

 
24

Total increase (decrease) in interest income
3,530

 
(1,614
)
 
1,916

 
1,987

 
(1,422
)
 
565

Increase (decrease) in interest expense:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Deposits:
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Interest-bearing checking
(1
)
 
(5
)
 
(6
)
 
2

 
2

 
4

Market rate and other savings
26

 
(62
)
 
(36
)
 
21

 
(68
)
 
(47
)
Savings certificates
(47
)
 
(75
)
 
(122
)
 
(114
)
 
(122
)
 
(236
)
Other time deposits
1

 
24

 
25

 
117

 
(104
)
 
13

Deposits in foreign offices
16

 
(10
)
 
6

 
32

 
(7
)
 
25

Total interest-bearing deposits
(5
)
 
(128
)
 
(133
)
 
58

 
(299
)
 
(241
)
Short-term borrowings
23

 
(21
)
 
2

 
7

 
(16
)
 
(9
)
Long-term debt
258

 
(154
)
 
104

 
551

 
(648
)
 
(97
)
Other liabilities
52

 
(77
)
 
(25
)
 
50

 
25

 
75

Total increase (decrease) in interest expense
328

 
(380
)
 
(52
)
 
666

 
(938
)
 
(272
)
Increase (decrease) in net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis
$
3,202

 
(1,234
)
 
1,968

 
1,321

 
(484
)
 
837


40
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Noninterest Income

Table 7: Noninterest Income
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Service charges on deposit accounts
$
5,168

 
5,050

 
5,023

Trust and investment fees:
 
 

 
 
Brokerage advisory, commissions and other fees
9,435

 
9,183

 
8,395

Trust and investment management
3,394

 
3,387

 
3,289

Investment banking
1,639

 
1,710

 
1,746

Total trust and investment fees
14,468

 
14,280

 
13,430

Card fees
3,720

 
3,431

 
3,191

Other fees:
 
 
 
 
 
Charges and fees on loans
1,228

 
1,316

 
1,540

Merchant processing fees (1)
607

 
726

 
669

Cash network fees
522

 
507

 
493

Commercial real estate
brokerage commissions
618

 
469

 
338

Letters of credit fees
353

 
390

 
410

All other fees
996

 
941

 
890

Total other fees
4,324

 
4,349

 
4,340

Mortgage banking:
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing income, net
2,441

 
3,337

 
1,920

Net gains on mortgage loan
origination/sales activities
4,060

 
3,044

 
6,854

Total mortgage banking
6,501

 
6,381

 
8,774

Insurance
1,694

 
1,655

 
1,814

Net gains from trading activities
614

 
1,161

 
1,623

Net gains (losses) on debt securities
952

 
593

 
(29
)
Net gains from equity investments
2,230

 
2,380

 
1,472

Lease income
621

 
526

 
663

Life insurance investment income
579

 
558

 
566

All other (1)
(115
)
 
456

 
113

Total
$
40,756

 
40,820

 
40,980

(1)
Reflects deconsolidation of the Company's merchant services joint venture in fourth quarter 2015. The Company's proportionate share of earnings is now reflected in all other income.

Noninterest income of $ 40.8 billion represented 47% of revenue for 2015 , compared with $40.8 billion , or 48% , for 2014 and $41.0 billion , or 49% , for 2013 . The small decline in noninterest income in 2015 was primarily driven by lower gains from trading activity and all other income, mostly offset by growth in many of our businesses, including credit and debit cards, mortgage, commercial banking, commercial real estate brokerage, multi-family capital, reinsurance, municipal products, and retail brokerage. The decrease in noninterest income in 2014 compared with 2013 was primarily due to a decline in mortgage banking, partially offset by growth in many of our other businesses.
Service charges on deposit accounts were $5.2 billion in 2015 , up from $5.1 billion in 2014 due to account growth, higher commercial deposit product sales and commercial deposit product re-pricing, partially offset by lower overdraft fees driven by changes we implemented in early October 2014. Service charges on deposits increased $27 million in 2014 from 2013 due to account growth, new commercial deposit product sales and commercial deposit product re-pricing, partially offset by lower overdraft fees driven by changes we implemented in early October 2014 designed to provide customers with more real time information to manage their deposit accounts and avoid overdrafts.
Brokerage advisory, commissions and other fees are received for providing full-service and discount brokerage services predominantly to retail brokerage clients. Income from these brokerage-related activities include asset-based fees for advisory accounts, which are based on the market value of the client’s assets, and transactional commissions based on the
 
number and size of transactions executed at the client’s direction. These fees increased to $ 9.4 billion in 2015 , from $9.2 billion and $8.4 billion in 2014 and 2013 , respectively. The increase in these fees for 2015 was primarily due to growth in asset-based fees driven by higher average advisory account assets in 2015 than 2014. The increase for 2014 was predominantly due to higher asset-based fees as a result of higher market values and growth in advisory account assets. Retail brokerage client assets totaled $1.39 trillion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $1.42 trillion and $1.36 trillion at December 31, 2014 and 2013 , respectively, with all retail brokerage services provided by our Wealth and Investment Management (WIM) operating segment. For additional information on retail brokerage client assets, see the discussion and Tables 9d and 9e in the "Operating Segment Results – Wealth and Investment Management – Retail Brokerage Client Assets" section in this Report.
We earn trust and investment management fees from managing and administering assets, including mutual funds, institutional separate accounts, corporate trust, personal trust, employee benefit trust and agency assets. Trust and investment management fee income is predominantly from client assets under management (AUM) for which the fees are determined based on a tiered scale relative to the market value of the AUM. AUM consists of assets for which we have investment management discretion. Our AUM totaled $653.4 billion at December 31, 2015, compared with $661.6 billion and $647.2 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with substantially all of our AUM managed by our WIM operating segment. Additional information regarding our WIM operating segment AUM is provided in Table 9f and the related discussion in the "Operating Segment Results – Wealth and Investment Management – Trust and Investment Client Assets Under Management" section in this Report. In addition to AUM we have client assets under administration (AUA) that earn various administrative fees which are generally based on the extent of the services provided to administer the account. Our AUA totaled $1.4 trillion at December 31, 2015, compared with $1.5 trillion and $1.4 trillion at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Trust and investment management fees of $ 3.4 billion in 2015 remained stable compared with 2014 , but increased $98 million in 2014 compared with 2013 , substantially due to growth in AUM reflecting higher market values.
We earn investment banking fees from underwriting debt and equity securities, arranging loan syndications, and performing other related advisory services. Investment banking fees decreased to $ 1.6 billion in 2015 from $1.7 billion in 2014 , driven by reductions in equity capital markets and loan syndications partially offset by increased fees in advisory services and investment-grade debt origination. Investment banking fees remained unchanged at $1.7 billion in 2014 compared with 2013 as higher advisory services results were offset by lower loan syndication and origination fees.
Card fees were $3.7 billion in 2015 , compared with $3.4 billion  in 2014 and $3.2 billion in 2013 . Card fees increased in 2015 and 2014 primarily due to account growth and increased purchase activity.
Other fees of $4.3 billion in 2015 were unchanged compared with 2014 as increases in commercial real estate brokerage commissions were offset by lower charges and fees on loans primarily due to the phase out of the direct deposit advance product during the first half of 2014, and lower merchant processing fees. The decrease in merchant processing fees reflected deconsolidation of our merchant services joint venture in fourth quarter 2015, which resulted in our proportionate


 
Wells Fargo & Company
41


Earnings Performance (continued)

share of that income now being reported in all other income. Other fees in 2014 were unchanged compared with 2013 as a decline in charges and fees on loans was offset by an increase in commercial real estate brokerage commissions. Commercial real estate brokerage commissions increased to $618 million in 2015 compared with $469 million in 2014 and $338 million in 2013 , driven by increased sales and other property-related activities including financing and advisory services.
Mortgage banking income, consisting of net servicing income and net gains on loan origination/sales activities, totaled $6.5 billion in 2015 , compared with $6.4 billion in 2014 and $8.8 billion in 2013 .
In addition to servicing fees, net mortgage loan servicing income includes amortization of commercial mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), changes in the fair value of residential MSRs during the period, as well as changes in the value of derivatives (economic hedges) used to hedge the residential MSRs. Net servicing income of $2.4 billion for 2015 included a $885 million net MSR valuation gain ( $214 million increase in the fair value of the MSRs and a $671 million hedge gain). Net servicing income of $3.3 billion for 2014 included a $1.4 billion net MSR valuation gain ( $2.1 billion decrease in the fair value of the MSRs offset by a $3.5 billion hedge gain), and net servicing income of $1.9 billion for 2013 included a $489 million net MSR valuation gain ( $3.4 billion increase in the fair value of MSRs offset by a $2.9 billion hedge loss). The decrease in net MSR valuation gains in 2015 , compared with 2014 , was primarily attributable to lower hedge gains. The lower net MSR valuation gain in 2013, compared with 2014, was attributable to MSR valuation adjustments associated with higher prepayments and increases in servicing and foreclosure costs.
Our portfolio of loans serviced for others was $1.78 trillion at December 31, 2015 , $1.86 trillion at December 31, 2014 , and $1.90 trillion at December 31, 2013 . At December 31, 2015 , the ratio of MSRs to related loans serviced for others was 0.77% , compared with 0.75% at December 31, 2014 and 0.88% at December 31, 2013 . See the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Mortgage Banking Interest Rate and Market Risk” section in this Report for additional information regarding our MSRs risks and hedging approach.
Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sale activities were $4.1 billion in 2015 , compared with $3.0 billion in 2014 and $6.9 billion in 2013 . The increase in 2015 compared to 2014 was primarily driven by increased origination volumes and margins. The decrease in 2014 from 2013 was primarily driven by lower origination volume and margins. Mortgage loan originations were $ 213 billion in 2015 , compared with $175 billion for 2014 and $351 billion for 2013 . The production margin on residential held-for-sale mortgage originations, which represents net gains on residential mortgage loan origination/sales activities divided by total residential held-for-sale mortgage originations, provides a measure of the profitability of our residential mortgage origination activity. Table 7a presents the information used in determining the production margin.

 
Table 7a: Selected Residential Mortgage Production Data
 
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
 
 
2015

2014

2013

Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities (in millions):
 
 
 
 
Residential
(A)
$
2,861

2,217

6,227

Commercial
 
362

285

356

Residential pipeline and unsold/repurchased loan management (1)
 
837

542

271

Total
 
$
4,060

3,044

6,854

Residential real estate originations (in billions):
 
 
 
 
Held-for-sale
(B)
$
155

129

300

Held-for-investment
 
58

46

51

Total
 
$
213

175

351

Production margin on residential held-for-sale mortgage originations
(A)/(B)
1.84
%
1.72

2.08

(1)
Primarily includes the results of GNMA loss mitigation activities, interest rate management activities and changes in estimate to the liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses.

The production margin was 1.84% for 2015, compared with 1.72% for 2014 and 2.08% for 2013. Mortgage applications were $311 billion in 2015 , compared with $262 billion in 2014 and $438 billion in 2013 . The 1-4 family first mortgage unclosed pipeline was $ 29 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $26 billion at December 31, 2014 and $25 billion at December 31, 2013 . For additional information about our mortgage banking activities and results, see the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Mortgage Banking Interest Rate and Market Risk” section and Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) and Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) to Financial Statements in this Report.
Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities include adjustments to the mortgage repurchase liability. Mortgage loans are repurchased from third parties based on standard representations and warranties, and early payment default clauses in mortgage sale contracts. For 2015 , we released a net $159 million from the repurchase liability, compared with a net release of $140 million for 2014 and a provision of $428 million for 2013 . For additional information about mortgage loan repurchases, see the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management – Liability for Mortgage Loan Repurchase Losses” section and Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) to Financial Statements in this Report.


42
Wells Fargo & Company
 

We engage in trading activities primarily to accommodate the investment activities of our customers, and to execute economic hedging to manage certain components of our balance sheet risks. Net gains (losses) from trading activities, which reflect unrealized changes in fair value of our trading positions and realized gains and losses, were $614 million in 2015 , $1.2 billion in 2014 and $1.6 billion in 2013 . The decrease in 2015 was driven by lower economic hedge income, lower trading from customer accommodation activity, and lower deferred compensation gains (offset in employee benefits expense). The decrease in 2014 from 2013 was driven by lower trading from customer accommodation activity within our capital markets business and lower deferred compensation gains (offset in employee benefits expense). Net gains from trading activities do not include interest and dividend income and expense on trading securities. Those amounts are reported within interest income from trading assets and other interest expense from trading liabilities. For additional information about trading activities, see the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Market Risk – Trading Activities” section in this Report.
Net gains on debt and equity securities totaled $3.2 billion for 2015 and $3.0 billion and $1.4 billion for 2014 and 2013 , respectively after other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) write-downs of $559 million , $322 million and $344 million , respectively, for the same periods. The increase in OTTI write-downs in 2015 mainly reflected deterioration in energy sector corporate debt and nonmarketable equity investments. The increase in net gains on debt and equity securities in 2015 compared with 2014 was due to higher net gains on debt securities combined with continued strong equity markets throughout the majority of 2015. The increase in net gains on debt and equity securities in 2014 compared with 2013 reflected the benefit of strong public and private equity markets.
 
All other income was $(115) million for 2015 compared with $456 million in 2014 and $113 million in 2013 . All other income includes ineffectiveness recognized on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, the results of certain economic hedges, losses on low-income housing tax credit investments, foreign currency adjustments and income from investments accounted for under the equity method, any of which can cause decreases and net losses in other income. The decrease in other income in 2015 compared with 2014 primarily reflected changes in ineffectiveness recognized on interest rate swaps used to hedge our exposure to interest rate risk on long-term debt and cross-currency swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward contracts used to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk and interest rate risk involving non-U.S. dollar denominated long-term debt. The decline in other income in 2015 resulting from these changes in ineffectiveness was partially offset by our proportionate share of earnings from a merchant services joint venture that we deconsolidated in 2015. Higher other income for 2014 compared with 2013 primarily reflected larger hedge ineffectiveness gains on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, a gain on sale of government-guaranteed student loans in fourth quarter 2014, and a gain on sale of 40 insurance offices in second quarter 2014 partially offset by lower income from equity method investments.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
43


Earnings Performance (continued)

Noninterest Expense

Table 8: Noninterest Expense
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Salaries
$
15,883

 
15,375

 
15,152

Commission and incentive compensation
10,352

 
9,970

 
9,951

Employee benefits
4,446

 
4,597

 
5,033

Equipment
2,063

 
1,973

 
1,984

Net occupancy
2,886

 
2,925

 
2,895

Core deposit and other intangibles
1,246

 
1,370

 
1,504

FDIC and other deposit assessments
973

 
928

 
961

Outside professional services
2,665

 
2,689

 
2,519

Operating losses
1,871

 
1,249

 
821

Outside data processing
985

 
1,034

 
983

Contract services
978

 
975

 
935

Postage, stationery and supplies
702

 
733

 
756

Travel and entertainment
692

 
904

 
885

Advertising and promotion
606

 
653

 
610

Insurance
448

 
422

 
437

Telecommunications
439

 
453

 
482

Foreclosed assets
381

 
583

 
605

Operating leases
278

 
220

 
204

All other
2,080

 
1,984

 
2,125

Total
$
49,974

 
49,037

 
48,842


Noninterest expense was $50.0 billion in 2015, up 2% from $49.0 billion in 2014, which was up slightly from $48.8 billion in 2013. The increase in 2015 was driven predominantly by higher personnel expenses ($30.7 billion, up from $29.9 billion in 2014) and higher operating losses ($1.9 billion, up from $1.2 billion in 2014), partially offset by lower travel and entertainment expense ($692 million, down from $904 million in 2014) and lower foreclosed assets expense ($381 million, down from $583 million in 2014). The increase in 2014 from 2013 was driven by higher operating losses and higher outside professional services, partially offset by lower personnel expenses.
Personnel expenses, which include salaries, commissions, incentive compensation and employee benefits, were up $739 million, or 2%, compared with 2014, due to annual salary increases, staffing growth across various businesses, and higher revenue-related incentive compensation. Lower employee benefits expense was predominantly due to lower deferred compensation expense (offset in trading revenue), partially offset by increases in other employee benefits. Personnel expenses were down 1% in 2014, compared with 2013, due to lower employee benefits expense, reduced staffing and lower volume-related compensation in our mortgage business, partially offset by increased personnel expenses in our non-mortgage businesses.
 
Outside professional services in 2015 were flat compared with 2014, which was up 7% compared with 2013. Many noninterest expense categories in 2015, including outside professional services, reflected continued investments in our products, technology and service delivery, as well as costs for the heightened industry focus on regulatory compliance and evolving cybersecurity risk.
Operating losses were up $622 million, or 50%, in 2015 compared with 2014, and up $428 million, or 52%, in 2014 compared with 2013, predominantly due to litigation expense in each year for various legal matters.
Travel and entertainment expense was down $212 million, or 23%, in 2015 compared with 2014, primarily driven by travel expense reduction initiatives. Travel and entertainment expense remained relatively stable in 2014 compared with 2013.
Foreclosed assets expense was down $202 million, or 35%, compared with 2014, primarily driven by higher gains on sales of foreclosed properties, lower write-downs and lower operating expenses.
All other noninterest expense in 2015 included a $126 million contribution to the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Our full year 2015 efficiency ratio was 58.1%, compared with 58.1% in 2014 and 58.3% in 2013. The Company expects to operate at the higher end of its targeted efficiency ratio range of 55-59% for full year 2016.

Income Tax Expense
The 2015 annual effective tax rate was 31.2% compared with 30.9% in 2014 and 32.2% in 2013. The effective tax rate for 2015 included net reductions in reserves for uncertain tax positions primarily due to audit resolutions of prior period matters with U.S. federal and state taxing authorities. The effective tax rate for 2014 included a net reduction in the reserve for uncertain tax positions primarily due to the resolution of prior period matters with state taxing authorities. The effective tax rate for 2013 included a net reduction in the reserve for uncertain tax positions primarily due to settlements with authorities regarding certain cross border transactions and tax benefits recognized from the realization for tax purposes of a previously written down investment. See Note 21 (Income Taxes) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information about our income taxes.



44
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Operating Segment Results
We are organized for management reporting purposes into three operating segments: Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management (WIM) (formerly Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement). These segments are defined by product type and customer segment and their results are based on our management accounting process, for which there is no comprehensive, authoritative financial accounting guidance equivalent to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). During 2015, we realigned our asset management business from Wholesale Banking to WIM; our reinsurance business from WIM to Wholesale Banking; and our strategic auto investments, business banking and merchant payment services businesses
 
from Community Banking to Wholesale Banking. These realignments are part of our regular course of business as we are always looking for ways to better align our businesses, deepen existing customer relationships, and create a best-in-class structure to benefit both our customers and our shareholders. Results for these operating segments were revised for prior periods to reflect the impact of these realignments. The following discussion presents our methodology for measuring cross-sell for each of our operating segments, and along with Tables 9, 9a, 9b and 9c, present our results by operating segment. For additional financial information and the underlying management accounting process, see Note 24 (Operating Segments) to Financial Statements in this Report.


Table 9: Operating Segment Results – Highlights
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions, except average balances which are in billions)
Community Banking 

 
Wholesale Banking 

 
Wealth and Investment Management

 
Other (1) 

 
Consolidated Company 

2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
49,341

 
25,904

 
15,777

 
(4,965
)
 
86,057

Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
2,427

 
27

 
(25
)
 
13

 
2,442

Net income (loss)
13,491

 
8,194

 
2,316

 
(1,107
)
 
22,894

Average loans
$
475.9

 
397.3

 
60.1

 
(47.9
)
 
885.4

Average deposits
654.4

 
438.9

 
172.3

 
(71.5
)
 
1,194.1

2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
48,158

 
25,398

 
15,269

 
(4,478
)
 
84,347

Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
1,796

 
(382
)
 
(50
)
 
31

 
1,395

Net income (loss)
13,686

 
8,199

 
2,060

 
(888
)
 
23,057

Average loans
$
468.8

 
355.6

 
52.1

 
(42.1
)
 
834.4

Average deposits
614.3

 
404.0

 
163.5

 
(67.7
)
 
1,114.1

2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
47,679

 
25,847

 
14,330

 
(4,076
)
 
83,780

Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
2,841

 
(521
)
 
(16
)
 
5

 
2,309

Net income (loss)
12,147

 
8,752

 
1,766

 
(787
)
 
21,878

Average loans
$
465.1

 
329.0

 
46.2

 
(37.6
)
 
802.7

Average deposits
494.7

 
353.8

 
158.9

 
(65.3
)
 
942.1

(1)
Includes items not assigned to a specific business segment and elimination of certain items that are included in more than one business segment, substantially all of which represents products and services for WIM customers served through Community Banking distribution channels.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
45


Earnings Performance (continued)

Cross-sell We aspire to create deep and enduring relationships with our customers by providing them with an exceptional experience and by discovering their needs and delivering the most relevant products, services, advice, and guidance. An outcome of offering customers the products and services they need, want and value is that we earn more opportunities to serve them, or what we call cross-sell. Cross-sell is the result of serving our customers well, understanding their financial needs and goals over their lifetimes, and ensuring we innovate our products, services and channels so that we earn more of their business and help them succeed financially. Our approach to cross-sell is needs-based as some customers will benefit from more products, and some may need fewer. We believe there is continued opportunity to meet our customers' financial needs as we build lifelong relationships with them. One way we track the degree to which we are satisfying our customers' financial needs is through our cross-sell metrics, which are based on whether the customer is a retail banking household or has a wholesale banking relationship. A retail banking household is a household that uses at least one of the following retail products – a demand deposit account, savings account, savings certificate, individual retirement account (IRA) certificate of deposit, IRA savings account, personal line of credit, personal loan, home equity line of credit or home equity loan. A household is determined based on aggregating all accounts with the same address. For our wholesale banking relationships, we aggregate all related entities under common ownership or control.
We report cross-sell metrics for Community Banking and WIM based on the average number of retail products used per retail banking household. For Community Banking the cross-sell metric represents the relationship of all retail products used by customers in retail banking households. For WIM the cross-sell metric represents the relationship of all retail products used by customers in retail banking households who are also WIM customers.
 
Products included in our retail banking household cross-sell metrics must be retail products and have the potential for revenue generation and long-term viability. Products and services that generally do not meet these criteria – such as ATM cards, online banking and direct deposit – are not included. In addition, multiple holdings by a WIM customer within an investment category, such as common stock, mutual funds or bonds, are counted as a single product. We may periodically update the p roducts included in our cross-sell metrics to account for changes in our product offerings.
For Wholesale Banking, the cross-sell metric represents the average number of Wholesale Banking (non-retail) products used per Wholesale Banking customer relationship. What we include as products in the cross-sell metric comes from a defined set of revenue generating products within the following product families: credit, treasury management, deposits, risk management, foreign exchange, capital markets and advisory, investments, insurance, trade financing, and trust and servicing. The number of customer relationships is based on tax identification numbers adjusted to combine those entities under common ownership or another structure indicative of a single relationship and includes only relationships that produced revenue for the period of measurement.



46
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Operating Segment Results
The following discussion provides a description of each of our operating segments, including cross-sell metrics and financial results.

COMMUNITY BANKING offers a complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and auto, student, and small business lending. These products also include investment, insurance and trust services in 39 states and D.C., and mortgage and home equity loans in all 50 states and D.C. The Community Banking segment also includes the results of our Corporate Treasury activities net of allocations in support of the other operating segments and results of investments in our affiliated venture capital partnerships. Our retail banking household cross-sell
 
was 6.11 products per household in November 2015, compared with 6.17 in November 2014 and 6.16 in November 2013. The November 2015 retail banking household cross-sell ratio reflects the impact of the sale of government guaranteed student loans in fourth quarter 2014. The November 2014 cross-sell ratio included the acquisition of an existing private label and co-branded credit card loan portfolio in connection with a new program agreement with Dillard's, Inc., a major retail department store. Table 9a provides additional financial information for Community Banking, with prior periods revised to reflect the realignment of our strategic auto investments, business banking and merchant payment services businesses from Community Banking to Wholesale Banking in 2015.



Table 9a: Community Banking
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions, except average balances which are in billions)
2015

 
2014

 
% Change

 
2013

 
% Change

Net interest income
$
29,242

 
27,999

 
4
 %
 
$
27,123

 
3
 %
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
3,014

 
3,071

 
(2
)
 
3,155

 
(3
)
Trust and investment fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokerage advisory, commissions and other fees (1)
2,044

 
1,796

 
14

 
1,604

 
12

Trust and investment management (1)
855

 
817

 
5

 
754

 
8

Investment banking (2)
(123
)
 
(80
)
 
(54
)
 
(77
)
 
(4
)
Total trust and investment fees
2,776

 
2,533

 
10

 
2,281

 
11

Card fees
3,381

 
3,119

 
8

 
2,918

 
7

Other fees
1,446

 
1,545

 
(6
)
 
1,735

 
(11
)
Mortgage banking
6,056

 
6,011

 
1

 
8,336

 
(28
)
Insurance
96

 
127

 
(24
)
 
130

 
(2
)
Net gains (losses) from trading activities
(146
)
 
136

 
(207
)
 
246

 
(45
)
Net gains (losses) on debt securities
556

 
255

 
118

 
(78
)
 
427

Net gains from equity investments (3)
1,714

 
1,731

 
(1
)
 
1,033

 
68

Other income of the segment
1,206

 
1,631

 
(26
)
 
800

 
104

Total noninterest income
20,099

 
20,159

 
—

 
20,556

 
(2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue
49,341

 
48,158

 
2

 
47,679

 
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for credit losses
2,427

 
1,796

 
35

 
2,841

 
(37
)
Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personnel expense
17,574

 
16,979

 
4

 
17,549

 
(3
)
Equipment
1,914

 
1,809

 
6

 
1,795

 
1

Net occupancy
2,104

 
2,154

 
(2
)
 
2,105

 
2

Core deposit and other intangibles
573

 
620

 
(8
)
 
689

 
(10
)
FDIC and other deposit assessments
549

 
526

 
4

 
561

 
(6
)
Outside professional services
1,012

 
1,011

 
—

 
1,011

 
—

Operating losses
1,503

 
1,052

 
43

 
706

 
49

Other expense of the segment
1,752

 
2,139

 
(18
)
 
2,674

 
(20
)
Total noninterest expense
26,981

 
26,290

 
3

 
27,090

 
(3
)
Income before income tax expense and noncontrolling interests
19,933

 
20,072

 
(1
)
 
17,748

 
13

Income tax expense
6,202

 
6,049

 
3

 
5,442

 
11

Net income from noncontrolling interests (4)
240

 
337

 
(29
)
 
159

 
112

Net income
$
13,491

 
13,686

 
(1
)%
 
$
12,147

 
13
 %
Average loans
$
475.9

 
468.8

 
2
 %
 
$
465.1

 
1
 %
Average deposits
654.4

 
614.3

 
7

 
494.7

 
24

(1)
Represents income on products and services for Wealth and Investment Management customers served through Community Banking distribution channels and is eliminated in consolidation.
(2)
Includes syndication and underwriting fees paid to Wells Fargo Securities which are offset in our Wholesale Banking segment.
(3)
Predominantly represents gains resulting from venture capital investments.
(4)
Reflects results attributable to noncontrolling interests primarily associated with the Company’s consolidated venture capital investments.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
47


Earnings Performance (continued)

Community Banking reported net income of $13.5 billion in 2015, down $195 million, or 1%, from $13.7 billion in 2014, which was up 13% from $12.1 billion in 2013. Revenue was $49.3 billion in 2015, an increase of $1.2 billion, or 2%, compared with $48.2 billion in 2014, which was up 1% compared with $47.7 billion in 2013. The increase in revenue for 2015 was primarily driven by higher net interest income, gains on sale of debt securities, debit and credit card fees, and trust and investment fees, partially offset by lower gains from trading activities, deferred compensation plan investment gains (offset in employee benefits expense) and other income. Lower other income in 2015, compared with 2014, reflected a gain on sale of government guaranteed student loans in 2014 and lower ineffectiveness gains in 2015 on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting. The increase in revenue for 2014, compared with 2013, was primarily driven by higher net interest income, gains on sale of equity investments and debt securities, higher trust and investment fees, and higher card fees, partially offset by lower mortgage banking revenue, the phase out of the direct deposit advance product during the first half of 2014, and lower deferred compensation plan investment gains (offset in employee benefits expense). Higher other income for 2014 compared with 2013 reflected larger ineffectiveness gains on derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting and a gain on sale of government guaranteed student loans in fourth quarter 2014. Average deposits increased $40.1 billion in 2015, or 7%, from 2014, which increased $119.6 billion, or 24%, from 2013. Noninterest expense increased $691 million in 2015, or 3%, from 2014, which declined $800 million, or 3%, from 2013. The increase in noninterest expense for 2015 largely reflected higher personnel expense, operating losses, equipment expense, and a $126 million donation to the Wells Fargo Foundation, partially offset by lower deferred compensation expense (offset in revenue), foreclosed assets, travel, data processing, occupancy and various other expenses. The decrease in noninterest expense for 2014 largely reflected lower mortgage volume-related expenses and deferred compensation expense (offset in
 
revenue), partially offset by higher operating losses. The provision for credit losses of $2.4 billion in 2015 was $631 million, or 35%, higher than 2014, which was $1.0 billion, or 37%, lower than 2013. The increase in provision in 2015 was due to $1.1 billion lower allowance release, partially offset by $403 million lower net charge-offs related to improvement in the consumer real estate portfolio. The decrease in provision in 2014 was due to $1.5 billion lower net charge-offs related to the consumer real estate portfoli0, partially offset by $454 million lower allowance release.

WHOLESALE BANKING provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally with annual sales generally in excess of $5 million. Products and businesses include Business Banking, Middle Market Commercial Banking, Government and Institutional Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Real Estate, Treasury Management, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, Insurance, International, Real Estate Capital Markets, Commercial Mortgage Servicing, Corporate Trust, Equipment Finance, Wells Fargo Securities, Principal Investments, and Asset Backed Finance. Wholesale Banking cross-sell is reported on a one-quarter lag and for fourth quarter 2015 was 7.3 products per relationship, up from 7.2 for fourth quarter 2014 and 7.1 for fourth quarter 2013. Wholesale Banking cross-sell does not reflect Business Banking relationships, which were realigned from Community Banking to Wholesale Banking effective fourth quarter 2015. Table 9b provides additional financial information for Wholesale Banking, with prior periods revised to reflect the realignment of our asset management business from Wholesale Banking to WIM; our reinsurance business from WIM to Wholesale Banking; and our strategic auto investments, business banking and merchant payment services businesses from Community Banking to Wholesale Banking in 2015.





48
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 9b: Wholesale Banking
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions, except average balances which are in billions)
2015

 
2014

 
% Change

 
2013

 
% Change

Net interest income
$
14,350

 
14,073

 
2
 %
 
$
14,353

 
(2
)%
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
2,153

 
1,978

 
9

 
1,867

 
6

Trust and investment fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokerage advisory, commissions and other fees
285

 
255

 
12

 
195

 
31

Trust and investment management
407

 
374

 
9

 
411

 
(9
)
Investment banking
1,762

 
1,803

 
(2
)
 
1,839

 
(2
)
Total trust and investment fees
2,454

 
2,432

 
1

 
2,445

 
(1
)
Card fees
337

 
310

 
9

 
271

 
14

Other fees
2,872

 
2,798

 
3

 
2,599

 
8

Mortgage banking
447

 
370

 
21

 
425

 
(13
)
Insurance
1,598

 
1,528

 
5

 
1,684

 
(9
)
Net gains from trading activities
719

 
886

 
(19
)
 
1,092

 
(19
)
Net gains (losses) on debt securities
396

 
334

 
19

 
48

 
596

Net gains from equity investments
511

 
624

 
(18
)
 
420

 
49

Other income of the segment
67

 
65

 
3

 
643

 
(90
)
Total noninterest income
11,554

 
11,325

 
2

 
11,494

 
(1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue
25,904

 
25,398

 
2

 
25,847

 
(2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
27

 
(382
)
 
107

 
(521
)
 
27

Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personnel expense
6,936

 
6,660

 
4

 
6,398

 
4

Equipment
97

 
106

 
(8
)
 
123

 
(14
)
Net occupancy
452

 
446

 
1

 
455

 
(2
)
Core deposit and other intangibles
347

 
391

 
(11
)
 
423

 
(8
)
FDIC and other deposit assessments
352

 
328

 
7

 
320

 
3

Outside professional services
837

 
834

 
—

 
759

 
10

Operating losses
152

 
70

 
117

 
26

 
169

Other expense of the segment
4,943

 
4,996

 
(1
)
 
4,573

 
9

Total noninterest expense
14,116

 
13,831

 
2

 
13,077

 
6

Income before income tax expense and noncontrolling interest
11,761

 
11,949

 
(2
)
 
13,291

 
(10
)
Income tax expense
3,424

 
3,540

 
(3
)
 
4,364

 
(19
)
Net income from noncontrolling interest
143

 
210

 
(32
)
 
175

 
20

Net income
$
8,194

 
8,199

 
—
 %
 
$
8,752

 
(6
)%
Average loans
$
397.3

 
355.6

 
12
 %
 
$
329.0

 
8
 %
Average deposits
438.9

 
404.0

 
9

 
353.8

 
14


Wholesale Banking reported net income of $8.2 billion in 2015, down $5 million from 2014, which was down 6% from $8.8 billion in 2013. The year over year decrease in net income for 2015 was the result of increased revenues being more than offset by increased noninterest expense and higher loan loss provision. The year over year decrease in net income during 2014 compared with 2013 was the result of lower revenues, increased noninterest expense and higher provision for credit losses. Revenue in 2015 of $25.9 billion increased $506 million, or 2%, from $25.4 billion in 2014, on growth in Wells Fargo Securities' markets division, treasury management, asset backed finance, principal investing, commercial real estate brokerage, multi-family capital, reinsurance, and municipal products. Revenue in 2014 of $25.4 billion decreased $449 million, or 2%, from $25.8 billion in 2013, as growth in asset backed finance, commercial real estate brokerage, corporate banking, equipment finance, international, principal investing and treasury management was more than offset by lower PCI resolution income as well as lower crop insurance fee income. Net interest
 
income of $14.4 billion in 2015 increased $277 million, or 2%, from 2014, which was down 2% from 2013. The increase in 2015 was due to strong loan and other earning asset growth. The decrease in 2014 was due to lower PCI resolution income and net interest margin compression due to declining loan yields and fees that was partially offset by increased interest income primarily from strong loan growth. Average loans of $397.3 billion in 2015 increased $41.7 billion, or 12%, from $355.6 billion in 2014, which was up 8% from $329.0 billion in 2013. Loan growth in 2015 and 2014 was broad based across many Wholesale Banking businesses. Average deposits of $438.9 billion in 2015 increased $34.9 billion, or 9%, from 2014 which was up 14% from 2013, reflecting continued strong customer liquidity for both years. Noninterest income of $11.6 billion in 2015 increased $229 million, or 2%, from 2014 driven by growth in treasury management, reinsurance, commercial real estate brokerage fees, multi-family capital, municipal products, principal investing, corporate trust and business banking, partially offset by lower customer


 
Wells Fargo & Company
49


Earnings Performance (continued)

accommodation-related gains on trading assets and lower gains on equity investments. Noninterest income of $11.3 billion in 2014 decreased $169 million, or 1%, from 2013 as business growth in commercial real estate brokerage, corporate banking, equipment finance, international, principal investing and treasury management was more than offset by lower customer accommodation related gains on trading assets, lower insurance income related to a decline in crop insurance fee income, the 2014 divestiture of 40 insurance offices, and lower other income. Noninterest expense in 2015 increased $285 million, or 2%, compared with 2014, which was up 6%, or $754 million, from 2013. The increase in both 2015 and 2014 was due to higher personnel and non-personnel expenses related to growth initiatives and compliance and regulatory requirements as well as increased operating losses. The provision for credit losses increased $409 million from 2014 due primarily to increased losses in the oil and gas portfolio as well as lower recoveries. The provision for credit losses increased $139 million from 2013 due primarily to strong commercial loan growth in 2014.
 
WEALTH AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (WIM) (formerly Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement) provides a full range of personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses including Wells Fargo Advisors, The Private Bank, Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust, and Wells Fargo Asset Management. We deliver financial planning, private banking, credit, investment management and fiduciary services to high-net worth and ultra-high-net worth individuals and families. We also serve clients’ brokerage needs, supply retirement and trust services to institutional clients and provide investment management capabilities delivered to global institutional clients through separate accounts and the Wells Fargo Funds. WIM cross-sell was 10.55 products per retail banking household in November 2015, up from 10.49 in November 2014 and 10.42 in November 2013. Table 9c provides additional financial information for WIM, with prior periods revised to reflect the realignment of our asset management business from Wholesale Banking to WIM and our reinsurance business from WIM to Wholesale Banking in 2015.

Table 9c: Wealth and Investment Management
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions, except average balances which are in billions)
2015

 
2014

 
% Change

 
2013

 
% Change

Net interest income
$
3,478

 
3,032

 
15
 %
 
$
2,797

 
8
 %
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
19

 
18

 
6

 
17

 
6

Trust and investment fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokerage advisory, commissions and other fees
9,154

 
8,933

 
2

 
8,207

 
9

Trust and investment management
3,017

 
3,045

 
(1
)
 
2,911

 
5

Investment banking (1)
—

 
(13
)
 
100

 
(16
)
 
19

Total trust and investment fees
12,171

 
11,965

 
2

 
11,102

 
8

Card fees
5

 
4

 
25

 
4

 
—

Other fees
17

 
17

 
—

 
20

 
(15
)
Mortgage banking
(7
)
 
1

 
(800
)
 
(24
)
 
104

Insurance
—

 
—

 
NM

 
—

 
NM

Net gains from trading activities
41

 
139

 
(71
)
 
288

 
(52
)
Net gains on debt securities
—

 
4

 
(100
)
 
1

 
300

Net gains from equity investments
5

 
25

 
(80
)
 
19

 
32

Other income of the segment
48

 
64

 
(25
)
 
106

 
(40
)
Total noninterest income
12,299

 
12,237

 
1

 
11,533

 
6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue
15,777

 
15,269

 
3

 
14,330

 
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reversal of provision for credit losses
(25
)
 
(50
)
 
50

 
(16
)
 
(213
)
Noninterest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Personnel expense
7,820

 
7,851

 
—

 
7,602

 
3

Equipment
57

 
62

 
(8
)
 
72

 
(14
)
Net occupancy
447

 
435

 
3

 
426

 
2

Core deposit and other intangibles
326

 
359

 
(9
)
 
392

 
(8
)
FDIC and other deposit assessments
123

 
126

 
(2
)
 
135

 
(7
)
Outside professional services
846

 
877

 
(4
)
 
782

 
12

Operating losses
229

 
134

 
71

 
99

 
35

Other expense of the segment
2,219

 
2,149

 
3

 
1,978

 
9

Total noninterest expense
12,067

 
11,993

 
1

 
11,486

 
4

Income before income tax expense and noncontrolling interest
3,735

 
3,326

 
12

 
2,860

 
16

Income tax expense
1,420

 
1,262

 
13

 
1,082

 
17

Net income (loss) from noncontrolling interest
(1
)
 
4

 
(125
)
 
12

 
(67
)
Net income
$
2,316

 
2,060

 
12
 %
 
$
1,766

 
17
 %
Average loans
$
60.1

 
52.1

 
15
 %
 
$
46.2

 
13
 %
Average deposits
172.3

 
163.5

 
5

 
158.9

 
3

NM - Not meaningful
(1)
Includes syndication and underwriting fees paid to Wells Fargo Securities which are offset in our Wholesale Banking segment.

50
Wells Fargo & Company
 

WIM reported net income of $2.3 billion in 2015, up $256 million, or 12%, from 2014, which was up 17% from $1.8 billion in 2013. Net income growth in 2015 and 2014 was primarily driven by growth in net interest income, as well as noninterest income. Revenue of $15.8 billion in 2015 increased $508 million from 2014, which was up 7% from $14.3 billion in 2013. The increase in revenue for both 2015 and 2014 was due to growth in both net interest income and noninterest income. Net interest income increased 15% in 2015 and 8% in 2014 due to growth in investment portfolios and loan balances. Average loan balances of $60.1 billion in 2015 increased 15% from $52.1 billion in 2014, which was up 13% from $46.2 billion in 2013. Average deposits in 2015 of $172.3 billion increased 5% from $163.5 billion in 2014, which was up 3% from $158.9 billion in 2013. Noninterest income increased 1% in 2015 from 2014, primarily due to growth in asset-based fees driven by higher average client assets in 2015 than 2014, partially offset by lower gains on deferred compensation plan investments (offset in employee benefits expense). Noninterest income increased 6% in 2014 from 2013, largely due to strong growth in asset-based fees from higher client assets driven by net client asset inflows and favorable market performance, partially offset by lower brokerage transaction revenue. Noninterest expense of $12.1 billion for 2015 was up 1% from $12.0 billion in 2014, which was up 4% from $11.5 billion in 2013. The increase in 2015 was predominantly due to higher non-personnel expenses and increased broker commissions, partially offset by lower deferred compensation plan expense (offset in trading revenue). The increase in 2014 was predominantly due to increased broker
 
commissions and higher non-personnel expenses. The provision for credit losses increased $25 million in 2015, driven primarily by lower allowance releases. The provision for credit losses decreased $34 million in 2014, driven by lower net charge-offs and continued improvement in credit quality.
The following discussions provide additional information for client assets we oversee in our retail brokerage advisory and trust and investment management business lines.

Retail Brokerage Client Assets Brokerage advisory, commissions and other fees are received for providing full-service and discount brokerage services predominantly to retail brokerage clients. Offering advisory account relationships to our brokerage clients is an important component of our broader strategy of meeting their financial needs. Although most of our retail brokerage client assets are in accounts that earn brokerage commissions, the fees from those accounts generally represent transactional commissions based on the number and size of transactions executed at the client’s direction. Fees earned from advisory accounts are asset-based and depend on changes in the value of the client’s assets as well as the level of assets resulting from inflows and outflows. A major portion of our brokerage advisory, commissions and other fee income is earned from advisory accounts. Table 9d shows advisory account client assets as a percentage of total retail brokerage client assets at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.


Table 9d: Retail Brokerage Client Assets
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in billions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Retail brokerage client assets
$
1,386.9

 
1,421.8

 
1,363.6

Advisory account client assets
419.9

 
422.8

 
374.8

Advisory account client assets as a percentage of total client assets
30
%
 
30

 
27


Retail Brokerage advisory accounts include assets that are financial advisor-directed and separately managed by third-party managers, as well as certain client-directed brokerage assets where we earn a fee for advisory and other services, but do not have investment discretion. These advisory accounts generate fees as a percentage of the market value of the assets, which vary across the account types based on the distinct services provided, and are affected by investment performance
 
as well as asset inflows and outflows. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the average fee rate by account type ranged from 80 to 120 basis points. Table 9e presents retail brokerage advisory account client assets activity by account type for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.




 
Wells Fargo & Company
51


Earnings Performance (continued)

Table 9e: Retail Brokerage Advisory Account Client Assets
(in billions)
Client
 directed (1)

 
Financial advisor directed (2)

 
Separate accounts (3)

 
Mutual fund advisory (4)

 
Total advisory client assets

Balance, December 31, 2012
$
119.3

 
54.5

 
77.1

 
46.8

 
297.7

Inflows (5)
42.8

 
16.8

 
24.0

 
13.3

 
96.9

Outflows (6)
(31.2
)
 
(11.7
)
 
(15.7
)
 
(8.7
)
 
(67.3
)
Market impact (7)
13.6

 
12.0

 
14.5

 
7.4

 
47.5

Balance, December 31, 2013
$
144.5

 
71.6


99.9


58.8


374.8

Inflows (5)
41.6

 
18.4

 
23.1

 
14.6

 
97.7

Outflows (6)
(31.8
)
 
(13.4
)
 
(18.3
)
 
(9.7
)
 
(73.2
)
Market impact (7)
5.5

 
8.8

 
6.0

 
3.2

 
23.5

Balance, December 31, 2014
$
159.8

 
85.4


110.7


66.9


422.8

Inflows (5)
38.7

 
20.7

 
21.6

 
10.4

 
91.4

Outflows (6)
(37.3
)
 
(17.5
)
 
(20.5
)
 
(12.2
)
 
(87.5
)
Market impact (7)
(6.5
)
 
3.3

 
(1.4
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(6.8
)
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
154.7

 
91.9

 
110.4

 
62.9

 
419.9

(1)
Investment advice and other services are provided to client, but decisions are made by the client and the fees earned are based on a percentage of the advisory account assets, not the number and size of transactions executed by the client.
(2)
Professionally managed portfolios with fees earned based on respective strategies and as a percentage of certain client assets.
(3)
Professional advisory portfolios managed by Wells Fargo asset management advisors or third-party asset managers. Fees are earned based on a percentage of certain client assets.
(4)
Program with portfolios constructed of load-waived, no-load and institutional share class mutual funds. Fees are earned based on a percentage of certain client assets.
(5)
Inflows include new advisory account assets, contributions, dividends and interest.
(6)
Outflows include withdrawals, closed accounts’ assets and client management fees.
(7)
Market impact reflects gains and losses on portfolio investments.

Trust and Investment Client Assets Under Management We earn trust and investment management fees from managing and administering assets, including mutual funds, institutional separate accounts, personal trust, employee benefit trust and agency assets through our asset management, wealth and retirement businesses. Our asset management business is conducted by Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM), which offers Wells Fargo proprietary mutual funds and manages institutional separate accounts. Our wealth business manages assets for high net worth clients, and our retirement business
 
provides total retirement management, investments, and trust and custody solutions tailored to meet the needs of institutional clients. Substantially all of our trust and investment management fee income is earned from AUM where we have discretionary management authority over the investments and generate fees as a percentage of the market value of the AUM. Table 9f presents AUM activity for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Table 9f: WIM Trust and Investment – Assets Under Management
 
Assets Managed by WFAM (1)
 
 
 
 
(in billions)
Money Market Funds (2)

 
Other Assets Managed

 
Assets Managed by Wealth and Retirement (3)

 
Total Assets Under Management

Balance, December 31, 2012
$
120.6

 
331.5

 
147.6

 
599.7

Inflows (4)
5.4

 
104.0

 
31.4

 
140.8

Outflows (5)
—

 
(101.0
)
 
(31.5
)
 
(132.5
)
Market impact (6)
0.2

 
26.4

 
11.9

 
38.5

Balance, December 31, 2013
$
126.2

 
360.9

 
159.4

 
646.5

Inflows (4)
—

 
100.6

 
34.2

 
134.8

Outflows (5)
(3.1
)
 
(99.3
)
 
(31.2
)
 
(133.6
)
Market impact (6)
—

 
10.4

 
2.9

 
13.3

Balance, December 31, 2014
$
123.1

 
372.6

 
165.3

 
661.0

Inflows (4)
0.5

 
93.5

 
36.2

 
130.2

Outflows (5)
—

 
(97.0
)
 
(34.1
)
 
(131.1
)
Market impact (6)
—

 
(3.0
)
 
(5.3
)
 
(8.3
)
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
123.6

 
366.1

 
162.1

 
651.8

(1)
Assets managed by Wells Fargo Asset Management consist of equity, alternative, balanced, fixed income, money market, and stable value, and include client assets that are managed or sub-advised on behalf of other Wells Fargo lines of business.
(2)
Money Market fund activity is presented on a net inflow or net outflow basis, because the gross flows are not meaningful nor used by management as an indicator of performance.
(3)
Includes $8.2 billion, $8.9 billion and $8.7 billion as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, of client assets invested in proprietary funds managed by WFAM.
(4)
Inflows include new managed account assets, contributions, dividends and interest.
(5)
Outflows include withdrawals, closed accounts’ assets and client management fees.
(6)
Market impact reflects gains and losses on portfolio investments.
(7)

52
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Balance Sheet Analysis

At December 31, 2015 , our assets totaled $1.8 trillion , up $100.5 billion from December 31, 2014 . The predominant areas of asset growth were in investment securities, which increased $34.6 billion , and loans, which increased $54.0 billion (including $11.5 billion from the GE Capital commercial real estate loan purchase and related financing transaction that settled in second quarter 2015). Federal funds sold and other short-term investments, which increased $11.7 billion , combined with deposit growth of $55.0 billion , an increase in short-term borrowings of $34.0 billion , and total equity growth of $8.6 billion from December 31, 2014 , were the predominant
 
sources that funded our asset growth for 2015 . Equity growth was driven by $13.8 billion in retained earnings net of dividends paid.
The following discussion provides additional information about the major components of our balance sheet. Information regarding our capital and changes in our asset mix is included in the “Earnings Performance – Net Interest Income” and “Capital Management” sections and Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 


Investment Securities

Table 10: Investment Securities – Summary
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Amortized Cost 

 
Net 
unrealized 
gain 

 
Fair 
value 

 
Amortized Cost 

 
Net 
unrealized 
gain

 
Fair 
value 

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
$
263,318

 
2,403

 
265,721

 
247,747

 
6,019

 
253,766

Marketable equity securities
1,058

 
579

 
1,637

 
1,906

 
1,770

 
3,676

Total available-for-sale securities
264,376

 
2,982

 
267,358

 
249,653

 
7,789

 
257,442

Held-to-maturity debt securities
80,197

 
370

 
80,567

 
55,483

 
876

 
56,359

Total investment securities (1)
$
344,573

 
3,352

 
347,925

 
305,136

 
8,665

 
313,801

(1)
Available-for-sale securities are carried on the balance sheet at fair value. Held-to-maturity securities are carried on the balance sheet at amortized cost.

Table 10 presents a summary of our investment securities portfolio, which increased $34.6 billion from December 31, 2014 , primarily due to purchases of U.S. Treasury securities and federal agency mortgage-backed securities. The total net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities were $3.0 billion at December 31, 2015 , down from $7.8 billion at December 31, 2014 , primarily due to higher long-term interest rates, widening credit spreads, and realized securities gains.
The size and composition of the investment securities portfolio is largely dependent upon the Company’s liquidity and interest rate risk management objectives. Our business generates assets and liabilities, such as loans, deposits and long-term debt, which have different maturities, yields, re-pricing, prepayment characteristics and other provisions that expose us to interest rate and liquidity risk. The available-for-sale securities portfolio predominantly consists of liquid, high quality U.S. Treasury and federal agency debt, agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS), privately-issued residential and commercial MBS, securities issued by U.S. states and political subdivisions, corporate debt securities, and highly rated collateralized loan obligations. Due to its highly liquid nature, the available-for-sale portfolio can be used to meet funding needs that arise in the normal course of business or due to market stress. Changes in our interest rate risk profile may occur due to changes in overall economic or market conditions, which could influence loan origination demand, prepayment speeds, or deposit balances and mix. In response, the available-for-sale securities portfolio can be rebalanced to meet the Company’s interest rate risk management objectives. In addition to meeting liquidity and interest rate risk management objectives, the available-for-sale securities portfolio may provide yield enhancement over other short-term assets. See the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management” section in this Report for more information on liquidity and interest rate risk. The held-to-maturity securities
 
portfolio consists of high quality U.S. Treasury debt, securities issued by U.S. states and political subdivisions, agency MBS, asset-backed securities (ABS) primarily collateralized by auto loans and leases, and collateralized loan obligations where our intent is to hold these securities to maturity and collect the contractual cash flows. The held-to-maturity portfolio may also provide yield enhancement over short-term assets.
We analyze securities for other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) quarterly or more often if a potential loss-triggering event occurs. Of the $559 million in OTTI write-downs recognized in earnings in 2015 , $183 million related to debt securities and $2 million related to marketable equity securities, which are each included in available-for-sale securities. Another $374 million in OTTI write-downs were related to nonmarketable equity investments, which are included in other assets. OTTI write-downs recognized in earnings related to energy investments totaled $287 million in 2015, of which $104 million related to corporate debt investment securities, and $183 million related to nonmarketable equity investments. For a discussion of our OTTI accounting policies and underlying considerations and analysis, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 5 (Investment Securities) to Financial Statements in this Report.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
53


Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)


At December 31, 2015 , investment securities included $52.2 billion of municipal bonds, of which 93.9% were rated “A-” or better based predominantly on external and, in some cases, internal ratings. Additionally, some of the securities in our total municipal bond portfolio are guaranteed against loss by bond insurers. These guaranteed bonds are substantially all investment grade and were generally underwritten in accordance with our own investment standards prior to the determination to purchase, without relying on the bond insurer’s guarantee in making the investment decision. The credit quality of our municipal bond holdings are monitored as part of our ongoing impairment analysis.
The weighted-average expected maturity of debt securities available-for-sale was 6.1 years at December 31, 2015 . Because 47.9% of this portfolio is MBS, the expected remaining maturity is shorter than the remaining contractual maturity because borrowers generally have the right to prepay obligations before the underlying mortgages mature. The estimated effects of a 200 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates on the fair value and the expected remaining maturity of the MBS available-for-sale portfolio are shown in Table 11 .

Table 11: Mortgage-Backed Securities Available for Sale
(in billions)
Fair 
value 

 
Net 
unrealized 
gain (loss) 

 
Expected 
remaining 
maturity 
(in years) 
At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Actual
127.2

 
2.0

 
5.6
Assuming a 200 basis point:
 
 
 
 
 
Increase in interest rates
115.5

 
(9.7
)
 
7.1
Decrease in interest rates
132.0

 
6.8

 
2.7

The weighted-average expected maturity of debt securities held-to-maturity was 6.5 years at December 31, 2015 . See Note 5 (Investment Securities) to Financial Statements in this Report for a summary of investment securities by security type. 



54
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Loan Portfolio
Total loans were $916.6 billion at December 31, 2015 , up $54.0 billion from December 31, 2014 . Table 12 provides a summary of total outstanding loans by core and non-strategic/liquidating loan portfolios. Loans in the core portfolio grew $62.8 billion from December 31, 2014 , primarily due to growth in commercial and industrial and real estate mortgage loans within the commercial loan portfolio segment, which included $11.5 billion from the GE Capital commercial real estate loan purchase and related financing transaction that settled in second
 
quarter 2015. Non-strategic/liquidating portfolios decreased by $8.8 billion compared with a $20.1 billion decrease in 2014 , which included $10.7 billion primarily due to sale of our government guaranteed student loan portfolio. Additional information on the non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios is included in Table 18 in the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management” section in this Report.
 


Table 12: Loan Portfolios
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Core 

 
Non-strategic and liquidating

 
Total 

 
Core 

 
Non-strategic and liquidating

 
Total 

Commercial
$
456,115

 
468

 
456,583

 
413,701

 
1,125

 
414,826

Consumer
408,489

 
51,487

 
459,976

 
388,062

 
59,663

 
447,725

Total loans
864,604

 
51,955

 
916,559

 
801,763

 
60,788

 
862,551

Change from prior year
$
62,841

 
(8,833
)
 
54,008

 
60,343

 
(20,078
)
 
40,265


A discussion of average loan balances and a comparative detail of average loan balances is included in Table 5 under “Earnings Performance – Net Interest Income” earlier in this Report. Additional information on total loans outstanding by portfolio segment and class of financing receivable is included in the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management” section in this Report. Period-end balances and other loan related
 
information are in Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report. 
Table 13 shows contractual loan maturities for loan categories normally not subject to regular periodic principal reduction and the contractual distribution of loans in those categories to changes in interest rates.



Table 13: Maturities for Selected Commercial Loan Categories
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Within 
one 
year 

 
After 
one year 
through 
five years 

 
After 
five 
years 

 
Total 

 
Within 
one 
year 

 
After 
one year through
five years 

 
After 
five 
years 

 
Total 

Selected loan maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
91,214

 
184,641

 
24,037

 
299,892

 
76,216

 
172,801

 
22,778

 
271,795

Real estate mortgage
18,622

 
68,391

 
35,147

 
122,160

 
17,485

 
61,092

 
33,419

 
111,996

Real estate construction
7,455

 
13,284

 
1,425

 
22,164

 
6,079

 
11,312

 
1,337

 
18,728

Total selected loans
$
117,291

 
266,316

 
60,609

 
444,216

 
99,780

 
245,205

 
57,534

 
402,519

Distribution of loans to changes in interest rates:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans at fixed interest rates
$
16,819

 
27,705

 
23,533

 
68,057

 
15,574

 
25,429

 
20,002

 
61,005

Loans at floating/variable interest rates
100,472

 
238,611

 
37,076

 
376,159

 
84,206

 
219,776

 
37,532

 
341,514

Total selected loans
$
117,291

 
266,316

 
60,609

 
444,216

 
99,780

 
245,205

 
57,534

 
402,519


Deposits
Deposits grew $55.0 billion during 2015 to just over $1.2 trillion , reflecting continued broad-based growth across commercial and consumer businesses. Table 14 provides additional information regarding deposits. Information regarding the impact of deposits on net interest income and a comparison of average deposit balances is provided in “Earnings Performance – Net Interest Income” and Table 5 earlier in this Report.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
55


Balance Sheet Analysis (continued)


Table 14: Deposits

($ in millions)
Dec 31,
2015

 
% of  
total 
deposits 

 
Dec 31,
2014

 
% of
total 
deposits 

 
% Change 

Noninterest-bearing
$
351,579

 
29
%
 
$
321,963

 
27
%
 
9

Interest-bearing checking
40,115

 
3

 
41,737

 
4

 
(4
)
Market rate and other savings
651,563

 
54

 
604,999

 
52

 
8

Savings certificates
28,614

 
2

 
35,354

 
3

 
(19
)
Other time deposits
49,032

 
4

 
56,828

 
5

 
(14
)
Deposits in foreign offices (1)
102,409

 
8

 
107,429

 
9

 
(5
)
Total deposits
$
1,223,312

 
100
%
 
$
1,168,310

 
100
%
 
5

(1)
Includes Eurodollar sweep balances of $71.1 billion and $69.8 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Equity
Total equity was $193.9 billion at December 31, 2015 compared with $185.3 billion at December 31, 2014 . The increase was predominantly driven by a $13.8 billion increase in retained earnings from earnings net of dividends paid, and a $3.0 billion increase in preferred stock, partially offset by a net reduction in common stock due to repurchases.
 






Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, we engage in financial transactions that are not recorded on the balance sheet, or may be recorded on the balance sheet in amounts that are different from the full contract or notional amount of the transaction. Our off-balance sheet arrangements include commitments to lend and purchase securities, transactions with unconsolidated entities, guarantees, derivatives, and other commitments. These transactions are designed to (1) meet the financial needs of customers, (2) manage our credit, market or liquidity risks, and/or (3) diversify our funding sources.

Commitments to Lend and Purchase Securities
We enter into commitments to lend funds to customers, which are usually at a stated interest rate, if funded, and for specific purposes and time periods. When we make commitments, we are exposed to credit risk. However, the maximum credit risk for these commitments will generally be lower than the contractual amount because a significant portion of these commitments are not expected to be fully used or will expire without being used by the customer. For more information on lending commitments, see Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report. We also enter into commitments to purchase securities under resale agreements. For more information on these commitments, see Note 4 (Federal Funds Sold, Securities Purchased under Resale Agreements and Other Short-Term Investments) to Financial Statements in this Report.

Transactions with Unconsolidated Entities
We routinely enter into various types of on- and off-balance sheet transactions with special purpose entities (SPEs), which are corporations, trusts or partnerships that are established for a limited purpose. Generally, SPEs are formed in connection with securitization transactions. For more information on securitizations, including sales proceeds and cash flows from securitizations, see Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 
Guarantees and Certain Contingent Arrangements
Guarantees are contracts that contingently require us to make payments to a guaranteed party based on an event or a change in an underlying asset, liability, rate or index. Guarantees are generally in the form of standby letters of credit, securities lending and other indemnifications, written put options, recourse obligations for loans and mortgages sold, and other types of arrangements.
For more information on guarantees and certain contingent arrangements, see Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral) to Financial Statements in this Report.

Derivatives
We primarily use derivatives to manage exposure to market risk, including interest rate risk, credit risk and foreign currency risk, and to assist customers with their risk management objectives. Derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value and volumes can be measured in terms of the notional amount, which is generally not exchanged, but is used only as the basis on which interest and other payments are determined. The notional amount is not recorded on the balance sheet and is not, when viewed in isolation, a meaningful measure of the risk profile of the instruments.
For more information on derivatives, see Note 16 (Derivatives) to Financial Statements in this Report.




56
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Contractual Cash Obligations
In addition to the contractual commitments and arrangements previously described, which, depending on the nature of the obligation, may or may not require use of our resources, we enter into other contractual obligations that may require future cash payments in the ordinary course of business, including debt issuances for the funding of operations and leases for premises and equipment.
 
Table 15 summarizes these contractual obligations as of December 31, 2015 , excluding the projected cash payments for obligations for short-term borrowing arrangements and pension and postretirement benefit plans. More information on those obligations is in Note 12 (Short-Term Borrowings) and Note 20 (Employee Benefits and Other Expenses) to Financial Statements in this Report. 


Table 15: Contractual Cash Obligations
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Note(s) to 
Financial 
Statements 
 
Less than 
1 year 

 
1-3 
years 

 
3-5 
years 

 
More 
than 
5 years 

 
Indeterminate 
maturity 

 
Total 

Contractual payments by period:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits (1)
11
 
$
81,846

 
9,192

 
3,321

 
4,155

 
1,124,798

 
1,223,312

Long-term debt (2)
7, 13
 
31,904

 
44,914

 
41,638

 
81,080

 
—

 
199,536

Interest (3)

 
3,143

 
4,823

 
3,650

 
15,369

 
—

 
26,985

Operating leases
7
 
1,131

 
1,928

 
1,409

 
2,234

 
—

 
6,702

Unrecognized tax obligations
21
 
115

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,581

 
2,696

Commitments to purchase debt
and equity securities (4)

 
2,154

 
509

 
57

 
—

 
—

 
2,720

Purchase and other obligations (5)

 
575

 
483

 
185

 
82

 
—

 
1,325

Total contractual obligations
 
 
$
120,868

 
61,849

 
50,260

 
102,920

 
1,127,379

 
1,463,276

(1)
Includes interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking, and market rate and other savings accounts.
(2)
Balances are presented net of unamortized debt discounts and premiums and purchase accounting adjustments.
(3)
Represents the future interest obligations related to interest-bearing time deposits and long-term debt in the normal course of business including a net reduction of $25.7 billion related to hedges used to manage interest rate risk. These interest obligations assume no early debt redemption. We estimated variable interest rate payments using December 31, 2015 , rates, which we held constant until maturity. We have excluded interest related to structured notes where our payment obligation is contingent on the performance of certain benchmarks.
(4)
Includes unfunded commitments to purchase debt and equity investments, excluding trade date payables, of $573 million and $2.1 billion , respectively. Our unfunded equity commitments include certain investments subject to the Volcker Rule, which we expect to divest in the near future. For additional information regarding the Volcker Rule, see the "Regulatory Reform" section in this Report. We have presented predominantly all of our contractual obligations on equity investments above in the maturing in less than one year category as there are no specified contribution dates in the agreements. These obligations may be requested at any time by the investment manager.
(5)
Represents agreements related to unrecognized obligations to purchase goods or services.

We are subject to the income tax laws of the U.S., its states and municipalities, and those of the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. We have various unrecognized tax obligations related to these operations that may require future cash tax payments to various taxing authorities. Because of their uncertain nature, the expected timing and amounts of these payments generally are not reasonably estimable or determinable. We attempt to estimate the amount payable in the next 12 months based on the status of our tax examinations and settlement discussions. See Note 21 (Income Taxes) to Financial Statements in this Report for more information.
 

Transactions with Related Parties
The Related Party Disclosures topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 850 requires disclosure of material related party transactions, other than compensation arrangements, expense allowances and other similar items in the ordinary course of business. Based on ASC 850, we had no transactions required to be reported for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and  2013 . The Company has included within its disclosures information on its equity investments, relationships with variable interest entities, and employee benefit plan arrangements. See Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets), Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) and Note 20 (Employee Benefits and Other Expenses) to Financial Statements in this Report.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
57


Risk Management
Wells Fargo manages a variety of risks that can significantly affect our financial performance and our ability to meet the expectations of our customers, stockholders, regulators and other stakeholders. Among the risks that we manage are operational risk, credit risk, and asset/liability management risk, which includes interest rate risk, market risk, and liquidity and funding risks. Our risk culture is strongly rooted in our Vision and Values , and in order to succeed in our mission of satisfying our customers’ financial needs and helping them succeed financially, our business practices and operating model must support prudent risk management practices.

Risk Culture
Wells Fargo's risk culture is designed to promote understanding of our risk profile, transparency of risks across the Company, effective transfer of information (including the escalation of important risk issues), and more informed decision-making. Our risk culture also seeks to foster an environment that encourages and promotes robust communication and cooperation among the Company’s three lines of defense – (1) Wells Fargo’s lines of business and certain other corporate functions, (2) Corporate Risk, our Company’s primary second-line of defense led by our Chief Risk Officer who reports to the Board’s Risk Committee, and (3) Wells Fargo Audit Services, our internal audit function which is led by our Chief Auditor who reports to the Board’s Audit and Examination Committee (A&E Committee). Our risk culture begins with our Vision and Values and is demonstrated by setting the appropriate tone at the top, fostering credible challenge within and among each of our lines of defense, and developing and maintaining sound incentive compensation risk management practices.
•
Our Vision and Values outlines our vision and our Company’s six priorities, including putting customers first and managing risk. Our focus is on earning our customers’ trust, establishing and maintaining deep and enduring customer relationships, and providing exceptional Wells Fargo customer experiences, which also means that we must proactively protect our customers’ financial security through a risk-focused culture.
•
A strong risk culture starts with the tone at the top , which is set by the Company’s Board of Directors, CEO, Operating Committee (which consists of our Chief Risk Officer and other senior executives) and other members of senior management, and emphasizes a prudent approach to taking and managing risk. In addition, our business and risk leaders work with Wells Fargo’s lines of business and other corporate functions to understand the risks inherent in our businesses and to consider those risks when making business and strategic planning decisions.
•
We believe a key component of an effective risk management function is the degree to which all team members are accountable for risk management and have the ability to provide credible challenge to business and risk management decisions, such as communicating an alternative view, opinion, or strategy, or offering ideas or alternative approaches that may be equally or more effective in mitigating risk.
•
Wells Fargo’s incentive-based compensation practices are designed to balance risk and financial reward in a manner that does not provide team members
 
with an incentive to take inappropriate risk or act in a way that is not in the best interest of customers.

Our risk culture is further supported by our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. We require all team members to adhere to the highest standards of ethics and business conduct and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Risk Framework
The Company’s primary risk management objectives are: (a) to support the Board as it carries out its risk oversight responsibilities; (b) to support members of senior management in achieving the Company's strategic objectives and priorities by maintaining and enhancing our risk framework; and (c) to maintain and continually promote Wells Fargo’s strong risk culture, which emphasizes each team member’s accountability for appropriate risk management. Key elements of our risk program include:
•
Cultivating a strong risk culture , which emphasizes each team member’s accountability for appropriate risk management and the Company’s bias for conservatism through which we strive to maintain a conservative financial position measured by satisfactory asset quality, capital levels, funding sources, and diversity of revenues.
•
Defining and communicating across the Company an enterprise-wide statement of risk appetite which serves to guide business and risk leaders as they manage risk on a daily basis. The enterprise-wide statement of risk appetite describes the nature and magnitude of risk that Wells Fargo is willing to assume in pursuit of its strategic and business objectives.
•
Maintaining a risk management governance structure, including escalation protocols and a management-level committee structure, that enables the comprehensive oversight of the Company’s risk program and the effective and efficient escalation of risk issues to the appropriate level of the Company for information and decision-making.
•
Designing risk frameworks, policies, standards, procedures, controls, processes, and practices that are effective and aligned, and facilitate the active and timely management of current and emerging risks across the Company.
•
Structuring an effective and independent Corporate Risk function whose primary responsibilities include: (a) establishing and maintaining an effective risk framework, (b) maintaining a comprehensive perspective on the Company’s current and emerging risks, (c) credibly challenging the intended business and risk management actions of Wells Fargo’s first-line of defense, and (d) reviewing risk management programs and practices across the Company to confirm appropriate coordination and consistency in the application of effective risk management approaches.
•
Maintaining an independent internal audit function that is primarily responsible for adopting a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluating the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes and activities as well as evaluating risk framework adherence to relevant regulatory guidelines and appropriateness for Wells Fargo’s size and risk profile.



58
Wells Fargo & Company
 

The Board and the Operating Committee have overall and ultimate responsibility to provide oversight for our three lines of defense and the risks we take, and carry out their oversight through governance committees with specific risk management responsibilities described below.

Board Oversight of Risk
The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board, whose responsibilities include overseeing the Company’s risk management structure. The Board carries out its risk oversight responsibilities directly and through the work of its seven standing committees, which all report to the full Board.
Each Board Committee has defined authorities and responsibilities for considering a specific set of risk issues, as outlined in each of their charters and as summarized in Table 16 , and works closely with management to understand and oversee the Company’s key risk exposures. Allocating risk responsibilities among each Board committee increases the overall amount of attention devoted to risk management.
The Risk Committee serves as a focal point for enterprise-wide risk issues, overseeing all key risks facing the Company. In this role, the Risk Committee supports and assists the Board's other standing committees as they consider their specific risk issues. The Risk Committee includes the chairs of each of the Board’s other standing committees so that it does not duplicate the risk oversight efforts of other Board committees and to provide it with a comprehensive perspective on risk across the Company and across all individual risk types.
 
In addition to providing a forum for risk issues at the Board level, the Risk Committee provides oversight of the Company's Corporate Risk function and plays an active role in approving and overseeing the Company’s enterprise-wide risk management framework established by management to manage risk, and the functional framework and oversight policies established by management for each key risk type. The Risk Committee and the full Board review and approve the enterprise statement of risk appetite annually, and the Risk Committee also actively monitors the risk profile relative to the approved risk appetite.
The full Board receives reports at each of its meetings from the Board committee chairs about committee activities, including risk oversight matters, and receives a quarterly report from the management-level Enterprise Risk Management Committee regarding current or emerging risk issues.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
59


Risk Management ( continued )

Table 16: Key Risk Responsibilities of Board Committees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board of Directors
Annually approves overall enterprise risk appetite statement
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board Committees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Enterprise-wide risk management framework and structure, including through approval of the risk management framework which outlines the Company’s approach to risk management and the policies, processes and governance structures necessary to execute the risk management program
•
Risk functional framework and oversight policies, which outline roles and responsibilities for managing key risk types and the most significant cross-functional risk areas, including counterparty credit risk
•
Corporate Risk function, including performance of the Chief Risk Officer
•
Risk coverage statement
•
Aggregate enterprise-wide risk profile and alignment of risk profile with Company strategy, objectives, and risk appetite
•
Risk appetite statement, including changes in risk appetite, and adherence to risk limits
•
Risks associated with acquisitions and significant new business or strategic initiatives
•
Liquidity and funding risks, emerging risk, strategic risk, and other selected risk topics and enterprise-wide risk issues, including model risk
•
Volcker compliance program
•
Through joint meetings with the Audit & Examination Committee, information security risk (including cyber) and technology risk
 
Audit & Examination Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Internal control over financial reporting
•
Disclosure framework for financial and risk reports prepared for the Board, management and bank regulatory agencies
•
External auditor performance
•
Internal audit function, including performance of the Chief Auditor
•
Operational risk, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, financial crimes risk(BSA/AML), information security risk (including cyber), and technology risk, including through approval (and recommendation to the Risk Committee) of the relevant functional framework and oversight policies
•
Ethics, business conduct, and conflicts of interest program
•
Resolution planning
 
 
Credit Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Credit risk, including through approval (and recommendation to the Risk Committee) of the credit risk functional framework and oversight policy
•
Allowance for credit losses, including governance and methodology
•
Adherence to enterprise credit risk appetite metrics and concentration limits
•
Credit quality plan
•
Compliance with credit risk framework, policies and underwriting standards
•
Credit stress testing framework and results (including credit modeling issues)
•
Risk Asset Review organization, resources, and structure, and its examinations of credit portfolios, processes, and practices
 
Corporate Responsibility Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Reputation risk, including through approval (and recommendation to the Risk Committee) of the reputational risk functional framework and oversight policy
•
Customer service and complaint matters, including related to the Company’s culture and its team members’ focus on serving customers
•
Fair and responsible mortgage and other consumer lending reputational risks
•
Social responsibility risks, including political and environmental risks
 
 
 
 
Human Resources Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Overall incentive compensation strategy and incentive compensation practices
•
Compensation risk management
•
Talent management and succession planning
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Governance & Nominating Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Corporate governance compliance
•
Board and committee performance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finance Committee
Oversight includes:
•
Interest rate risk, including the MSR
•
Market risk, including trading and derivative activities
•
Approval (and recommendation to the Risk Committee) of the interest rate risk and market risk functional framework and oversight policies
•
Investment risk, including fixed-income and equity portfolios
•
Capital position and planning, including capital levels relative to budgets and forecasts and the Company’s risk profile, capital adequacy assessment and planning, and stress testing activities
•
Financial risk management policies used to assess and manage market, interest rate, liquidity and investment risks
•
Annual financial plan
•
Recovery planning
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Management Oversight of Risk
In addition to the Board committees that oversee the Company's risk management framework, the Company has established several management-level governance committees to support Wells Fargo leaders in carrying out their risk management responsibilities. Each risk-focused governance committee has a defined set of authorities and responsibilities specific to one or more risk types. The risk governance committee structure is designed so that significant risk issues are considered and, if necessary, decided upon at the appropriate level of the Company and by the appropriate leaders.
The Enterprise Risk Management Committee, chaired by the Wells Fargo Chief Risk Officer, oversees the management of all risk types across the Company, and additionally provides primary oversight for reputation risk and strategic risk. The Enterprise Risk Management Committee reports to the Board's Risk Committee, and serves as the focal point for risk governance and oversight at the management level. The Enterprise Risk Management Committee is responsible for: monitoring and evaluating the Company’s risk profile relative to its risk appetite across risk types, businesses, and activities; providing active oversight of risk mitigation and the adequacy of risk management resources, skills, and capabilities across the enterprise; reporting periodically to senior management and the Board on the most significant current and emerging risks, risk management issues, initiatives, and concerns; and addressing key risk issues which are escalated to it by its members or its reporting committees. The Enterprise Risk Management Committee annually reviews the Company’s Strategic Plan, with a primary view toward ensuring alignment with the Company’s risk appetite.
Our CEO and Operating Committee develop our enterprise statement of risk appetite in the context of our risk management framework and culture described above. As part of Wells Fargo’s risk appetite, we maintain metrics along with associated objectives to measure and monitor the amount of risk that the Company is prepared to take. Actual results of these metrics are reported to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee on a quarterly basis as well as to the Risk Committee. Our operating segments also have business-specific risk appetite statements based on the enterprise statement of risk appetite. The metrics included in the operating segment statements are harmonized with the enterprise level metrics to ensure consistency where appropriate. Business lines also maintain metrics and qualitative statements that are unique to their line of business. This allows for monitoring of risk and definition of risk appetite deeper within the organization.
A number of management-level governance committees that are responsible for issues specific to an individual risk type report into the Enterprise Risk Management Committee. These governance committees include the:
•
Counterparty Credit Risk Committee
•
Credit Risk Management Committee
•
Enterprise Technology Governance Committee
•
Fiduciary & Investment Risk Oversight Committee
•
Financial Crimes Risk Committee
•
International Oversight Committee
•
Legal Entity Governance Committee
•
Liquidity Risk Management Oversight Committee
•
Market Risk Committee
•
Model Risk Committee
•
Operational Risk Management Committee, and
•
Regulatory Compliance Risk Management Committee
 
Certain of these governance committees have dual escalation and/or informational reporting paths to the Board committee primarily responsible for the oversight of the specific risk type. In addition, certain management-level risk committees, including those that oversee risk for Community Banking, Consumer Lending, WIM, and Wholesale Banking, report into the Enterprise Risk Management Committee.
While the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and the committees that report to it serve as the focal point for the management of enterprise-wide risk issues, the management of specific risk types is supported by additional management-level governance committees. These committees include the:
•
Ethics & Integrity Oversight Committee, Regulatory and Risk Reporting Oversight Committee, Capital Reporting Committee, and SOX Disclosure Committee, which all report to the Board’s A&E Committee
•
Corporate Asset and Liability Committee, Economic Scenario Approval Committee, and Stress Testing Oversight Committee, which all report to the Board’s Finance Committee
•
Allowance for Credit Losses Approval Committee, which reports to the Board’s Credit Committee
•
Incentive Compensation Committee, which reports to the Board’s Human Resources Committee

The Company’s management-level governance committees collectively help management facilitate enterprise-wide understanding and monitoring of risks and challenges faced by the Company.
Management’s Corporate Risk organization, which is the Company’s primary second-line of defense, is headed by the Company's Chief Risk Officer who, among other things, is responsible for setting the strategic direction and driving the execution of Wells Fargo’s risk management activities.
The Chief Risk Officer, as well as the Chief Risk Officer’s direct reports, work closely with the Board’s committees and frequently provide reports and updates to the committees and the committee chairs on risk issues during and outside of regular committee meetings, as appropriate.




 
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61


Risk Management ( continued )

Operational Risk Management
Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal controls and processes, people and systems, or resulting from external events. These losses may be caused by events such as fraud, breaches of customer privacy, business disruptions, inappropriate employee behavior, vendors that do not perform their responsibilities and regulatory fines and penalties.
To address these risks, Wells Fargo maintains an operational risk management framework that includes the following objectives:
•
Provide a structured approach for identifying, measuring, managing, reporting, and monitoring current and emerging operational risks across all areas of Wells Fargo;
•
Understand operational risk across the Company by establishing and maintaining an effective operational risk management program;
•
Adequately control operational risk-related losses;
•
Establish an appropriate level of capital for such losses in accordance with regulatory guidance; and
•
Support the Board as it carries out its oversight duties and responsibilities relating to management’s establishment of an effective operational risk management program.

Wells Fargo’s operational risk management program seeks to accomplish these objectives by managing operational risk across the Company in a comprehensive, interconnected manner, in line with the enterprise statement of risk appetite and relevant regulatory requirements.
The A&E Committee of the Board has primary responsibility for oversight of all aspects of operational risk. In this capacity it reviews and approves the operational risk management framework and significant supporting operational risk policies and programs, including the Company’s financial crimes, business continuity, information security, privacy, technology and third party risk management policies and programs. To further enhance Board-level oversight and avoid duplication, the A&E Committee meets periodically with the Risk Committee to discuss, among other things, information security risk (including cyber) and technology risk. In addition, the A&E Committee periodically reviews updates from management on the state of operational risk and the general condition of operational risk management in the Company.
 
At the management level, the Operational Risk Management Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing operational risk management across the Company and informs and advises the Chief Operational Risk Officer on matters that affect the Company's operational risk profile.
Information security is a significant operational risk for financial institutions such as Wells Fargo, and includes the risk of losses resulting from cyber attacks. Wells Fargo and other financial institutions continue to be the target of various evolving and adaptive cyber attacks, including malware and denial-of-service, as part of an effort to disrupt the operations of financial institutions, potentially test their cybersecurity capabilities, or obtain confidential, proprietary or other information. Wells Fargo has not experienced any material losses relating to these or other cyber attacks. Addressing cybersecurity risks is a priority for Wells Fargo, and we continue to develop and enhance our controls, processes and systems in order to protect our networks, computers, software and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. We are also proactively involved in industry cybersecurity efforts and working with other parties, including our third-party service providers and governmental agencies, to continue to enhance defenses and improve resiliency to cybersecurity threats. See the “Risk Factors” section in this Report for additional information regarding the risks associated with a failure or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, including as a result of cyber attacks.




62
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Credit Risk Management
We define credit risk as the risk of loss associated with a borrower or counterparty default (failure to meet obligations in accordance with agreed upon terms). Credit risk exists with many of our assets and exposures such as debt security holdings, certain derivatives, and loans. The following discussion focuses on our loan portfolios, which represent the largest component of assets on our balance sheet for which we have credit risk. Table 17 presents our total loans outstanding by portfolio segment and class of financing receivable.

Table 17: Total Loans Outstanding by Portfolio Segment and Class of Financing Receivable
(in millions)
Dec 31, 2015

 
Dec 31, 2014

Commercial:
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
299,892

 
271,795

Real estate mortgage
122,160

 
111,996

Real estate construction
22,164

 
18,728

Lease financing
12,367

 
12,307

Total commercial
456,583

 
414,826

Consumer:
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
273,869

 
265,386

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
53,004

 
59,717

Credit card
34,039

 
31,119

Automobile
59,966

 
55,740

Other revolving credit and installment
39,098

 
35,763

Total consumer
459,976

 
447,725

Total loans
$
916,559

 
862,551


We manage our credit risk by establishing what we believe are sound credit policies for underwriting new business, while monitoring and reviewing the performance of our existing loan portfolios. We employ various credit risk management and monitoring activities to mitigate risks associated with multiple risk factors affecting loans we hold, could acquire or originate including: 
• Loan concentrations and related credit quality
• Counterparty credit risk
• Economic and market conditions
• Legislative or regulatory mandates
• Changes in interest rates
• Merger and acquisition activities
• Reputation risk
 
Our credit risk management oversight process is governed centrally, but provides for decentralized management and accountability by our lines of business. Our overall credit process includes comprehensive credit policies, disciplined credit underwriting, frequent and detailed risk measurement and modeling, extensive credit training programs, and a continual loan review and audit process.
A key to our credit risk management is adherence to a well-controlled underwriting process, which we believe is appropriate for the needs of our customers as well as investors who purchase the loans or securities collateralized by the loans.

 
Credit Quality Overview   Credit quality remained solid in 2015 due in part to an improving housing market, as well as our proactive credit risk management activities. We continued to benefit from improvements in the performance of our residential real estate portfolio, offset by an increase in our commercial allowance to reflect continued deterioration in the oil and gas portfolio. In particular:
•
Although commercial nonaccrual loans increased to $2.4 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $2.2 billion at December 31, 2014 , consumer nonaccrual loans declined to $9.0 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $10.6 billion at December 31, 2014 . The increase in commercial nonaccrual loans was primarily driven by continued deterioration in the oil and gas portfolio, and the decline in consumer nonaccrual loans was primarily driven by credit improvement in real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans. Nonaccrual loans represented 1.24% of total loans at December 31, 2015 , compared with 1.49% at December 31, 2014 .
•
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average total loans improved to 0.33% in 2015 , compared with 0.35% in 2014. Net charge-offs as a percentage of our average commercial and consumer portfolios were 0.09% and 0.55% in 2015 , respectively, compared with 0.01% and 0.65% , respectively, in 2014 .
•
Loans that are not government insured/guaranteed and 90 days or more past due and still accruing were $114 million and $867 million in our commercial and consumer portfolios, respectively, at December 31, 2015 , compared with $47 million and $873 million at December 31, 2014 .
•
Our provision for credit losses was $2.4 billion during 2015 , compared with $1.4 billion for the same period a year ago.
•
The allowance for credit losses decreased to $12.5 billion , or 1.37% of total loans, at December 31, 2015 , from $13.2 billion or 1.53% , at December 31, 2014 .
 
Additional information on our loan portfolios and our credit quality trends follows.

Non-Strategic and Liquidating Loan Portfolios   We continually evaluate and, when appropriate, modify our credit policies to address appropriate levels of risk. We may designate certain portfolios and loan products as non-strategic or liquidating after which we cease their continued origination and actively work to limit losses and reduce our exposures.
Table 18 identifies our non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios. They consist primarily of the Pick-a-Pay mortgage portfolio and PCI loans acquired from Wachovia, certain portfolios from legacy Wells Fargo Home Equity and Wells Fargo Financial, and, through the first half of 2014, our education finance government guaranteed loan portfolio. We transferred the government guaranteed student loan portfolio to loans held for sale at the end of second quarter 2014, and substantially all of the portfolio was sold as of December 31, 2014. The total balance of our non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios has decreased 73% since the merger with Wachovia at December 31, 2008, and decreased 15% from the end of 2014.
Additional information regarding the liquidating PCI and Pick-a-Pay loan portfolios is provided in the discussion of loan portfolios that follows.






 
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63


Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

Table 18: Non-Strategic and Liquidating Loan Portfolios
 
Outstanding balance 
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2008

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
Legacy Wachovia commercial and industrial and commercial real estate PCI loans (1)
$
468

 
1,125

 
18,704

Total commercial
468

 
1,125

 
18,704

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
Pick-a-Pay mortgage (1)(2)
39,065

 
45,002

 
95,315

Legacy Wells Fargo Financial debt consolidation (3)
9,957

 
11,417

 
25,299

Liquidating home equity
2,234

 
2,910

 
10,309

Legacy Wachovia other PCI loans (1)
221

 
300

 
2,478

Legacy Wells Fargo Financial indirect auto (3)
10

 
34

 
18,221

Education Finance –  government insured
—

 
—

 
20,465

Total consumer
51,487

 
59,663

 
172,087

Total non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios
$
51,955

 
60,788

 
190,791

(1)
Net of purchase accounting adjustments related to PCI loans.
(2)
Includes PCI loans of $19.0 billion , $21.5 billion and $37.6 billion at December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2008, respectively.
(3)
When we refer to “legacy Wells Fargo”, we mean Wells Fargo excluding Wachovia Corporation (Wachovia).


PURCHASED CREDIT-IMPAIRED (PCI) LOANS   Loans acquired with evidence of credit deterioration since their origination and where it is probable that we will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments are PCI loans. Substantially all of our PCI loans were acquired in the Wachovia acquisition on December 31, 2008. PCI loans are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition, and the historical allowance for credit losses related to these loans is not
carried over. The carrying value of PCI loans totaled $20.0 billion at December 31, 2015 , down from $23.3 billion and $58.8 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2008, respectively. Such loans are considered to be accruing due to the existence of the accretable yield and not based on consideration given to contractual interest payments. The accretable yield at December 31, 2015 , was $16.3 billion .
A nonaccretable difference is established for PCI loans to absorb losses expected on the contractual amounts of those loans in excess of the fair value recorded at the date of acquisition. Amounts absorbed by the nonaccretable difference do not affect the income statement or the allowance for credit losses. Since December 31, 2008, we have released $11.7 billion in nonaccretable difference, including $9.7 billion ( $1.2 billion in 2015) transferred from the nonaccretable difference to the accretable yield and $2.0 billion released to income through loan resolutions. Also, we have provided $1.7 billion for losses on certain PCI loans or pools of PCI loans that have had credit-related decreases to cash flows expected to be collected. The net result is a $10.0 billion reduction from December 31, 2008, through December 31, 2015 , in our initial projected losses of $41.0 billion on all PCI loans. At December 31, 2015, $1.9 billion of nonaccretable difference remained to absorb losses on PCI loans.
For additional information on PCI loans, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Loans) and Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report. 

Significant Loan Portfolio Reviews    Measuring and monitoring our credit risk is an ongoing process that tracks delinquencies, collateral values, FICO scores, economic trends by geographic areas, loan-level risk grading for certain portfolios (typically commercial) and other indications of credit risk. Our
 
credit risk monitoring process is designed to enable early identification of developing risk and to support our determination of an appropriate allowance for credit losses. The following discussion provides additional characteristics and analysis of our significant portfolios. See Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report for more analysis and credit metric information for each of the following portfolios.

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LOANS AND LEASE FINANCING   For purposes of portfolio risk management, we aggregate commercial and industrial loans and lease financing according to market segmentation and standard industry codes. We generally subject commercial and industrial loans and lease financing to individual risk assessment using our internal borrower and collateral quality ratings. Our ratings are aligned to regulatory definitions of pass and criticized categories with criticized divided between special mention, substandard, doubtful and loss categories.
The commercial and industrial loans and lease financing portfolio totaled $312.3 billion , or 34% of total loans, at December 31, 2015 . The net charge-off rate for this portfolio was 0.16% in 2015 compared with 0.10% in 2014 . At December 31, 2015 , 0.44% of this portfolio was nonaccruing, compared with 0.20% at December 31, 2014 . In addition, $19.1 billion of this portfolio was rated as criticized in accordance with regulatory guidance at December 31, 2015 , compared with $16.7 billion at December 31, 2014 . The increase in nonaccrual and criticized loans in this portfolio was predominantly in the oil and gas portfolio.
A majority of our commercial and industrial loans and lease financing portfolio is secured by short-term assets, such as accounts receivable, inventory and securities, as well as long-lived assets, such as equipment and other business assets. Generally, the collateral securing this portfolio represents a secondary source of repayment.


64
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 19 provides a breakout of commercial and industrial loans and lease financing by industry, and includes $49.3 billion of foreign loans at December 31, 2015 . Foreign loans totaled $14.9 billion within the investors category, $18.1 billion within the financial institutions category and $1.7 billion within the oil and gas category.
The investors category includes loans to special purpose vehicles (SPVs) formed by sponsoring entities to invest in financial assets backed predominantly by commercial and residential real estate or corporate cash flow, and are repaid from the asset cash flows or the sale of assets by the SPV. We limit loan amounts to a percentage of the value of the underlying assets, as determined by us, based primarily on analysis of underlying credit risk and other factors such as asset duration and ongoing performance.
We provide financial institutions with a variety of relationship focused products and services, including loans supporting short-term trade finance and working capital needs. The $18.1 billion of foreign loans in the financial institutions category were predominantly originated by our Global Financial Institutions (GFI) business.
Slightly more than half of our oil and gas loans were to businesses in the exploration and production (E&P) sector. Most of these E&P loans are secured by oil and/or gas reserves and have underlying borrowing base arrangements which include regular (typically semi-annual) “redeterminations” that consider refinements to borrowing structure and prices used to determine borrowing limits. All other oil and gas loans were to midstream and services and equipment companies. Driven by a drop in energy prices and the results of our spring and fall redeterminations, our oil and gas nonaccrual loans increased to $844 million at December 31, 2015 , compared with $76 million at December 31, 2014 .

Table 19: Commercial and Industrial Loans and Lease Financing by Industry (1)
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Nonaccrual loans 

 
Total portfolio 

(2)
% of total loans 

Investors
$
23

 
52,261

 
6
%
Financial institutions
38

 
39,544

 
4

Oil and gas
844

 
17,367

 
2

Real estate lessor
2

 
15,315

 
2

Healthcare
41

 
15,189

 
2

Cyclical retailers
20

 
15,135

 
2

Food and beverage
10

 
13,923

 
1

Industrial equipment
18

 
13,478

 
1

Technology
27

 
9,922

 
1

Business services
28

 
8,581

 
1

Transportation
40

 
8,506

 
1

Public administration
7

 
8,340

 
1

Other
291

 
94,698

(3)
10

Total
$
1,389

 
312,259

 
34
%
(1)
Industry categories are based on the North American Industry Classification System and the amounts reported include foreign loans. See Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report for a breakout of commercial foreign loans.
(2)
Includes $78 million PCI loans, which are considered to be accruing due to the existence of the accretable yield and not based on consideration given to contractual interest payments.
(3)
No other single industry had total loans in excess of $6.4 billion .

 
Risk mitigation actions, including the restructuring of repayment terms, securing collateral or guarantees, and entering into extensions, are based on a re-underwriting of the loan and our assessment of the borrower’s ability to perform under the agreed-upon terms. Extension terms generally range from six to thirty-six months and may require that the borrower provide additional economic support in the form of partial repayment, or additional collateral or guarantees. In cases where the value of collateral or financial condition of the borrower is insufficient to repay our loan, we may rely upon the support of an outside repayment guarantee in providing the extension.
Our ability to seek performance under a guarantee is directly related to the guarantor’s creditworthiness, capacity and willingness to perform, which is evaluated on an annual basis, or more frequently as warranted. Our evaluation is based on the most current financial information available and is focused on various key financial metrics, including net worth, leverage, and current and future liquidity. We consider the guarantor’s reputation, creditworthiness, and willingness to work with us based on our analysis as well as other lenders’ experience with the guarantor. Our assessment of the guarantor’s credit strength is reflected in our loan risk ratings for such loans. The loan risk rating and accruing status are important factors in our allowance methodology.
In considering the accrual status of the loan, we evaluate the collateral and future cash flows as well as the anticipated support of any repayment guarantor. In many cases the strength of the guarantor provides sufficient assurance that full repayment of the loan is expected. When full and timely collection of the loan becomes uncertain, including the performance of the guarantor, we place the loan on nonaccrual status. As appropriate, we also charge the loan down in accordance with our charge-off policies, generally to the net realizable value of the collateral securing the loan, if any.




 
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Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE (CRE)  We generally subject CRE loans to individual risk assessment using our internal borrower and collateral quality ratings. Our ratings are aligned to regulatory definitions of pass and criticized categories with criticized divided between special mention, substandard, doubtful and loss categories. The CRE portfolio, which included $8.8 billion of foreign CRE loans, totaled $144.3 billion , or 16% of total loans, at December 31, 2015 , and consisted of $122.1 billion of mortgage loans and $22.2 billion of construction loans.
Table 20 summarizes CRE loans by state and property type with the related nonaccrual totals. The portfolio is diversified both geographically and by property type. The largest geographic concentrations of combined CRE loans are in California, Texas, New York and Florida, which combined represented 48% of the
 
total CRE portfolio. By property type, the largest concentrations are office buildings at 28% and apartments at 15% of the portfolio. CRE nonaccrual loans totaled 0.7% of the CRE outstanding balance at December 31, 2015 , compared with 1.3% at December 31, 2014 . At December 31, 2015 , we had $6.8 billion of criticized CRE mortgage loans, down from $7.9 billion at December 31, 2014 , and $549 million of criticized CRE construction loans, down from $949 million at December 31, 2014 . 
At December 31, 2015 , the recorded investment in PCI CRE loans totaled $634 million , down from $12.3 billion when acquired at December 31, 2008, reflecting principal payments, loan resolutions and write-downs.


Table 20: CRE Loans by State and Property Type
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Real estate mortgage 
 
 
Real estate construction 
 
 
Total 
 
 
% of

(in millions)
Nonaccrual loans 

 
Total portfolio 

(1)
Nonaccrual loans 

 
Total portfolio 

(1)
Nonaccrual loans 

 
Total portfolio 

(1)
total
 loans 

By state:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
California
$
241

 
34,792

 
12

 
4,035

 
253

 
38,827

 
4
%
Texas
62

 
9,001

 
—

 
1,885

 
62

 
10,886

 
1

New York
33

 
8,354

 
1

 
1,817

 
34

 
10,171

 
1

Florida
98

 
7,992

 
1

 
2,056

 
99

 
10,048

 
1

North Carolina
61

 
3,737

 
7

 
859

 
68

 
4,596

 
1

Arizona
54

 
3,922

 
1

 
575

 
55

 
4,497

 
*

Washington
30

 
3,451

 
—

 
816

 
30

 
4,267

 
*

Georgia
62

 
3,705

 
12

 
439

 
74

 
4,144

 
*

Virginia
13

 
2,813

 
—

 
981

 
13

 
3,794

 
*

Colorado
22

 
3,011

 
—

 
527

 
22

 
3,538

 
*

Other
293

 
41,382

 
32

 
8,174

 
325

 
49,556

(2)
5

Total
$
969

 
122,160

 
66

 
22,164

 
1,035

 
144,324

 
16
%
By property:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Office buildings
$
252

 
37,621

 
—

 
3,104

 
252

 
40,725

 
4
%
Apartments
30

 
14,034

 
—

 
7,559

 
30

 
21,593

 
2

Industrial/warehouse
156

 
13,815

 
—

 
1,262

 
156

 
15,077

 
2

Retail (excluding shopping center)
139

 
13,449

 
—

 
718

 
139

 
14,167

 
2

Shopping center
50

 
10,159

 
—

 
1,270

 
50

 
11,429

 
1

Hotel/motel
17

 
9,218

 
—

 
1,210

 
17

 
10,428

 
1

Real estate - other
110

 
10,126

 
—

 
232

 
110

 
10,358

 
1

Institutional
35

 
3,037

 
—

 
720

 
35

 
3,757

 
*

Land (excluding 1-4 family)
1

 
375

 
11

 
2,529

 
12

 
2,904

 
*

Agriculture
54

 
2,624

 
—

 
30

 
54

 
2,654

 
*

Other
125

 
7,702

 
55

 
3,530

 
180

 
11,232

 
1

Total
$
969

 
122,160

 
66

 
22,164

 
1,035

 
144,324

 
16
%
*    Less than 1%.
(1)
Includes a total of $634 million PCI loans, consisting of $542 million of real estate mortgage and $92 million of real estate construction, which are considered to be accruing due to the existence of the accretable yield and not based on consideration given to contractual interest payments.
(2)
Includes 40 states; no state had loans in excess of $3.5 billion .


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

FOREIGN LOANS AND COUNTRY RISK EXPOSURE  We classify loans for financial statement and certain regulatory purposes as foreign primarily based on whether the borrower’s primary address is outside of the United States. At December 31, 2015 , foreign loans totaled $58.6 billion , representing approximately 6% of our total consolidated loans outstanding, compared with $50.6 billion , or approximately 6% of total consolidated loans outstanding, at December 31, 2014 . Foreign loans were approximately 3% of our consolidated total assets at December 31, 2015 and at December 31, 2014 .
Our foreign country risk monitoring process incorporates frequent dialogue with our financial institution customers, counterparties and regulatory agencies, enhanced by centralized monitoring of macroeconomic and capital markets conditions in the respective countries. We establish exposure limits for each country through a centralized oversight process based on customer needs, and in consideration of relevant economic, political, social, legal, and transfer risks. We monitor exposures closely and adjust our country limits in response to changing conditions.
We evaluate our individual country risk exposure on an ultimate country of risk basis, which is normally based on the country of residence of the guarantor or collateral location, and is different from the reporting based on the borrower’s primary address. Our largest single foreign country exposure on an
 
ultimate risk basis at December 31, 2015 , was the United Kingdom, which totaled $27.4 billion , or approximately 2% of our total assets, and included $4.9 billion of sovereign claims. Our United Kingdom sovereign claims arise primarily from deposits we have placed with the Bank of England pursuant to regulatory requirements in support of our London branch.
We conduct periodic stress tests of our significant country risk exposures, analyzing the direct and indirect impacts on the risk of loss from various macroeconomic and capital markets scenarios. We do not have significant exposure to foreign country risks because our foreign portfolio is relatively small. However, we have identified exposure to increased loss from U.S. borrowers associated with the potential impact of a regional or worldwide economic downturn on the U.S. economy. We mitigate these potential impacts on the risk of loss through our normal risk management processes which include active monitoring and, if necessary, the application of aggressive loss mitigation strategies.
Table 21 provides information regarding our top 20 exposures by country (excluding the U.S.) and our Eurozone exposure, on an ultimate risk basis. Our exposure to Puerto Rico (considered part of U.S. exposure) is primarily through automobile lending and was not material to our consolidated country risk exposure.



 
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Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

Table 21: Select Country Exposures
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
Lending (1)
 
 
Securities (2)
 
 
Derivatives and other (3)
 
 
Total exposure
 
(in millions)
Sovereign

 
Non-sovereign

 
Sovereign

 
Non-sovereign

 
Sovereign

 
Non-sovereign

 
Sovereign

 
Non-
sovereign (4)

 
Total

Top 20 country exposures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United Kingdom
$
4,939

 
17,716

 
—

 
3,246

 
—

 
1,507

 
4,939

 
22,469

 
27,408

Canada
2

 
13,437

 
—

 
1,007

 
—

 
571

 
2

 
15,015

 
15,017

Ireland
22

 
3,190

 
—

 
210

 
—

 
88

 
22

 
3,488

 
3,510

Germany
1,279

 
1,340

 
—

 
474

 
—

 
330

 
1,279

 
2,144

 
3,423

Cayman Islands
—

 
3,177

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
231

 
—

 
3,408

 
3,408

Bermuda
—

 
2,840

 
—

 
77

 
—

 
101

 
—

 
3,018

 
3,018

India
—

 
2,105

 
—

 
123

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
2,230

 
2,230

China
—

 
1,907

 
—

 
181

 
70

 
1

 
70

 
2,089

 
2,159

Brazil
—

 
2,143

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
5

 
—

 
2,146

 
2,146

Netherlands
—

 
1,535

 
—

 
358

 
—

 
39

 
—

 
1,932

 
1,932

Australia
—

 
938

 
—

 
922

 
—

 
38

 
—

 
1,898

 
1,898

France
—

 
558

 
—

 
1,039

 
—

 
293

 
—

 
1,890

 
1,890

Switzerland
—

 
1,755

 
—

 
48

 
—

 
10

 
—

 
1,813

 
1,813

Mexico
—

 
1,482

 
—

 
43

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
1,527

 
1,527

Turkey
—

 
1,479

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
1,480

 
1,480

South Korea
—

 
1,367

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,367

 
1,367

Jersey, C.I.
—

 
1,046

 
—

 
278

 
—

 
5

 
—

 
1,329

 
1,329

Chile
—

 
1,270

 
—

 
20

 
4

 
32

 
4

 
1,322

 
1,326

Luxembourg
—

 
807

 
—

 
202

 
—

 
42

 
—

 
1,051

 
1,051

Colombia
—

 
1,004

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
4

 
—

 
1,006

 
1,006

Total top 20 country exposures
$
6,242

 
61,096

 
—

 
8,224

 
74

 
3,302

 
6,316

 
72,622

 
78,938

Eurozone exposure:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eurozone countries included in Top 20 above (5)
$
1,301

 
7,430

 
—

 
2,283

 
—

 
792

 
1,301

 
10,505

 
11,806

Austria
—

 
618

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
622

 
622

Spain
—

 
324

 
—

 
46

 
—

 
8

 
—

 
378

 
378

Belgium
—

 
245

 
—

 
23

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
269

 
269

Italy
—

 
105

 
—

 
66

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
171

 
171

Other Eurozone countries (6)
21

 
26

 
—

 
4

 
—

 
10

 
21

 
40

 
61

Total Eurozone exposure
$
1,322

 
8,748

 
—

 
2,425

 
—

 
812

 
1,322

 
11,985

 
13,307

(1)
Lending exposure includes funded loans and unfunded commitments, leveraged leases, and money market placements presented on a gross basis prior to the deduction of impairment allowance and collateral received under the terms of the credit agreements. For the countries listed above, includes $37 million in PCI loans, predominantly to customers in the Netherlands and Germany, and $1.2 billion in defeased leases secured primarily by U.S. Treasury and government agency securities, or government guaranteed.
(2)
Represents exposure on debt and equity securities of foreign issuers. Long and short positions are netted and net short positions are reflected as negative exposure.
(3)
Represents counterparty exposure on foreign exchange and derivative contracts, and securities resale and lending agreements. This exposure is presented net of counterparty netting adjustments and reduced by the amount of cash collateral. It includes credit default swaps (CDS) predominantly used to manage our U.S. and London-based cash credit trading businesses, which sometimes results in selling and purchasing protection on the identical reference entity. Generally, we do not use market instruments such as CDS to hedge the credit risk of our investment or loan positions, although we do use them to manage risk in our trading businesses. At December 31, 2015 , the gross notional amount of our CDS sold that reference assets in the Top 20 or Eurozone countries was $2.3 billion , which was offset by the notional amount of CDS purchased of $2.3 billion . We did not have any CDS purchased or sold that reference pools of assets that contain sovereign debt or where the reference asset was solely the sovereign debt of a foreign country.
(4)
For countries presented in the table, total non-sovereign exposure comprises $36.3 billion exposure to financial institutions and $37.8 billion to non-financial corporations at December 31, 2015 .
(5)
Consists of exposure to Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France and Luxembourg included in Top 20.
(6)
Includes non-sovereign exposure to Portugal in the amount of $28 million and less than $1 million to Greece. We had no sovereign debt exposure to these countries at December 31, 2015 .



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Wells Fargo & Company
 

REAL ESTATE 1-4 FAMILY FIRST AND JUNIOR LIEN MORTGAGE LOANS Our real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgage loans primarily include loans we have made to customers and retained as part of our asset/liability management strategy. These loans, as presented in Table 22 , include the Pick-a-Pay portfolio acquired from Wachovia, which
 
is discussed later in this Report. These loans also include other purchased loans and loans included on our balance sheet as a result of consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs).



Table 22: Real Estate 1-4 Family First and Junior Lien Mortgage Loans
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Balance

% of portfolio

 
Balance

% of portfolio

Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
 
 
 
 
 
Core portfolio
$
224,750

69
%
 
$
208,852

64
%
Non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios:
 
 
 
 
 
Pick-a-Pay mortgage
39,065

12

 
45,002

14

PCI and liquidating first mortgage
10,054

3

 
11,532

4

Total non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios
49,119

15

 
56,534

18

Total real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans
273,869

84

 
265,386

82

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
 
 
 
 
 
Core portfolio
50,652

15

 
56,631

17

Non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolios
2,352

1

 
3,086

1

Total real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage loans
53,004

16

 
59,717

18

Total real estate 1-4 family mortgage loans
$
326,873

100
%
 
$
325,103

100
%

The real estate 1-4 family mortgage loan portfolio includes some loans with adjustable-rate features and some with an interest-only feature as part of the loan terms. Interest-only loans were approximately 9% and 12% of total loans at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. We believe we have manageable adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) reset risk across our owned mortgage loan portfolios. We do not offer option ARM products, nor do we offer variable-rate mortgage products with fixed payment amounts, commonly referred to within the financial services industry as negative amortizing mortgage loans. The option ARMs we do have are included in the Pick-a-Pay portfolio which was acquired from Wachovia and are part of our liquidating loan portfolios. Since our acquisition of the Pick-a-Pay loan portfolio at the end of 2008, the option payment portion of the portfolio has reduced from 86% to 38% at December 31, 2015 , as a result of our modification activities and customers exercising their option to convert to fixed payments. For more information, see the “Pick-a-Pay Portfolio” section in this Report.
We continue to modify real estate 1-4 family mortgage loans to assist homeowners and other borrowers experiencing financial difficulties. Loans are underwritten at the time of the modification in accordance with underwriting guidelines established for governmental and proprietary loan modification programs. As a participant in the U.S. Treasury’s Making Home Affordable (MHA) programs, we are focused on helping customers stay in their homes. The MHA programs create a standardization of modification terms including incentives paid to borrowers, servicers, and investors. MHA includes the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) for first lien loans and the Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) for junior lien loans. Under both our proprietary programs and the MHA programs, we may provide concessions such as interest rate reductions, forbearance of principal, and in some cases, principal forgiveness. These programs generally include trial payment periods of three to four months, and after successful completion and compliance with terms during this period, the loan is permanently modified. Once the loan is modified either
 
through a permanent modification or a trial period, it is accounted for as a TDR. See the “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses” section in this Report for discussion on how we determine the allowance attributable to our modified residential real estate portfolios.
Part of our credit monitoring includes tracking delinquency, FICO scores and loan/combined loan to collateral values (LTV/CLTV) on the entire real estate 1-4 family mortgage loan portfolio. These credit risk indicators, which exclude government insured/guaranteed loans, continued to improve in 2015 on the non-PCI mortgage portfolio. Loans 30 days or more delinquent at December 31, 2015 , totaled $8.3 billion , or 3% , of total non-PCI mortgages, compared with $10.2 billion , or 3% , at December 31, 2014 . Loans with FICO scores lower than 640 totaled $21.1 billion at December 31, 2015 , or 7% of total non-PCI mortgages, compared with $25.8 billion , or 9% , at December 31, 2014 . Mortgages with a LTV/CLTV greater than 100% totaled $15.1 billion at December 31, 2015 , or 5% of total non-PCI mortgages, compared with $20.3 billion , or 7% , at December 31, 2014 . Information regarding credit quality indicators, including PCI credit quality indicators, can be found in Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report.
Real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgage loans by state are presented in Table 23 . Our real estate 1-4 family mortgage loans to borrowers in California represented approximately 13% of total loans at December 31, 2015 , located mostly within the larger metropolitan areas, with no single California metropolitan area consisting of more than 5% of total loans. We monitor changes in real estate values and underlying economic or market conditions for all geographic areas of our real estate 1-4 family mortgage portfolio as part of our credit risk management process. Our underwriting and periodic review of loans secured by residential real estate collateral includes appraisals or estimates from automated valuation models (AVMs) to support property values. AVMs are computer-based tools used to estimate the market value of homes. AVMs are a lower-cost alternative to appraisals and support valuations of


 
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Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

large numbers of properties in a short period of time using market comparables and price trends for local market areas. The primary risk associated with the use of AVMs is that the value of an individual property may vary significantly from the average for the market area. We have processes to periodically validate AVMs and specific risk management guidelines addressing the circumstances when AVMs may be used. AVMs are generally used in underwriting to support property values on loan originations only where the loan amount is under $250,000. We generally require property visitation appraisals by a qualified independent appraiser for larger residential property loans. Additional information about AVMs and our policy for their use can be found in Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report.

Table 23: Real Estate 1-4 Family First and Junior Lien Mortgage Loans by State
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Total real estate 1-4 family mortgage 

 
% of total loans 

Real estate 1-4 family loans (excluding PCI):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
California
$
88,367

 
14,554

 
102,921

 
11
%
New York
20,962

 
2,416

 
23,378

 
3

Florida
14,068

 
4,823

 
18,891

 
2

New Jersey
11,825

 
4,462

 
16,287

 
2

Virginia
7,209

 
2,991

 
10,200

 
1

Texas
8,153

 
827

 
8,980

 
1

Pennsylvania
5,755

 
2,748

 
8,503

 
1

North Carolina
5,977

 
2,397

 
8,374

 
1

Washington
6,747

 
1,245

 
7,992

 
1

Other (1)
63,263

 
16,472

 
79,735

 
9

Government insured/guaranteed loans (2)
22,353

 
—

 
22,353

 
2

Real estate 1-4 family loans (excluding PCI)
254,679

 
52,935

 
307,614

 
34

Real estate 1-4 family PCI loans (3)
19,190

 
69

 
19,259

 
2

Total
$
273,869

 
53,004

 
326,873

 
36
%
(1)
Consists of 41 states; no state had loans in excess of $7.2 billion .
(2)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
(3)
Includes $13.4 billion in real estate 1-4 family mortgage PCI loans in California.


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

First Lien Mortgage Portfolio Our total real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage portfolio increased $8.5 billion in 2015 . Growth in this portfolio has been largely offset by runoff in our real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage non-strategic and liquidating portfolios. Excluding this runoff, our core real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage portfolio increased $15.9 billion in 2015 , as we retained $53.1 billion in non-conforming originations, primarily consisting of loans that exceed conventional conforming loan amount limits established by federal government-sponsored entities (GSEs).
The credit performance associated with our real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage portfolio continued to improve in 2015 , as measured through net charge-offs and nonaccrual loans. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage loans improved to 0.10% in 2015 ,
 
compared with 0.19% in 2014 . Nonaccrual loans were $7.3 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $8.6 billion at December 31, 2014 . Improvement in the credit performance was driven by an improving housing environment and declining balances in non-strategic and liquidating loans, which have been replaced with higher quality assets originated after 2008 generally utilizing tighter underwriting standards. Real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage loans originated after 2008 have resulted in minimal losses to date and were approximately 67% of our total real estate 1-4 family first lien mortgage portfolio as of December 31, 2015 . Table 24 shows the credit attributes of the core, non-strategic and liquidating first lien mortgage portfolios and lists the top five states by outstanding balance for the core portfolio.


Table 24: First Lien Mortgage Portfolios Performance (1)
 
Outstanding balance
 
 
% of loans two payments or more past due
 
Loss (recovery) rate
 
December 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
Year ended December 31,
(in millions)
2015

2014

 
2015

2014
 
2015

2014
Core portfolio:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
California
$
77,270

67,038

 
0.56
%
0.83
 
(0.01
)
0.02
New York
19,858

16,102

 
1.55

1.97
 
0.04

0.09
Florida
11,331

10,991

 
2.78

3.78
 
0.05

0.12
New Jersey
10,283

9,203

 
3.35

3.95
 
0.18

0.30
Texas
7,020

6,646

 
1.21

1.48
 
(0.01
)
0.01
Other
76,635

72,604

 
1.86

2.34
 
0.12

0.18
Total
202,397

182,584

 
1.44

1.89
 
0.06

0.11
Government insured/guaranteed loans
22,353

26,268

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total core portfolio including government insured/guaranteed loans
224,750

208,852

 
1.44

1.89
 
0.06

0.11
Non-strategic and liquidating portfolios
29,929

34,822

 
14.42

15.55
 
0.46

0.84
Total first lien mortgages
$
254,679

243,674

 
3.11
%
4.08
 
0.12

0.24
(1)
Excludes PCI loans because their losses were generally reflected in PCI accounting adjustments at the date of acquisition.




 
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Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

Pick-a-Pay Portfolio   The Pick-a-Pay portfolio was one of the consumer residential first mortgage portfolios we acquired from Wachovia and a majority of the portfolio was identified as PCI loans.
The Pick-a-Pay portfolio includes loans that offer payment options (Pick-a-Pay option payment loans), and also includes loans that were originated without the option payment feature, loans that no longer offer the option feature as a result of our modification efforts since the acquisition, and loans where the customer voluntarily converted to a fixed-rate product. The Pick-a-Pay portfolio is included in the consumer real estate 1-4 family first mortgage class of loans throughout this Report. Table 25
 
provides balances by types of loans as of December 31, 2015 , as a result of modification efforts, compared to the types of loans included in the portfolio at acquisition. Total adjusted unpaid principal balance of PCI Pick-a-Pay loans was $23.8 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $61.0 billion at acquisition. Primarily due to modification efforts, the adjusted unpaid principal balance of option payment PCI loans has declined to 15% of the total Pick-a-Pay portfolio at December 31, 2015 , compared with 51% at acquisition.
 


Table 25: Pick-a-Pay Portfolio – Comparison to Acquisition Date
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2008
 
(in millions)
Adjusted unpaid principal balance (1) 

 
% of total 

 
Adjusted unpaid principal balance (1) 

 
% of total 

Option payment loans
$
16,828

 
39
%
 
$
99,937

 
86
%
Non-option payment adjustable-rate and fixed-rate loans
5,706

 
13

 
15,763

 
14

Full-term loan modifications
21,193

 
48

 
—

 
—

Total adjusted unpaid principal balance
$
43,727

 
100
%
 
$
115,700

 
100
%
Total carrying value
$
39,065

 
 
 
$
95,315

 
 
(1)
Adjusted unpaid principal balance includes write-downs taken on loans where severe delinquency (normally 180 days) or other indications of severe borrower financial stress exist that indicate there will be a loss of contractually due amounts upon final resolution of the loan.

Pick-a-Pay loans may have fixed or adjustable rates with payment options that include a minimum payment, an interest-only payment or fully amortizing payment (both 15 and 30 year options). Total interest deferred due to negative amortization on Pick-a-Pay loans was $431 million at December 31, 2015 , and $606 million at December 31, 2014 . Approximately 97% of the Pick-a-Pay customers making a minimum payment in December 2015 did not defer interest, compared with 95% in December 2014. 
Deferral of interest on a Pick-a-Pay loan may continue as long as the loan balance remains below a pre-defined principal cap, which is based on the percentage that the current loan balance represents to the original loan balance. A significant portion of the Pick-a-Pay portfolio has a cap of 125% of the original loan balance. Most of the Pick-a-Pay loans on which there is a deferred interest balance re-amortize (the monthly payment amount is reset or “recast”) on the earlier of the date when the loan balance reaches its principal cap, or generally the 10-year anniversary of the loan. After a recast, the customers’ new payment terms are reset to the amount necessary to repay the balance over the remainder of the original loan term.
 
Generally, Pick-a-Pay option payment loans have an annual 7.5% maximum payment increase reset unless a recast event occurs. If a recast occurs it may cause the payment reset to exceed 7.5% and result in a significant payment increase, which can affect some borrowers' ability to repay the outstanding balance. The amount of Pick-a-Pay option payment loans we would expect to recast and exceed the 7.5% payment increase through 2020 is $1.8 billion ($1.2 billion for 2017) assuming a flat rate environment. Recast risk associated with our Pick-a-Pay PCI portfolio is covered through our nonaccretable difference.
As a result of our modification efforts, Pick-a-Pay option payment loans have been reduced to $16.8 billion at December 31, 2015, from $99.9 billion at acquisition.


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 26 reflects the geographic distribution of the Pick-a-Pay portfolio broken out between PCI loans and all other loans. The LTV ratio is a useful metric in predicting future real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loan performance, including potential charge-offs. Because PCI loans were initially recorded at fair value, including write-downs for expected credit losses, the ratio
 
of the carrying value to the current collateral value will be lower compared with the LTV based on the adjusted unpaid principal balance. For informational purposes, we have included both ratios for PCI loans in the following table.

Table 26: Pick-a-Pay Portfolio (1)
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
PCI loans 
 
 
All other loans 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of 

 
 
 
Ratio of 

 
 
Adjusted 

 
 
 
 
 
carrying 

 
 
 
carrying 

 
 
unpaid 

 
Current 

 
 
 
value to 

 
 
 
value to 

 
 
principal 

 
LTV 

 
Carrying 

 
current 

 
Carrying 

 
current 

(in millions)
 
balance (2) 

 
ratio (3) 

 
value (4) 

 
value (5) 

 
value (4) 

 
value (5) 

California
 
$
16,552

 
73
%
 
$
13,405

 
58
%
 
$
9,694

 
53
%
Florida
 
1,875

 
82

 
1,307

 
55

 
2,009

 
66

New Jersey
 
780

 
81

 
610

 
60

 
1,314

 
69

New York
 
526

 
77

 
465

 
62

 
638

 
67

Texas
 
204

 
57

 
185

 
51

 
781

 
44

Other states
 
3,834

 
79

 
3,066

 
62

 
5,591

 
65

Total Pick-a-Pay loans
 
$
23,771

 
75

 
$
19,038

 
59

 
$
20,027

 
59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
The individual states shown in this table represent the top five states based on the total net carrying value of the Pick-a-Pay loans at the beginning of 2015 .
(2)
Adjusted unpaid principal balance includes write-downs taken on loans where severe delinquency (normally 180 days) or other indications of severe borrower financial stress exist that indicate there will be a loss of contractually due amounts upon final resolution of the loan.
(3)
The current LTV ratio is calculated as the adjusted unpaid principal balance divided by the collateral value. Collateral values are generally determined using automated valuation models (AVM) and are updated quarterly. AVMs are computer-based tools used to estimate market values of homes based on processing large volumes of market data including market comparables and price trends for local market areas.
(4)
Carrying value, which does not reflect the allowance for loan losses, includes remaining purchase accounting adjustments, which, for PCI loans may include the nonaccretable difference and the accretable yield and, for all other loans, an adjustment to mark the loans to a market yield at date of merger less any subsequent charge-offs.
(5)
The ratio of carrying value to current value is calculated as the carrying value divided by the collateral value.

To maximize return and allow flexibility for customers to avoid foreclosure, we have in place several loss mitigation strategies for our Pick-a-Pay loan portfolio. We contact customers who are experiencing financial difficulty and may in certain cases modify the terms of a loan based on a customer’s documented income and other circumstances.
We also have taken steps to work with customers to refinance or restructure their Pick-a-Pay loans into other loan products. For customers at risk, we offer combinations of term extensions of up to 40 years (from 30 years), interest rate reductions, forbearance of principal, and, in certain cases we may offer principal forgiveness to customers with substantial property value declines based on affordability needs.
In 2015 , we completed more than 3,600 proprietary and Home Affordability Modification Program (HAMP) Pick-a-Pay loan modifications. We have completed nearly 133,000 modifications since the Wachovia acquisition, resulting in over $6.1 billion of principal forgiveness to our Pick-a-Pay customers. There remains $10.6 million of conditional forgiveness that can be earned by borrowers through performance over a three year period.
Due to better than expected performance observed on the Pick-a-Pay PCI portfolio compared with the original acquisition estimates, we have reclassified $7.1 billion from the nonaccretable difference to the accretable yield since acquisition. Our cash flows expected to be collected have been favorably affected by lower expected defaults and losses as a result of observed and forecasted economic strengthening, particularly in housing prices, and our loan modification efforts. These factors are expected to reduce the frequency and severity of defaults and keep these loans performing for a longer period, thus increasing future principal and interest cash flows. The resulting increase in
 
the accretable yield will be realized over the remaining life of the portfolio, which is estimated to have a weighted-average remaining life of approximately 12.0  years at December 31, 2015 , up from 11.7 years at December 31, 2014 , due to changes in composition of cash flows due to improving credit performance. The accretable yield percentage at December 31, 2015 was 6.21% , up from 6.15% at the end of 2014 due to favorable changes in the expected timing and composition of cash flows resulting from improving credit and prepayment expectations. Fluctuations in the accretable yield are driven by changes in interest rate indices for variable rate PCI loans, prepayment assumptions, and expected principal and interest payments over the estimated life of the portfolio, which will be affected by the pace and degree of improvements in the U.S. economy and housing markets and projected lifetime performance resulting from loan modification activity. Changes in the projected timing of cash flow events, including loan prepayments, liquidations, modifications and short sales, can also affect the accretable yield rate and the estimated weighted-average life of the portfolio.
The predominant portion of our PCI loans is included in the Pick-a-Pay portfolio. For further information on the judgment involved in estimating expected cash flows for PCI loans, see the “Critical Accounting Policies – Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans” section and Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in this Report.




 
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Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

Junior Lien Mortgage Portfolio The junior lien mortgage portfolio consists of residential mortgage lines and loans that are subordinate in rights to an existing lien on the same property. It is not unusual for these lines and loans to have draw periods, interest only payments, balloon payments, adjustable rates and similar features. The majority of our junior lien loan products are amortizing payment loans with fixed interest rates and repayment periods between five to 30 years. 
We continuously monitor the credit performance of our junior lien mortgage portfolio for trends and factors that influence the frequency and severity of loss. We have observed that the severity of loss for junior lien mortgages is high and generally not affected by whether we or a third party own or service the related first lien mortgage, but the frequency of delinquency is typically lower when we own or service the first lien mortgage. In general, we have limited information available on the delinquency status of the third party owned or serviced senior lien where we also hold a junior lien. To capture this inherent loss content, we use the experience of our junior lien mortgages behind delinquent first liens that are owned or serviced by us adjusted for any observed differences in delinquency and loss rates associated with junior lien mortgages behind third party first lien mortgages. We incorporate this inherent loss content into our allowance for loan losses. Our allowance process for junior liens considers the relative difference in loss experience for junior liens behind first lien
 
mortgage loans we own or service, compared with those behind first lien mortgage loans owned or serviced by third parties. In addition, our allowance process for junior liens that are current, but are in their revolving period, considers the inherent loss where the borrower is delinquent on the corresponding first lien mortgage loans.
Table 27 shows the credit attributes of the core, non-strategic and liquidating junior lien mortgage portfolios and lists the top five states by outstanding balance for the core portfolio. Loans to California borrowers represent the largest state concentration in each of these portfolios. The decrease in outstanding balances since December 31, 2014 , predominantly reflects loan paydowns. As of December 31, 2015 , 17% of the outstanding balance of the junior lien mortgage portfolio was associated with loans that had a combined loan to value (CLTV) ratio in excess of 100%. Of those junior liens with a CLTV ratio in excess of 100%, 2.77% were two payments or more past due. CLTV means the ratio of the total loan balance of first mortgages and junior lien mortgages (including unused line amounts for credit line products) to property collateral value. The unsecured portion (the outstanding amount that was in excess of the most recent property collateral value) of the outstanding balances of these loans totaled 7% of the junior lien mortgage portfolio at December 31, 2015 .


Table 27: Junior Lien Mortgage Portfolios Performance (1)
 
Outstanding balance 
 
 
% of loans two payments or more past due
 
Loss rate
 
 
December 31,
 
 
December 31,
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2015

2014
 
2015

2014

Core portfolio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
California
$
13,776

 
15,535

 
1.94
%
2.07
 
0.16

0.48

Florida
4,718

 
5,283

 
2.41

2.96
 
0.82

1.40

New Jersey
4,367

 
4,705

 
3.03

3.43
 
1.06

1.42

Virginia
2,889

 
3,160

 
2.02

2.18
 
0.73

0.84

Pennsylvania
2,721

 
2,942

 
2.33

2.72
 
0.88

1.11

Other
22,181

 
25,006

 
2.08

2.20
 
0.70

0.95

Total
50,652

 
56,631

 
2.16

2.36
 
0.60

0.90

Non-strategic and liquidating portfolios
2,283

 
2,985

 
4.56

4.77
 
2.01

2.74

Total junior lien mortgages
$
52,935

 
59,616

 
2.27
%
2.49
 
0.67

1.00

(1)
Excludes PCI loans because their losses were generally reflected in PCI accounting adjustments at the date of acquisition.


74
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Our junior lien, as well as first lien, lines of credit products generally have a draw period of 10 years (with some up to 15 or 20 years) with variable interest rate and payment options during the draw period of (1) interest only or (2) 1.5% of outstanding principal balance plus accrued interest. During the draw period, the borrower has the option of converting all or a portion of the line from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate with terms including interest-only payments for a fixed period between three to seven years or a fully amortizing payment with a fixed period between five to 30 years. At the end of the draw period, a line of credit generally converts to an amortizing payment schedule with repayment terms of up to 30 years based on the balance at time of conversion. Certain lines and loans have been structured with a balloon payment, which requires full repayment of the outstanding balance at the end of the term period. The conversion of lines or loans to fully amortizing or balloon payoff may result in a significant payment increase, which can affect some borrowers’ ability to repay the outstanding balance.
On a monthly basis, we monitor the payment characteristics of borrowers in our junior lien portfolio. In December 2015 , approximately 47% of these borrowers paid only the minimum amount due and approximately 48% paid more than the minimum amount due. The rest were either delinquent or paid less than the minimum amount due. For the borrowers with an
 
interest only payment feature, approximately 36% paid only the minimum amount due and approximately 60% paid more than the minimum amount due.
The lines that enter their amortization period may experience higher delinquencies and higher loss rates than the ones in their draw or term period. We have considered this increased inherent risk in our allowance for credit loss estimate.
In anticipation of our borrowers reaching the end of their contractual commitment, we have created a program to inform, educate and help these borrowers transition from interest-only to fully-amortizing payments or full repayment. We monitor the performance of the borrowers moving through the program in an effort to refine our ongoing program strategy.
Table 28 reflects the outstanding balance of our portfolio of junior lien mortgages, including lines and loans, and senior lien lines segregated into scheduled end of draw or end of term periods and products that are currently amortizing, or in balloon repayment status. It excludes real estate 1-4 family first lien line reverse mortgages, which total $2.1 billion , because they are predominantly insured by the FHA, and it excludes PCI loans, which total $96 million , because their losses were generally reflected in our nonaccretable difference established at the date of acquisition.



Table 28: Junior Lien Mortgage Line and Loan and Senior Lien Mortgage Line Portfolios Payment Schedule






Scheduled end of draw/term
 




Outstanding balance 















2021 and




(in millions)
December 31, 2015


2016


2017

 
2018


2019


2020


thereafter (1)


Amortizing

Junior lien lines and loans
$
52,935

 
4,683

 
5,345

 
2,992

 
1,194

 
1,071

 
25,371

 
12,279

First lien lines
16,258

 
678

 
780

 
914

 
403

 
371

 
11,279

 
1,833

Total (2)(3)
$
69,193

 
5,361

 
6,125

 
3,906

 
1,597

 
1,442

 
36,650

 
14,112

% of portfolios
100
%
 
8
%
 
9
%
 
6
%
 
2
%

2
%

53
%
 
20
%
(1)
Substantially all lines and loans are scheduled to convert to amortizing loans by the end of 2026, with annual scheduled amounts through that date ranging from $2.8 billion to $8.9 billion and averaging $6.1 billion per year.
(2)
Junior and first lien lines are predominantly interest-only during their draw period. The unfunded credit commitments for junior and first lien lines totaled $67.7 billion at December 31, 2015 .
(3)
Includes scheduled end-of-term balloon payments for lines and loans totaling $237 million , $366 million , $423 million , $394 million , $429 million and $1.2 billion for 2016 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , and 2021 and thereafter , respectively. Amortizing lines and loans include $191 million of end-of-term balloon payments, which are past due. At December 31, 2015 , $506 million , or 5% of outstanding lines of credit that are amortizing, are 30 or more days past due compared to $937 million or 2% for lines in their draw period.

CREDIT CARDS   Our credit card portfolio totaled $34.0 billion at December 31, 2015 , which represented 4% of our total outstanding loans. The net charge-off rate for our credit card portfolio was 3.00% for 2015 , compared with 3.14% for 2014 .
 
AUTOMOBILE   Our automobile portfolio, predominantly composed of indirect loans, totaled $60.0 billion at December 31, 2015 . The net charge-off rate for our automobile portfolio was 0.72% for 2015 , compared with 0.70% for 2014 . 

 
OTHER REVOLVING CREDIT AND INSTALLMENT   Other revolving credit and installment loans totaled $39.1 billion at December 31, 2015 , and primarily included student and security-based loans. Student loans totaled $ 12.2 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $ 11.9 billion at December 31, 2014 . The net charge-off rate for other revolving credit and installment loans was 1.36% for 2015 , compared with 1.35% for 2014 .




 
Wells Fargo & Company
75


Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

NONPERFORMING ASSETS (NONACCRUAL LOANS AND FORECLOSED ASSETS)   Table 29 summarizes nonperforming assets (NPAs) for each of the last five years. We generally place loans on nonaccrual status when:
•
the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain (generally based on an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any);
•
they are 90 days (120 days with respect to real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgages) past due for interest or principal, unless both well-secured and in the process of collection;
•
part of the principal balance has been charged off;
 
•
for junior lien mortgages, we have evidence that the related first lien mortgage may be 120 days past due or in the process of foreclosure regardless of the junior lien delinquency status; or
•
consumer real estate and auto loans are discharged in bankruptcy, regardless of their delinquency status.
 
Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Loans) to Financial Statements in this Report describes our accounting policy for nonaccrual and impaired loans.
 


Table 29: Nonperforming Assets (Nonaccrual Loans and Foreclosed Assets)
 
 
December 31,
 
(in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,363

 
538

 
775

 
1,467

 
2,167

Real estate mortgage
 
969

 
1,490

 
2,254

 
3,323

 
4,085

Real estate construction
 
66

 
187

 
416

 
1,003

 
1,890

Lease financing
 
26

 
24

 
30

 
29

 
55

Total commercial (1)
 
2,424

 
2,239

 
3,475

 
5,822

 
8,197

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage (2)
 
7,293

 
8,583

 
9,799

 
11,456

 
10,932

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
 
1,495

 
1,848

 
2,188

 
2,923

 
1,976

Automobile
 
121

 
137

 
173

 
245

 
159

Other revolving credit and installment
 
49

 
41

 
33

 
40

 
40

Total consumer (3)
 
8,958

 
10,609

 
12,193

 
14,664

 
13,107

Total nonaccrual loans (4)(5)(6)
 
11,382

 
12,848

 
15,668

 
20,486

 
21,304

As a percentage of total loans
 
1.24
%
 
1.49

 
1.91

 
2.57

 
2.77

Foreclosed assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government insured/guaranteed (7)
 
$
446

 
982

 
2,093

 
1,509

 
1,319

Non-government insured/guaranteed
 
979

 
1,627

 
1,844

 
2,514

 
3,342

Total foreclosed assets
 
1,425

 
2,609

 
3,937

 
4,023

 
4,661

Total nonperforming assets
 
$
12,807

 
15,457

 
19,605

 
24,509

 
25,965

As a percentage of total loans
 
1.40
%
 
1.79

 
2.38

 
3.07

 
3.37

(1)
Includes LHFS of $0 million , $1 million , $1 million , $16 million and $25 million at December 31, 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively.
(2)
Includes MHFS of $177 million , $177 million , $227 million , $336 million and $301 million at December 31, 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 , and 2011 , respectively.
(3)
December 31, 2012, includes the impact of the implementation of guidance issued by bank regulatory agencies in 2012.
(4)
Excludes PCI loans because they continue to earn interest income from accretable yield, independent of performance in accordance with their contractual terms.
(5)
Real estate 1-4 family mortgage loans predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA and student loans predominantly guaranteed by agencies on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education under the Federal Family Education Loan Program are not placed on nonaccrual status because they are insured or guaranteed.
(6)
See Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report for further information on impaired loans.
(7)
During fourth quarter 2014, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-14, Classification of Certain Government-Guaranteed Mortgage Loans Upon Foreclosure , effective as of January 1, 2014. This ASU requires that certain government guaranteed residential real estate mortgage loans that meet specific criteria be recognized as other receivables upon foreclosure; previously, these assets were included in foreclosed assets. Government guaranteed residential real estate mortgage loans that completed foreclosure during 2014 and met the criteria specified by ASU 2014-14 are excluded from this table and included in Accounts Receivable in Other Assets. For more information on the changes in foreclosures for government guaranteed residential real estate mortgage loans, see Note 1 (Summary of Specific Accounting Policies) and Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets).

76
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 30 provides a summary of nonperforming assets during 2015 .


Table 30: Nonperforming Assets by Quarter During 2015
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
 
June 30, 2015
 
 
March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
% of 

 
 
 
% of 

 
 
 
% of 

 
 
 
% of 

 
 
 
 
total 

 
 
 
total 

 
 
 
total 

 
 
 
total 

(in millions)
 
Balance 

 
loans 

 
Balance 

 
loans 

 
Balance 

 
loans 

 
Balance 

 
loans 

Nonaccrual loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,363

 
0.45
%
 
$
1,031

 
0.35
%
 
$
1,079

 
0.38
%
 
$
663

 
0.24
%
Real estate mortgage
 
969

 
0.79

 
1,125

 
0.93

 
1,250

 
1.04

 
1,324

 
1.18

Real estate construction
 
66

 
0.30

 
151

 
0.70

 
165

 
0.77

 
182

 
0.91

Lease financing
 
26

 
0.21

 
29

 
0.24

 
28

 
0.23

 
23

 
0.19

Total commercial
 
2,424

 
0.53

 
2,336

 
0.52

 
2,522

 
0.58

 
2,192

 
0.53

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
 
7,293

 
2.66

 
7,425

 
2.74

 
8,045

 
3.00

 
8,345

 
3.15

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
 
1,495

 
2.82

 
1,612

 
2.95

 
1,710

 
3.04

 
1,798

 
3.11

Automobile
 
121

 
0.20

 
123

 
0.21

 
126

 
0.22

 
133

 
0.24

Other revolving credit and installment
 
49

 
0.13

 
41

 
0.11

 
40

 
0.11

 
42

 
0.12

Total consumer
 
8,958

 
1.95

 
9,201

 
2.02

 
9,921

 
2.20

 
10,318

 
2.31

Total nonaccrual loans
 
11,382

 
1.24

 
11,537

 
1.28

 
12,443

 
1.40

 
12,510

 
1.45

Foreclosed assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government insured/guaranteed
 
446

 
 
 
502

 
 
 
588

 
 
 
772

 
 
Non-government insured/guaranteed
 
979

 
 
 
1,265

 
 
 
1,370

 
 
 
1,557

 
 
Total foreclosed assets
 
1,425

 
 
 
1,767

 
 
 
1,958

 
 
 
2,329

 
 
Total nonperforming assets
 
$
12,807

 
1.40
%
 
$
13,304

 
1.47
%
 
$
14,401

 
1.62
%
 
$
14,839

 
1.72
%
Change in NPAs from prior quarter
 
$
(497
)
 
 
 
(1,097
)
 
 
 
(438
)
 
 
 
(618
)
 
 



 
Wells Fargo & Company
77


Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

Table 31 provides an analysis of the changes in nonaccrual loans.
 



Table 31: Analysis of Changes in Nonaccrual Loans
 
Quarter ended 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

 
Year ended Dec 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2014

Commercial nonaccrual loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
$
2,336

 
2,522

 
2,192

 
2,239

 
2,239

 
3,475

Inflows
793

 
382

 
840

 
496

 
2,511

 
1,552

Outflows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Returned to accruing
(44
)
 
(26
)
 
(20
)
 
(67
)
 
(157
)
 
(280
)
Foreclosures
(72
)
 
(32
)
 
(11
)
 
(24
)
 
(139
)
 
(174
)
Charge-offs
(243
)
 
(135
)
 
(117
)
 
(107
)
 
(602
)
 
(501
)
Payments, sales and other (1)
(346
)
 
(375
)
 
(362
)
 
(345
)
 
(1,428
)
 
(1,833
)
Total outflows
(705
)
 
(568
)
 
(510
)
 
(543
)
 
(2,326
)
 
(2,788
)
Balance, end of period
2,424

 
2,336

 
2,522

 
2,192

 
2,424

 
2,239

Consumer nonaccrual loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
9,201

 
9,921

 
10,318

 
10,609

 
10,609

 
12,193

Inflows
1,226

 
1,019

 
1,098

 
1,341

 
4,684

 
6,306

Outflows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Returned to accruing
(646
)
 
(676
)
 
(668
)
 
(686
)
 
(2,676
)
 
(3,706
)
Foreclosures
(89
)
 
(99
)
 
(108
)
 
(111
)
 
(407
)
 
(540
)
Charge-offs
(204
)
 
(228
)
 
(229
)
 
(265
)
 
(926
)
 
(1,315
)
Payments, sales and other (1)
(530
)
 
(736
)
 
(490
)
 
(570
)
 
(2,326
)
 
(2,329
)
Total outflows
(1,469
)
 
(1,739
)
 
(1,495
)
 
(1,632
)
 
(6,335
)
 
(7,890
)
Balance, end of period
8,958

 
9,201

 
9,921

 
10,318

 
8,958

 
10,609

Total nonaccrual loans
$
11,382

 
11,537

 
12,443

 
12,510

 
11,382

 
12,848

(1)
Other outflows include the effects of VIE deconsolidations and adjustments for loans carried at fair value.

Typically, changes to nonaccrual loans period-over-period represent inflows for loans that are placed on nonaccrual status in accordance with our policy, offset by reductions for loans that are paid down, charged off, sold, foreclosed, or are no longer classified as nonaccrual as a result of continued performance and an improvement in the borrower’s financial condition and loan repayment capabilities. Also, reductions can come from borrower repayments even if the loan remains on nonaccrual.
While nonaccrual loans are not free of loss content, we believe exposure to loss is significantly mitigated by the following factors at December 31, 2015 :
•
98% of total commercial nonaccrual loans and over 99% of total consumer nonaccrual loans are secured. Of the consumer nonaccrual loans, 98% are secured by real estate and 75% have a combined LTV (CLTV) ratio of 80% or less.
•
losses of $483 million and $3.1 billion have already been recognized on 28% of commercial nonaccrual loans and 52% of consumer nonaccrual loans, respectively. Generally, when a consumer real estate loan is 120 days past due (except when required earlier by guidance issued by bank regulatory agencies), we transfer it to nonaccrual status. When the loan reaches 180 days past due, or is discharged in bankruptcy, it is our policy to write these loans down to net realizable value (fair value of collateral less estimated costs to sell), except for modifications in their trial period that are not written down as long as trial payments are made on time. Thereafter, we reevaluate each loan regularly and record additional write-downs if needed.
•
79% of commercial nonaccrual loans were current on interest, but were on nonaccrual status because the full or
 
timely collection of interest or principal had become uncertain.
•
the risk of loss of all nonaccrual loans has been considered and we believe is adequately covered by the allowance for loan losses.
•
$1.9 billion of consumer loans discharged in bankruptcy and classified as nonaccrual were 60 days or less past due, of which $1.7 billion were current.
 
We continue to work with our customers experiencing financial difficulty to determine if they can qualify for a loan modification so that they can stay in their homes. Under both our proprietary modification programs and the MHA programs, customers may be required to provide updated documentation, and some programs require completion of payment during trial periods to demonstrate sustained performance before the loan can be removed from nonaccrual status. In addition, for loans in foreclosure in certain states, including New York and New Jersey, the foreclosure timeline has significantly increased due to backlogs in an already complex process. Therefore, some loans may remain on nonaccrual status for a long period.
If interest due on all nonaccrual loans (including loans that were, but are no longer on nonaccrual at year end) had been accrued under the original terms, approximately $700 million of interest would have been recorded as income on these loans, compared with $569 million actually recorded as interest income in 2015, versus $741 million and $598 million , respectively, in 2014.
Table 32 provides a summary of foreclosed assets and an analysis of changes in foreclosed assets.


78
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 32: Foreclosed Assets
 
Quarter ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

 
Year ended Dec 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2014

Summary by loan segment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government insured/guaranteed
$
446

 
502

 
588

 
772

 
446

 
982

PCI loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
152

 
297

 
305

 
329

 
152

 
352

Consumer
103

 
126

 
160

 
197

 
103

 
212

Total PCI loans
255

 
423

 
465

 
526

 
255

 
564

All other loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
384

 
437

 
458

 
548

 
384

 
565

Consumer
340

 
405

 
447

 
483

 
340

 
498

Total all other loans
724

 
842

 
905

 
1,031

 
724

 
1,063

Total foreclosed assets
$
1,425

 
1,767

 
1,958

 
2,329

 
1,425

 
2,609

Analysis of changes in foreclosed assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
$
1,767

 
1,958

 
2,329

 
2,609

 
2,609

 
3,937

Net change in government insured/guaranteed (1)
(56
)
 
(86
)
 
(184
)
 
(210
)
 
(536
)
 
(1,111
)
Additions to foreclosed assets (2)
327

 
325

 
300

 
356

 
1,308

 
1,595

Reductions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales
(719
)
 
(468
)
 
(531
)
 
(451
)
 
(2,169
)
 
(1,866
)
Write-downs and net gains (losses) on sales
106

 
38

 
44

 
25

 
213

 
54

Total reductions
(613
)
 
(430
)
 
(487
)
 
(426
)
 
(1,956
)
 
(1,812
)
Balance, end of period
$
1,425

 
1,767

 
1,958

 
2,329

 
1,425

 
2,609

(1)
Foreclosed government insured/guaranteed loans are temporarily transferred to and held by us as servicer, until reimbursement is received from FHA or VA. The net change in government insured/guaranteed foreclosed assets is made up of inflows from mortgages held for investment and MHFS, and outflows when we are reimbursed by FHA/VA. Transfers from government insured/guaranteed loans to foreclosed assets amounted to $46 million , $38 million , $24 million , and $49 million for the quarters ended December 31, September 30, June 30, and March 31, 2015 and $157 million and $191 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
(2)
Predominantly include loans moved into foreclosure from nonaccrual status, PCI loans transitioned directly to foreclosed assets and repossessed automobiles.


Foreclosed assets at December 31, 2015 , included $ 861 million of foreclosed residential real estate that had collateralized commercial and consumer loans, of which 52% is predominantly FHA insured or VA guaranteed and expected to have minimal or no loss content. The remaining foreclosed assets balance of $ 564 million has been written down to estimated net realizable value. The decrease in foreclosed assets at December 31, 2015 , compared with December 31, 2014 , reflected improving credit trends as well as the continued decline in government insured/guaranteed foreclosed assets attributed to the adoption of ASU 2014-14, which requires that government guaranteed residential real estate mortgage loans that meet specific criteria be recognized as other receivables upon foreclosure (previously, these were included in foreclosed assets). Of the $1.4 billion in foreclosed assets at December 31, 2015 , 41% have been in the foreclosed assets portfolio one year or less.




 
Wells Fargo & Company
79


Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

TROUBLED DEBT RESTRUCTURINGS (TDRs)


Table 33: Troubled Debt Restructurings (TDRs)
 
December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Commercial TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,123

 
724

 
1,034

 
1,700

 
2,046

Real estate mortgage
1,456

 
1,880

 
2,248

 
2,625

 
2,262

Real estate construction
125

 
314

 
475

 
801

 
1,008

Lease financing
1

 
2

 
8

 
20

 
33

Total commercial TDRs
2,705

 
2,920

 
3,765

 
5,146

 
5,349

Consumer TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
16,812

 
18,226

 
18,925

 
17,804

 
13,799

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
2,306

 
2,437

 
2,468

 
2,390

 
1,986

Credit Card
299

 
338

 
431

 
531

 
593

Automobile
105

 
127

 
189

 
314

 
260

Other revolving credit and installment
73

 
49

 
33

 
24

 
19

Trial modifications
402

 
452

 
650

 
705

 
651

Total consumer TDRs (1)
19,997

 
21,629

 
22,696

 
21,768

 
17,308

Total TDRs
$
22,702

 
24,549

 
26,461

 
26,914

 
22,657

TDRs on nonaccrual status
$
6,506

 
7,104

 
8,172

 
10,149

 
6,811

TDRs on accrual status (1)
16,196

 
17,445

 
18,289

 
16,765

 
15,846

Total TDRs
$
22,702

 
24,549

 
26,461

 
26,914

 
22,657

(1)
TDR loans include $1.8 billion , $2.1 billion , $2.5 billion , $1.9 billion , and $318 million at December 31, 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 , and 2011 , respectively, of government insured/guaranteed loans that are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA and are accruing.

Table 34: TDRs Balance by Quarter During 2015
 
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

Commercial TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,123

 
999

 
808

 
779

Real estate mortgage
1,456

 
1,623

 
1,740

 
1,838

Real estate construction
125

 
207

 
236

 
247

Lease financing
1

 
1

 
2

 
2

Total commercial TDRs
2,705

 
2,830

 
2,786

 
2,866

Consumer TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
16,812

 
17,193

 
17,692

 
18,003

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
2,306

 
2,336

 
2,381

 
2,424

Credit Card
299

 
307

 
315

 
326

Automobile
105

 
109

 
112

 
124

Other revolving credit and installment
73

 
63

 
58

 
54

Trial modifications
402

 
421

 
450

 
432

Total consumer TDRs
19,997

 
20,429

 
21,008

 
21,363

Total TDRs
$
22,702

 
23,259

 
23,794

 
24,229

TDRs on nonaccrual status
$
6,506

 
6,709

 
6,889

 
6,982

TDRs on accrual status
16,196

 
16,550

 
16,905

 
17,247

Total TDRs
$
22,702

 
23,259

 
23,794

 
24,229


Table 33 and Table 34 provide information regarding the recorded investment of loans modified in TDRs. The allowance for loan losses for TDRs was $2.7 billion and $3.6 billion at December 31,  2015  and 2014 , respectively. See Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information regarding TDRs. In those situations where principal is forgiven, the entire amount of such forgiveness is immediately charged off to the extent not done so prior to the modification. We sometimes delay the timing on the repayment of a portion of principal (principal forbearance) and
 
charge off the amount of forbearance if that amount is not considered fully collectible.
Our nonaccrual policies are generally the same for all loan types when a restructuring is involved. We re-underwrite loans at the time of restructuring to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of sustained repayment capacity based on the borrower’s documented income, debt to income ratios, and other factors. Loans lacking sufficient evidence of sustained repayment capacity at the time of modification are charged down to the fair value of the collateral, if applicable. For an accruing loan that


80
Wells Fargo & Company
 

has been modified, if the borrower has demonstrated performance under the previous terms and the underwriting process shows the capacity to continue to perform under the restructured terms, the loan will generally remain in accruing status. Otherwise, the loan will be placed in nonaccrual status until the borrower demonstrates a sustained period of performance, generally six consecutive months of payments, or equivalent, inclusive of consecutive payments made prior to modification. Loans will also be placed on nonaccrual, and a corresponding charge-off is recorded to the loan balance, when we believe that principal and interest contractually due under the modified agreement will not be collectible.
 
Table 35 provides an analysis of the changes in TDRs. Loans modified more than once are reported as TDR inflows only in the period they are first modified. Other than resolutions such as foreclosures, sales and transfers to held for sale, we may remove loans held for investment from TDR classification, but only if they have been refinanced or restructured at market terms and qualify as a new loan.  
 


Table 35: Analysis of Changes in TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter ended 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

 
Year ended Dec. 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2014

Commercial TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
$
2,830

 
2,786

 
2,866

 
2,920

 
2,920

 
3,765

Inflows (1)
474

 
573

 
372

 
310

 
1,729

 
1,158

Outflows
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charge-offs
(109
)
 
(86
)
 
(20
)
 
(26
)
 
(241
)
 
(155
)
Foreclosure
(64
)
 
(30
)
 
(5
)
 
(11
)
 
(110
)
 
(50
)
Payments, sales and other (2)
(426
)
 
(413
)
 
(427
)
 
(327
)
 
(1,593
)
 
(1,798
)
Balance, end of period
2,705

 
2,830

 
2,786

 
2,866

 
2,705

 
2,920

Consumer TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of period
20,429

 
21,008

 
21,363

 
21,629

 
21,629

 
22,696

Inflows (1)
672

 
753

 
747

 
755

 
2,927

 
4,010

Outflows
 
 

 

 

 
 
 

Charge-offs
(73
)
 
(79
)
 
(71
)
 
(88
)
 
(311
)
 
(515
)
Foreclosure
(226
)
 
(226
)
 
(242
)
 
(245
)
 
(939
)
 
(1,163
)
Payments, sales and other (2)
(786
)
 
(998
)
 
(807
)
 
(668
)
 
(3,259
)
 
(3,201
)
Net change in trial modifications (3)
(19
)
 
(29
)
 
18

 
(20
)
 
(50
)
 
(198
)
Balance, end of period
19,997

 
20,429

 
21,008

 
21,363

 
19,997

 
21,629

Total TDRs
$
22,702

 
23,259

 
23,794

 
24,229

 
22,702

 
24,549

(1)
Inflows include loans that both modify and resolve within the period as well as advances on loans that modified in a prior period.
(2)
Other outflows include normal amortization/accretion of loan basis adjustments and loans transferred to held-for-sale. It also includes $ 6 million of loans refinanced or restructured at market terms and qualifying as new loans and removed from TDR classification for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 , while no loans were removed from TDR classification for the quarters ended September 30 , June 30 , and March 31, 2015 . During 2014 , $1 million of loans refinanced or structured as new loans and were removed from TDR classification.
(3)
Net change in trial modifications includes: inflows of new TDRs entering the trial payment period, net of outflows for modifications that either (i) successfully perform and enter into a permanent modification, or (ii) did not successfully perform according to the terms of the trial period plan and are subsequently charged-off, foreclosed upon or otherwise resolved. Our experience is that substantially all of the mortgages that enter a trial payment period program are successful in completing the program requirements.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
81


Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

LOANS 90 DAYS OR MORE PAST DUE AND STILL ACCRUING  Loans 90 days or more past due as to interest or principal are still accruing if they are (1) well-secured and in the process of collection or (2) real estate 1‑4 family mortgage loans or consumer loans exempt under regulatory rules from being classified as nonaccrual until later delinquency, usually 120 days past due. PCI loans are not included in past due and still accruing loans even though they are 90 days or more contractually past due. These PCI loans are considered to be accruing because they continue to earn interest from accretable yield, independent of performance in accordance with their contractual terms.
Excluding insured/guaranteed loans, loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing at December 31, 2015 , were up $ 61 million , or 7% , from December 31, 2014 , primarily due to increases in our credit card and dealer floorplan lending
 
businesses, partially offset by improvement in consumer real estate lending.
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing whose repayments are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA for mortgages and the U.S. Department of Education for student loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) were $13.4 billion at December 31, 2015 , down from $16.9 billion at December 31, 2014 , due to improving credit trends.
Table 36 reflects non-PCI loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing by class for loans not government insured/guaranteed. For additional information on delinquencies by loan class, see Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 


Table 36: Loans 90 Days or More Past Due and Still Accruing
 
 
 
December 31, 
 
(in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

 
Total (excluding PCI (1)):
 
$
14,380

 
17,810

 
23,219

 
23,245

 
22,569

 
Less: FHA insured/guaranteed by the VA (2)(3)
 
13,373

 
16,827

 
21,274

 
20,745

 
19,240

 
Less: Student loans guaranteed under the FFELP (4)
 
26

 
63

 
900

 
1,065

 
1,281

 
Total, not government insured/guaranteed
 
$
981

 
920

 
1,045

 
1,435

 
2,048

By segment and class, not government insured/guaranteed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
97

 
31

 
11

 
48

 
159

 
Real estate mortgage
 
13

 
16

 
35

 
228

 
256

 
Real estate construction
 
4

 
—

 
97

 
27

 
89

 
Total commercial
 
114

 
47

 
143

 
303

 
504

 
Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage (3)
 
224

 
260

 
354

 
564

 
781

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage (3)
 
65

 
83

 
86

 
133

 
279

 
Credit card
 
397

 
364

 
321

 
310

 
346

 
Automobile
 
79

 
73

 
55

 
40

 
51

 
Other revolving credit and installment
 
102

 
93

 
86

 
85

 
87

 
Total consumer
 
867

 
873

 
902

 
1,132

 
1,544

 
Total, not government insured/guaranteed
 
$
981

 
920

 
1,045

 
1,435

 
2,048

(1)
PCI loans totaled $2.9 billion , $3.7 billion , $4.5 billion , $6.0 billion and $8.7 billion at December 31, 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively.
(2)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.
(3)
Includes mortgages held for sale 90 days or more past due and still accruing.
(4)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly guaranteed by agencies on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education under the FFELP. In fourth quarter 2014, substantially all government guaranteed loans were sold.





82
Wells Fargo & Company
 

NET CHARGE-OFFS

Table 37: Net Charge-offs
 
 
 
Year ended 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter ended 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 
 
 
December 31, 
 
 
September 30, 
 
 
June 30, 
 
 
March 31, 
 
 
 
 
Net loan

 
% of 

 
Net loan 

 
% of 

 
Net loan 

 
% of 

 
Net loan 

 
% of 

 
Net loan 

 
% of 

 
 
 
charge- 

 
avg. 

 
charge- 

 
avg. 

 
charge- 

 
avg. 

 
charge- 

 
avg. 

 
charge- 

 
avg. 

($ in millions)
 
offs 

 
loans 

 
offs 

 
loans  (1) 

 
offs 

 
loans  (1) 

 
offs 

 
loans  (1) 

 
offs 

 
loans  (1) 

2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
482

 
0.17
 %
 
$
215

 
0.29
 %
 
$
122

 
0.17
 %
 
$
81

 
0.12
 %
 
$
64

 
0.10
 %
 
Real estate mortgage
 
(68
)
 
(0.06
)
 
(19
)
 
(0.06
)
 
(23
)
 
(0.08
)
 
(15
)
 
(0.05
)
 
(11
)
 
(0.04
)
 
Real estate construction
 
(33
)
 
(0.16
)
 
(10
)
 
(0.18
)
 
(8
)
 
(0.15
)
 
(6
)
 
(0.11
)
 
(9
)
 
(0.19
)
 
Lease financing
 
6

 
0.05

 
1

 
0.01

 
3

 
0.11

 
2

 
0.06

 
—

 
—

Total commercial
 
387

 
0.09

 
187

 
0.16

 
94

 
0.08

 
62

 
0.06

 
44

 
0.04

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
 
262

 
0.10

 
50

 
0.07

 
62

 
0.09

 
67

 
0.10

 
83

 
0.13

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
 
376

 
0.67

 
70

 
0.52

 
89

 
0.64

 
94

 
0.66

 
123

 
0.85

 
Credit card
 
941

 
3.00

 
243

 
2.93

 
216

 
2.71

 
243

 
3.21

 
239

 
3.19

 
Automobile
 
417

 
0.72

 
135

 
0.90

 
113

 
0.76

 
68

 
0.48

 
101

 
0.73

 
Other revolving credit and installment
 
509

 
1.36

 
146

 
1.49

 
129

 
1.35

 
116

 
1.26

 
118

 
1.32

Total consumer
 
2,505

 
0.55

 
644

 
0.56

 
609

 
0.53

 
588

 
0.53

 
664

 
0.60

 
Total
 
$
2,892

 
0.33
 %
 
$
831

 
0.36
 %
 
$
703

 
0.31
 %
 
$
650

 
0.30
 %
 
$
708

 
0.33
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
258

 
0.10
 %
 
$
82

 
0.12
 %
 
$
67

 
0.11
 %
 
$
60

 
0.10
 %
 
$
49

 
0.08
 %
 
Real estate mortgage
 
(94
)
 
(0.08
)
 
(25
)
 
(0.09
)
 
(37
)
 
(0.13
)
 
(10
)
 
(0.04
)
 
(22
)
 
(0.08
)
 
Real estate construction
 
(127
)
 
(0.72
)
 
(26
)
 
(0.56
)
 
(58
)
 
(1.27
)
 
(20
)
 
(0.47
)
 
(23
)
 
(0.54
)
 
Lease financing
 
7

 
0.06

 
1

 
0.05

 
4

 
0.10

 
1

 
0.05

 
1

 
0.03

Total commercial
 
44

 
0.01

 
32

 
0.03

 
(24
)
 
0.02

 
31

 
0.03

 
5

 
0.01

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
 
509

 
0.19

 
88

 
0.13

 
114

 
0.17

 
137

 
0.21

 
170

 
0.27

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
 
626

 
1.00

 
134

 
0.88

 
140

 
0.90

 
160

 
1.02

 
192

 
1.19

 
Credit card
 
864

 
3.14

 
221

 
2.97

 
201

 
2.87

 
211

 
3.20

 
231

 
3.57

 
Automobile
 
380

 
0.70

 
132

 
0.94

 
112

 
0.81

 
46

 
0.35

 
90

 
0.70

 
Other revolving credit and installment
 
522

 
1.35

 
128

 
1.45

 
125

 
1.46

 
132

 
1.22

 
137

 
1.29

Total consumer
 
2,901

 
0.65

 
703

 
0.63

 
692

 
0.62

 
686

 
0.62

 
820

 
0.75

 
Total
 
$
2,945

 
0.35
 %
 
$
735

 
0.34
 %
 
$
668

 
0.32
 %
 
$
717

 
0.35
 %
 
$
825

 
0.41
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Quarterly net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage of average respective loans are annualized.

Table 37 presents net charge-offs for the four quarters and full year of 2015 and 2014 . Net charge-offs in 2015 were $2.9 billion ( 0.33% of average total loans outstanding) compared with $2.9 billion ( 0.35% ) in 2014 . The increase in commercial and industrial net charge-offs in 2015 reflected continued deterioration within the oil and gas portfolio. Our commercial real estate portfolios were in a net recovery position every quarter in 2015 and 2014. We continued to have strong credit improvement in our residential real estate secured portfolios, benefiting from improvement in the housing market, with losses down $497 million , or 44% , from 2014 .




 
Wells Fargo & Company
83


Risk Management – Credit Risk Management ( continued )

ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES   The allowance for credit losses, which consists of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for unfunded credit commitments, is management’s estimate of credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio and unfunded credit commitments at the balance sheet date, excluding loans carried at fair value. The detail of the changes in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment (including charge-offs and recoveries by loan class) is in Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report.
We apply a disciplined process and methodology to establish our allowance for credit losses each quarter. This process takes into consideration many factors, including historical and forecasted loss trends, loan-level credit quality ratings and loan grade-specific characteristics. The process involves subjective and complex judgments. In addition, we review a variety of credit metrics and trends. These credit metrics and trends, however, do not solely determine the amount of the allowance as we use several analytical tools. Our
 
estimation approach for the commercial portfolio reflects the estimated probability of default in accordance with the borrower's financial strength, and the severity of loss in the event of default, considering the quality of any underlying collateral. Probability of default and severity at the time of default are statistically derived through historical observations of defaults and losses after default within each credit risk rating. Our estimation approach for the consumer portfolio uses forecasted losses that represent our best estimate of inherent loss based on historical experience, quantitative and other mathematical techniques over the loss emergence period. For additional information on our allowance for credit losses, see the “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses” section and Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report.
Table 38 presents the allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan segment and class for the last five years.


Table 38: Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL)
 
Dec 31, 2015
 
 
Dec 31, 2014
 
 
Dec 31, 2013
 
 
Dec 31, 2012
 
 
Dec 31, 2011
 
 
Loans 
 
 
Loans 
 
 
Loans 
 
 
Loans 
 
 
Loans 
 
 
 
 
as % 

 
 
 
as % 

 
 
 
as % 

 
 
 
as % 

 
 
 
as % 

 
 
of total 
 
 
 
of total 
 
 
 
of total 
 
 
 
of total 
 
 
 
of total 
 
(in millions)
ACL 

 
loans 

 
ACL 

 
loans 

 
ACL 

 
loans 

 
ACL 

 
loans 

 
ACL 

 
loans 

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
4,231

 
33
%
 
$
3,506

 
32
%
 
$
3,040

 
29
%
 
$
2,789

 
28
%
 
$
2,810

 
27
%
Real estate mortgage
1,264

 
13

 
1,576

 
13

 
2,157

 
14

 
2,284

 
13

 
2,570

 
14

Real estate construction
1,210

 
3

 
1,097

 
2

 
775

 
2

 
552

 
2

 
893

 
2

Lease financing
167

 
1

 
198

 
1

 
131

 
1

 
89

 
2

 
85

 
2

Total commercial
6,872

 
50

 
6,377

 
48

 
6,103

 
46

 
5,714

 
45

 
6,358

 
45

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
1,895

 
30

 
2,878

 
31

 
4,087

 
32

 
6,100

 
31

 
6,934

 
30

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
1,223

 
6

 
1,566

 
7

 
2,534

 
8

 
3,462

 
10

 
3,897

 
11

Credit card
1,412

 
4

 
1,271

 
4

 
1,224

 
3

 
1,234

 
3

 
1,294

 
3

Automobile
529

 
6

 
516

 
6

 
475

 
6

 
417

 
6

 
555

 
6

Other revolving credit and installment
581

 
4

 
561

 
4

 
548

 
5

 
550

 
5

 
630

 
5

Total consumer
5,640

 
50

 
6,792

 
52

 
8,868

 
54

 
11,763

 
55

 
13,310

 
55

Total
$
12,512

 
100
%
 
$
13,169

 
100
%
 
$
14,971

 
100
%
 
$
17,477

 
100
%
 
$
19,668

 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec 31, 2015
 
 
Dec 31, 2014
 
 
Dec 31, 2013
 
 
Dec 31, 2012
 
 
Dec 31, 2011
 
Components:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
$
11,545
 
 
12,319
 
 
14,502
 
 
17,060
 
 
19,372
 
Allowance for unfunded credit commitments
967
 
 
850
 
 
469
 
 
417
 
 
296
 
Allowance for credit losses
$
12,512
 

13,169
 
 
14,971
 
 
17,477
 
 
19,668
 
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans
 
1.26
%
 
 
1.43

 
 
1.76

 
 
2.13

 
 
2.52

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total net charge-offs
 
399

 
 
418

 
 
322

 
 
189

 
 
171

Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans
 
1.37

 
 
1.53

 
 
1.82

 
 
2.19

 
 
2.56

Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total nonaccrual loans
 
110

 
 
103

 
 
96

 
 
85

 
 
92



84
Wells Fargo & Company
 

In addition to the allowance for credit losses, there was $1.9 billion at December 31, 2015 , and $2.9 billion at December 31, 2014 , of nonaccretable difference to absorb losses for PCI loans. The allowance for credit losses is lower than otherwise would have been required without PCI loan accounting. As a result of PCI loans, certain ratios of the Company may not be directly comparable with credit-related metrics for other financial institutions. Additionally, loans purchased at fair value generally reflect a lifetime credit loss adjustment and therefore do not initially require additions to the allowance as is typically associated with loan growth. For additional information on PCI loans, see the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management – Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans” section, Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report. 
The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total nonaccrual loans may fluctuate significantly from period to period due to such factors as the mix of loan types in the portfolio, borrower credit strength and the value and marketability of collateral. Over one-half of our nonaccrual loans were real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgage loans at December 31, 2015 .
The allowance for credit losses declined in 2015 , which reflected continued credit improvement, particularly in our residential real estate portfolios and primarily associated with continued improvement in the housing market, partially offset by an increase in our commercial allowance to reflect deterioration in the oil and gas portfolio. The total provision for credit losses was $2.4 billion in 2015 , $1.4 billion in 2014 and $2.3 billion in 2013 . The 2015 provision for credit losses was $450 million less than net charge-offs, due to strong underlying credit, and improvement in the housing market. The 2014 provision was $1.6 billion less than net charge-offs, and the 2013 provision was $2.2 billion less than net charge-offs. For each of 2014 and 2013 , the provision was influenced by continually improving credit performance.
 
We believe the allowance for credit losses of $12.5 billion at December 31, 2015 , was appropriate to cover credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio, including unfunded credit commitments, at that date. Approximately $1.2 billion of the allowance at December 31, 2015 was allocated to our oil and gas portfolio, however the entire allowance is available to absorb credit losses inherent in the total loan portfolio. The allowance for credit losses is subject to change and reflects existing factors as of the date of determination, including economic or market conditions and ongoing internal and external examination processes. Due to the sensitivity of the allowance for credit losses to changes in the economic and business environment, it is possible that we will incur incremental credit losses not anticipated as of the balance sheet date. Future allowance levels may increase or decrease based on a variety of factors, including loan growth, portfolio performance and general economic conditions. Our process for determining the allowance for credit losses is discussed in the “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses” section and Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in this Report.




 
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LIABILITY FOR MORTGAGE LOAN REPURCHASE LOSSES 
We sell residential mortgage loans to various parties, including (1) government-sponsored entities (GSEs) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) and Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) who include the mortgage loans in GSE-guaranteed mortgage securitizations, (2) SPEs that issue private label MBS, and (3) other financial institutions that purchase mortgage loans for investment or private label securitization. In addition, we pool FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed mortgage loans that are then used to back securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA). We may be required to repurchase these mortgage loans, indemnify the securitization trust, investor or insurer, or reimburse the securitization trust, investor or insurer for credit losses incurred on loans (collectively, repurchase) in the event of a breach of contractual representations or warranties that is not remedied within a period (usually 90 days or less) after we receive notice of the breach. The majority of repurchase demands are on loans that default in the first 24 to 36 months following origination of the mortgage loan.
In connection with our sales and securitization of residential mortgage loans to various parties, we have established a mortgage repurchase liability, initially at fair value, related to various representations and warranties that reflect management’s estimate of losses for loans for which we could have a repurchase obligation, whether or not we currently service those loans, based on a combination of factors. Our mortgage repurchase liability estimation process also incorporates a forecast of repurchase demands associated with mortgage insurance rescission activity.
Because we retain the servicing for most of the mortgage loans we sell or securitize, we believe the quality of our residential mortgage loan servicing portfolio provides helpful information in evaluating our repurchase liability. Of the $1.6 trillion  in the residential mortgage loan servicing portfolio at December 31, 2015 , 95% was current and less than 2% was subprime at origination. Our combined delinquency and foreclosure rate on this portfolio was 5.18% at December 31, 2015 , compared with 5.79% at December 31, 2014 . Three percent
 
of this portfolio is private label securitizations for which we originated the loans and, therefore, have some repurchase risk.
The overall level of unresolved repurchase demands and mortgage insurance rescissions outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $62 million , representing 280 loans, down from $183 million , or 839 loans, a year ago, as we observed a decline in new demands and continued to work through the outstanding demands and mortgage insurance rescissions.
Customary with industry practice, we have the right of recourse against correspondent lenders from whom we have purchased loans with respect to representations and warranties. Historical recovery rates as well as projected lender performance are incorporated in the establishment of our mortgage repurchase liability.
We do not typically receive repurchase requests from GNMA, FHA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or VA. As an originator of an FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed loan, we are responsible for obtaining the insurance with the FHA or the guarantee with the VA. To the extent we are not able to obtain the insurance or the guarantee we must request permission to repurchase the loan from the GNMA pool. Such repurchases from GNMA pools typically represent a self-initiated process upon discovery of the uninsurable loan (usually within 180 days from funding of the loan). Alternatively, in lieu of repurchasing loans from GNMA pools, we may be asked by FHA/HUD or the VA to indemnify them (as applicable) for defects found in the Post Endorsement Technical Review process or audits performed by FHA/HUD or the VA. The Post Endorsement Technical Review is a process whereby HUD performs underwriting audits of closed/insured FHA loans for potential deficiencies. Our liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses incorporates probable losses associated with such indemnification.
Table 39 summarizes the changes in our mortgage repurchase liability. We incurred net losses on repurchased loans and investor reimbursements totaling $78 million in 2015 , compared with $ 144 million in 2014 .

Table 39: Changes in Mortgage Repurchase Liability
 
Quarter ended 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

 
Year ended Dec. 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Balance, beginning of period
$
538

 
557

 
586

 
615

 
615

 
899

 
2,206

Provision for repurchase losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan sales
9

 
11

 
13

 
10

 
43

 
44

 
143

Change in estimate (1)
(128
)
 
(17
)
 
(31
)
 
(26
)
 
(202
)
 
(184
)
 
285

Total additions (reductions)
(119
)
 
(6
)
 
(18
)
 
(16
)
 
(159
)
 
(140
)
 
428

Losses (2)
(41
)
 
(13
)
 
(11
)
 
(13
)
 
(78
)
 
(144
)
 
(1,735
)
Balance, end of period
$
378

 
538

 
557

 
586

 
378

 
615

 
899

(1)
Results from changes in investor demand and mortgage insurer practices, credit deterioration and changes in the financial stability of correspondent lenders.
(2)
Year ended December 31, 2013, reflects $746 million as a result of the agreement with FHLMC that resolves substantially all repurchase liabilities related to loans sold to FHLMC prior to January 1, 2009. Year ended December 31, 2013, reflects $508 million as a result of the agreement with FNMA that resolves substantially all repurchase liabilities related to loans sold to FNMA that were originated prior to January 1, 2009.

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Our liability for mortgage repurchases, included in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheet, represents our best estimate of the probable loss that we expect to incur for various representations and warranties in the contractual provisions of our sales of mortgage loans. The mortgage repurchase liability estimation process requires management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain, including demand expectations, economic factors, and the specific characteristics of the loans subject to repurchase. Our evaluation considers all vintages and the collective actions of the GSEs and their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), mortgage insurers and our correspondent lenders. We maintain regular contact with the GSEs, the FHFA, and other significant investors to monitor their repurchase demand practices and issues as part of our process to update our repurchase liability estimate as new information becomes available. The liability was $378 million at December 31, 2015 , and $ 615 million at December 31, 2014 . In 2015 , we released $159 million , which increased net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities, compared with a release of $140 million in 2014 . The release in 2015 was primarily due to resolving certain exposures and a re-estimation of our liability based on recently observed trends.
Because of the uncertainty in the various estimates underlying the mortgage repurchase liability, there is a range of losses in excess of the recorded mortgage repurchase liability that are reasonably possible. The estimate of the range of possible loss for representations and warranties does not represent a probable loss, and is based on currently available information, significant judgment, and a number of assumptions that are subject to change. The high end of this range of reasonably possible losses exceeded our recorded liability by $293 million at December 31, 2015 , and was determined based upon modifying the assumptions (particularly to assume significant changes in investor repurchase demand practices) used in our best estimate of probable loss to reflect what we believe to be the high end of reasonably possible adverse assumptions. Our estimate of reasonably possible losses decreased in 2015 as court rulings during the year provided a better understanding of our exposure to repurchase risk. For additional information on our repurchase liability, see Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) to Financial Statements in this Report.

RISKS RELATING TO SERVICING ACTIVITIES   In addition to servicing loans in our portfolio, we act as servicer and/or master servicer of residential mortgage loans included in GSE-guaranteed mortgage securitizations, GNMA-guaranteed mortgage securitizations of FHA-insured/VA-guaranteed mortgages and private label mortgage securitizations, as well as for unsecuritized loans owned by institutional investors. The following discussion summarizes the primary duties and requirements of servicing and related industry developments.

General Servicing Duties and Requirements
The loans we service were originated by us or by other mortgage loan originators. As servicer, our primary duties are typically to (1) collect payments due from borrowers, (2) advance certain delinquent payments of principal and interest on the mortgage loans, (3) maintain and administer any hazard, title or primary mortgage insurance policies relating to the mortgage loans, (4) maintain any required escrow accounts for payment of taxes and insurance and administer escrow payments, (5) foreclose on defaulted mortgage loans or, to the extent consistent with the
 
related servicing agreement, consider alternatives to foreclosure, such as loan modifications or short sales, and (6) for loans sold into private label securitizations, manage the foreclosed property through liquidation. As master servicer, our primary duties are typically to (1) supervise, monitor and oversee the servicing of the mortgage loans by the servicer, (2) consult with each servicer and use reasonable efforts to cause the servicer to observe its servicing obligations, (3) prepare monthly distribution statements to security holders and, if required by the securitization documents, certain periodic reports required to be filed with the SEC, (4) if required by the securitization documents, calculate distributions and loss allocations on the mortgage-backed securities, (5) prepare tax and information returns of the securitization trust, and (6) advance amounts required by non-affiliated servicers who fail to perform their advancing obligations.
Each agreement under which we act as servicer or master servicer generally specifies a standard of responsibility for actions we take in such capacity and provides protection against expenses and liabilities we incur when acting in compliance with the specified standard. For example, most private label securitization agreements under which we act as servicer or master servicer typically provide that the servicer and the master servicer are entitled to indemnification by the securitization trust for taking action or refraining from taking action in good faith or for errors in judgment. However, we are not indemnified, but rather are required to indemnify the securitization trustee, against any failure by us, as servicer or master servicer, to perform our servicing obligations or against any of our acts or omissions that involve willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of, or reckless disregard of, our duties. In addition, if we commit a material breach of our obligations as servicer or master servicer, we may be subject to termination if the breach is not cured within a specified period following notice, which can generally be given by the securitization trustee or a specified percentage of security holders. Whole loan sale contracts under which we act as servicer generally include similar provisions with respect to our actions as servicer. The standards governing servicing in GSE-guaranteed securitizations, and the possible remedies for violations of such standards, vary, and those standards and remedies are determined by servicing guides maintained by the GSEs, contracts between the GSEs and individual servicers and topical guides published by the GSEs from time to time. Such remedies could include indemnification or repurchase of an affected mortgage loan.

Consent Orders and Settlement Agreements for Mortgage Servicing and Foreclosure Practices
In connection with our servicing activities we have entered into various settlements with federal and state regulators to resolve certain alleged servicing issues and practices. In general, these settlements required us to provide customers with loan modification relief, refinancing relief, and foreclosure prevention and assistance, as well as imposed certain monetary penalties on us.
In particular, on February 28, 2013, we entered into amendments to an April 2011 Consent Order with both the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the FRB, which effectively ceased the Independent Foreclosure Review program created by such Consent Order and replaced it with an accelerated remediation commitment to provide foreclosure prevention actions on $1.2 billion of residential mortgage loans, subject to a process to be administered by the OCC and the FRB.


 
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During 2014, we reported sufficient foreclosure prevention actions to satisfy the $1.2 billion financial commitment.
In June 2015, we entered into an additional amendment to the April 2011 Consent Order with the OCC to address 15 of the 98 actionable items contained in the April 2011 Consent Order that were still considered open. This amendment requires that we remediate certain activities associated with our mortgage loan servicing practices and allows for the OCC to take additional supervisory action, including possible civil money penalties, if we do not comply with the terms of this amended Consent Order. In addition, this amendment prohibits us from acquiring new mortgage servicing rights or entering into new mortgage servicing contracts, other than mortgage servicing associated with originating mortgage loans or purchasing loans from correspondent clients in our normal course of business. Additionally, this amendment prohibits any new off-shoring of new mortgage servicing activities and requires OCC approval to outsource or sub-service any new mortgage servicing activities.

Asset/Liability Management
Asset/liability management involves evaluating, monitoring and managing interest rate risk, market risk, liquidity and funding. Primary oversight of interest rate risk and market risk resides with the Finance Committee of our Board of Directors (Board), which oversees the administration and effectiveness of financial risk management policies and processes used to assess and manage these risks. Primary oversight of liquidity and funding resides with the Risk Committee of the Board. At the management level we utilize a Corporate Asset/Liability Management Committee (Corporate ALCO), which consists of senior financial, risk, and business executives, to oversee these risks and report on them periodically to the Board’s Finance Committee and Risk Committee as appropriate. Each of our principal lines of business has its own asset/liability management committee and process linked to the Corporate ALCO process. As discussed in more detail for trading activities below, we employ separate management level oversight specific to market risk. Market risk, in its broadest sense, refers to the possibility that losses will result from the impact of adverse changes in market rates and prices on our trading and non-trading portfolios and financial instruments.

INTEREST RATE RISK Interest rate risk, which potentially can have a significant earnings impact, is an integral part of being a financial intermediary. We are subject to interest rate risk because:
•
assets and liabilities may mature or reprice at different times (for example, if assets reprice faster than liabilities and interest rates are generally falling, earnings will initially decline);
•
assets and liabilities may reprice at the same time but by different amounts (for example, when the general level of interest rates is falling, we may reduce rates paid on checking and savings deposit accounts by an amount that is less than the general decline in market interest rates);
•
short-term and long-term market interest rates may change by different amounts (for example, the shape of the yield curve may affect new loan yields and funding costs differently);
•
the remaining maturity of various assets or liabilities may shorten or lengthen as interest rates change (for example, if long-term mortgage interest rates decline sharply, MBS held in the investment securities portfolio may prepay significantly earlier than anticipated, which could reduce portfolio income); or
 
•
interest rates may also have a direct or indirect effect on loan demand, collateral values, credit losses, mortgage origination volume, the fair value of MSRs and other financial instruments, the value of the pension liability and other items affecting earnings.

We assess interest rate risk by comparing outcomes under various earnings simulations using many interest rate scenarios that differ in the direction of interest rate changes, the degree of change over time, the speed of change and the projected shape of the yield curve. These simulations require assumptions regarding how changes in interest rates and related market conditions could influence drivers of earnings and balance sheet composition such as loan origination demand, prepayment speeds, deposit balances and mix, as well as pricing strategies.
Our risk measures include both net interest income sensitivity and interest rate sensitive noninterest income and expense impacts. We refer to the combination of these exposures as interest rate sensitive earnings. In general, the Company is positioned to benefit from higher interest rates. Currently, our profile is such that net interest income will benefit from higher interest rates as our assets reprice faster and to a greater degree than our liabilities, and, in response to lower market rates, our assets will reprice downward and to a greater degree than our liabilities. Our interest rate sensitive noninterest income and expense is largely driven by mortgage activity, and tends to move in the opposite direction of our net interest income. So, in response to higher interest rates, mortgage activity, primarily refinancing activity, generally declines. And in response to lower rates, mortgage activity generally increases. Mortgage results in our simulations are also impacted by the valuation of MSRs and related hedge positions. See the “Risk Management – Mortgage Banking Interest Rate and Market Risk” section in this Report for more information.
The degree to which these sensitivities offset each other is dependent upon the timing and magnitude of changes in interest rates, and the slope of the yield curve. During a transition to a higher or lower interest rate environment, a reduction or increase in interest-sensitive earnings from the mortgage banking business could occur quickly, while the benefit or detriment from balance sheet repricing could take more time to develop. For example, our lower rate scenarios (scenario 1 and scenario 2) in the following table initially measure a decline in interest rates versus our most likely scenario. Although the performance in these rate scenarios contain initial benefit from increased mortgage banking activity, the result is lower earnings relative to the most likely scenario over time given pressure on net interest income. The higher rate scenarios (scenario 3 and scenario 4) measure the impact of varying degrees of rising short-term and long-term interest rates over the course of the forecast horizon relative to the most likely scenario, both resulting in positive earnings sensitivity.
As of December 31, 2015 , our most recent simulations estimate earnings at risk over the next 24 months under a range of both lower and higher interest rates. The results of the simulations are summarized in Table 40 , indicating cumulative net income after tax earnings sensitivity relative to the most likely earnings plan over the 24 month horizon (a positive range indicates a beneficial earnings sensitivity measurement relative to the most likely earnings plan and a negative range indicates a detrimental earnings sensitivity relative to the most likely earnings plan). 



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Table 40: Earnings Sensitivity Over 24 Month Horizon Relative to Most Likely Earnings Plan
 
Most 
 
Lower rates 
 
Higher rates 
 
likely 
 
Scenario 1 
 
Scenario 2 
 
Scenario 3 
 
Scenario 4 
Ending rates:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds
2.12
%
0.25
 
1.86
 
2.35
 
5.25
10-year treasury (1)
3.49
 
1.80
 
2.99
 
3.99
 
6.30
Earnings relative to most likely
N/A
 
(3)-(4)
%
(1)-(2)
 
0-5
 
0-5
(1)
U.S. Constant Maturity Treasury Rate

We use the investment securities portfolio and exchange-traded and over-the-counter (OTC) interest rate derivatives to hedge our interest rate exposures. See the “Balance Sheet Analysis – Investment Securities” section in this Report for more information on the use of the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities portfolios. The notional or contractual amount, credit risk amount and fair value of the derivatives used to hedge our interest rate risk exposures as of December 31, 2015 , and 2014 , are presented in Note 16 (Derivatives) to Financial Statements in this Report. We use derivatives for asset/liability management in two main ways:
•
to convert the cash flows from selected asset and/or liability instruments/portfolios, including investments, commercial loans and long-term debt, from fixed-rate payments to floating-rate payments, or vice versa; and
•
to economically hedge our mortgage origination pipeline, funded mortgage loans and MSRs using interest rate swaps, swaptions, futures, forwards and options.

MORTGAGE BANKING INTEREST RATE AND MARKET RISK  We originate, fund and service mortgage loans, which subjects us to various risks, including credit, liquidity and interest rate risks. Based on market conditions and other factors, we reduce credit and liquidity risks by selling or securitizing a majority of the long-term fixed-rate mortgage and ARM loans we originate. On the other hand, we may hold originated ARMs and fixed-rate mortgage loans in our loan portfolio as an investment for our growing base of deposits. We determine whether the loans will be held for investment or held for sale at the time of commitment. We may subsequently change our intent to hold loans for investment and sell some or all of our ARMs or fixed-rate mortgages as part of our corporate asset/liability management. We may also acquire and add to our securities available for sale a portion of the securities issued at the time we securitize MHFS.
With the decrease in average mortgage interest rates in 2015, our mortgage banking revenue increased as the level of mortgage loan refinance activity increased compared with 2014. The increase in mortgage loan origination income (primarily driven by the increase in mortgage loan volume) more than offset the decrease in net servicing income. Despite the continued slow recovery in the housing sector, and the continued lack of liquidity in the nonconforming secondary markets, our mortgage banking revenue was strong in 2015, reflecting the complementary origination and servicing strengths of the business. The secondary market for agency-conforming mortgages functioned well during 2015.
Interest rate and market risk can be substantial in the mortgage business. Changes in interest rates may potentially reduce total origination and servicing fees, the value of our residential MSRs measured at fair value, the value of MHFS and the associated income and loss reflected in mortgage banking noninterest income, the income and expense associated with
 
instruments (economic hedges) used to hedge changes in the fair value of MSRs and MHFS, and the value of derivative loan commitments (interest rate “locks”) extended to mortgage applicants.
Interest rates affect the amount and timing of origination and servicing fees because consumer demand for new mortgages and the level of refinancing activity are sensitive to changes in mortgage interest rates. Typically, a decline in mortgage interest rates will lead to an increase in mortgage originations and fees and may also lead to an increase in servicing fee income, depending on the level of new loans added to the servicing portfolio and prepayments. Given the time it takes for consumer behavior to fully react to interest rate changes, as well as the time required for processing a new application, providing the commitment, and securitizing and selling the loan, interest rate changes will affect origination and servicing fees with a lag. The amount and timing of the impact on origination and servicing fees will depend on the magnitude, speed and duration of the change in interest rates.
We measure originations of MHFS at fair value where an active secondary market and readily available market prices exist to reliably support fair value pricing models used for these loans. Loan origination fees on these loans are recorded when earned, and related direct loan origination costs are recognized when incurred. We also measure at fair value certain of our other interests held related to residential loan sales and securitizations. We believe fair value measurement for MHFS and other interests held, which we hedge with free-standing derivatives (economic hedges) along with our MSRs measured at fair value, reduces certain timing differences and better matches changes in the value of these assets with changes in the value of derivatives used as economic hedges for these assets. During 2015 and 2014, in response to continued secondary market illiquidity, we continued to originate certain prime non-agency loans to be held for investment for the foreseeable future rather than to be held for sale.
We initially measure all of our MSRs at fair value and carry substantially all of them at fair value depending on our strategy for managing interest rate risk. Under this method, the MSRs are recorded at fair value at the time we sell or securitize the related mortgage loans. The carrying value of MSRs carried at fair value reflects changes in fair value at the end of each quarter and changes are included in net servicing income, a component of mortgage banking noninterest income. If the fair value of the MSRs increases, income is recognized; if the fair value of the MSRs decreases, a loss is recognized. We use a dynamic and sophisticated model to estimate the fair value of our MSRs and periodically benchmark our estimates to independent appraisals. The valuation of MSRs can be highly subjective and involve complex judgments by management about matters that are inherently unpredictable. See “Critical Accounting Policies – Valuation of Residential Mortgage Servicing Rights” section in this Report for additional information. Changes in interest rates influence a variety of significant assumptions included in the periodic valuation of MSRs, including prepayment speeds, expected returns and potential risks on the servicing asset portfolio, the value of escrow balances and other servicing valuation elements.
A decline in interest rates generally increases the propensity for refinancing, reduces the expected duration of the servicing portfolio and therefore reduces the estimated fair value of MSRs. This reduction in fair value causes a charge to income for MSRs carried at fair value, net of any gains on free-standing derivatives (economic hedges) used to hedge MSRs. We may choose not to fully hedge the entire potential decline in the value of our MSRs


 
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resulting from a decline in interest rates because the potential increase in origination/servicing fees in that scenario provides a partial “natural business hedge.” An increase in interest rates generally reduces the propensity for refinancing, extends the expected duration of the servicing portfolio and, therefore, increases the estimated fair value of the MSRs. However, an increase in interest rates can also reduce mortgage loan demand and, therefore, reduce origination income.
The price risk associated with our MSRs is economically hedged with a combination of highly liquid interest rate forward instruments including mortgage forward contracts, interest rate swaps and interest rate options. All of the instruments included in the hedge are marked to market daily. Because the hedging instruments are traded in highly liquid markets, their prices are readily observable and are fully reflected in each quarter’s mark to market. Quarterly MSR hedging results include a combination of directional gain or loss due to market changes as well as any carry income generated. If the economic hedge is effective, its overall directional hedge gain or loss will offset the change in the valuation of the underlying MSR asset. Gains or losses associated with these economic hedges are included in mortgage banking noninterest income. Consistent with our longstanding approach to hedging interest rate risk in the mortgage business, the size of the hedge and the particular combination of forward hedging instruments at any point in time is designed to reduce the volatility of the mortgage business’s earnings over various time frames within a range of mortgage interest rates. Because market factors, the composition of the mortgage servicing portfolio and the relationship between the origination and servicing sides of our mortgage business change continually, the types of instruments used in our hedging are reviewed daily and rebalanced based on our evaluation of current market factors and the interest rate risk inherent in our MSRs portfolio. Throughout 2015, our economic hedging strategy generally used forward mortgage purchase contracts that were effective at offsetting the impact of interest rates on the value of the MSR asset.
Mortgage forward contracts are designed to pass the full economics of the underlying reference mortgage securities to the holder of the contract, including both the directional gain and loss from the forward delivery of the reference securities and the corresponding carry income. Carry income represents the contract’s price accretion from the forward delivery price to the spot price including both the yield earned on the reference securities and the market implied cost of financing during the period. The actual amount of carry income earned on the hedge each quarter will depend on the amount of the underlying asset that is hedged and the particular instruments included in the hedge. The level of carry income is driven by the slope of the yield curve and other market driven supply and demand factors affecting the specific reference securities. A steep yield curve generally produces higher carry income while a flat or inverted yield curve can result in lower or potentially negative carry income. The level of carry income is also affected by the type of instrument used. In general, mortgage forward contracts tend to produce higher carry income than interest rate swap contracts. Carry income is recognized over the life of the mortgage forward as a component of the contract’s mark to market gain or loss.
Hedging the various sources of interest rate risk in mortgage banking is a complex process that requires sophisticated modeling and constant monitoring. While we attempt to balance these various aspects of the mortgage business, there are several potential risks to earnings:
•
Valuation changes for MSRs associated with interest rate changes are recorded in earnings immediately within the
 
accounting period in which those interest rate changes occur, whereas the impact of those same changes in interest rates on origination and servicing fees occur with a lag and over time. Thus, the mortgage business could be protected from adverse changes in interest rates over a period of time on a cumulative basis but still display large variations in income from one accounting period to the next.
•
The degree to which our net gains on loan originations offsets valuation changes for MSRs is imperfect, varies at different points in the interest rate cycle, and depends not just on the direction of interest rates but on the pattern of quarterly interest rate changes.
•
Origination volumes, the valuation of MSRs and hedging results and associated costs are also affected by many factors. Such factors include the mix of new business between ARMs and fixed-rate mortgages, the relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates, the degree of volatility in interest rates, the relationship between mortgage interest rates and other interest rate markets, and other interest rate factors. Additional factors that can impact the valuation of the MSRs include changes in servicing and foreclosure costs due to changes in investor or regulatory guidelines, as well as individual state foreclosure legislation, and changes in discount rates due to market participants requiring a higher return due to updated market expectations on costs and risks associated with investing in MSRs. Many of these factors are hard to predict and we may not be able to directly or perfectly hedge their effect.
•
While our hedging activities are designed to balance our mortgage banking interest rate risks, the financial instruments we use may not perfectly correlate with the values and income being hedged. For example, the change in the value of ARM production held for sale from changes in mortgage interest rates may or may not be fully offset by Treasury and LIBOR index-based financial instruments used as economic hedges for such ARMs. Additionally, hedge-carry income we earn on our economic hedges for the MSRs may not continue if the spread between short-term and long-term rates decreases, or there are other changes in the market for mortgage forwards that affect the implied carry.

The total carrying value of our residential and commercial MSRs was $13.7 billion and $14.0 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The weighted-average note rate on our portfolio of loans serviced for others was 4.37% and 4.45% at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The carrying value of our total MSRs represented 0.77% and 0.75% of mortgage loans serviced for others at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
As part of our mortgage banking activities, we enter into commitments to fund residential mortgage loans at specified times in the future. A mortgage loan commitment is an interest rate lock that binds us to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specified interest rate and within a specified period of time, generally up to 60 days after inception of the rate lock. These loan commitments are derivative loan commitments if the loans that will result from the exercise of the commitments will be held for sale. These derivative loan commitments are recognized at fair value on the balance sheet with changes in their fair values recorded as part of mortgage banking noninterest income. The fair value of these commitments include, at inception and during the life of the loan commitment, the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan as part of the fair value measurement of derivative loan commitments.


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Changes subsequent to inception are based on changes in fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the exercise of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will not fund within the terms of the commitment, referred to as a fall-out factor. The value of the underlying loan commitment is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time.
Outstanding derivative loan commitments expose us to the risk that the price of the mortgage loans underlying the commitments might decline due to increases in mortgage interest rates from inception of the rate lock to the funding of the loan. To minimize this risk, we employ mortgage forwards and options, Eurodollar futures and options, and Treasury futures, forwards and options contracts as economic hedges against the potential decreases in the values of the loans. We expect that these derivative financial instruments will experience changes in fair value that will either fully or partially offset the changes in fair value of the derivative loan commitments. However, changes in investor demand, such as concerns about credit risk, can also cause changes in the spread relationships between underlying loan value and the derivative financial instruments that cannot be hedged.

MARKET RISK – TRADING ACTIVITIES  The Finance Committee of our Board of Directors reviews the acceptable market risk appetite for our trading activities. We engage in trading activities primarily to accommodate the investment and risk management activities of our customers (which involves transactions that are recorded as trading assets and liabilities on our balance sheet), to execute economic hedging to manage certain balance sheet risks and, to a very limited degree, for proprietary trading for our own account. These activities primarily occur within our Wholesale Banking businesses and to a lesser extent other divisions of the Company. All of our trading assets and liabilities, including securities, foreign exchange transactions, commodity transactions, and derivatives are carried at fair value. Income earned related to these trading activities include net interest income and changes in fair value related to trading assets and liabilities. Net interest income earned on trading assets and liabilities is reflected in the interest income and interest expense components of our income statement. Changes in fair value of trading assets and liabilities are reflected in net gains on trading activities, a component of noninterest income in our income statement .
 
Table 41 presents total revenue from trading activities.

Table 41: Net gains (losses) from Trading Activities
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Interest income (1)
1,971

 
1,685

 
1,376

Less: Interest expense (2)
357

 
382

 
307

Net interest income
1,614

 
1,303

 
1,069

Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Net gains (losses) from trading activities (3):
 
 
 
 
 
Customer accommodation
806

 
924

 
1,278

Economic hedges and other (4)
(192
)
 
233

 
332

Proprietary trading
—

 
4

 
13

Total net gains from trading activities
614

 
1,161

 
1,623

Total trading-related net interest and noninterest income
2,228

 
2,464

 
2,692

(1)
Represents interest and dividend income earned on trading securities.
(2)
Represents interest and dividend expense incurred on trading securities we have sold but have not yet purchased.
(3)
Represents realized gains (losses) from our trading activity and unrealized gains (losses) due to changes in fair value of our trading positions, attributable to the type of business activity.
(4)
Excludes economic hedging of mortgage banking and asset/liability management activities, for which hedge results (realized and unrealized) are reported with the respective hedged activities.
 
Customer accommodation Customer accommodation activities are conducted to help customers manage their investment and risk management needs. We engage in market-making activities or act as an intermediary to purchase or sell financial instruments in anticipation of or in response to customer needs. This category also includes positions we use to manage our exposure to customer transactions.
For the majority of our customer accommodation trading, we serve as intermediary between buyer and seller. For example, we may purchase or sell a derivative to a customer who wants to manage interest rate risk exposure. We typically enter into offsetting derivative or security positions with a separate counterparty or exchange to manage our exposure to the derivative with our customer. We earn income on this activity based on the transaction price difference between the customer and offsetting derivative or security positions, which is reflected in the fair value changes of the positions recorded in net gains on trading activities.
Customer accommodation trading also includes net gains related to market-making activities in which we take positions to facilitate customer order flow. For example, we may own securities recorded as trading assets (long positions) or sold securities we have not yet purchased, recorded as trading liabilities (short positions), typically on a short-term basis, to facilitate support of buying and selling demand from our customers. As a market maker in these securities, we earn income due to: (1) the difference between the price paid or received for the purchase and sale of the security (bid-ask spread), (2) the net interest income, and (3) the change in fair value of the long or short positions during the short-term period held on our balance sheet. Additionally, we may enter into separate derivative or security positions to manage our exposure related to our long or short security positions. Income earned on this type of market-making activity is reflected in the fair value changes of these positions recorded in net gains on trading activities.


 
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Risk Management - Asset/Liability Management ( continued )

Economic hedges and other Economic hedges in trading are not designated in a hedge accounting relationship and exclude economic hedging related to our asset/liability risk management and substantially all mortgage banking risk management activities. Economic hedging activities include the use of trading securities to economically hedge risk exposures related to non-trading activities or derivatives to hedge risk exposures related to trading assets or trading liabilities. Economic hedges are unrelated to our customer accommodation activities. Other activities include financial assets held for investment purposes that we elected to carry at fair value with changes in fair value recorded to earnings in order to mitigate accounting measurement mismatches or avoid embedded derivative accounting complexities.

Proprietary trading Proprietary trading consists of security or derivative positions executed for our own account based upon market expectations or to benefit from price differences between financial instruments and markets. Proprietary trading activity has been substantially restricted by the Dodd-Frank Act
 
provisions known as the “Volcker Rule.” Accordingly, we reduced and have exited certain business activities as a result of the rule. As discussed within this section and the noninterest income section of our financial results, proprietary trading activity is insignificant to our business and financial results. For more details on the Volcker Rule, see the “Regulatory Reform” section in this Report.

Daily Trading-Related Revenue Table 42 provides information on the distribution of daily trading-related revenues for the Company’s trading portfolio. This trading-related revenue is defined as the change in value of the trading assets and trading liabilities, trading-related net interest income, and trading-related intra-day gains and losses. Net trading - related revenue does not include activity related to long-term positions held for economic hedging purposes, period-end adjustments , and other activity not representative of daily price changes driven by market factors.



Table 42:   Distribution of Daily Trading-Related Revenues

Market risk is the risk of possible economic loss from adverse changes in market risk factors such as interest rates, credit spreads, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, commodity prices, mortgage rates and mortgage liquidity. Market risk is intrinsic to the Company’s sales and trading, market making, investing, and risk management activities.
The Company uses Value-at-Risk (VaR) metrics complemented with sensitivity analysis and stress testing in measuring and monitoring market risk. These market risk measures are monitored at both the business unit level and at aggregated levels on a daily basis. Our corporate market risk management function aggregates and monitors all exposures to ensure risk measures are within our established risk appetite. Changes to the market risk profile are analyzed and reported on a daily basis. The Company monitors various market risk exposure measures from a variety of perspectives, including line of business, product, risk type , and legal entity.



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VaR is a statistical risk measure used to estimate the potential loss from adverse moves in the financial markets. The VaR measures assume that historical changes in market values (historical simulation analysis) are representative of the potential future outcomes and measure the expected loss over a given time interval (for example, 1 day or 10 days) at a given confidence level. Our historical simulation analysis approach uses historical observations of daily changes in each of the market risk factors from each trading day in the previous 12 months. The risk drivers of each market risk exposure are updated on a daily basis. We measure and report VaR for 1-day and 10-day holding periods at a 99% confidence level. This means we would expect to incur single day losses greater than predicted by VaR estimates for the measured positions one time in every 100 trading days. We treat data from all historical periods as equally relevant and consider using data for the previous 12 months as appropriate for determining VaR. We believe using a 12 - month look back period helps ensure the Company’s VaR is responsive to current market conditions.
VaR measurement between different financial institutions is not readily comparable due to modeling and assumption differences from company to company. VaR measures are more useful when interpreted as an indication of trends rather than an absolute measure to be compared across financial institutions.
VaR models are subject to limitations which include, but are not limited to, the use of historical changes in market factors that may not accurately reflect future changes in market factors, and the inability to predict market liquidity in extreme market conditions. All limitations such as model inputs, model assumptions, and calculation methodology risk are monitored by the Corporate Market Risk Group and the Corporate Model Risk
 
Group .
The VaR models measure exposure to the following categories:
•
credit risk – exposures from corporate credit spreads, asset-backed security spreads, and mortgage prepayments.
•
interest rate risk – exposures from changes in the level, slope, and curvature of interest rate curves and the volatility of interest rates.
•
equity risk – exposures to changes in equity prices and volatilities of single name, index, and basket exposures.
•
commodity risk – exposures to changes in commodity prices and volatilities.
•
foreign exchange risk – exposures to changes in foreign exchange rates and volatilities.

VaR is a primary market risk management measure for assets and liabilities classified as trading positions and is used as a supplemental analysis tool to monitor exposures classified as available for sale (AFS) and other exposures that we carry at fair value.
Trading VaR is the measure used to provide insight into the market risk exhibited by the Company’s trading positions. The Company calculates Trading VaR for risk management purposes to establish line of business and Company-wide risk limits. Trading VaR is calculated based on all trading positions classified as trading assets or trading liabilities on our balance sheet.
Table 43 shows the results of the Company’s Trading General VaR by risk category. As presented in the table, average Trading General VaR was $ 19 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 , compared with $ 21 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 . The decrease was primarily driven by risk reducing changes in portfolio composition which offset
the market volatility experienced during the quarter.

Table 43: Trading 1-Day 99% General VaR by Risk Category
 
Quarter ended
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
(in millions)
Period 
end 

 
Average 

 
Low 

 
High 

 
Period
end 

 
Average 

 
Low 

 
High 

Company Trading General VaR Risk Categories
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit
$
14

 
18

 
14

 
25

 
20

 
20

 
16

 
24

Interest rate
8

 
9

 
5

 
13

 
18

 
14

 
6

 
22

Equity
13

 
14

 
12

 
16

 
16

 
14

 
12

 
16

Commodity
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

 
2

Foreign exchange
2

 
1

 
1

 
2

 
1

 
1

 
—

 
2

Diversification benefit (1)
(20
)
 
(24
)
 
 
 
 
 
(38
)
 
(29
)
 
 
 
 
Company Trading General VaR
18

 
19

 
 
 
 
 
18

 
21

 
 
 
 
(1)
The period-end VaR was less than the sum of the VaR components described above, which is due to portfolio diversification. The diversification effect arises because the risks are not perfectly correlated causing a portfolio of positions to usually be less risky than the sum of the risks of the positions alone. The diversification benefit is not meaningful for low and high metrics since they may occur on different days.

Sensitivity Analysis Given the inherent limitations of the VaR models, the Company uses other measures, including sensitivity analysis, to measure and monitor risk. Sensitivity analysis is the measure of exposure to a single risk factor, such as a 0.01% increase in interest rates or a 1% increase in equity prices. We conduct and monitor sensitivity on interest rates, credit spreads, volatility, equity, commodity, and foreign exchange exposure. Sensitivity analysis complements VaR as it provides an indication of risk relative to each factor irrespective of historical
 
market moves.
Stress Testing While VaR captures the risk of loss due to adverse changes in markets using recent historical market data, stress testing captures the Company’s exposure to extreme but low probability market movements. Stress scenarios estimate the risk of losses based on management’s assumptions of abnormal but severe market movements such as severe credit spread widening or a large decline in equity prices. These scenarios assume that the market moves happen instantaneously and no repositioning or hedging activity takes place to mitigate losses as events unfold (a conservative approach since experience demonstrates otherwise).


 
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Risk Management - Asset/Liability Management ( continued )

An inventory of scenarios is maintained representing both historical and hypothetical stress events that affect a broad range of market risk factors with varying degrees of correlation and differing time horizons. Hypothetical scenarios assess the impact of large movements in financial variables on portfolio values. Typical examples include a 1% (100 basis point) increase across the yield curve or a 10% decline in equity market indexes. Historical scenarios utilize an event-driven approach: the stress scenarios are based on plausible but rare events, and the analysis addresses how these events might affect the risk factors relevant to a portfolio.
The Company’s stress testing framework is also used in calculating results in support of the Federal Reserve Board’s Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) and internal stress tests. Stress scenarios are regularly reviewed and updated to address potential market events or concerns. For more detail on the CCAR process, see the “Capital Management” section in this Report.

Regulatory Market Risk Capital is based on U.S. regulatory agency risk-based capital regulations that are based on the Basel Committee Capital Accord of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The Company must calculate regulatory capital based on the Basel III market risk capital rule, which requires banking organizations with significant trading activities to adjust their capital requirements to better account for the market risks of those activities based on comprehensive and risk sensitive methods and models. The market risk capital rule is intended to cover the risk of loss in value of covered positions due to changes in market conditions.

Composition of Material Portfolio of Covered Positions The positions that are “covered” by the market risk capital rule are generally a subset of our trading assets and trading liabilities, specifically those held by the Company for the purpose of short-term resale or with the intent of benefiting from actual or expected short-term price movements, or to lock in arbitrage profits. Positions excluded from market risk regulatory capital treatment are subject to the credit risk capital rules applicable to the “non-covered” trading positions.
The material portfolio of the Company’s “covered” positions
 
is predominantly concentrated in the trading assets and trading liabilities managed within Wholesale Banking where the substantial portion of market risk capital resides. Wholesale Banking engages in the fixed income, traded credit, foreign exchange, equities, and commodities markets businesses. Other business segments also hold small trading positions covered under the market risk capital rule.

Regulatory Market Risk Capital Components   The capital required for market risk on the Company’s “covered” positions is determined by internally developed models or standardized specific risk charges. The market risk regulatory capital models are subject to internal model risk management and validation. The models are continuously monitored and enhanced in response to changes in market conditions, improvements in system capabilities, and changes in the Company’s market risk exposure. The Company is required to obtain and has received prior written approval from its regulators before using its internally developed models to calculate the market risk capital charge.
Basel III prescribes various VaR measures in the determination of regulatory capital and risk-weighted assets (RWAs). The Company uses the same VaR models for both market risk management purposes as well as regulatory capital calculations. For regulatory purposes, we use the following metrics to determine the Company’s market risk capital requirements:

General VaR measures the risk of broad market movements such as changes in the level of credit spreads, interest rates, equity prices, commodity prices, and foreign exchange rates. General VaR uses historical simulation analysis based on 99% confidence level and a 10-day time horizon.
Table 44 shows the General VaR measure by major risk categories for Wholesale Banking. Average 10-day Company Regulatory General VaR was $ 40 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 , compared with $ 35 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 . The increase was primarily driven by changes in portfolio composition.


Table 44: Regulatory 10-Day 99% General VaR by Risk Category
 
 
 
Quarter ended 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
(in millions)
Period
end 

 
Average

 
Low 

 
High 

 
Period
end 

 
Average 

 
Low 

 
High 

Wholesale Regulatory General VaR Risk Categories
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit
$
29

 
38

 
26

 
54

 
45

 
46

 
30

 
61

Interest rate
25

 
29

 
21

 
40

 
38

 
45

 
27

 
77

Equity
9

 
7

 
4

 
11

 
7

 
6

 
3

 
13

Commodity
2

 
3

 
1

 
5

 
1

 
3

 
1

 
5

Foreign exchange
2

 
2

 
1

 
5

 
2

 
4

 
1

 
6

Diversification benefit (1)
(22
)
 
(41
)
 
 
 
 
 
(64
)
 
(72
)
 
 
 
 
Wholesale Regulatory General VaR
$
45

 
38

 
26

 
54

 
29

 
32

 
21

 
56

Company Regulatory General VaR
47

 
40

 
28

 
56

 
31

 
35

 
23

 
58

(1)
The period-end VaR was less than the sum of the VaR components described above, which is due to portfolio diversification. The diversification benefit arises because the risks are not perfectly correlated causing a portfolio of positions to usually be less risky than the sum of the risks of the positions alone. The diversification benefit is not meaningful for low and high metrics since they may occur on different days.




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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Specific Risk measures the risk of loss that could result from factors other than broad market movements, or name-specific market risk. Specific Risk uses Monte Carlo simulation analysis based on a 99% confidence level and a 10-day time horizon.

Total VaR (as presented in Table 45 ) is composed of General VaR and Specific Risk and uses the previous 12 months of historical market data in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Total Stressed VaR (as presented in Table 45 ) uses a historical period of significant financial stress over a continuous 12 month period using historically available market data and is composed of Stressed General VaR and Stressed Specific Risk. Total Stressed VaR uses the same methodology and models as Total VaR.

Incremental Risk Charge (as presented in Table 45 ) captures losses due to both issuer default and migration risk at the 99.9% confidence level over the one-year capital horizon under the assumption of constant level of risk or a constant position assumption. The model covers all non-securitized credit-
 
sensitive products.
The Company calculates Incremental Risk by generating a portfolio loss distribution using Monte Carlo simulation, which assumes numerous scenarios, where an assumption is made that the portfolio’s composition remains constant for a one-year time horizon. Individual issuer credit grade migration and issuer default risk is modeled through generation of the issuer’s credit rating transition based upon statistical modeling. Correlation between credit grade migration and default is captured by a multifactor proprietary model which takes into account industry classifications as well as regional effects. Additionally, the impact of market and issuer specific concentrations is reflected in the modeling framework by assignment of a higher charge for portfolios that have increasing concentrations in particular issuers or sectors. Lastly, the model captures product basis risk; that is, it reflects the material disparity between a position and its hedge.
Table 45 provides information on Total VaR, Total Stressed VaR and the Incremental Risk Charge results for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 . For the Incremental Risk Charge, the required capital for market risk at quarter end equals the average for the quarter.


Table 45: Market Risk Regulatory Capital Modeled Components
 
Quarter ended December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Average

 
Low

 
High

 
Quarter end

 
Risk-
based
capital (1)

 
Risk-
weighted
assets (1)

Total VaR
63

 
51

 
75

 
67

 
188

 
2,350

Total Stressed VaR
258

 
185

 
316

 
285

 
773

 
9,661

Incremental Risk Charge
309

 
270

 
393

 
305

 
309

 
3,864

(1)
Results represent the risk-based capital and RWAs based on the VaR and Incremental Risk Charge models.

Securitized Products Charge Basel III requires a separate market risk capital charge for positions classified as a securitization or re-securitization. The primary criteria for classification as a securitization are whether there is a transfer of risk and whether the credit risk associated with the underlying exposures has been separated into at least two tranches reflecting different levels of seniority. Covered trading securitizations positions include consumer and commercial asset-backed securities (ABS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), and collateralized loan and other debt obligations (CLO/CDO) positions. The securitization capital requirements are the greater of the capital requirements of the net long or short exposure, and are capped at the maximum loss that could
 
be incurred on any given transaction.
Table 46 shows the aggregate net fair market value of securities and derivative securitization positions by exposure type that meet the regulatory definition of a covered trading securitization position at December 31, 2015 and 2014 .

Table 46: Covered Securitization Positions by Exposure Type (Net Market Value)
(in millions)
ABS 

 
CMBS 

 
RMBS 

 
CLO/CDO 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securitization exposure:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities
$
962

 
402

 
571

 
667

Derivatives
15

 
6

 
2

 
(21
)
Total
977

 
408

 
573

 
646

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securitization Exposure:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities
$
752

 
709

 
689

 
553

Derivatives
(1
)
 
5

 
23

 
(31
)
Total
$
751

 
714

 
712

 
522




 
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Risk Management - Asset/Liability Management ( continued )

SECURITIZATION DUE DILIGENCE AND RISK MONITORING   The market risk capital rule requires that the Company conduct due diligence on the risk of each position within three days of the purchase of a securitization position. The Company's due diligence seeks to provide an understanding of the features that would materially affect the performance of a securitization or re-securitization. The due diligence analysis is re-performed on a quarterly basis for each securitization and re-securitization position. The Company uses an automated solution to track the due diligence associated with securitization activity. The Company aims to manage the risks associated with securitization and re-securitization positions through the use of offsetting positions and portfolio diversification.
 
Standardized Specific Risk Charge For debt and equity positions that are not evaluated by the approved internal specific risk models, a regulatory prescribed standard specific risk charge is applied. The standard specific risk add-on for sovereign entities, public sector entities, and depository institutions is based on the
 
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country risk classifications (CRC) and the remaining contractual maturity of the position. These risk add-ons for debt positions range from 0.25% to 12%. The add-on for corporate debt is based on creditworthiness and the remaining contractual maturity of the position. All other types of debt positions are subject to an 8% add-on. The standard specific risk add-on for equity positions is generally 8%.

Comprehensive Risk Charge/Correlation Trading The market risk capital rule requires capital for correlation trading positions. The Company's remaining correlation trading exposure covered under the market risk capital rule matured in fourth quarter 2014.
Table 47 summarizes the market risk-based capital requirements charge and market RWAs in accordance with the Basel III market risk capital rule as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 . The market RWAs are calculated as the sum of the
components in the table below.

Table 47: Market Risk Regulatory Capital and RWAs
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Risk-
based
capital

 
Risk-
weighted
assets

 
Risk-
based
capital

 
Risk-
weighted
assets

Total VaR
$
188

 
2,350

 
146

 
1,822

Total Stressed VaR
773

 
9,661

 
1,469

 
18,359

Incremental Risk Charge
309

 
3,864

 
345

 
4,317

Securitized Products Charge
616

 
7,695

 
766

 
9,577

Standardized Specific Risk Charge
1,048

 
13,097

 
1,177

 
14,709

De minimis Charges (positions not included in models)
19

 
243

 
66

 
829

Total
$
2,953

 
36,910

 
3,969

 
49,613


RWA Rollforward Table 48 depicts the changes in market risk regulatory capital and RWAs under Basel III for the full year and fourth quarter of 2015.

Table 48: Analysis of Changes in Market Risk Regulatory Capital and RWAs
(in millions)
Risk-based capital

 
Risk-weighted assets

Balance, December 31, 2014
$
3,969

 
49,613

 
Total VaR
42

 
528

 
Total Stressed VaR
(696
)
 
(8,698
)
 
Incremental Risk Charge
(36
)
 
(453
)
 
Securitized Products Charge
(151
)
 
(1,882
)
 
Standardized Specific Risk Charge
(129
)
 
(1,612
)
 
De minimis Charges
(46
)
 
(586
)
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
2,953

 
36,910

 
 
 
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2015
$
3,275

 
40,934

 
Total VaR
5

 
58

 
Total Stressed VaR
(73
)
 
(910
)
 
Incremental Risk Charge
(69
)
 
(857
)
 
Securitized Products Charge
(79
)
 
(984
)
 
Standardized Specific Risk Charge
(99
)
 
(1,243
)
 
De minimis Charges
(7
)
 
(88
)
Balance, December 31, 2015
$
2,953

 
36,910

 

All changes to market risk regulatory capital and RWAs for the full year and fourth quarter of 2015 were associated with changes in positions due to normal trading activity in addition to market volatility over the last year.

VaR Backtesting The market risk capital rule requires backtesting as one form of validation of the VaR model. Backtesting is a comparison of the daily VaR estimate with the actual clean profit and loss (clean P&L) as defined by the market risk capital rule. Clean P&L is the change in the value of the Company’s covered trading positions that would have occurred had previous end-of-day covered trading positions remained unchanged (therefore, excluding fees, commissions, net interest income, and intraday trading gains and losses). The backtesting analysis compares the daily Total VaR for each of the trading days in the preceding 12 months with the net clean P&L. Clean P&L does not include credit adjustments and other activity not representative of daily price changes driven by market risk factors. The clean P&L measure of revenue is used to evaluate the performance of the Total VaR and is not comparable to our actual daily trading net revenues, as reported elsewhere in this Report.
Any observed clean P&L loss in excess of the Total VaR is considered a market risk regulatory capital backtesting exception. The actual number of exceptions (that is, the number of business days for which the clean P&L losses exceed the corresponding 1-day, 99% Total VaR measure) over the preceding 12 months is used to determine the capital multiplier for the market risk capital calculation. The number of actual backtesting exceptions is dependent on current market


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performance relative to historic market volatility in addition to model performance and assumptions. This capital multiplier increases from a minimum of three to a maximum of four, depending on the number of exceptions. No backtesting exceptions occurred over the preceding 12 months. Backtesting
 
is also performed at more granular levels within the Company.
Table 49 shows daily Total VaR (1-day, 99%) used for market risk regulatory capital backtesting for the 12 months ended December 31, 2015 . The Company’s average Total VaR for fourth quarter 2015 was $22 million with a low of $18 million
and a high of $25 million.
Table 49: Daily Total 1-Day 99% VaR Measure (Rolling 12 Months)

Market Risk Governance The Finance Committee of our Board has primary oversight over market risk-taking activities of the Company and reviews the acceptable market risk appetite. The Corporate Risk Group’s Market Risk Committee, which reports to the Finance Committee of the Board, is responsible for governance and oversight of market risk-taking activities across the Company as well as the establishment of market risk appetite and associated limits. The Corporate Market Risk Group, which is part of the Corporate Risk Group, administers and monitors compliance with the requirements established by the Market Risk Committee. The Corporate Market Risk Group has oversight responsibilities in identifying, measuring and monitoring the Company’s market risk. The group is responsible for developing corporate market risk policy, creating quantitative market risk models, establishing independent risk limits, calculating and analyzing market risk capital, and reporting aggregated and line-of-business market risk information. Limits are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and within the market risk appetite for the Company. An automated limits-monitoring system enables a daily comprehensive review of multiple limits mandated across businesses. Limits are set with inner boundaries that will be periodically breached to promote an ongoing dialogue of risk exposure within the Company. Each line of business that exposes the Company to market risk has direct responsibility for managing market risk in accordance with defined risk tolerances and approved market risk mandates and hedging strategies. We measure and monitor market risk for both management and
 
regulatory capital purposes.
Model Risk Management The market risk capital models are governed by our Corporate Model Risk Committee policies and procedures, which include model validation. The purpose of model validation includes ensuring models are appropriate for their intended use and that appropriate controls exist to help mitigate the risk of invalid results. Model validation assesses the adequacy and appropriateness of the model, including reviewing its key components such as inputs, processing components, logic or theory, output results and supporting model documentation. Validation also includes ensuring significant unobservable model inputs are appropriate given observable market transactions or other market data within the same or similar asset classes. This ensures modeled approaches are appropriate given similar product valuation techniques and are in line with their intended purpose.
The Corporate Model Risk Group (CMoR) provides oversight of model validation and assessment processes. Corporate oversight responsibilities include evaluating the adequacy of business unit model risk management programs, maintaining company-wide model validation policies and standards, and reporting the results of these activities to management. In addition to the corporate-level review, all internal valuation models are subject to ongoing review by business-unit-level management.



 
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Risk Management - Asset/Liability Management ( continued )

MARKET RISK – EQUITY INVESTMENTS We are directly and indirectly affected by changes in the equity markets. We make and manage direct equity investments in start-up businesses, emerging growth companies, management buy-outs, acquisitions and corporate recapitalizations. We also invest in non-affiliated funds that make similar private equity investments. These private equity investments are made within capital allocations approved by management and the Board. The Board’s policy is to review business developments, key risks and historical returns for the private equity investment portfolio at least annually. Management reviews these investments at least quarterly and assesses them for possible OTTI. For nonmarketable investments, the analysis is based on facts and circumstances of each individual investment and the expectations for that investment’s cash flows and capital needs, the viability of its business model and our exit strategy. Nonmarketable investments include private equity investments accounted for under the cost method, equity method and fair value option.
In conjunction with the March 2008 initial public offering (IPO) of Visa, Inc. (Visa), we received approximately 20.7 million shares of Visa Class B common stock, which was apportioned to member banks of Visa at the time of the IPO. To manage our exposure to Visa and realize the value of the appreciated Visa shares, we incrementally sold these shares through a series of sales over the past few years, thereby eliminating this position as of September 30, 2015. As part of these sales, we agreed to compensate the buyer for any additional contributions to a litigation settlement fund for the litigation matters associated with the Class B shares we sold. Our exposure to this retained litigation risk has been reflected on our balance sheet.
As part of our business to support our customers, we trade public equities, listed/OTC equity derivatives and convertible bonds. We have parameters that govern these activities. We also have marketable equity securities in the available-for-sale securities portfolio, including securities relating to our venture capital activities. We manage these investments within capital risk limits approved by management and the Board and monitored by Corporate ALCO and the Corporate Market Risk Committee. Gains and losses on these securities are recognized in net income when realized and periodically include OTTI charges.
Changes in equity market prices may also indirectly affect our net income by (1) the value of third party assets under management and, hence, fee income, (2) borrowers whose ability to repay principal and/or interest may be affected by the stock market, or (3) brokerage activity, related commission income and other business activities. Each business line monitors and manages these indirect risks.
Table 50 provides information regarding our nonmarketable and marketable equity investments as of December 31, 2015 and
 
2014 .
Table 50: Nonmarketable and Marketable Equity Investments
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Nonmarketable equity investments:
 
 
 
Cost method:
 
 
 
Federal bank stock
$
4,814

 
4,733

Private equity
1,626

 
2,300

Auction rate securities (1)
595

 
—

Total cost method
7,035

 
7,033

Equity method:
 
 
 
LIHTC (2)
8,314

 
7,278

Private equity
3,300

 
3,043

Tax-advantaged renewable energy
1,625

 
1,710

New market tax credit and other
408

 
379

Total equity method
13,647

 
12,410

Fair value (3)
3,065

 
2,512

Total nonmarketable equity investments (4)
$
23,747

 
21,955

Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
Cost
$
1,058

 
1,906

Net unrealized gains
579

 
1,770

Total marketable equity securities (5)
$
1,637

 
3,676

(1)
Reflects auction rate perpetual preferred equity securities that were reclassified during 2015 with a cost basis of $689 million (fair value of $640 million) from available-for-sale securities because they do not trade on a qualified exchange.
(2)
Represents low income housing tax credit investments.
(3)
Represents nonmarketable equity investments for which we have elected the fair value option. See Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets) and Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information.
(4)
Included in other assets on the balance sheet. See Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information.
(5)
Included in available-for-sale securities. See Note 5 (Investment Securities) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information.







98
Wells Fargo & Company
 

LIQUIDITY AND FUNDING  The objective of effective liquidity management is to ensure that we can meet customer loan requests, customer deposit maturities/withdrawals and other cash commitments efficiently under both normal operating conditions and under periods of Wells Fargo-specific and/or market stress. To achieve this objective, the Board of Directors establishes liquidity guidelines that require sufficient asset-based liquidity to cover potential funding requirements and to avoid over-dependence on volatile, less reliable funding markets. These guidelines are monitored on a monthly basis by the Corporate ALCO and on a quarterly basis by the Board of Directors. These guidelines are established and monitored for both the consolidated company and for the Parent on a stand-alone basis to ensure that the Parent is a source of strength for its regulated, deposit-taking banking subsidiaries.

Liquidity Standards On September 3, 2014, the FRB, OCC and FDIC issued a final rule that implements a quantitative liquidity requirement consistent with the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) established by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). The rule requires banking institutions, such as Wells Fargo, to hold high-quality liquid assets, such as central bank reserves and government and corporate debt that can be converted easily and quickly into cash, in an amount equal to or greater than its projected net cash outflows during a 30-day stress period. The final LCR rule began its phase-in period on January 1, 2015, and requires full compliance with a minimum 100% LCR by January 1, 2017. The FRB also finalized rules imposing enhanced liquidity management standards on large bank holding companies (BHC) such as Wells Fargo. In addition,
 
the FRB recently proposed a rule that would require large bank holding companies, such as Wells Fargo, to publicly disclose on a quarterly basis certain quantitative and qualitative information regarding their LCR calculations. We continue to analyze these rules and other regulatory proposals that may affect liquidity risk management to determine the level of operational or compliance impact to Wells Fargo. For additional information see the “Capital Management” and “Regulatory Reform” sections in this Report.

Liquidity Sources We maintain liquidity in the form of cash, cash equivalents and unencumbered high-quality, liquid securities. These assets make up our primary sources of liquidity which are presented in Table 51 . Our cash is primarily on deposit with the Federal Reserve. Securities included as part of our primary sources of liquidity are comprised of U.S. Treasury and federal agency debt, and mortgage-backed securities issued by federal agencies within our investment securities portfolio. We believe these securities provide quick sources of liquidity through sales or by pledging to obtain financing, regardless of market conditions. Some of these securities are within the held-to-maturity portion of our investment securities portfolio and as such are not intended for sale but may be pledged to obtain financing. Some of the legal entities within our consolidated group of companies are subject to various regulatory, tax, legal and other restrictions that can limit the transferability of their funds. We believe we maintain adequate liquidity for these entities in consideration of such funds transfer restrictions.



Table 51: Primary Sources of Liquidity
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Total

 
Encumbered

 
Unencumbered

 
Total 

 
Encumbered 

 
Unencumbered 

Interest-earning deposits
$
220,409

 
—

 
220,409

 
219,220

 
—

 
219,220

Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies (1)
81,417

 
6,462

 
74,955

 
67,352

 
856

 
66,496

Mortgage-backed securities of federal agencies (2)
132,967

 
74,778

 
58,189

 
115,730

 
80,324

 
35,406

Total
$
434,793

 
81,240

 
353,553

 
402,302

 
81,180

 
321,122

(1)
Included in encumbered securities at December 31, 2014, were securities with a fair value of $152 million which were purchased in December 2014, but settled in January 2015.
(2)
Included in encumbered securities at December 31, 2014, were securities with a fair value of $5 million which were purchased in December 2014, but settled in January 2015.

In addition to our primary sources of liquidity shown in Table 51 , liquidity is also available through the sale or financing of other securities including trading and/or available-for-sale securities, as well as through the sale, securitization or financing of loans, to the extent such securities and loans are not encumbered. In addition, other securities in our held-to-maturity portfolio, to the extent not encumbered, may be pledged to obtain financing.
 
Deposits have historically provided a sizeable source of relatively low-cost funds. At December 31, 2015 , deposits were 133% of total loans compared with 135% at December 31, 2014 . Additional funding is provided by long-term debt and short-term borrowings.
Table 52 shows selected information for short-term borrowings, which generally mature in less than 30 days.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
99


Risk Management - Asset/Liability Management ( continued )

Table 52: Short-Term Borrowings
 
Quarter ended
 
(in millions)
Dec 31,
2015

 
Sep 30,
2015

 
Jun 30,
2015

 
Mar 31,
2015

 
Dec 31,
2014

Balance, period end
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
$
82,948

 
74,652

 
71,439

 
64,400

 
51,052

Commercial paper
334

 
393

 
621

 
3,552

 
2,456

Other short-term borrowings
14,246

 
13,024

 
10,903

 
9,745

 
10,010

Total
$
97,528

 
88,069

 
82,963

 
77,697

 
63,518

Average daily balance for period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
$
88,949

 
79,445

 
72,429

 
58,881

 
51,509

Commercial paper
414

 
484

 
2,433

 
3,040

 
3,511

Other short-term borrowings
13,552

 
10,428

 
9,637

 
9,791

 
9,656

Total
$
102,915

 
90,357

 
84,499

 
71,712

 
64,676

Maximum month-end balance for period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase (1)
$
89,800

 
80,961

 
71,811

 
66,943

 
51,052

Commercial paper (2)
461

 
510

 
2,713

 
3,552

 
3,740

Other short-term borrowings (3)
14,246

 
13,024

 
10,903

 
10,068

 
10,010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Highest month-end balance in each of the last five quarters was in October , August, May and February 2015 and December 2014.
(2)
Highest month-end balance in each of the last five quarters was in November , July, April and March 2015 and November 2014.
(3)
Highest month-end balance in each of the last five quarters was in December , September, June and February 2015 and December 2014.

We access domestic and international capital markets for long-term funding (generally greater than one year) through issuances of registered debt securities, private placements and asset-backed secured funding.

Parent Under SEC rules, our Parent is classified as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” which allows it to file a registration statement that does not have a limit on issuance capacity. In May 2014, the Parent filed a registration statement with the SEC for the issuance of senior and subordinated notes, preferred stock and other securities. The Parent’s ability to issue debt and other securities under this registration statement is limited by the debt issuance authority granted by the Board. The Parent is currently authorized by the Board to issue $60 billion in outstanding short-term debt and $170 billion in outstanding long-term debt. At December 31, 2015 , the Parent had available $39.4 billion in short-term debt issuance authority and $46.0 billion in long-term debt issuance authority. The Parent’s debt issuance authority granted by the Board includes short-term and long-term debt issued to affiliates. In 2015 , the Parent issued $26.4 billion of senior notes, of which $17.0 billion were registered with the SEC. In addition, in 2015 , the Parent issued $5.3 billion of subordinated notes, all of which were registered with the SEC.
The Parent’s proceeds from securities issued were used for general corporate purposes, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus or prospectus supplement, we expect the proceeds from securities issued in the future will be used for the same purposes. Depending on market conditions, we may purchase our outstanding debt securities from time to time in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer, or otherwise.
Table 53 provides information regarding the Parent’s medium-term note (MTN) programs, which are covered by the long-term debt issuance authority granted by the Board. The Parent may issue senior and subordinated debt securities under Series N & O, and the European and Australian programmes. Under Series K, the Parent may issue senior debt securities linked to one or more indices or bearing interest at a fixed or floating rate.
 
Table 53: Medium-Term Note (MTN) Programs
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
(in billions)
 
Date
established 
 
 
 
Debt 
issuance 
authority 

 
Available 
for
issuance 

MTN program:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series N & O (1)(2)
 
May 2014
 
 
 
$
—

 
—

Series K (1)(3)
 
April 2010
 
 
 
25.0

 
20.7

European (4)(5)
 
December 2009
 
 
 
25.0

 
3.9

European (4)(6)
 
August 2013
 
 
 
10.0

 
7.9

Australian (4)(7)
 
June 2005
 
AUD
 
10.0

 
7.8

(1)
SEC registered.
(2)
The Parent can issue an indeterminate amount of debt securities, subject to the debt issuance authority granted by the Board.
(3)
As amended in April 2012 and March 2015.
(4)
Not registered with the SEC. May not be offered in the United States without applicable exemptions from registration.
(5)
As amended in April 2012, April 2013, April 2014 and March 2015. For securities to be admitted to listing on the Official List of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and to trade on the Regulated Market of the London Stock Exchange.
(6)
As amended in May 2014 and April 2015, for securities that will not be admitted to listing, trading and/or quotation by any stock exchange or quotation system, or will be admitted to listing, trading and/or quotation by a stock exchange or quotation system that is not considered to be a regulated market.
(7)
As amended in October 2005, March 2010 and September 2013.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is authorized by its board of directors to issue $100 billion  in outstanding short-term debt and $125 billion in outstanding long-term debt. At December 31, 2015 , Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. had available $99.98 billion in short-term debt issuance authority and $66.3 billion in long-term debt issuance authority. In April 2015, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. established a $100 billion bank note program under which, subject to any other debt outstanding under the limits described above, it may issue $50 billion in outstanding short-term senior notes and $50 billion in outstanding long-term senior or subordinated notes. At December 31, 2015 , Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. had remaining issuance capacity under the bank note program of $50.0 billion in short-term senior notes and $50.0 billion in long-term senior or subordinated notes. In January 2016, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. issued $3.5 billion of unregistered senior notes under the bank note program. In addition, during 2015, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. executed advances of $10.5 billion with the Federal Home Loan


100
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Bank of Des Moines, and as of December 31, 2015 , Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. had outstanding advances of $37.1 billion across the Federal Home Loan Bank System. In January 2016, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. executed an additional $12.5 billion in Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

Credit Ratings Investors in the long-term capital markets, as well as other market participants, generally will consider, among other factors, a company’s debt rating in making investment decisions. Rating agencies base their ratings on many quantitative and qualitative factors, including capital adequacy, liquidity, asset quality, business mix, the level and quality of earnings, and rating agency assumptions regarding the probability and extent of federal financial assistance or support for certain large financial institutions. Adverse changes in these factors could result in a reduction of our credit rating; however, our debt securities do not contain credit rating covenants.
On October 5, 2015, Fitch Ratings, Inc. affirmed all the ratings of Wells Fargo and its rated subsidiaries. On December 2, 2015, Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) completed their assessment of whether to continue incorporating the likelihood of extraordinary government support into the ratings of eight bank holding companies, including the Parent, in light of regulatory progress toward
 
developing a resolution regime that reduces the likelihood of government support. S&P concluded that it was appropriate to remove from its ratings the uplift created by the likelihood of government support and, as a result, the ratings of all eight bank holding companies, including the Parent, were lowered by one notch. S&P also concluded that nondeferrable subordinated debt issued by a bank should be treated as hybrid capital. As a result, the nondeferrable subordinated debt of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and several other banks, was lowered one notch. Both the Parent and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. remain among the top-rated financial firms in the U.S.
See the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management” and “Risk Factors” sections in this Report for additional information regarding our credit ratings as of December 31, 2015 , and the potential impact a credit rating downgrade would have on our liquidity and operations, as well as Note 16 (Derivatives) to Financial Statements in this Report for information regarding additional collateral and funding obligations required for certain derivative instruments in the event our credit ratings were to fall below investment grade.
The credit ratings of the Parent and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as of December 31, 2015 , are presented in Table 54 .


Table 54: Credit Ratings as of December 31, 2015
 
 
 
Wells Fargo & Company 
 
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 
 
Senior debt 
 
Short-term 
borrowings 
 
Long-term 
deposits 
 
Short-term 
borrowings 
Moody's
 A2
 
 P-1
 
 Aa1
 
 P-1
S&P
 A
 
 A-1
 
 AA-
 
 A-1+
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
 AA-
 
 F1+
 
 AA+
 
 F1+
DBRS
 AA
 
 R-1*
 
 AA**
 
 R-1**
* middle    **high
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK MEMBERSHIP The Federal Home Loan Banks (the FHLBs) are a group of cooperatives that lending institutions use to finance housing and economic development in local communities. We are a member of the FHLBs based in Dallas, Des Moines and San Francisco. Each member of the FHLBs is required to maintain a minimum investment in capital stock of the applicable FHLB. The board of directors of each FHLB can increase the minimum investment requirements in the event it has concluded that additional capital is required to allow it to meet its own regulatory capital requirements. Any increase in the minimum investment requirements outside of specified ranges requires the approval of the Federal Housing Finance Board. Because the extent of any obligation to increase our investment in any of the FHLBs depends entirely upon the occurrence of a future event, potential future payments to the FHLBs are not determinable.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
101


Capital Management (continued)

Capital Management

We have an active program for managing capital through a comprehensive process for assessing the Company’s overall capital adequacy. Our objective is to maintain capital at an amount commensurate with our risk profile and risk tolerance objectives, and to meet both regulatory and market expectations. We primarily fund our capital needs through the retention of earnings net of dividends as well as the issuance of preferred stock and long and short-term debt. Retained earnings increased $13.8 billion from December 31, 2014 , predominantly from Wells Fargo net income of $22.9 billion , less common and preferred stock dividends of $9.1 billion . During 2015 , we issued 85.2 million shares of common stock. In January 2015, we issued 2 million Depositary Shares, each representing 1/25th interest in a share of the Company’s newly issued 5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series U, for an aggregate public offering price of $2.0 billion. In September 2015, we issued 40 million Depositary Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Company’s newly issued Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series V, for an aggregate public offering price of $1.0 billion. In addition, in January 2016, we issued 40 million Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Company's newly issued Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series W, for an aggregate public offering price of $1.0 billion. During 2015 , we repurchased 163.4 million shares of common stock in open market transactions, private transactions and from employee benefit plans, at a cost of $8.9 billion . We also entered into a $500 million forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party in December 2015 that settled in January 2016 for 9.2 million shares. In addition, we entered into a $750 million forward repurchase contract with an unrelated third party in January 2016 that settled in first quarter 2016 for 15.9 million shares. For additional information about our forward repurchase agreements, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 
Regulatory Capital Guidelines
The Company and each of our insured depository institutions are subject to various regulatory capital adequacy requirements administered by the FRB and the OCC. Risk-based capital (RBC) guidelines establish a risk-adjusted ratio relating capital to different categories of assets and off-balance sheet exposures. See Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements in this Report for additional information.

RISK-BASED CAPITAL AND RISK-WEIGHTED ASSETS The Company is subject to final and interim final rules issued by federal banking regulators to implement Basel III capital requirements for U.S. banking organizations. These rules are based on international guidelines for determining regulatory capital issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). The federal banking regulators’ capital rules, among other things, require on a fully phased-in basis:
•
a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 4.5%;
•
a minimum tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0%;
•
a minimum total capital ratio of 8.0%;
•
a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% to be added to the minimum capital ratios, and a capital surcharge between 1.0-4.5% for global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) that will be calculated annually (based on year-end 2014 data, the FRB estimated that our G-SIB surcharge would
 
be 2.0%) and also added to the minimum capital ratios (for a minimum CET1 ratio of 9.0%, a minimum tier 1 capital ratio of 10.5%, and a minimum total capital ratio of 12.5%);
•
a potential countercyclical buffer of up to 2.5%, which would be imposed by regulators at their discretion if it is determined that a period of excessive credit growth is contributing to an increase in systemic risk;
•
a minimum tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0%; and
•
a minimum supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) of 5.0% (comprised of a 3.0% minimum requirement and a supplementary leverage buffer of 2.0%) for large and internationally active bank holding companies (BHCs).

We were required to comply with the final Basel III capital rules beginning January 2014, with certain provisions subject to phase-in periods. The Basel III capital rules are scheduled to be fully phased in by the end of 2021. The Basel III capital rules contain two frameworks for calculating capital requirements, a Standardized Approach, which replaced Basel I, and an Advanced Approach applicable to certain institutions.
In March 2015, the FRB and OCC directed the Company and its subsidiary national banks to exit the parallel run phase and begin using the Basel III Advanced Approaches capital framework, in addition to the Standardized Approach, to determine our risk-based capital requirements starting in second quarter 2015. Accordingly, in the assessment of our capital adequacy, we must report the lower of our CET1, tier 1 and total capital ratios calculated under the Standardized Approach and under the Advanced Approach.
Because the Company has been designated as a G-SIB, we will also be subject to the FRB’s rule implementing the additional capital surcharge on G-SIBs. Under the rule, we must annually calculate our surcharge under two methods and use the higher of the two surcharges. The first method (method one) will consider our size, interconnectedness, cross-jurisdictional activity, substitutability, and complexity, consistent with a methodology developed by the BCBS and the Financial Stability Board (FSB). The second (method two) will use similar inputs, but will replace substitutability with use of short-term wholesale funding and will generally result in higher surcharges than the BCBS methodology. The G-SIB surcharge will be phased in beginning on January 1, 2016 and become fully effective on January 1, 2019. Based on year-end 2014 data, the FRB estimated that the Company’s G-SIB surcharge would be 2.0% of the Company’s RWAs. However, because the G-SIB surcharge is calculated annually based on data that can differ over time, the amount of the surcharge is subject to change in future periods. Assuming a 2.0% G-SIB surcharge, our fully phased-in minimum required CET1 ratio at December 31, 2015 would have been 9.0%. Under the Standardized Approach (fully phased-in), our CET1 ratio of 10.77% exceeded the minimum of 9.0% by 177  basis points at December 31, 2015 .
The tables that follow provide information about our risk- based capital and related ratios as calculated under Basel III capital guidelines. For banking industry regulatory reporting purposes, we report our capital in accordance with Transition Requirements but are managing our capital based on a fully phased-in calculation. For information about our capital requirements calculated in accordance with Transition Requirements, see Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital


102
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Requirements) to Financial Statements in this Report.
Table 55 summarizes our Basel III CET1, tier 1 capital, total capital, risk-weighted assets and capital ratios on a fully phased-in basis at December 31, 2015 and 2014 . As of December 31, 2015 , our CET1 ratio was lower using RWAs calculated under the Standardized Approach.
 




Table 55: Capital Components and Ratios Under Basel III (Fully Phased-In) (1)
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014

(in billions)
 
Advanced Approach

 
Standardized Approach

 
General Approach

Common Equity Tier 1
(A)
$
142.4

 
142.4

 
137.1

Tier 1 Capital
(B)
162.8

 
162.8

 
154.7

Total Capital
(C)
190.4

 
200.8

 
192.9

Risk-Weighted Assets
(D)
1,282.8

 
1,321.7

 
1,242.5

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio
(A)/(D)
11.10
%
 
10.77

*
11.04

Tier 1 Capital Ratio
(B)/(D)
12.69

 
12.32

*
12.45

Total Capital Ratio
(C)/(D)
14.84

*
15.19

 
15.53

*Denotes the lowest capital ratio as determined under the Basel III Advanced and Standardized Approaches.
(1)
Fully phased-in regulatory capital amounts, ratios and RWAs are considered non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management, bank regulatory agencies, investors and analysts to assess and monitor the Company’s capital position. See Table 56 for information regarding the calculation and components of CET1, Tier 1 capital, total capital and RWAs, as well as the corresponding reconciliation of our regulatory capital amounts to total equity.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
103


Capital Management (continued)

Table 56 provides information regarding the calculation and composition of our risk-based capital under the Advanced and Standardized Approaches at December 31, 2015 and under the General Approach at December 31, 2014 .
 



Table 56: Risk-Based Capital Calculation and Components Under Basel III
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014

(in billions)
 
Advanced Approach

 
Standardized Approach

 
General Approach

Total equity
 
$
193.9

 
193.9

 
185.3

Noncontrolling interests
 
(0.9
)
 
(0.9
)
 
(0.9
)
Total Wells Fargo stockholders' equity
 
193.0

 
193.0

 
184.4

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
 
(21.0
)
 
(21.0
)
 
(18.0
)
Cumulative other comprehensive income
 
—

 
—

 
(2.6
)
Goodwill and other intangible assets (1)
 
(28.7
)
 
(28.7
)
 
(26.3
)
Investment in certain subsidiaries and other
 
(0.9
)
 
(0.9
)
 
(0.4
)
Common Equity Tier 1 (Fully Phased-In)
 
142.4

 
142.4

 
137.1

Effect of Transition Requirements
 
1.8

 
1.8

 
—

Common Equity Tier 1 (Transition Requirements)
 
$
144.2

 
144.2

 
137.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 (Fully Phased-In)
 
$
142.4

 
142.4

 
137.1

Preferred stock
 
21.0

 
21.0

 
18.0

Other
 
(0.6
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(0.4
)
Total Tier 1 capital (Fully Phased-In)
(A)
162.8

 
162.8

 
154.7

Effect of Transition Requirements
 
1.8

 
1.8

 
—

Total Tier 1 capital (Transition Requirements)
 
$
164.6

 
164.6

 
154.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Tier 1 capital (Fully Phased-In)
 
$
162.8

 
162.8

 
154.7

Long-term debt and other instruments qualifying as Tier 2
 
25.8

 
25.8

 
25.0

Qualifying allowance for credit losses (2)
 
2.1

 
12.5

 
13.2

Other
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
 
—

Total Tier 2 capital (Fully Phased-In)
(B)
27.6

 
38.0

 
38.2

Effect of Transition Requirements
 
3.0

 
3.0

 
—

Total Tier 2 capital (Transition Requirements)
 
$
30.6

 
41.0

 
38.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total qualifying capital (Fully Phased-In)
(A+B)
$
190.4

 
200.8

 
192.9

Total Effect of Transition Requirements
 
4.8

 
4.8

 
—

Total qualifying capital (Transition Requirements)
 
$
195.2

 
205.6

 
192.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs) (3)(4):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit risk
 
$
989.6

 
1,284.8

 
1,192.9

Market risk
 
36.9

 
36.9

 
49.6

Operational risk
 
256.3

 
 N/A

 
 N/A

Total RWAs (Fully Phased-In)
 
$
1,282.8

 
1,321.7

 
1,242.5

Credit risk
 
$
970.0

 
1,266.2

 
1,192.9

Market risk
 
36.9

 
36.9

 
49.6

Operational risk
 
256.3

 
 N/A

 
 N/A

Total RWAs (Transition Requirements)
 
$
1,263.2

 
1,303.1

 
1,242.5

(1)
Goodwill and other intangible assets are net of any associated deferred tax liabilities.
(2)
Under the Advanced Approach the allowance for credit losses that exceeds expected credit losses is eligible for inclusion in Tier 2 Capital, to the extent the excess allowance does not exceed 0.6% of Advanced credit RWAs, and under the Standardized Approach, the allowance for credit losses is includable in Tier 2 Capital up to 1.25% of Standardized credit RWAs, with any excess allowance for credit losses being deducted from total RWAs.
(3)
RWAs calculated under the Advanced Approach utilize a risk-sensitive methodology, which relies upon the use of internal credit models based upon our experience with internal rating grades. Advanced Approach also includes an operational risk component, which reflects the risk of operating loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes or systems.
(4)
Under the regulatory guidelines for risk-based capital, on-balance sheet assets and credit equivalent amounts of derivatives and off-balance sheet items are assigned to one of several broad risk categories according to the obligor, or, if relevant, the guarantor or the nature of any collateral. The aggregate dollar amount in each risk category is then multiplied by the risk weight associated with that category. The resulting weighted values from each of the risk categories are aggregated for determining total RWAs. The risk weights and categories were changed by Basel III for the Standardized Approach and will generally result in higher RWAs than result from the General Approach risk weights and categories.

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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 57 presents the changes in Common Equity Tier 1 under the Advanced Approach for the year ended December 31, 2015 .


Table 57: Analysis of Changes in Common Equity Tier 1 Under Basel III
(in billions)
 
 
Common Equity Tier 1 (General Approach) at December 31, 2014
 
$
137.1

Effect of changes in rules
 
(0.4
)
Common Equity Tier 1 (Advanced Approach –  Fully Phased-In) at December 31, 2014
 
136.7

Net income
 
21.5

Common stock dividends
 
(7.6
)
Common stock issued, repurchased, and stock compensation-related items
 
(5.0
)
Goodwill and other intangible assets (net of any associated deferred tax liabilities)
 
0.3

Other
 
(3.5
)
Change in Common Equity Tier 1
 
5.7

Common Equity Tier 1 (Advanced Approach –  Fully Phased-In) at December 31, 2015
 
$
142.4


Table 58 presents net changes in the components of RWAs under the Advanced and Standardized Approaches for the year ended December 31, 2015 .


Table 58: Analysis of Changes in Basel III RWAs
(in billions)
Advanced Approach

Standardized Approach

Basel III RWAs (General Approach) at December 31, 2014
$
1,242.5

1,242.5

Effect of changes in rules
68.0

62.9

Basel III RWAs (Fully Phased-In) at December 31, 2014
1,310.5

1,305.4

Net change in credit risk RWAs
(24.4
)
29.0

Net change in market risk RWAs
(12.7
)
(12.7
)
Net change in operational risk RWAs
9.4

 N/A

Total change in RWAs
(27.7
)
16.3

Basel III RWAs (Fully Phased-In) at December 31, 2015
1,282.8

1,321.7

Effect of Transition Requirements
(19.6
)
(18.6
)
Basel III RWAs (Transition Requirements) at December 31, 2015
$
1,263.2

1,303.1


 
Wells Fargo & Company
105


Capital Management (continued)

SUPPLEMENTARY LEVERAGE RATIO In April 2014, federal banking regulators finalized a rule that enhances the SLR requirements for BHCs, like Wells Fargo, and their insured depository institutions. The SLR consists of Tier 1 capital under Basel III divided by the Company’s total leverage exposure. Total leverage exposure consists of the total average on-balance sheet assets, plus off-balance sheet exposures, such as undrawn commitments and derivative exposures, less amounts permitted to be deducted from Tier 1 capital. The rule, which becomes effective on January 1, 2018, will require a covered BHC to maintain a SLR of at least 5.0% (comprised of the 3.0% minimum requirement and a supplementary leverage buffer of 2.0%) to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. The rule will also require that all of our insured depository institutions maintain a SLR of 6.0% under applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines. In September 2014, federal banking regulators finalized additional changes to the SLR requirements to implement revisions to the Basel III leverage framework finalized by the BCBS in January 2014. These additional changes, among other things, modify the methodology for including off- balance sheet items, including credit derivatives, repo-style transactions and lines of credit, in the denominator of the SLR, and will become effective on January 1, 2018. At December 31, 2015 , our SLR for the Company was 7.7% assuming full phase-in of the Basel III Advanced Approach capital framework. Based on our review, our current leverage levels would exceed the applicable requirements for each of our insured depository institutions as well. The fully phased-in SLR is considered a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management, bank regulatory agencies, investors and analysts to assess and monitor the Company’s leverage exposure. See Table 59 for information regarding the calculation and components of the SLR.
Table 59: Basel III Fully Phased-In SLR
(in billions)
December 31, 2015

Tier 1 capital
$
162.8

Total average assets
1,787.3

Less: deductions from Tier 1 capital
29.6

Total adjusted average assets
1,757.7

Adjustments:
 
Derivative exposures
63.2

Repo-style transactions
3.3

Other off-balance sheet exposures
292.3

Total adjustments
358.8

Total leverage exposure
$
2,116.5

Supplementary leverage ratio
7.7
%
OTHER REGULATORY CAPITAL MATTERS In October 2015, the FRB proposed rules to address the amount of equity and unsecured long-term debt a U.S. G-SIB must hold to improve its resolvability and resiliency, often referred to as Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC). Under the proposed rules, U.S. G-SIBs would be required to have a minimum TLAC amount (consisting of CET1 capital and additional tier 1 capital issued directly by the top-tier or covered BHC plus eligible external long-term debt) equal to the greater of (i) 18% of RWAs and (ii) 9.5% of total leverage exposure (the denominator of the SLR calculation). Additionally, U.S. G-SIBs would be required to maintain a TLAC buffer equal to 2.5% of RWAs plus the firm’s applicable G-SIB capital surcharge calculated under method one plus any applicable countercyclical buffer that would be added to
 
the 18% minimum in order to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. The proposed rules would also require U.S. G-SIBs to have a minimum amount of eligible unsecured long-term debt equal to the greater of (i) 6.0% of RWAs plus the firm’s applicable G-SIB capital surcharge calculated under method two and (ii) 4.5% of the total leverage exposure. In addition, the proposed rules would impose certain restrictions on the operations and liabilities of the top-tier or covered BHC in order to further facilitate an orderly resolution, including prohibitions on the issuance of short-term debt to external investors and on entering into derivatives and certain other types of financial contracts with external counterparties. The proposed rules were open for comments until February 1, 2016. If the proposed rules are finalized as proposed, we may be required to issue additional long-term debt. We continue to evaluate the impact this proposal will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, as discussed in the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Liquidity and Funding – Liquidity Standards” section in this Report, a final rule regarding the U.S. implementation of the Basel III LCR was issued by the FRB, OCC and FDIC in September 2014.

Capital Planning and Stress Testing
Our planned long-term capital structure is designed to meet regulatory and market expectations. We believe that our long-term targeted capital structure enables us to invest in and grow our business, satisfy our customers' financial needs in varying environments, access markets, and maintain flexibility to return capital to our shareholders. Our long-term targeted capital structure also considers capital levels sufficient to exceed Basel III capital requirements including the G-SIB surcharge. Accordingly, based on the final Basel III capital rules under the lower of the Standardized or Advanced Approaches CET1 capital ratios, we currently target a long-term CET1 capital ratio at or in excess of 10%, which assumes a 2% G-SIB surcharge. Our capital targets are subject to change based on various factors, including changes to the regulatory capital framework and expectations for large banks promulgated by bank regulatory agencies, planned capital actions, changes in our risk profile and other factors.
Under the FRB’s capital plan rule, large BHCs are required to submit capital plans annually for review to determine if the FRB has any objections before making any capital distributions. The rule requires updates to capital plans in the event of material changes in a BHC’s risk profile, including as a result of any significant acquisitions. The FRB assesses the overall financial condition, risk profile, and capital adequacy of BHCs while considering both quantitative and qualitative factors when evaluating capital plans.
Our 2015 CCAR, which was submitted on January 2, 2015, included a comprehensive capital plan supported by an assessment of expected sources and uses of capital over a given planning horizon under a range of expected and stress scenarios, similar to the process the FRB used to conduct the CCAR in 2014. As part of the 2015 CCAR, the FRB also generated a supervisory stress test, which assumed a sharp decline in the economy and significant decline in asset pricing using the information provided by the Company to estimate performance. The FRB reviewed the supervisory stress results both as required under the Dodd-Frank Act using a common set of capital actions for all large BHCs and by taking into account the Company’s proposed capital actions. The FRB published its supervisory stress test results as required under the Dodd-Frank Act on March 5, 2015. On March 11, 2015, the FRB notified us that it did not object to our capital plan included in the 2015 CCAR. The


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

FRB has moved the start date for future CCAR cycles, including the 2016 CCAR, to the first quarter.
In addition to CCAR, federal banking regulators also require stress tests to evaluate whether an institution has sufficient capital to continue to operate during periods of adverse economic and financial conditions. These stress testing requirements set forth the timing and type of stress test activities large BHCs and banks must undertake as well as rules governing stress testing controls, oversight and disclosure requirements. The rules also limit a large BHC’s ability to make capital distributions to the extent its actual capital issuances were less than amounts indicated in its capital plan. As required under the FRB’s stress testing rule, we completed a mid-cycle stress test based on data and scenarios developed by the Company. We submitted the results of the mid-cycle stress test to the FRB and disclosed a summary of the results in July 2015.

Securities Repurchases
From time to time the Board authorizes the Company to repurchase shares of our common stock. Although we announce when the Board authorizes share repurchases, we typically do not give any public notice before we repurchase our shares. Future stock repurchases may be private or open-market repurchases, including block transactions, accelerated or delayed block transactions, forward transactions, and similar transactions. Additionally, we may enter into plans to purchase stock that satisfy the conditions of Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Various factors determine the amount and timing of our share repurchases, including our capital requirements, the number of shares we expect to issue for employee benefit plans and acquisitions, market conditions (including the trading price of our stock), and regulatory and legal considerations, including the FRB’s response to our capital plan and to changes in our risk profile.
In March 2014, the Board authorized the repurchase of 350 million shares of our common stock. At December 31, 2015 , we had remaining authority to repurchase approximately 77 million shares, subject to regulatory and legal conditions. In January 2016, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional 350 million shares of our common stock. For more information about share repurchases during fourth quarter 2015 , see Part II, Item 5 in our 2015 Form 10-K.
 
Historically, our policy has been to repurchase shares under the “safe harbor” conditions of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 including a limitation on the daily volume of repurchases. Rule 10b-18 imposes an additional daily volume limitation on share repurchases during a pending merger or acquisition in which shares of our stock will constitute some or all of the consideration. Our management may determine that during a pending stock merger or acquisition when the safe harbor would otherwise be available, it is in our best interest to repurchase shares in excess of this additional daily volume limitation. In such cases, we intend to repurchase shares in compliance with the other conditions of the safe harbor, including the standing daily volume limitation that applies whether or not there is a pending stock merger or acquisition.
In connection with our participation in the Capital Purchase Program (CPP), a part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), we issued to the U.S. Treasury Department warrants to purchase 110,261,688 shares of our common stock with an original exercise price of $34.01 per share expiring on October 28, 2018. The terms of the warrants require the exercise price to be adjusted under certain circumstances when the Company’s quarterly common stock dividend exceeds $0.34 per share, which began occurring in second quarter 2014. Accordingly, with each quarterly common stock dividend above $0.34 per share, we must calculate whether an adjustment to the exercise price is required by the terms of the warrants, including whether certain minimum thresholds have been met to trigger an adjustment, and notify the holders of any such change. The Board authorized the repurchase by the Company of up to $1 billion of the warrants. At December 31, 2015 , there were 34,816,632 warrants outstanding, exercisable at $33.92 per share, and $452 million of unused warrant repurchase authority. Depending on market conditions, we may purchase from time to time additional warrants in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise.



 
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Regulatory Reform (continued)

Regulatory Reform
Since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, the U.S. financial services industry has been subject to a significant increase in regulation and regulatory oversight initiatives. This increased regulation and oversight has substantially changed how most U.S. financial services companies conduct business and has increased their regulatory compliance costs. The following highlights the more significant regulations and regulatory oversight initiatives that have affected or may affect our business. For additional information about the regulatory reform matters discussed below and other regulations and regulatory oversight matters, see Part I, Item 1 “Regulation and Supervision” of our 2015 Form 10-K, and the “Capital Management,” “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” sections and Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 
Dodd-Frank Act
The Dodd-Frank Act is the most significant financial reform legislation since the 1930s and is driving much of the current U.S. regulatory reform efforts. The Dodd-Frank Act and many of its provisions became effective in July 2010 and July 2011. However, a number of its provisions still require final rulemaking or additional guidance and interpretation by regulatory authorities or will be implemented over time. Accordingly, in many respects the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and its effects on the U.S. financial system and the Company remain uncertain. The following provides additional information on the Dodd-Frank Act, including the current status of certain of its rulemaking initiatives.
•
Enhanced supervision and regulation of systemically important firms . The Dodd-Frank Act grants broad authority to federal banking regulators to establish enhanced supervisory and regulatory requirements for systemically important firms. The FRB has finalized a number of regulations implementing enhanced prudential requirements for large bank holding companies (BHCs) like Wells Fargo regarding risk-based capital and leverage, risk and liquidity management, and imposing debt-to-equity limits on any BHC that regulators determine poses a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States. The FRB and OCC have also finalized rules implementing stress testing requirements for large BHCs and national banks. The FRB has also proposed, but not yet finalized, additional enhanced prudential standards that would implement single counterparty credit limits and establish remediation requirements for large BHCs experiencing financial distress. In addition to the authorization of enhanced supervisory and regulatory requirements for systemically important firms, the Dodd-Frank Act also established the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Office of Financial Research, which may recommend new systemic risk management requirements and require new reporting of systemic risks. The OCC, under separate authority, has also finalized guidelines establishing heightened governance and risk management standards for large national banks such as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The OCC guidelines require covered banks to establish and adhere to a written risk governance framework in order to manage and control their risk-taking activities. The guidelines also formalize roles and responsibilities for risk management practices within covered banks and create certain risk oversight responsibilities for their boards of directors.
 
•
Regulation of consumer financial products. The Dodd-Frank Act established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to ensure consumers receive clear and accurate disclosures regarding financial products and to protect them from hidden fees and unfair or abusive practices. With respect to residential mortgage lending, the CFPB issued a number of final rules in 2013 implementing new origination, notification and other requirements that generally became effective in January 2014. In November 2013, the CFPB also finalized rules integrating disclosures required of lenders and settlement agents under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). These rules, which became effective in October 2015, combine existing separate disclosure forms under the TILA and RESPA into new integrated forms and provide additional limitations on the fees and charges that may be increased from the estimates provided by lenders. In October 2015, the CFPB finalized amendments to the rule implementing the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, resulting in a significant expansion of the data points lenders will be required to collect beginning January 1, 2018 and report to the CFPB beginning January 1, 2019. The CFPB also expanded the transactions covered by the rule and increased the reporting frequency from annual to quarterly for large volume lenders, such as Wells Fargo, beginning January 1, 2020. With respect to other financial products, in November 2014, the CFPB issued a proposed rule to expand consumer protections for prepaid products such as prepaid cards. The proposal would make prepaid cards subject to similar consumer protections as those provided by more traditional debit and credit cards such as fraud protection and expanded access to account information.
In addition to these rulemaking activities, the CFPB is continuing its on-going supervisory examination activities of the financial services industry with respect to a number of consumer businesses and products, including mortgage lending and servicing, fair lending requirements, student lending activities, and auto finance. At this time, the Company cannot predict the full impact of the CFPB’s rulemaking and supervisory authority on our business practices or financial results.
•
Volcker Rule. The Volcker Rule, with limited exceptions, prohibits banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading or owning any interest in or sponsoring or having certain relationships with a hedge fund, a private equity fund or certain structured transactions that are deemed covered funds. On December 10, 2013, federal banking regulators, the SEC and CFTC (collectively, the Volcker supervisory regulators) jointly released a final rule to implement the Volcker Rule’s restrictions. Banking entities were required to comply with many of the Volcker Rule’s restrictions by July 21, 2015. However, the FRB has extended the rule’s compliance date to give banking entities until July 21, 2016, to conform their ownership interests in and sponsorships of covered funds that were in place prior to December 31, 2013, and the FRB has announced that it intends to provide an additional one-year extension to this date in the future. As a banking entity with more than $50 billion in consolidated assets, we are also subject to enhanced compliance program requirements. We expect to have to make divestments in non-conforming funds prior to


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the extended compliance date for covered funds that were in place prior to December 31, 2013, however we do not anticipate a material impact to our financial results as prohibited proprietary trading and covered fund investment activities are not significant to our financial results.
•
Regulation of swaps and other derivatives activities . The Dodd-Frank Act established a comprehensive framework for regulating over-the-counter derivatives and authorized the CFTC and the SEC to regulate swaps and security-based swaps, respectively. The CFTC and SEC jointly adopted new rules and interpretations that established the compliance dates for many of their rules implementing the new regulatory framework, including provisional registration of our national bank subsidiary, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as a swap dealer, which occurred at the end of 2012. In addition, the CFTC has adopted final rules that, among other things, require extensive regulatory and public reporting of swaps, require certain swaps to be centrally cleared and traded on exchanges or other multilateral platforms, and require swap dealers to comply with comprehensive internal and external business conduct standards. In October 2015, federal regulators also approved a final rule requiring certain margin and capital requirements for swaps not centrally cleared. All of these new rules, as well as others being considered by regulators in other jurisdictions, may negatively impact customer demand for over-the-counter derivatives and may increase our costs for engaging in swaps and other derivatives activities.
•
Changes to asset-backed securities (ABS) markets. The Dodd-Frank Act requires sponsors of ABS to hold at least a 5% ownership stake in the ABS. Exemptions from the requirement include qualified residential mortgages (QRMs) and FHA/VA loans. In October 2014, federal regulatory agencies issued final rules to implement this credit risk retention requirement, which included an exemption for the GSE’s mortgage-backed securities. The final rules also aligned the definition of QRMs, which are exempt from the risk retention requirements, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s definition of “qualified mortgage.” In addition, the final rules addressed the measures for complying with the risk retention requirement and continued to provide limited exemptions for qualifying commercial loans, qualifying commercial real estate loans, and qualifying automobile loans that meet certain requirements. The final rules may impact our ability to issue certain asset-backed securities or otherwise participate in various securitization transactions.
•
Enhanced regulation of money market mutual funds. On July 23, 2014, the SEC adopted a rule governing money market mutual funds that, among other things, requires significant structural changes to these funds, including requiring non-governmental institutional money market funds to maintain a variable net asset value and providing for the imposition of liquidity fees and redemption gates for all non-governmental money market funds during periods in which they experience liquidity impairments of a certain magnitude. Money market mutual funds must comply with these requirements by October 14, 2016.
•
Regulation of interchange transaction fees (the Durbin Amendment). On October 1, 2011, the FRB rule enacted to implement the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act that limits debit card interchange transaction fees to those reasonable and proportional to the cost of the transaction became effective. The rule generally established that the maximum allowable interchange fee that an issuer may
 
receive or charge for an electronic debit transaction is the sum of 21 cents per transaction and 5 basis points multiplied by the value of the transaction. On July 31, 2013, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the approach used by the FRB in setting the maximum allowable interchange transaction fee impermissibly included costs that were specifically excluded from consideration under the Durbin Amendment. In August 2013, the FRB filed a notice of appeal of the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In March 2014, the Court of Appeals reversed the District Court’s decision, but did direct the FRB to provide further explanation regarding its treatment of the costs of monitoring transactions. The plaintiffs did not file a petition for rehearing with the Court of Appeals but filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court. In January 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari.
•
FDIC Deposit Insurance Assessments . Through a Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF), the FDIC insures the deposits of our banks up to prescribed limits for each depositor and funds the DIF through assessments on member insured depository institutions. In October 2015, the FDIC issued a proposed rule that would impose on insured depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets, such as Wells Fargo, a surcharge of 4.5 cents per $100 of their assessment base, after making certain adjustments. The proposed surcharge would be in addition to the base assessments we pay and could significantly increase the overall amount of our deposit insurance assessments. For more information, see the “Regulation and Supervision – Deposit Insurance Assessments” section in our 2015 Form 10-K.

Regulatory Capital Guidelines and Capital Plans
During 2013, federal banking regulators issued final rules that substantially amended the risk-based capital rules for banking organizations. The rules implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms in the U.S., comply with changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act, and replace the existing Basel I-based capital requirements. We were required to begin complying with the rules on January 1, 2014, subject to phase-in periods that are scheduled to be fully phased in by January 1, 2022. In 2014, federal banking regulators also finalized rules to impose a supplementary leverage ratio on large BHCs like Wells Fargo and our insured depository institutions and to implement the Basel III liquidity coverage ratio. For more information on the final capital, leverage and liquidity rules, and additional capital requirements under consideration by federal banking regulators, see the “Capital Management” section in this Report.

“Living Will” Requirements and Related Matters
Rules adopted by the FRB and the FDIC under the Dodd-Frank Act require large financial institutions, including Wells Fargo, to prepare and periodically revise resolution plans, so-called “living-wills”, that would facilitate their resolution in the event of material distress or failure. Under the rules, resolution plans are required to provide strategies for resolution under the Bankruptcy Code and other applicable insolvency regimes that can be accomplished in a reasonable period of time and in a manner that mitigates the risk that failure would have serious adverse effects on the financial stability of the United States. On November 25, 2014, the FRB and FDIC announced that our 2014 resolution plan submission provided a basis for a resolution strategy that could facilitate an orderly resolution under


 
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Regulatory Reform (continued)

bankruptcy; however, they identified specific shortcomings in the 2014 resolution plan that would need to be addressed in the 2015 resolution plan. We submitted our 2015 resolution plan on June 29, 2015, but have not yet received regulatory feedback on the plan. If the FRB and FDIC determine that our resolution plan is deficient, the Dodd-Frank Act authorizes the FRB and FDIC to impose more stringent capital, leverage or liquidity requirements on us or restrict our growth or activities until we submit a plan remedying the deficiencies. If the FRB and FDIC ultimately determine that we have been unable to remedy the deficiencies, they could order us to divest assets or operations in order to facilitate our orderly resolution in the event of our material distress or failure. Our national bank subsidiary, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is also required to prepare a resolution plan for the FDIC under separate regulatory authority and submitted its third annual resolution plan on June 29, 2015.
We must also prepare and submit to the FRB on an annual basis a recovery plan that identifies a range of options that we may consider during times of idiosyncratic or systemic economic stress to remedy any financial weaknesses and restore market confidence without extraordinary government support. Recovery options include the possible sale, transfer or disposal of assets, securities, loan portfolios or businesses. In December 2015, the OCC published a notice of proposed rulemaking on guidelines to establish standards for recovery planning by large insured national banks, such as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The guidelines
 
would require a bank to develop and maintain a recovery plan that sets forth the bank’s plan to remain a going concern when the bank is experiencing considerable financial or operational stress, but has not yet deteriorated to the point where liquidation or resolution is imminent. If either the FRB or the OCC determine that our recovery plan is deficient, they may impose restrictions on our business or ultimately require us to divest assets.
The Dodd-Frank Act also establishes an orderly liquidation process which allows for the appointment of the FDIC as a receiver of a systemically important financial institution that is in default or in danger of default. The FDIC has issued rules to implement its orderly liquidation authority and released a notice and request for comment regarding a proposed resolution strategy, known as “single point of entry,” designed to resolve a large financial institution in a manner that holds management responsible for its failure, maintains market stability, and imposes losses on shareholders and creditors in accordance with statutory priorities, without imposing a cost on U.S. taxpayers. Implementation of the strategy would require that institutions maintain a sufficient amount of available equity and unsecured debt to absorb losses and recapitalize operating subsidiaries. The FDIC has not issued any final statements on the single point of entry resolution strategy.



Critical Accounting Policies 
Our significant accounting policies (see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in this Report) are fundamental to understanding our results of operations and financial condition because they require that we use estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of our assets or liabilities and financial results. Five of these policies are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. These policies govern:
•
the allowance for credit losses;
•
PCI loans;
•
the valuation of residential MSRs;
•
the fair value of financial instruments; and
•
income taxes.

Management and the Board's Audit and Examination committee have reviewed and approved these critical accounting policies.

Allowance for Credit Losses
We maintain an allowance for credit losses, which consists of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for unfunded credit commitments, which is management’s estimate of credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio, including unfunded credit commitments, at the balance sheet date, excluding loans carried at fair value. For a description of our related accounting policies, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in this Report.
Changes in the allowance for credit losses and, therefore, in the related provision for credit losses can materially affect net income. In applying the review and judgment required to determine the allowance for credit losses, management considers changes in economic conditions, customer behavior,
 
and collateral value, among other influences. From time to time, economic factors or business decisions, such as the addition or liquidation of a loan product or business unit, may affect the loan portfolio, causing management to provide or release amounts from the allowance for credit losses. While our methodology attributes portions of the allowance to specific portfolio segments (commercial and consumer), the entire allowance for credit losses is available to absorb credit losses inherent in the total loan portfolio and unfunded credit commitments.
Judgment is specifically applied in:
•
Credit risk ratings applied to individual commercial loans and unfunded credit commitments. We estimate the probability of default in accordance with the borrower’s financial strength using a borrower quality rating and the severity of loss in the event of default using a collateral quality rating. Collectively, these ratings are referred to as credit risk ratings and are assigned to our commercial loans. Probability of default and severity at the time of default are statistically derived through historical observations of defaults and losses after default within each credit risk rating. Commercial loan risk ratings are evaluated based on each situation by experienced senior credit officers and are subject to periodic review by an internal team of credit specialists.
•
Economic assumptions applied to pools of consumer loans (statistically modeled). Losses are estimated using economic variables to represent our best estimate of inherent loss. Our forecasted losses are modeled using a range of economic scenarios.
•
Selection of a credit loss estimation model that fits the credit risk characteristics of its portfolio . We use both internally developed and vendor supplied models in this process. We often use expected loss, roll rate, net flow, vintage maturation, behavior score, and time series or


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

statistical trend models, most with economic correlations. Management must use judgment in establishing additional input metrics for the modeling processes, considering further stratification into reference data time series, sub-product, origination channel, vintage, loss type, geographic location and other predictive characteristics. The models used to determine the allowance are validated by an internal model validation group operating in accordance with Company policies.
•
Assessment of limitations to credit loss estimation models. We apply our judgment to adjust or supplement our modeled estimates to reflect other risks that may be identified from current conditions and developments in selected portfolios.
•
Identification and measurement of impaired loans, including loans modified in a TDR. Our experienced senior credit officers may consider a loan impaired based on their evaluation of current information and events, including loans modified in a TDR. The measurement of impairment is typically based on an analysis of the present value of expected future cash flows. The development of these expectations requires significant management review and judgment.
•
An amount for imprecision or uncertainty which reflects management’s overall estimate of the effect of quantitative and qualitative factors on inherent credit losses. This amount represents management’s judgment of risks inherent in the processes and assumptions used in establishing the allowance. This imprecision considers economic environmental factors, modeling assumptions and performance, process risk, and other subjective factors, including industry trends and emerging risk assessments.

SENSITIVITY TO CHANGES Table 60 demonstrates the impact of the sensitivity of our estimates on our allowance for credit losses.

Table 60: Allowance Sensitivity Summary
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
increase/(decrease)
 
(in billions)
 
 
 
 
in allowance
 
Assumption:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(3.5
)
 
Adverse (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.3

(1)
Represents a one risk rating upgrade throughout our commercial portfolio segment and a more optimistic economic outlook for modeled losses on our consumer portfolio segment.
(2)
Represents a one risk rating downgrade throughout our commercial portfolio segment, a more pessimistic economic outlook for modeled losses on our consumer portfolio segment, and incremental deterioration for PCI loans.

The sensitivity analyses provided in the previous table are hypothetical scenarios and are not considered probable. They do not represent management’s view of inherent losses in the portfolio as of the balance sheet date. Because significant judgment is used, it is possible that others performing similar analyses could reach different conclusions. See the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management – Allowance for Credit Losses” section and Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report for further discussion of our allowance for credit losses.
 
 
Purchased Credit-Impaired (PCI) Loans
Loans acquired with evidence of credit deterioration since their origination and where it is probable that we will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments are PCI loans. Substantially all of our PCI loans were acquired in the Wachovia acquisition on December 31, 2008. For a description of our related accounting policies, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to Financial Statements in this Report.
We apply judgment for PCI loans in:
•
identifying loans that meet the PCI criteria at acquisition based on our evaluation of credit quality deterioration using indicators such as past due and nonaccrual status, commercial risk ratings, recent borrower credit scores and recent loan-to-value percentages.
•
determining initial fair value at acquisition, which is based on an estimate of cash flows, both principal and interest, expected to be collected, discounted at the prevailing market rate of interest. We estimate the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition using our internal credit risk, interest rate risk and prepayment risk models, which incorporate our best estimate of current key assumptions, such as property values, default rates, loss severity and prepayment speeds. Our estimation includes the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected.
•
regularly evaluating our estimates of cash flows expected to be collected, subsequent to acquisition. These evaluations, performed quarterly, require the continued usage of key assumptions and estimates, similar to our initial estimate of fair value. We must apply judgment to develop our estimates of cash flows for PCI loans given the impact of changes in value of underlying collateral such as home price and property value changes, changing loss severities, modification activity, and prepayment speeds.

The amount of cash flows expected to be collected and, accordingly, the appropriateness of the allowance for loan loss due to certain decreases in cash flows expected to be collected, is particularly sensitive to changes in loan credit quality. The sensitivity of the overall allowance for credit losses, including PCI loans, is presented in the preceding section, “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses.”
See the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management – Purchased Credit Impaired Loans” section and Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses – Purchased Credit Impaired Loans") to Financial Statements in this Report for further discussion of PCI loans.

Valuation of Residential Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs)
MSRs are assets that represent the rights to service mortgage loans for others. We recognize MSRs when we purchase servicing rights from third parties, or retain servicing rights in connection with the sale or securitization of loans we originate (asset transfers). We also have MSRs acquired in the past under co-issuer agreements that provide for us to service loans that were originated and securitized by third-party correspondents.
We carry our MSRs related to residential mortgage loans at fair value. Periodic changes in our residential MSRs and the economic hedges used to hedge our residential MSRs are reflected in earnings .
We use a model to estimate the fair value of our residential MSRs. The model is validated by an internal model validation group operating in accordance with Company policies . The model calculates the present value of estimated


 
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Critical Accounting Policies (continued)

future net servicing income and incorporates inputs and assumptions that market participants use in estimating fair value. Certain significant inputs and assumptions are not observable in the market and require judgment to determine:
•
The mortgage loan prepayment speed used to estimate future net servicing income. The prepayment speed is the annual rate at which borrowers are forecasted to repay their mortgage loan principal; this rate also includes estimated borrower defaults. We use models to estimate prepayment speeds and borrower defaults which are influenced by changes in mortgage interest rates and borrower behavior.
•
The discount rate used to present value estimated future net servicing income. The discount rate is the required rate of return investors in the market would expect for an asset with similar risk. To determine the discount rate, we consider the risk premium for uncertainties from servicing operations (e.g., possible changes in future servicing costs, ancillary income and earnings on escrow accounts).
•
The expected cost to service loans used to estimate future net servicing income. The cost to service loans includes estimates for unreimbursed expenses, such as delinquency and foreclosure costs, which considers the number of defaulted loans as well as changes in servicing processes associated with default and foreclosure management.

Both prepayment speed and discount rate assumptions can, and generally will, change quarterly as market conditions and mortgage interest rates change. For example, an increase in either the prepayment speed or discount rate assumption results in a decrease in the fair value of the MSRs, while a decrease in either assumption would result in an increase in the fair value of the MSRs. In recent years, there have been significant market-driven fluctuations in loan prepayment speeds and the discount rate. These fluctuations can be rapid and may be significant in the future. Additionally, while our current valuation reflects our best estimate of servicing costs, future regulatory changes in servicing standards, as well as changes in individual state foreclosure legislation, may have an impact on our servicing cost assumption and our MSR valuation in future periods.
For a description of our valuation and sensitivity of MSRs, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies), Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities), Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) and Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) to Financial Statements in this Report.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell the financial asset or paid to transfer the financial liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures. For example, trading assets, securities available for sale, derivatives and substantially all of our residential MHFS are carried at fair value each period. Other financial instruments, such as certain MHFS and substantially all of our loans held for investment, are not carried at fair value each period but may require nonrecurring fair value adjustments due to application of lower-of-cost-or-market accounting or write-downs of individual assets. We also disclose our estimate of fair value for financial instruments not recorded at fair value, such as loans held for investment or issuances of long-term debt.
The accounting provisions for fair value measurements include a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of assets and
 
liabilities recorded at fair value. The classification of assets and liabilities within the hierarchy is based on whether the inputs to the valuation methodology used for measurement are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market-derived or market-based information obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our estimates about market data. For additional information on fair value levels, see Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) to Financial Statements in this Report.
When developing fair value measurements, we maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. When available, we use quoted prices in active markets to measure fair value. If quoted prices in active markets are not available, fair value measurement is based upon models that use primarily market-based or independently sourced market parameters, including interest rate yield curves, prepayment speeds, option volatilities and currency rates. However, in certain cases, when market observable inputs for model-based valuation techniques are not readily available, we are required to make judgments about assumptions market participants would use to estimate fair value. Additionally, we use third party pricing services to obtain fair values, which are used to either record the price of an instrument or to corroborate internally developed prices. For additional information on our use of pricing services, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 17 (Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities) to Financial Statements in this Report.
The degree of management judgment involved in determining the fair value of a financial instrument is dependent upon the availability of quoted prices in active markets or observable market parameters. For financial instruments with quoted market prices or observable market parameters in active markets, there is minimal subjectivity involved in measuring fair value. When quoted prices and observable data in active markets are not fully available, management judgment is necessary to estimate fair value. Changes in the market conditions, such as reduced liquidity in the capital markets or changes in secondary market activities, may reduce the availability and reliability of quoted prices or observable data used to determine fair value. When significant adjustments are required to price quotes or inputs, it may be appropriate to utilize an estimate based primarily on unobservable inputs. When an active market for a financial instrument does not exist, the use of management estimates that incorporate current market participant expectations of future cash flows, adjusted for an appropriate risk premium, is acceptable.
Significant judgment is also required to determine whether certain assets measured at fair value are classified as Level 2 or Level 3. When making this judgment, we consider available information, including observable market data, indications of market liquidity and orderliness, and our understanding of the valuation techniques and significant inputs used. For securities in inactive markets, we use a predetermined percentage to evaluate the impact of fair value adjustments derived from weighting both external and internal indications of value to determine if the instrument is classified as Level 2 or Level 3. Otherwise, the classification of Level 2 or Level 3 is based upon the specific facts and circumstances of each instrument or instrument category and judgments are made regarding the significance of the Level 3 inputs to the instruments’ fair value measurement in its entirety. If Level 3 inputs are considered significant, the instrument is classified as Level 3.
Table 61 presents the summary of the fair value of financial instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, and the amounts measured using significant Level 3 inputs (before


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derivative netting adjustments). The fair value of the remaining assets and liabilities were measured using valuation methodologies involving market-based or market-derived information (collectively Level 1 and 2 measurements).

Table 61: Fair Value Level 3 Summary
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
($ in billions)
Total balance 

 
Level 3 (1) 

 
Total balance 

 
Level 3 (1) 

Assets carried
at fair value
$
384.2

 
27.7

 
378.1

 
32.3

As a percentage
of total assets
21
%

2

 
22

 
2

Liabilities carried
at fair value
$
29.6

 
1.5

 
34.9

 
2.3

As a percentage of
total liabilities
2
%

* 

 
2

 
* 

*    Less than 1%.
(1)
Before derivative netting adjustments.

See Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) to Financial Statements in this Report for a complete discussion on our fair value of financial instruments, our related measurement techniques and the impact to our financial statements.
 
Income Taxes
We are subject to the income tax laws of the U.S., its states and municipalities and those of the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. Our income tax expense consists of current and deferred income tax expense. Current income tax expense represents our estimated taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period and includes income tax expense related to our uncertain tax positions. We determine deferred income taxes using the balance sheet method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and recognizes enacted changes in tax rates and laws in the period in which they occur. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized subject to management’s judgment that realization is “more likely than not.” Uncertain tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize. An uncertain tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that management believes has a greater than 50% likelihood of realization upon settlement. Tax benefits not meeting our realization criteria represent unrecognized tax benefits. Our unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions are reflected in Note 21 (Income Taxes) to Financial Statements in this Report. Foreign taxes paid are generally applied as credits to reduce federal income taxes payable. We account for interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense.
 
The income tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant government taxing authorities. In establishing a provision for income tax expense, we must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws. We must also make estimates about when in the future certain items will affect taxable income in the various tax jurisdictions by the government taxing authorities, both domestic and foreign. Our interpretations may be subjected to review during examination by taxing authorities and disputes may arise over the respective tax positions. We attempt to resolve these disputes during the tax examination and audit process and ultimately through the court systems when applicable.
We monitor relevant tax authorities and revise our estimate of accrued income taxes due to changes in income tax laws and their interpretation by the courts and regulatory authorities on a quarterly basis. Revisions of our estimate of accrued income taxes also may result from our own income tax planning and from the resolution of income tax controversies. Such revisions in our estimates may be material to our operating results for any given quarter.
See Note 21 (Income Taxes) to Financial Statements in this Report for a further description of our provision for income taxes and related income tax assets and liabilities.


 
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Current Accounting Developments

Table 62 provides accounting pronouncements applicable to us that have been issued by the FASB but are not yet effective.


Table 62: Current Accounting Developments – Issued Standards
Standard
 
Description
 
Effective date and financial statement impact
Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2016-01 –  Financial Instruments –  Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

 
The Update amends the presentation and accounting for certain financial instruments, including liabilities measured at fair value under the fair value option and equity investments. The guidance also updates fair value presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments measured at amortized cost.

 
The Update is effective for us in first quarter 2018 with prospective application to changes in guidance related to nonmarketable equity investments. The remaining amendments should be applied with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the adoption period. Early application is only permitted for changes related to liabilities measured at fair value under the fair value option. Early adoption is prohibited for the remaining amendments. We are evaluating the impact of the Update on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2015-16 –  Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments
 
The Update eliminates the requirement for companies to retrospectively adjust initial amounts recognized in business combinations when the accounting is incomplete at the acquisition date. Under the new guidance, companies should record adjustments in the same reporting period in which the amounts are determined.
 
The Update is effective for us in first quarter 2016 with prospective application. The Update will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2015-07 –  Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)
 
The Update eliminates the disclosure requirement to categorize investments within the fair value hierarchy that are measured at fair value using net asset value as a practical expedient.
 
The guidance is effective for us in first quarter 2016 with retrospective application. The Update will not affect our consolidated financial statements as it impacts only the fair value disclosure requirements for certain investments.

ASU 2015-03 –  Interest –  Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs
 
The Update changes the balance sheet presentation for debt issuance costs. Under the new guidance, debt issuance costs should be reported as a deduction from debt liabilities rather than as a deferred charge classified as an asset.
 
The Update is effective for us in first quarter 2016 and will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements since it is limited to a reclassification on our balance sheet.
ASU 2015-02 –  Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis
 
The Update primarily amends the criteria companies use to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain variable interest entities that have fee arrangements and the criteria used to determine whether partnerships and similar entities are variable interest entities. The Update also excludes certain money market funds from the consolidation guidance.
 
These changes are effective for us in first quarter 2016 and will be applied with a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Update will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2015-01 –  Income Statement –  Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items
 
The Update removes the concept of extraordinary items from GAAP and eliminates the requirement for extraordinary items to be separately presented in the statement of income.
 
The Update is effective for us in first quarter 2016 with prospective application. The Update will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2014-16 –  Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share is More Akin to Debt or to Equity
 
The Update clarifies that the nature of host contracts in hybrid financial instruments that are issued in share form should be determined based on the entire instrument, including the embedded derivative.
 
The Update is effective for us in first quarter 2016 with modified retrospective application. The Update will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2014-13 –  Consolidation (Topic 810): Measuring the Financial Assets and the Financial Liabilities of a Consolidated Collateralized Financing Entity
 
The Update provides a measurement alternative to companies that consolidate collateralized financing entities (CFEs), such as collateralized debt obligation and collateralized loan obligation structures. Under the new guidance, companies can measure both the financial assets and financial liabilities of a CFE using the more observable fair value of the financial assets or of the financial liabilities.
 
These changes are effective for us in first quarter 2016 and can be applied by a modified retrospective approach. The Update will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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Standard
 
Description
 
Effective date and financial statement impact
ASU 2014-12 –  Compensation –  Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period
 
The Update provides accounting guidance for employee share-based payment awards with specific performance targets. The Update clarifies that performance targets should be treated as performance conditions if the targets affect vesting and could be achieved after the requisite service period.
 
The Update is effective for us in first quarter 2016 and can be applied prospectively. The Update will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2014-09 –   Revenue from Contracts With Customers (Topic 606)
 
The Update modifies the guidance companies use to recognize revenue from contracts with customers for transfers of goods or services and transfers of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance also requires new qualitative and quantitative disclosures, including information about contract balances and performance obligations.
 
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 ( Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date ), which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to first quarter 2018. The Update can be applied retrospectively to prior periods presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted in first quarter 2017. Our revenue is balanced between net interest income on financial assets and liabilities, which is explicitly excluded from the scope of the new guidance, and noninterest income. We continue to evaluate the impact of the Update to our noninterest income and on our presentation and disclosures. We expect to adopt the Update in first quarter 2018 with a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings.

Table 63 provides proposed accounting pronouncements that could materially affect our consolidated financial statements when finalized by the FASB.
 



Table 63: Current Accounting Developments – Proposed Standards
Proposed Standard
 
Description
 
Expected Issuance
Financial Instruments –  Credit Losses (Subtopic 825-15)
 
The proposed Update would change the accounting for credit losses on loans and debt securities. For loans, the proposal would require an expected credit loss model rather than the current incurred loss model to determine the allowance for credit losses. The expected credit loss model would estimate losses for the estimated life of the financial asset. In addition, the proposed guidance would modify the other-than-temporary impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities to require an allowance for credit impairment instead of a direct write-down, which would allow for reversal of credit impairments in future periods.
 
The FASB expects to issue a final standard in 2016.
Leases (Topic 842)
 
The proposed Update would require lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet with lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets based on the present value of lease payments. Additionally, lessors would largely continue current accounting with lease financings and operating lease assets depending on the nature of the leases. The proposed Update would also eliminate leveraged lease accounting, but would allow existing leveraged leases to continue their current accounting until maturity or termination.
 
The FASB expects to issue a final standard in 2016.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, we may make forward-looking statements in our other documents filed or furnished with the SEC, and our management may make forward-looking statements orally to analysts, investors, representatives of the media and others. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as
 
“anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “target,” “projects,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “can” and similar references to future periods. In particular, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make about: (i) the future operating or financial performance of the Company, including our outlook for future growth; (ii) our noninterest expense and


 
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Forward-Looking Statements (continued)

efficiency ratio; (iii) future credit quality and performance, including our expectations regarding future loan losses and allowance levels; (iv) the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses; (v) our expectations regarding net interest income and net interest margin; (vi) loan growth or the reduction or mitigation of risk in our loan portfolios; (vii) future capital levels or targets and our estimated Common Equity Tier 1 ratio under Basel III capital standards; (viii) the performance of our mortgage business and any related exposures; (ix) the expected outcome and impact of legal, regulatory and legislative developments, as well as our expectations regarding compliance therewith; (x) future common stock dividends, common share repurchases and other uses of capital; (xi) our targeted range for return on assets and return on equity; (xii) the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings; and (xiii) the Company’s plans, objectives and strategies.
Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead represent our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the following, without limitation:
•
current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects of declines in housing prices, high unemployment rates, U.S. fiscal debt, budget and tax matters, geopolitical matters, and the overall slowdown in global economic growth; 
•
our capital and liquidity requirements (including under regulatory capital standards, such as the Basel III capital standards) and our ability to generate capital internally or raise capital on favorable terms;
•
financial services reform and other current, pending or future legislation or regulation that could have a negative effect on our revenue and businesses, including the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislation and regulation relating to bank products and services;
•
the extent of our success in our loan modification efforts, as well as the effects of regulatory requirements or guidance regarding loan modifications;
•
the amount of mortgage loan repurchase demands that we receive and our ability to satisfy any such demands without having to repurchase loans related thereto or otherwise indemnify or reimburse third parties, and the credit quality of or losses on such repurchased mortgage loans;
•
negative effects relating to our mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices, as well as changes in industry standards or practices, regulatory or judicial requirements, penalties or fines, increased servicing and other costs or obligations, including loan modification requirements, or delays or moratoriums on foreclosures;
•
our ability to realize our efficiency ratio target as part of our expense management initiatives, including as a result of business and economic cyclicality, seasonality, changes in our business composition and operating environment, growth in our businesses and/or acquisitions, and
 
unexpected expenses relating to, among other things, litigation and regulatory matters;
•
the effect of the current low interest rate environment or changes in interest rates on our net interest income, net interest margin and our mortgage originations, mortgage servicing rights and mortgages held for sale;
•
significant turbulence or a disruption in the capital or financial markets, which could result in, among other things, reduced investor demand for mortgage loans, a reduction in the availability of funding or increased funding costs, and declines in asset values and/or recognition of other-than-temporary impairment on securities held in our investment securities portfolio;
•
the effect of a fall in stock market prices on our investment banking business and our fee income from our brokerage, asset and wealth management businesses;
•
reputational damage from negative publicity, protests, fines, penalties and other negative consequences from regulatory violations and legal actions;
•
a failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks;
•
the effect of changes in the level of checking or savings account deposits on our funding costs and net interest margin;
•
fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board; and
•
the other risk factors and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in this Report.
 
In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the amount and timing of any future common stock dividends or repurchases will depend on the earnings, cash requirements and financial condition of the Company, market conditions, capital requirements (including under Basel capital standards), common stock issuance requirements, applicable law and regulations (including federal securities laws and federal banking regulations), and other factors deemed relevant by the Company’s Board of Directors, and may be subject to regulatory approval or conditions.
For more information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under “Risk Factors” in this Report, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov. 
Any forward-looking statement made by us speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.


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Risk Factors
An investment in the Company involves risk, including the possibility that the value of the investment could fall substantially and that dividends or other distributions on the investment could be reduced or eliminated. We discuss below risk factors that could adversely affect our financial results and condition, and the value of, and return on, an investment in the Company.
 
RISKS RELATED TO THE ECONOMY, FINANCIAL MARKETS, INTEREST RATES AND LIQUIDITY
 
As one of the largest lenders in the U.S. and a provider of financial products and services to consumers and businesses across the U.S. and internationally, our financial results have been, and will continue to be, materially affected by general economic conditions, particularly unemployment levels and home prices in the U.S., and a deterioration in economic conditions or in the financial markets may materially adversely affect our lending and other businesses and our financial results and condition.  We generate revenue from the interest and fees we charge on the loans and other products and services we sell, and a substantial amount of our revenue and earnings comes from the net interest income and fee income that we earn from our consumer and commercial lending and banking businesses, including our mortgage banking business where we currently are the largest mortgage originator in the U.S. These businesses have been, and will continue to be, materially affected by the state of the U.S. economy, particularly unemployment levels and home prices. Although the U.S. economy has continued to gradually improve from the depressed levels of 2008 and early 2009, economic growth has been slow and uneven. In addition, the negative effects and continued uncertainty stemming from U.S. fiscal and political matters, including concerns about deficit levels, taxes and U.S. debt ratings, have impacted and may continue to impact the continuing global economic recovery. Moreover, geopolitical matters, including international political unrest or disturbances, as well as continued concerns over energy prices and global economic difficulties, may impact the stability of financial markets and the global economy. A prolonged period of slow growth in the global economy, particularly in the U.S., or any deterioration in general economic conditions and/or the financial markets resulting from the above matters or any other events or factors that may disrupt or dampen the global economic recovery ,  could materially adversely affect our financial results and condition. 
The improvement in the U.S. economy as well as higher home prices contributed to our strengthened credit performance and allowed us to release amounts from our allowance for credit losses, however there is no guarantee we will have allowance releases in the future. If unemployment levels worsen or if home prices fall we would expect to incur elevated charge-offs and provision expense from increases in our allowance for credit losses. These conditions may adversely affect not only consumer loan performance but also commercial and CRE loans, especially for those business borrowers that rely on the health of industries that may experience deteriorating economic conditions. The ability of these and other borrowers to repay their loans may deteriorate, causing us, as one of the largest commercial and CRE lenders in the U.S., to incur significantly higher credit losses. In addition, weak or deteriorating economic conditions
 
make it more challenging for us to increase our consumer and commercial loan portfolios by making loans to creditworthy borrowers at attractive yields. Although we have significant capacity to add loans to our balance sheet, weak economic conditions, as well as competition and/or increases in interest rates, could soften demand for our loans resulting in our retaining a much higher amount of lower yielding liquid assets on our balance sheet. If economic conditions do not continue to improve or if the economy worsens and unemployment rises, which also would likely result in a decrease in consumer and business confidence and spending, the demand for our credit products, including our mortgages, may fall, reducing our interest and noninterest income and our earnings.
A deterioration in business and economic conditions, which may erode consumer and investor confidence levels, and/or increased volatility of financial markets, also could adversely affect financial results for our fee-based businesses, including our investment advisory, mutual fund, securities brokerage, wealth management, and investment banking businesses. In 2015 , approximately 26% of our revenue was fee income, which included trust and investment fees, card fees and other fees. We earn fee income from managing assets for others and providing brokerage and other investment advisory and wealth management services. Because investment management fees are often based on the value of assets under management, a fall in the market prices of those assets could reduce our fee income. Changes in stock market prices could affect the trading activity of investors, reducing commissions and other fees we earn from our brokerage business. The U.S. stock market experienced all-time highs in 2015, but also experienced significant volatility and there is no guarantee that high price levels will continue. Poor economic conditions and volatile or unstable financial markets also can negatively affect our debt and equity underwriting and advisory businesses, as well as our trading and venture capital businesses. Any deterioration in global financial markets and economies, including as a result of any international political unrest or disturbances, may adversely affect the revenues and earnings of our international operations, particularly our global financial institution and correspondent banking services.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management” and “– Credit Risk Management” sections in this Report.
 
Changes in interest rates and financial market values could reduce our net interest income and earnings, including as a result of recognizing losses or OTTI on the securities that we hold in our portfolio or trade for our customers.   Our net interest income is the interest we earn on loans, debt securities and other assets we hold less
the interest we pay on our deposits, long-term and short-term debt, and other liabilities. Net interest income is a measure of both our net interest margin – the difference between the yield we earn on our assets and the interest rate we pay for deposits and our other sources of funding – and the amount of earning assets we hold. Changes in either our net interest margin or the amount or mix of earning assets we hold could affect our net interest income and our earnings. Changes in interest rates can affect our net interest margin. Although the yield we earn on our assets and our funding costs tend to move in the same direction in response to changes in interest rates, one can rise or fall faster than the other, causing our net interest margin to expand or contract. If our funding costs rise faster than the yield we earn


 
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Risk Factors (continued)

on our assets or if the yield we earn on our assets falls faster than our funding costs, our net interest margin could contract.
The amount and type of earning assets we hold can affect our yield and net interest margin. We hold earning assets in the form of loans and investment securities, among other assets. As noted above, if the economy worsens we may see lower demand for loans by creditworthy customers, reducing our net interest income and yield. In addition, our net interest income and net interest margin can be negatively affected by a prolonged low interest rate environment, which is currently being experienced as a result of economic conditions and FRB monetary policies, as it may result in us holding lower yielding loans and securities on our balance sheet, particularly if we are unable to replace the maturing higher yielding assets, including the loans in our non-strategic and liquidating loan portfolio, with similar higher yielding assets. Increases in interest rates, however, may negatively affect loan demand and could result in higher credit losses as borrowers may have more difficulty making higher interest payments. As described below, changes in interest rates also affect our mortgage business, including the value of our MSRs.
Changes in the slope of the “yield curve” – or the spread between short-term and long-term interest rates – could also reduce our net interest margin. Normally, the yield curve is upward sloping, meaning short-term rates are lower than long-term rates. When the yield curve flattens, or even inverts, our net interest margin could decrease if the cost of our short-term funding increases relative to the yield we can earn on our long-term assets.
The interest we earn on our loans may be tied to U.S.-denominated interest rates such as the federal funds rate while the interest we pay on our debt may be based on international rates such as LIBOR. If the federal funds rate were to fall without a corresponding decrease in LIBOR, we might earn less on our loans without any offsetting decrease in our funding costs. This could lower our net interest margin and our net interest income.
We assess our interest rate risk by estimating the effect on our earnings under various scenarios that differ based on assumptions about the direction, magnitude and speed of interest rate changes and the slope of the yield curve. We hedge some of that interest rate risk with interest rate derivatives. We also rely on the “natural hedge” that our mortgage loan originations and servicing rights can provide.
We generally do not hedge all of our interest rate risk. There is always the risk that changes in interest rates could reduce our net interest income and our earnings in material amounts, especially if actual conditions turn out to be materially different than what we assumed. For example, if interest rates rise or fall faster than we assumed or the slope of the yield curve changes, we may incur significant losses on debt securities we hold as investments. To reduce our interest rate risk, we may rebalance our investment and loan portfolios, refinance our debt and take other strategic actions. We may incur losses when we take such actions.
We hold securities in our investment securities portfolio, including U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities and federal agency MBS, securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions, residential and commercial MBS, corporate debt securities, other asset-backed securities and marketable equity securities, including securities relating to our venture capital activities. We analyze securities held in our investment securities portfolio for OTTI on at least a quarterly basis. The process for determining whether impairment is other than temporary usually requires difficult, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer and any collateral underlying the
 
security in order to assess the probability of receiving contractual principal and interest payments on the security. Because of changing economic and market conditions, as well as credit ratings, affecting issuers and the performance of the underlying collateral, we may be required to recognize OTTI in future periods. In particular, economic difficulties in the oil and gas industry resulting from prolonged low oil prices may further impact our energy sector investments and require us to recognize OTTI in these investments in future periods. Our net income also is exposed to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, foreign exchange rates, equity and commodity prices in connection with our trading activities, which are conducted primarily to accommodate our customers in the management of their market price risk, as well as when we take positions based on market expectations or to benefit from differences between financial instruments and markets. The securities held in these activities are carried at fair value with realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded in noninterest income. As part of our business to support our customers, we trade public securities and these securities also are subject to market fluctuations with gains and losses recognized in net income when realized and periodically include OTTI charges. Although we have processes in place to measure and monitor the risks associated with our trading activities, including stress testing and hedging strategies, there can be no assurance that our processes and strategies will be effective in avoiding losses that could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
The value of our public and private equity investments can fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Certain of these investments are carried under the cost or equity method, while others are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reflected in earnings. Earnings from our equity investments may be volatile and hard to predict, and may have a significant effect on our earnings from period to period. When, and if, we recognize gains may depend on a number of factors, including general economic and market conditions, the prospects of the companies in which we invest, when a company goes public, the size of our position relative to the public float, and whether we are subject to any resale restrictions.
Our venture capital investments could result in significant OTTI losses for those investments carried under the cost or equity method. Our assessment for OTTI is based on a number of factors, including the then current market value of each investment compared with its carrying value. If we determine there is OTTI for an investment, we write-down the carrying value of the investment, resulting in a charge to earnings. The amount of this charge could be significant.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Interest Rate Risk”, “– Market Risk – Equity Investments”, and “– Market Risk – Trading Activities” and the “Balance Sheet Analysis – Investment Securities” sections in this Report and Note 5 (Investment Securities) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 
Effective liquidity management, which ensures that we can meet customer loan requests, customer deposit maturities/withdrawals and other cash commitments, including principal and interest payments on our debt, efficiently under both normal operating conditions and other unpredictable circumstances of industry or financial market stress, is essential for the operation of our business, and our financial results and condition could be materially adversely affected if we do not effectively manage our liquidity.   Our liquidity is essential for the operation of our business. We primarily rely on bank


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deposits to be a low cost and stable source of funding for the loans we make and the operation of our business. Customer deposits, which include noninterest-bearing deposits, interest-bearing checking, savings certificates, certain market rate and other savings, and certain foreign deposits, have historically provided us with a sizeable source of relatively stable and low-cost funds. In addition to customer deposits, our sources of liquidity include investments in our securities portfolio, our ability to sell or securitize loans in secondary markets and to pledge loans to access secured borrowing facilities through the FHLB and the FRB, and our ability to raise funds in domestic and international money through capital markets.
Our liquidity and our ability to fund and run our business could be materially adversely affected by a variety of conditions and factors, including financial and credit market disruption and volatility or a lack of market or customer confidence in financial markets in general similar to what occurred during the financial crisis in 2008 and early 2009, which may result in a loss of customer deposits or outflows of cash or collateral and/or our inability to access capital markets on favorable terms. Market disruption and volatility could impact our credit spreads, which are the amount in excess of the interest rate of U.S. Treasury securities, or other benchmark securities, of the same maturity that we need to pay to our funding providers. Increases in interest rates and our credit spreads could significantly increase our funding costs. Other conditions and factors that could materially adversely affect our liquidity and funding include a lack of market or customer confidence in the Company or negative news about the Company or the financial services industry generally which also may result in a loss of deposits and/or negatively affect our ability to access the capital markets; our inability to sell or securitize loans or other assets, and, as described below, reductions in one or more of our credit ratings. Many of the above conditions and factors may be caused by events over which we have little or no control. While market conditions have continued to improve since the financial crisis, there can be no assurance that significant disruption and volatility in the financial markets will not occur in the future. For example, concerns over geopolitical issues, commodity and currency prices, as well as global economic conditions, may cause financial market volatility.
In addition, concerns regarding the potential failure to raise the U.S. government debt limit and any associated downgrade of U.S. government debt ratings may cause uncertainty and volatility as well. A failure to raise the U.S. debt limit in the future and/or additional downgrades of the sovereign debt ratings of the U.S. government or the debt ratings of related institutions, agencies or instrumentalities, as well as other fiscal or political events could, in addition to causing economic and financial market disruptions, materially adversely affect the market value of the U.S. government securities that we hold, the availability of those securities as collateral for borrowing, and our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms, as well as have other material adverse effects on the operation of our business and our financial results and condition.
As noted above, we rely heavily on bank deposits for our funding and liquidity. We compete with banks and other financial services companies for deposits. If our competitors raise the rates they pay on deposits our funding costs may increase, either because we raise our rates to avoid losing deposits or because we lose deposits and must rely on more expensive sources of funding. Higher funding costs reduce our net interest margin and net interest income. Checking and savings account balances and other forms of customer deposits may decrease when customers perceive alternative investments,
 
such as the stock market, as providing a better risk/return tradeoff. When customers move money out of bank deposits and into other investments, we may lose a relatively low cost source of funds, increasing our funding costs and negatively affecting our liquidity.
If we are unable to continue to fund our assets through customer bank deposits or access capital markets on favorable terms or if we suffer an increase in our borrowing costs or otherwise fail to manage our liquidity effectively, our liquidity, net interest margin, financial results and condition may be materially adversely affected. As we did during the financial crisis, we may also need, or be required by our regulators, to raise additional capital through the issuance of common stock, which could dilute the ownership of existing stockholders, or reduce or even eliminate our common stock dividend to preserve capital or in order to raise additional capital.  
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management” section in this Report.
 
Adverse changes in our credit ratings could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, cash flows, financial results and condition.   Our borrowing costs and ability to obtain funding are influenced by our credit ratings. Reductions in one or more of our credit ratings could adversely affect our ability to borrow funds and raise the costs of our borrowings substantially and could cause creditors and business counterparties to raise collateral requirements or take other actions that could adversely affect our ability to raise funding. Credit ratings and credit ratings agencies’ outlooks are based on the ratings agencies’ analysis of many quantitative and qualitative factors, such as our capital adequacy, liquidity, asset quality, business mix, the level and quality of our earnings, rating agency assumptions regarding the probability and extent of federal financial assistance or support, and other rating agency specific criteria. In addition to credit ratings, our borrowing costs are affected by various other external factors, including market volatility and concerns or perceptions about the financial services industry generally. There can be no assurance that we will maintain our credit ratings and outlooks and that credit ratings downgrades in the future would not materially affect our ability to borrow funds and borrowing costs.
Downgrades in our credit ratings also may trigger additional collateral or funding obligations which could negatively affect our liquidity, including as a result of credit-related contingent features in certain of our derivative contracts. Although a one or two notch downgrade in our current credit ratings would not be expected to trigger a material increase in our collateral or funding obligations, a more severe credit rating downgrade of our long-term and short-term credit ratings could increase our collateral or funding obligations and the effect on our liquidity could be material.
For information on our credit ratings, see the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Liquidity and Funding – Credit Ratings” section and for information regarding additional collateral and funding obligations required of certain derivative instruments in the event our credit ratings were to fall below investment grade, see Note 16 (Derivatives) to Financial Statements in this Report.

We rely on dividends from our subsidiaries for liquidity, and federal and state law can limit those dividends.   Wells Fargo & Company, the parent holding company, is a separate and distinct legal entity from its subsidiaries. It receives a significant portion of its funding and


 
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liquidity from dividends and other distributions from its subsidiaries. We generally use these dividends and distributions, among other things, to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock and interest and principal on our debt. Federal and state laws limit the amount of dividends and distributions that our bank and some of our nonbank subsidiaries, including our broker-dealer subsidiaries, may pay to our parent holding company. Also, our right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors.
For more information, refer to the “Regulation and Supervision – Dividend Restrictions” and “– Holding Company Structure” sections in our 2015 Form 10-K and to Note 3 (Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions) and Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 
RISKS RELATED TO FINANCIAL REGULATORY REFORM AND OTHER LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS
 
Enacted legislation and regulation, including the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as future legislation and/or regulation, could require us to change certain of our business practices, reduce our revenue and earnings, impose additional costs on us or otherwise adversely affect our business operations and/or competitive position.   Our parent company, our subsidiary banks and many of our nonbank subsidiaries such as those related to our brokerage and mutual fund businesses, are subject to significant and extensive regulation under state and federal laws in the U.S., as well as the applicable laws of the various jurisdictions outside of the U.S. where we conduct business. These regulations protect depositors, federal deposit insurance funds, consumers, investors and the banking and financial system as a whole, not necessarily our stockholders. Economic, market and political conditions during the past few years have led to a significant amount of new legislation and regulation in the U.S. and abroad, as well as heightened expectations and scrutiny of financial services companies from banking regulators. These laws and regulations may affect the manner in which we do business and the products and services that we provide, affect or restrict our ability to compete in our current businesses or our ability to enter into or acquire new businesses, reduce or limit our revenue in businesses or impose additional fees, assessments or taxes on us, intensify the regulatory supervision of us and the financial services industry, and adversely affect our business operations or have other negative consequences. In addition, greater government oversight and scrutiny of financial services companies has increased our operational and compliance costs as we must continue to devote substantial resources to enhancing our procedures and controls and meeting heightened regulatory standards and expectations. Any failure to meet regulatory standards or expectations could result in fees, penalties, or restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities.
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act, the most significant financial reform legislation since the 1930s, became law. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, (i) established the Financial Stability Oversight Council to monitor systemic risk posed by financial firms and imposes additional and enhanced FRB regulations, including capital and liquidity requirements, on certain large, interconnected bank holding companies such as Wells Fargo and systemically significant nonbanking firms intended to promote financial stability; (ii) creates a liquidation
 
framework for the resolution of covered financial companies, the costs of which would be paid through assessments on surviving covered financial companies; (iii) makes significant changes to the structure of bank and bank holding company regulation and activities in a variety of areas, including prohibiting proprietary trading and private fund investment activities, subject to certain exceptions; (iv) creates a new framework for the regulation of over-the-counter derivatives and new regulations for the securitization market and strengthens the regulatory oversight of securities and capital markets by the SEC; (v) established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) within the FRB, which has sweeping powers to administer and enforce a new federal regulatory framework of consumer financial regulation; (vi) may limit the existing pre-emption of state laws with respect to the application of such laws to national banks, makes federal pre-emption no longer applicable to operating subsidiaries of national banks, and gives state authorities, under certain circumstances, the ability to enforce state laws and federal consumer regulations against national banks; (vii) provides for increased regulation of residential mortgage activities; (viii) revised the FDIC's assessment base for deposit insurance by changing from an assessment base defined by deposit liabilities to a risk-based system based on total assets; (ix) permitted banks to pay interest on business checking accounts beginning on July 1, 2011; (x) authorized the FRB under the Durbin Amendment to adopt regulations that limit debit card interchange fees received by debit card issuers; and (xi) includes several corporate governance and executive compensation provisions and requirements, including mandating an advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation.
The Dodd-Frank Act and many of its provisions became effective in July 2010 and July 2011. However, a number of its provisions still require final rulemaking or additional guidance and interpretation by regulatory authorities or will be implemented over time. Accordingly, in many respects the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and its effects on the U.S. financial system and the Company still remain uncertain. Nevertheless, the Dodd-Frank Act, including current and future rules implementing its provisions and the interpretation of those rules, could result in a loss of revenue, require us to change certain of our business practices, limit our ability to pursue certain business opportunities, increase our capital requirements and impose additional assessments and costs on us and otherwise adversely affect our business operations and have other negative consequences.
Our consumer businesses, including our mortgage, credit card and other consumer lending and non-lending businesses, may be negatively affected by the activities of the CFPB, which has broad rulemaking powers and supervisory authority over consumer financial products and services. Although the full impact of the CFPB on our businesses is uncertain, the CFPB’s activities may increase our compliance costs and require changes in our business practices as a result of new regulations and requirements which could limit or negatively affect the products and services that we currently offer our customers. For example, in 2013 and 2015, the CFPB issued a number of new rules impacting residential mortgage lending practices. As a result of greater regulatory scrutiny of our consumer businesses, we have become subject to more and expanded regulatory examinations and/or investigations, which also could result in increased costs and harm to our reputation in the event of a failure to comply with the increased regulatory requirements.
The Dodd-Frank Act’s proposed prohibitions or limitations on proprietary trading and private fund investment activities, known as the “Volcker Rule,” also may reduce our revenue and


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earnings, although proprietary trading has not been significant to our financial results. Final rules to implement the requirements of the Volcker Rule were issued in December 2013. Pursuant to an order of the FRB, banking entities were required to comply with many of the Volcker Rule’s restrictions by July 21, 2015. However, the FRB has extended the rule’s compliance date to give banking entities until July 21, 2016 to conform their ownership interests in and sponsorships of covered funds that were in place prior to December 31, 2013, and the FRB has announced that it intends to provide an additional one-year extension to this date in the future. Wells Fargo is also subject to enhanced compliance program requirements.
In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act established a comprehensive framework for regulating over-the-counter derivatives and authorized the CFTC and SEC to regulate swaps and security-based swaps, respectively. The CFTC and SEC have adopted various rules to implement this framework, including rules requiring extensive regulatory and public reporting of swaps, certain swaps to be centrally cleared and traded on exchanges or other multilateral platforms, and swap dealers to comply with comprehensive internal and external business conduct standards. Federal regulators also approved rules requiring certain margin and capital requirements for swaps not centrally cleared. All of these rules, as well as others being considered by regulators in other jurisdictions, may negatively impact customer demand for over-the-counter derivatives and may increase our costs for engaging in swaps and other derivatives activities.
The Dodd-Frank Act also imposes changes on the ABS markets by requiring sponsors of ABS to hold at least a 5% ownership stake in the ABS. Exemptions from the requirement include qualified residential mortgages and FHA/VA loans. Federal regulatory agencies have finalized rules to implement this credit risk retention requirement, which have only included limited exemptions. The final rules may impact our ability to issue certain ABS or otherwise participate in various securitization transactions.
In order to address the perceived risks that money market mutual funds may pose to the financial stability of the United States, the SEC adopted rules in July 2014 that, among other things, require significant structural changes to these funds, including requiring non-governmental institutional money market funds to maintain a variable net asset value and providing for the imposition of liquidity fees and redemption gates for all non-governmental money market funds during periods in which they experience liquidity impairments of a certain magnitude. Money market mutual funds must comply with these requirements by October 14, 2016. Certain of our money market mutual funds may see a decline in assets under management in response to implementation of these structural changes.
Through a Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF), the FDIC insures the deposits of our banks up to prescribed limits for each depositor and funds the DIF through assessments on member insured depository institutions. In October 2015, the FDIC issued a proposed rule that would impose on insured depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets, such as Wells Fargo, a surcharge of 4.5 cents per $100 of their assessment base, after making certain adjustments. The proposed surcharge would be in addition to the base assessments we pay and could significantly increase the overall amount of our deposit insurance assessments.
Federal banking regulators also continue to implement the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act addressing the risks to the financial system posed by the failure of a systemically important
 
financial institution. Pursuant to rules adopted by the FRB and the FDIC, Wells Fargo has prepared and filed a resolution plan, a so-called “living will,” that is designed to facilitate our resolution in the event of material distress or failure. There can be no assurance that the FRB or FDIC will respond favorably to the Company’s resolution plans. If the FRB and FDIC determine that our resolution plan is deficient, the Dodd-Frank Act authorizes the FRB and FDIC to impose more stringent capital, leverage or liquidity requirements on us or restrict our growth or activities until we submit a plan remedying the deficiencies. If the FRB and FDIC ultimately determine that we have been unable to remedy the deficiencies, they could order us to divest assets or operations in order to facilitate our orderly resolution in the event of our material distress or failure. Our national bank subsidiary, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is also required to prepare and submit a resolution plan to the FDIC under separate regulatory authority.
We must also prepare and submit to the FRB on an annual basis a recovery plan that identifies a range of options that we may consider during times of idiosyncratic or systemic economic stress to remedy any financial weaknesses and restore market confidence without extraordinary government support. In December 2015, the OCC published a notice of proposed rulemaking on guidelines to establish standards for recovery planning by large insured national banks, such as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The guidelines would require a bank to develop and maintain a recovery plan that sets forth the bank’s plan to remain a going concern when the bank is experiencing considerable financial or operational stress, but has not yet deteriorated to the point where liquidation or resolution is imminent. If either the FRB or the OCC determine that our recovery plan is deficient, they may impose restrictions on our business or ultimately require us to divest assets.
The Dodd-Frank Act also establishes an orderly liquidation process which allows for the appointment of the FDIC as a receiver of a systemically important financial institution that is in default or in danger of default. The FDIC has issued rules to implement its orderly liquidation authority and released a notice and request for comment regarding a proposed resolution strategy, known as “single point of entry,” designed to resolve a large financial institution in a manner that holds management responsible for its failure, maintains market stability, and imposes losses on shareholders and creditors in accordance with statutory priorities, without imposing a cost on U.S. taxpayers. Implementation of the strategy would require that institutions maintain a sufficient amount of available equity and unsecured debt to absorb losses and recapitalize operating subsidiaries. The FDIC has not issued any final statements on the single point of entry resolution strategy.
Other future regulatory initiatives that could significantly affect our business include proposals to reform the housing finance market in the United States. These proposals, among other things, consider winding down the GSEs and reducing or eliminating over time the role of the GSEs in guaranteeing mortgages and providing funding for mortgage loans, as well as the implementation of reforms relating to borrowers, lenders, and investors in the mortgage market, including reducing the maximum size of a loan that the GSEs can guarantee, phasing in a minimum down payment requirement for borrowers, improving underwriting standards, and increasing accountability and transparency in the securitization process. Congress also may consider the adoption of legislation to reform the mortgage financing market in an effort to assist borrowers experiencing difficulty in making mortgage payments or refinancing their mortgages. The extent and timing of any


 
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regulatory reform or the adoption of any legislation regarding the GSEs and/or the home mortgage market, as well as any effect on the Company’s business and financial results, are uncertain.
Any other future legislation and/or regulation, if adopted, also could significantly change our regulatory environment and increase our cost of doing business, limit the activities we may pursue or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other financial services companies, and have a material adverse effect on our financial results and condition.
For more information, refer to the “Regulatory Reform” section in this Report and the “Regulation and Supervision” section in our 2015 Form 10-K.
 
Bank regulations, including Basel capital and liquidity standards and FRB guidelines and rules, may require higher capital and liquidity levels, limiting our ability to pay common stock dividends, repurchase our common stock, invest in our business, or provide loans or other products and services to our customers .  The Company and each of our insured depository institutions are subject to various regulatory capital adequacy requirements administered by federal banking regulators. In particular, the Company is subject to final and interim final rules issued by federal banking regulators to implement Basel III capital requirements for U.S. banking organizations. These rules are based on international guidelines for determining regulatory capital issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and are designed to address weaknesses identified in the banking sector as contributing to the financial crisis of 2008, including excessive leverage, inadequate and low quality capital and insufficient liquidity buffers. The federal banking regulators’ capital rules, among other things, require on a fully phased-in basis: 
•
a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 4.5%;
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a minimum tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0%;
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a minimum total capital ratio of 8.0%;
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a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% to be added to the minimum capital ratios, and a capital surcharge between 1.0-4.5% for global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) that will be calculated annually (based on year-end 2014 data, the FRB estimated that our G-SIB surcharge would be 2.0%) and also added to the minimum capital ratios (for a minimum CET1 ratio of 9.0%, a minimum tier 1 capital ratio of 10.5%, and a minimum total capital ratio of 12.5%);
•
a potential countercyclical buffer of up to 2.5%, which would be imposed by regulators at their discretion if it is determined that a period of excessive credit growth is contributing to an increase in systemic risk;
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a minimum tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.0%; and
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a minimum supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) of 5.0% (comprised of a 3.0% minimum requirement and a supplementary leverage buffer of 2.0%) for large and internationally active bank holding companies (BHCs).
 
We were required to comply with the final Basel III capital rules beginning January 2014, with certain provisions subject to phase-in periods. The Basel III capital rules are scheduled to be fully phased in by the end of 2021.
Because the Company has been designated as a G-SIB, we will also be subject to the FRB’s rule implementing the additional capital surcharge on G-SIBs. Under the rule, we must annually calculate our surcharge under two prescribed methods and use the higher of the two surcharges. The G-SIB surcharge will be phased in beginning on January 1, 2016 and become fully
 
effective on January 1, 2019. Based on year-end 2014 data, the FRB estimated that the Company’s G-SIB surcharge would be 2.0% of the Company’s RWAs. However, because the G-SIB surcharge is calculated annually based on data that can differ over time, the amount of the surcharge is subject to change in future periods.
In April 2014, federal banking regulators finalized a rule that enhances the SLR requirements for BHCs, like Wells Fargo, and their insured depository institutions. The SLR consists of tier 1 capital under Basel III divided by the Company’s total leverage exposure. Total leverage exposure consists of the total average on-balance sheet assets, plus off-balance sheet exposures, such as undrawn commitments and derivative exposures, less amounts permitted to be deducted from tier 1 capital. The rule, which becomes effective on January 1, 2018, will require a covered BHC to maintain a SLR of at least 5.0% (comprised of the 3.0% minimum requirement and a supplementary leverage buffer of 2.0%) to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. The rule will also require that all of our insured depository institutions maintain a SLR of 6.0% under applicable regulatory capital adequacy guidelines.
In October 2015, the FRB proposed rules to address the amount of equity and unsecured long-term debt a U.S. G-SIB must hold to improve its resolvability and resiliency, often referred to as Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC). Under the proposed rules, U.S. G-SIBs would be required to have a minimum TLAC amount (consisting of CET1 capital and additional tier 1 capital issued directly by the top-tier or covered BHC plus eligible external long-term debt) equal to the greater of (i) 18% of RWAs and (ii) 9.5% of total leverage exposure (the denominator of the SLR calculation). Additionally, U.S. G-SIBs would be required to maintain a TLAC buffer equal to 2.5% of RWAs plus the firm’s applicable G-SIB capital surcharge calculated under method one of the G-SIB calculation plus any applicable countercyclical buffer that would be added to the 18% minimum in order to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments. The proposed rules would also require U.S. G-SIBs to have a minimum amount of eligible unsecured long-term debt equal to the greater of (i) 6.0% of RWAs plus the firm’s applicable G-SIB capital surcharge calculated under method two of the G-SIB calculation and (ii) 4.5% of the total leverage exposure. In addition, the proposed rules would impose certain restrictions on the operations and liabilities of the top-tier or covered BHC in order to further facilitate an orderly resolution, including prohibitions on the issuance of short-term debt to external investors and on entering into derivatives and certain other types of financial contracts with external counterparties. If the proposed rules are finalized as proposed, we may be required to issue additional long-term debt. We continue to evaluate the impact this proposal will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2014, federal banking regulators issued a final rule that implements a quantitative liquidity requirement consistent with the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) established by the BCBS. The rule requires banking institutions, such as Wells Fargo, to hold high-quality liquid assets, such as central bank reserves and government and corporate debt that can be converted easily and quickly into cash, in an amount equal to or greater than its projected net cash outflows during a 30-day stress period. The final LCR rule began its phase-in period on January 1, 2015, and requires full compliance with a minimum 100% LCR by January 1, 2017. The FRB also finalized rules imposing enhanced liquidity management standards on large BHCs such as Wells Fargo.


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The ultimate impact of all of these finalized and proposed or contemplated rules on our capital and liquidity requirements will depend on final rulemaking and regulatory interpretation of the rules as we, along with our regulatory authorities, apply the final rules during the implementation process.
As part of its obligation to impose enhanced capital and risk-management standards on large financial firms pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the FRB issued a final capital plan rule that requires large BHCs, including the Company, to submit annual capital plans for review and to obtain regulatory approval before making capital distributions. There can be no assurance that the FRB would respond favorably to the Company’s future capital plans. The FRB has also finalized a number of regulations implementing enhanced prudential requirements for large BHCs like Wells Fargo regarding risk-based capital and leverage, risk and liquidity management, and imposing debt-to-equity limits on any BHC that regulators determine poses a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States. The FRB and OCC have also finalized rules implementing stress testing requirements for large BHCs and national banks. The FRB has also proposed, but not yet finalized, remediation requirements for large BHCs experiencing financial distress that would restrict capital distributions upon the occurrence of capital, stress test, or risk and liquidity management triggers. The OCC, under separate authority, has also established heightened governance and risk management standards for large national banks, such as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
The Basel standards and federal regulatory capital and liquidity requirements may limit or otherwise restrict how we utilize our capital, including common stock dividends and stock repurchases, and may require us to increase our capital and/or liquidity. Any requirement that we increase our regulatory capital, regulatory capital ratios or liquidity could require us to liquidate assets or otherwise change our business, product offerings and/or investment plans, which may negatively affect our financial results. Although not currently anticipated, proposed capital requirements and/or our regulators may require us to raise additional capital in the future. Issuing additional common stock may dilute the ownership of existing stockholders. In addition, federal banking regulations may increase our compliance costs as well as limit our ability to invest in our business or provide loans or other products and services to our customers. For more information, refer to the “Capital Management” and “Regulatory Reform” sections in this Report and the “Regulation and Supervision” section of our 2015 Form 10-K.
 
FRB policies, including policies on interest rates, can significantly affect business and economic conditions and our financial results and condition.  The FRB regulates the supply of money in the United States. Its policies determine in large part our cost of funds for lending and investing and the return we earn on those loans and investments, both of which affect our net interest income and net interest margin. The FRB’s interest rate policies also can materially affect the value of financial instruments we hold, such as debt securities and MSRs. In addition, its policies can affect our borrowers, potentially increasing the risk that they may fail to repay their loans. Changes in FRB policies are beyond our control and can be hard to predict. The FRB recently increased the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points. The FRB has stated that in determining the timing and size of any future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the FRB will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its objectives of maximum employment and two
 
percent inflation. The FRB has indicated that any future increases in interest rates likely would be gradual and data dependent. As noted above, a declining or low interest rate environment and a flattening yield curve which may result from the FRB’s actions could negatively affect our net interest income and net interest margin as it may result in us holding lower yielding loans and investment securities on our balance sheet.
 
RISKS RELATED TO CREDIT AND OUR MORTGAGE BUSINESS
 
As one of the largest lenders in the U.S., increased credit risk, including as a result of a deterioration in economic conditions, could require us to increase our provision for credit losses and allowance for credit losses and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.   When we loan money or commit to loan money we incur credit risk, or the risk of losses if our borrowers do not repay their loans. As one of the largest lenders in the U.S., the credit performance of our loan portfolios significantly affects our financial results and condition. As noted above, if the current economic environment were to deteriorate, more of our customers may have difficulty in repaying their loans or other obligations which could result in a higher level of credit losses and provision for credit losses. We reserve for credit losses by establishing an allowance through a charge to earnings. The amount of this allowance is based on our assessment of credit losses inherent in our loan portfolio (including unfunded credit commitments). The process for determining the amount of the allowance is critical to our financial results and condition. It requires difficult, subjective and complex judgments about the future, including forecasts of economic or market conditions that might impair the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans. We might increase the allowance because of changing economic conditions, including falling home prices and higher unemployment, significant loan growth, or other factors. For example, if oil prices remain low for a prolonged period of time, we may have to increase the allowance, particularly to cover potential losses on loans to customers in the energy sector. Additionally, the regulatory environment or external factors, such as natural disasters, also can influence recognition of credit losses in our loan portfolios and impact our allowance for credit losses.
Reflecting the continued improved credit performance in our loan portfolios, our provision for credit losses was $450 million and $1.6 billion less than net charge-offs in 2015 and 2014 , respectively, which had a positive effect on our earnings. Future allowance levels may increase or decrease based on a variety of factors, including loan growth, portfolio performance and general economic conditions. While we believe that our allowance for credit losses was appropriate at December 31, 2015 , there is no assurance that it will be sufficient to cover future credit losses, especially if housing and employment conditions worsen. In the event of significant deterioration in economic conditions or if we experience significant loan growth, we may be required to build reserves in future periods, which would reduce our earnings.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management” and “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Credit Losses” sections in this Report.
 
We may have more credit risk and higher credit losses to the extent our loans are concentrated by loan type, industry segment, borrower type, or location of the borrower or collateral.   Our credit risk and credit losses can


 
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increase if our loans are concentrated to borrowers engaged in the same or similar activities or to borrowers who individually or as a group may be uniquely or disproportionately affected by economic or market conditions. We experienced the effect of concentration risk in 2009 and 2010 when we incurred greater than expected losses in our residential real estate loan portfolio due to a housing slowdown and greater than expected deterioration in residential real estate values in many markets, including the Central Valley California market and several Southern California metropolitan statistical areas. As California is our largest banking state in terms of loans and deposits, deterioration in real estate values and underlying economic conditions in those markets or elsewhere in California could result in materially higher credit losses. In addition, deterioration in macro-economic conditions generally across the country could result in materially higher credit losses, including for our residential real estate loan portfolio. We may experience higher delinquencies and higher loss rates as our consumer real estate secured lines of credit reach their contractual end of draw period and begin to amortize. Additionally, we may experience higher delinquencies and higher loss rates as borrowers in our consumer Pick-a-Pay portfolio reach their recast trigger, particularly if interest rates increase significantly which may cause more borrowers to experience a payment increase of more than 7.5% upon recast.
We are currently one of the largest CRE lenders in the U.S. A deterioration in economic conditions that negatively affects the business performance of our CRE borrowers, including increases in interest rates and/or declines in commercial property values, could result in materially higher credit losses and have a material adverse effect on our financial results and condition. 
Challenging foreign economic conditions, such as those occurring in China and parts of Europe, have increased our foreign credit risk. Although our foreign loan exposure represented only approximately 6% of our total consolidated outstanding loans and 3% of our total assets at December 31, 2015 , continued economic difficulties in these or other foreign jurisdictions could indirectly have a material adverse effect on our credit performance and results of operations and financial condition to the extent they negatively affect the U.S. economy and/or our borrowers who have foreign operations.
Additionally, economic conditions in the oil and gas industry have increased our credit risk. Although our oil and gas portfolio represented less than 2% of our total outstanding loans at December 31, 2015, prolonged economic difficulties in this sector could have an adverse effect on our credit performance to the extent they negatively affect our customers who are dependent on the oil and gas industry. In particular, if oil prices remain low for a prolonged period of time, there could be additional performance deterioration in our oil and gas portfolio resulting in higher criticized assets, nonperforming loans, allowance levels and ultimately credit losses. Deteriorated performance can take the form of increased downgrades, borrower defaults, potentially higher commitment drawdowns prior to default, and downgraded borrowers being unable to fully access the capital markets. Furthermore, our loan exposure in communities where the employment base has a concentration in the oil and gas sector may experience some credit challenges.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management” section and Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses) to Financial Statements in this Report.
 
 
We may incur losses on loans, securities and other acquired assets of Wachovia that are materially greater than reflected in our fair value adjustments.   We accounted for the Wachovia merger under the purchase method of accounting, recording the acquired assets and liabilities of Wachovia at fair value. All PCI loans acquired in the merger were recorded at fair value based on the present value of their expected cash flows. We estimated cash flows using internal credit, interest rate and prepayment risk models using assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. We may not realize the estimated cash flows or fair value of these loans. In addition, although the difference between the pre-merger carrying value of the credit-impaired loans and their expected cash flows – the “nonaccretable difference” – is available to absorb future charge-offs, we may be required to increase our allowance for credit losses and related provision expense because of subsequent additional credit deterioration in these loans.
For more information, refer to the “Critical Accounting Policies – Purchased Credit-Impaired (PCI) Loans” and “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management” sections in this Report.

Our mortgage banking revenue can be volatile from quarter to quarter, including as a result of changes in interest rates and the value of our MSRs and MHFS, and we rely on the GSEs to purchase our conforming loans to reduce our credit risk and provide liquidity to fund new mortgage loans.   We were the largest mortgage originator and residential mortgage servicer in the U.S. as of December 31, 2015 , and we earn revenue from fees we receive for originating mortgage loans and for servicing mortgage loans. As a result of our mortgage servicing business, we have a sizeable portfolio of MSRs. An MSR is the right to service a mortgage loan – collect principal, interest and escrow amounts – for a fee. We acquire MSRs when we keep the servicing rights after we sell or securitize the loans we have originated or when we purchase the servicing rights to mortgage loans originated by other lenders. We initially measure and carry all our residential MSRs using the fair value measurement method. Fair value is the present value of estimated future net servicing income, calculated based on a number of variables, including assumptions about the likelihood of prepayment by borrowers. Changes in interest rates can affect prepayment assumptions and thus fair value. When interest rates fall, borrowers are usually more likely to prepay their mortgage loans by refinancing them at a lower rate. As the likelihood of prepayment increases, the fair value of our MSRs can decrease. Each quarter we evaluate the fair value of our MSRs, and any decrease in fair value reduces earnings in the period in which the decrease occurs. We also measure at fair value MHFS for which an active secondary market and readily available market prices exist. In addition, we measure at fair value certain other interests we hold related to residential loan sales and securitizations. Similar to other interest-bearing securities, the value of these MHFS and other interests may be negatively affected by changes in interest rates. For example, if market interest rates increase relative to the yield on these MHFS and other interests, their fair value may fall.
When rates rise, the demand for mortgage loans usually tends to fall, reducing the revenue we receive from loan originations. Under the same conditions, revenue from our MSRs can increase through increases in fair value. When rates fall, mortgage originations usually tend to increase and the value of our MSRs usually tends to decline, also with some offsetting


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revenue effect. Even though they can act as a “natural hedge,” the hedge is not perfect, either in amount or timing. For example, the negative effect on revenue from a decrease in the fair value of residential MSRs is generally immediate, but any offsetting revenue benefit from more originations and the MSRs relating to the new loans would generally accrue over time. It is also possible that, because of economic conditions and/or a weak or deteriorating housing market, even if interest rates were to fall or remain low, mortgage originations may also fall or any increase in mortgage originations may not be enough to offset the decrease in the MSRs value caused by the lower rates.
We typically use derivatives and other instruments to hedge our mortgage banking interest rate risk. We may not hedge all of our risk, and we may not be successful in hedging any of the risk. Hedging is a complex process, requiring sophisticated models and constant monitoring, and is not a perfect science. We may use hedging instruments tied to U.S. Treasury rates, LIBOR or Eurodollars that may not perfectly correlate with the value or income being hedged. We could incur significant losses from our hedging activities. There may be periods where we elect not to use derivatives and other instruments to hedge mortgage banking interest rate risk.
We rely on GSEs to purchase mortgage loans that meet their conforming loan requirements and on the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to insure loans that meet their policy requirements. These loans are then securitized into either GSE or GNMA securities that are sold to investors. In order to meet customer needs, we also originate loans that do not conform to either GSE or FHA standards, which are referred to as “nonconforming” loans. We generally retain these nonconforming loans on our balance sheet. When we retain a loan on our balance sheet not only do we forgo fee revenue and keep the credit risk of the loan but we also do not receive any sale proceeds that could be used to generate new loans. If we were unable or unwilling to continue retaining nonconforming loans on our balance sheet, whether due to regulatory, business or other reasons, our ability to originate new mortgage loans may be reduced, thereby reducing the fees we earn from originating and servicing loans. Similarly, if the GSEs or the FHA were to limit or reduce their purchases or insuring of loans, our ability to fund, and thus originate new mortgage loans, could also be reduced. We cannot assure that the GSEs or the FHA will not materially limit their purchases or insuring of conforming loans or change their criteria for what constitutes a conforming loan (e.g., maximum loan amount or borrower eligibility). Each of the GSEs is currently in conservatorship, with its primary regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency acting as conservator. We cannot predict if, when or how the conservatorship will end, or any associated changes to the GSEs business structure and operations that could result. As noted above, there are various proposals to reform the housing finance market in the U.S., including the role of the GSEs in the housing finance market. The impact of any such regulatory reform regarding the housing finance market and the GSEs, including whether the GSEs will continue to exist in their current form, as well as any effect on the Company’s business and financial results, are uncertain.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Asset/Liability Management – Mortgage Banking Interest Rate and Market Risk” and “Critical Accounting Policies” sections in this Report.
 
We may be required to repurchase mortgage loans or reimburse investors and others as a result of breaches in contractual representations and warranties, and we
 
may incur other losses as a result of real or alleged violations of statutes or regulations applicable to the origination of our residential mortgage loans.   The origination of residential mortgage loans is governed by a variety of federal and state laws and regulations, including the Truth in Lending Act of 1968 and various anti-fraud and consumer protection statutes, which are complex and frequently changing. We often sell residential mortgage loans that we originate to various parties, including GSEs, SPEs that issue private label MBS, and other financial institutions that purchase mortgage loans for investment or private label securitization. We may also pool FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed mortgage loans which back securities guaranteed by GNMA. The agreements under which we sell mortgage loans and the insurance or guaranty agreements with the FHA and VA contain various representations and warranties regarding the origination and characteristics of the mortgage loans, including ownership of the loan, compliance with loan criteria set forth in the applicable agreement, validity of the lien securing the loan, absence of delinquent taxes or liens against the property securing the loan, and compliance with applicable origination laws. We may be required to repurchase mortgage loans, indemnify the securitization trust, investor or insurer, or reimburse the securitization trust, investor or insurer for credit losses incurred on loans in the event of a breach of contractual representations or warranties that is not remedied within a period (usually 90 days or less) after we receive notice of the breach. Contracts for mortgage loan sales to the GSEs include various types of specific remedies and penalties that could be applied to inadequate responses to repurchase requests. Similarly, the agreements under which we sell mortgage loans require us to deliver various documents to the securitization trust or investor, and we may be obligated to repurchase any mortgage loan as to which the required documents are not delivered or are defective. We may negotiate global settlements in order to resolve a pipeline of demands in lieu of repurchasing the loans. We establish a mortgage repurchase liability related to the various representations and warranties that reflect management’s estimate of losses for loans which we have a repurchase obligation. Our mortgage repurchase liability represents management’s best estimate of the probable loss that we may expect to incur for the representations and warranties in the contractual provisions of our sales of mortgage loans. Because the level of mortgage loan repurchase losses depends upon economic factors, investor demand strategies and other external conditions that may change over the life of the underlying loans, the level of the liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses is difficult to estimate and requires considerable management judgment. As a result of the uncertainty in the various estimates underlying the mortgage repurchase liability, there is a range of losses in excess of the recorded mortgage repurchase liability that are reasonably possible. The estimate of the range of possible loss for representations and warranties does not represent a probable loss, and is based on currently available information, significant judgment, and a number of assumptions that are subject to change. If economic conditions or the housing market worsen or future investor repurchase demand and our success at appealing repurchase requests differ from past experience, we could have increased repurchase obligations and increased loss severity on repurchases, requiring significant additions to the repurchase liability.
Additionally, for residential mortgage loans that we originate, borrowers may allege that the origination of the loans did not comply with applicable laws or regulations in one or more respects and assert such violation as an affirmative defense


 
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to payment or to the exercise by us of our remedies, including foreclosure proceedings, or in an action seeking statutory and other damages in connection with such violation. If we are not successful in demonstrating that the loans in dispute were originated in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, we could become subject to monetary damages and other civil penalties, including the loss of certain contractual payments or the inability to exercise certain remedies under the loans.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management – Liability for Mortgage Loan Repurchase Losses” section in this Report. 
 
We may be terminated as a servicer or master servicer, be required to repurchase a mortgage loan or reimburse investors for credit losses on a mortgage loan, or incur costs, liabilities, fines and other sanctions if we fail to satisfy our servicing obligations, including our obligations with respect to mortgage loan foreclosure actions.   We act as servicer and/or master servicer for mortgage loans included in securitizations and for unsecuritized mortgage loans owned by investors. As a servicer or master servicer for those loans we have certain contractual obligations to the securitization trusts, investors or other third parties, including, in our capacity as a servicer, foreclosing on defaulted mortgage loans or, to the extent consistent with the applicable securitization or other investor agreement, considering alternatives to foreclosure such as loan modifications or short sales and, in our capacity as a master servicer, overseeing the servicing of mortgage loans by the servicer. If we commit a material breach of our obligations as servicer or master servicer, we may be subject to termination if the breach is not cured within a specified period of time following notice, which can generally be given by the securitization trustee or a specified percentage of security holders, causing us to lose servicing income. In addition, we may be required to indemnify the securitization trustee against losses from any failure by us, as a servicer or master servicer, to perform our servicing obligations or any act or omission on our part that involves willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence. For certain investors and/or certain transactions, we may be contractually obligated to repurchase a mortgage loan or reimburse the investor for credit losses incurred on the loan as a remedy for servicing errors with respect to the loan. If we have increased repurchase obligations because of claims that we did not satisfy our obligations as a servicer or master servicer, or increased loss severity on such repurchases, we may have a significant reduction to net servicing income within mortgage banking noninterest income.
We may incur costs if we are required to, or if we elect to, re-execute or re-file documents or take other action in our capacity as a servicer in connection with pending or completed foreclosures. We may incur litigation costs if the validity of a foreclosure action is challenged by a borrower. If a court were to overturn a foreclosure because of errors or deficiencies in the foreclosure process, we may have liability to the borrower and/or to any title insurer of the property sold in foreclosure if the required process was not followed. These costs and liabilities may not be legally or otherwise reimbursable to us, particularly to the extent they relate to securitized mortgage loans. In addition, if certain documents required for a foreclosure action are missing or defective, we could be obligated to cure the defect or repurchase the loan. We may incur liability to securitization investors relating to delays or deficiencies in our processing of mortgage assignments or other documents necessary to comply
 
with state law governing foreclosures. The fair value of our MSRs may be negatively affected to the extent our servicing costs increase because of higher foreclosure costs. We may be subject to fines and other sanctions imposed by federal or state regulators as a result of actual or perceived deficiencies in our foreclosure practices or in the foreclosure practices of other mortgage loan servicers. Any of these actions may harm our reputation, negatively affect our residential mortgage origination or servicing business, or result in material fines, penalties, equitable remedies, or other enforcement actions.
In particular, on February 28, 2013, we entered into amendments to an April 2011 Consent Order with both the OCC and the FRB, which effectively ceased the Independent Foreclosure Review program created by such Consent Order and replaced it with an accelerated remediation commitment to provide foreclosure prevention actions on $1.2 billion of residential mortgage loans, subject to a process to be administered by the OCC and the FRB. During 2014, we reported sufficient foreclosure prevention actions to satisfy the $1.2 billion financial commitment.
In June 2015, we entered into an additional amendment to the April 2011 Consent Order with the OCC to address 15 of the 98 actionable items contained in the April 2011 Consent Order that were still considered open. This amendment requires that we remediate certain activities associated with our mortgage loan servicing practices and allows for the OCC to take additional supervisory action, including possible civil money penalties, if we do not comply with the terms of this amended Consent Order. In addition, this amendment prohibits us from acquiring new mortgage servicing rights or entering into new mortgage servicing contracts, other than mortgage servicing associated with originating mortgage loans or purchasing loans from correspondent clients in our normal course of business. Additionally, this amendment prohibits any new off-shoring of new mortgage servicing activities and requires OCC approval to outsource or sub-service any new mortgage servicing activities.
As noted above, any increase in our servicing costs from changes in our foreclosure and other servicing practices, including resulting from consent orders, could negatively affect the fair value of our MSRs.
For more information, refer to the “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management – Liability for Mortgage Loan Repurchase Losses” and “– Risks Relating to Servicing Activities,” and “Critical Accounting Policies – Valuation of Residential Mortgage Servicing Rights” sections and Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral) and Note 15 (Legal Actions) to Financial Statements in this Report. 
 
Financial difficulties or credit downgrades of mortgage and bond insurers may negatively affect our servicing and investment portfolios.  Our servicing portfolio includes certain mortgage loans that carry some level of insurance from one or more mortgage insurance companies. To the extent that any of these companies experience financial difficulties or credit downgrades, we may be required, as servicer of the insured loan on behalf of the investor, to obtain replacement coverage with another provider, possibly at a higher cost than the coverage we would replace. We may be responsible for some or all of the incremental cost of the new coverage for certain loans depending on the terms of our servicing agreement with the investor and other circumstances, although we do not have an additional risk of repurchase loss associated with claim amounts for loans sold to third-party investors. Similarly, some of the mortgage loans we hold for investment or for sale carry mortgage insurance. If a mortgage insurer is unable to meet its credit obligations with


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respect to an insured loan, we might incur higher credit losses if replacement coverage is not obtained. For example, in October 2011, PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. (PMI) was seized by its regulator. Although only a limited amount of loans and securities held in our portfolios had PMI insurance support, we cannot be certain that any future financial difficulties or credit downgrades involving one of our mortgage insurance company providers will not materially adversely affect our mortgage business and/or financial results. We also have investments in municipal bonds that are guaranteed against loss by bond insurers. The value of these bonds and the payment of principal and interest on them may be negatively affected by financial difficulties or credit downgrades experienced by the bond insurers.
For more information, refer to the “Balance Sheet Analysis – Investment Securities” and “Risk Management – Credit Risk Management– Liability for Mortgage Loan Repurchase Losses” sections in this Report.
 
OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL RISK
 
A failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third party vendors and other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks, could disrupt our businesses, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, increase our costs and cause losses.   As a large financial institution that serves over 70 million customers through 8,700 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the Internet, mobile banking and other distribution channels across the U.S. and internationally, we depend on our ability to process, record and monitor a large number of customer transactions on a continuous basis. As our customer base and locations have expanded throughout the U.S. and internationally, and as customer, public, legislative and regulatory expectations regarding operational and information security have increased, our operational systems and infrastructure must continue to be safeguarded and monitored for potential failures, disruptions and breakdowns. Our business, financial, accounting, data processing systems or other operating systems and facilities may stop operating properly or become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors including events that are wholly or partially beyond our control. For example, there could be sudden increases in customer transaction volume; electrical or telecommunications outages; degradation or loss of public internet domain; climate change related impacts and natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes; disease pandemics; events arising from local or larger scale political or social matters, including terrorist acts; and, as described below, cyber attacks. Although we have business continuity plans and other safeguards in place, our business operations may be adversely affected by significant and widespread disruption to our physical infrastructure or operating systems that support our businesses and customers.
Information security risks for large financial institutions such as Wells Fargo have generally increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, activists, and other external parties, including foreign state-sponsored parties. Those parties also may attempt to fraudulently induce employees, customers, or other users of our systems to disclose confidential information in order to gain access to our data or that of our customers. As noted above, our operations rely on the
 
secure processing, transmission and storage of confidential information in our computer systems and networks. Our banking, brokerage, investment advisory, and capital markets businesses rely on our digital technologies, computer and email systems, software, and networks to conduct their operations. In addition, to access our products and services, our customers may use personal smartphones, tablet PC’s, and other mobile devices that are beyond our control systems. Although we believe we have robust information security procedures and controls, our technologies, systems, networks, and our customers’ devices may become the target of cyber attacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of Wells Fargo’s or our customers’ confidential, proprietary and other information, or otherwise disrupt Wells Fargo’s or its customers’ or other third parties’ business operations. For example, various retailers have reported they were victims of cyber attacks in which large amounts of their customers’ data, including debit and credit card information, was obtained. In these situations we generally incur costs to replace compromised cards and address fraudulent transaction activity affecting our customers.
Third parties with which we do business or that facilitate our business activities, including exchanges, clearing houses, financial intermediaries or vendors that provide services or security solutions for our operations, could also be sources of operational and information security risk to us, including from breakdowns or failures of their own systems or capacity constraints.
To date we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches, but there can be no assurance that we will not suffer such losses in the future. Our risk and exposure to these matters remains heightened because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats, the prominent size and scale of Wells Fargo and its role in the financial services industry, our plans to continue to implement our Internet banking and mobile banking channel strategies and develop additional remote connectivity solutions to serve our customers when and how they want to be served, our expanded geographic footprint and international presence, the outsourcing of some of our business operations, and the current global economic and political environment. For example, Wells Fargo and other financial institutions continue to be the target of various evolving and adaptive cyber attacks, including malware and denial-of-service, as part of an effort to disrupt the operations of financial institutions, potentially test their cybersecurity capabilities, or obtain confidential, proprietary or other information. As a result, cybersecurity and the continued development and enhancement of our controls, processes and systems designed to protect our networks, computers, software and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority for Wells Fargo. We are also proactively involved in industry cybersecurity efforts and working with other parties, including our third-party service providers and governmental agencies, to continue to enhance defenses and improve resiliency to cybersecurity threats. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities.
Disruptions or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support our businesses and customers, or cyber attacks or security breaches of the networks, systems or devices that our customers use to access our products and services could result in customer attrition, financial losses, the inability of our customers to transact business with us, violations


 
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of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs, any of which could materially adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

Our framework for managing risks may not be fully effective in mitigating risk and loss to us.   Our risk management framework seeks to mitigate risk and loss to us. We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including liquidity risk, credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk, operational risk, legal and compliance risk, and reputational risk, among others. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. In certain instances, we rely on models to measure, monitor and predict risks, such as market and interest rate risks, however there is no assurance that these models will appropriately capture all relevant risks or accurately predict future events or exposures. In addition, we rely on data to aggregate and assess our various risk exposures and any issues with the quality or effectiveness of our data aggregation and validation procedures could result in ineffective risk management practices or inaccurate risk reporting. The recent financial and credit crisis and resulting regulatory reform highlighted both the importance and some of the limitations of managing unanticipated risks, and our regulators remain focused on ensuring that financial institutions build and maintain robust risk management policies. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses which could materially adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
 
We may incur fines, penalties and other negative consequences from regulatory violations, possibly even inadvertent or unintentional violations.  We maintain systems and procedures designed to ensure that we comply with applicable laws and regulations. However, some legal/regulatory frameworks provide for the imposition of fines or penalties for noncompliance even though the noncompliance was inadvertent or unintentional and even though there was in place at the time systems and procedures designed to ensure compliance. For example, we are subject to regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that prohibit financial institutions from participating in the transfer of property belonging to the governments of certain foreign countries and designated nationals of those countries. OFAC may impose penalties for inadvertent or unintentional violations even if reasonable processes are in place to prevent the violations. There may be other negative consequences resulting from a finding of noncompliance, including restrictions on certain activities. Such a finding may also damage our reputation as described below and could restrict the ability of institutional investment managers to invest in our securities.
Under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, we are required to make certain disclosures and file a separate report with the SEC if we or our worldwide affiliates knowingly engage in certain activities involving Iran. The scope of the reporting requirement is broad and covers any domestic or foreign entity or person that may be deemed to be an affiliate of ours. The potential government sanctions and reputational harm for engaging in a reportable activity may be significant. Any violation of these or other applicable laws or regulatory
 
requirements, even if inadvertent or unintentional, could result in fees, penalties, restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities, reputational harm and other negative consequences.

Negative publicity, including as a result of protests, could damage our reputation and business.   Reputation risk, or the risk to our business, earnings and capital from negative public opinion, is inherent in our business and has increased substantially because of the financial crisis and our size and profile in the financial services industry. The reputation of the financial services industry in general has been damaged as a result of the financial crisis and other matters affecting the financial services industry, and negative public opinion about the financial services industry generally or Wells Fargo specifically could adversely affect our ability to keep and attract customers. Negative public opinion could result from our actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including mortgage lending practices, servicing and foreclosure activities, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and disclosure, sharing or inadequate protection of customer information, and from actions taken by government regulators and community or other organizations in response to that conduct. In addition, because we conduct most of our businesses under the “Wells Fargo” brand, negative public opinion about one business also could affect our other businesses. The proliferation of social media websites utilized by Wells Fargo and other third parties, as well as the personal use of social media by our team members and others, including personal blogs and social network profiles, also may increase the risk that negative, inappropriate or unauthorized information may be posted or released publicly that could harm our reputation or have other negative consequences, including as a result of our team members interacting with our customers in an unauthorized manner in various social media outlets.
As a result of the financial crisis, Wells Fargo and other financial institutions have been targeted from time to time by protests and demonstrations, which have included disrupting the operation of our retail banking stores and have resulted in negative public commentary about financial institutions, including the fees charged for various products and services. There can be no assurance that continued protests and negative publicity for the Company or large financial institutions generally will not harm our reputation and adversely affect our business and financial results.
 
Risks Relating to Legal Proceedings.   Wells Fargo and some of its subsidiaries are involved in judicial, regulatory and arbitration proceedings or investigations concerning matters arising from our business activities. Although we believe we have a meritorious defense in all significant litigation pending against us, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome. We establish reserves for legal claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. We may still incur legal costs for a matter even if we have not established a reserve. In addition, the actual cost of resolving a legal claim may be substantially higher than any amounts reserved for that matter. The ultimate resolution of a pending legal proceeding, depending on the remedy sought and granted, could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
For more information, refer to Note 15 (Legal Actions) to Financial Statements in this Report.


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RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRY’S COMPETITIVE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
 
We face significant and increasing competition in the rapidly evolving financial services industry.   We compete with other financial institutions in a highly competitive industry that is undergoing significant changes as a result of financial regulatory reform and increased public scrutiny stemming from the financial crisis and continued challenging economic conditions. Our success depends on our ability to develop and maintain deep and enduring relationships with our customers based on the quality of our customer service, the wide variety of products and services that we can offer our customers and the ability of those products and services to satisfy our customers’ needs, the pricing of our products and services, the extensive distribution channels available for our customers, our innovation, and our reputation. Continued or increased competition in any one or all of these areas may negatively affect our customer relationships, market share and results of operations and/or cause us to increase our capital investment in our businesses in order to remain competitive. In addition, our ability to reposition or reprice our products and services from time to time may be limited and could be influenced significantly by the current economic, regulatory and political environment for large financial institutions as well as by the actions of our competitors. Furthermore, any changes in the types of products and services that we offer our customers and/or the pricing for those products and services could result in a loss of customer relationships and market share and could materially adversely affect our results of operations.
Continued technological advances and the growth of e-commerce have made it possible for non-depository institutions to offer products and services that traditionally were banking products, and for financial institutions and other companies to provide electronic and internet-based financial solutions, including electronic payment solutions. We may not respond effectively to these and other competitive threats from existing and new competitors and may be forced to sell products at lower prices, increase our investment in our business to modify or adapt our existing products and services, and/or develop new products and services to respond to our customers’ needs. To the extent we are not successful in developing and introducing new products and services or responding or adapting to the competitive landscape or to changes in customer preferences, we may lose customer relationships and our revenue growth and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

Our ability to attract and retain qualified team members is critical to the success of our business and failure to do so could adversely affect our business performance, competitive position and future prospects.   The success of Wells Fargo is heavily dependent on the talents and efforts of our team members, and in many areas of our business, including the commercial banking, brokerage, investment advisory, and capital markets businesses, the competition for highly qualified personnel is intense. In order to attract and retain highly qualified team members, we must provide competitive compensation. As a large financial institution we may be subject to limitations on compensation by our regulators that may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain these qualified team members. Some of our competitors may not be subject to these same compensation limitations, which may further negatively affect our ability to attract and retain highly qualified team members.
 
 
RISKS RELATED TO OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Changes in accounting policies or accounting standards, and changes in how accounting standards are interpreted or applied, could materially affect how we report our financial results and condition.  Our accounting policies are fundamental to determining and understanding our financial results and condition. As described below, some of these policies require use of estimates and assumptions that may affect the value of our assets or liabilities and financial results. Any changes in our accounting policies could materially affect our financial statements.
From time to time the FASB and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our external financial statements. For example, in Proposed Accounting Standards Update, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Subtopic 825-15), FASB has proposed replacing the current “incurred loss” model for the allowance for credit losses with an “expected loss” model referred to as the Current Expected Credit Loss model, or CECL. If adopted, CECL could materially affect how we determine our allowance and report our financial results and condition.
In addition, accounting standard setters and those who interpret the accounting standards (such as the FASB, SEC, banking regulators and our outside auditors) may change or even reverse their previous interpretations or positions on how these standards should be applied. Changes in financial accounting and reporting standards and changes in current interpretations may be beyond our control, can be hard to predict and could materially affect how we report our financial results and condition. We may be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively or apply an existing standard differently, also retroactively, in each case potentially resulting in our restating prior period financial statements in material amounts.
 
Our financial statements are based in part on assumptions and estimates which, if wrong, could cause unexpected losses in the future, and our financial statements depend on our internal controls over financial reporting.  Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, we are required to use certain assumptions and estimates in preparing our financial statements, including in determining credit loss reserves, reserves for mortgage repurchases, reserves related to litigation and the fair value of certain assets and liabilities, among other items. Several of our accounting policies are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because it is likely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. For a description of these policies, refer to the “Critical Accounting Policies” section in this Report. If assumptions or estimates underlying our financial statements are incorrect, we may experience material losses.
Certain of our financial instruments, including trading assets and liabilities, investment securities, certain loans, MSRs, private equity investments, structured notes and certain repurchase and resale agreements, among other items, require a determination of their fair value in order to prepare our financial statements. Where quoted market prices are not available, we may make fair value determinations based on internally developed models or other means which ultimately rely to some degree on management judgment, and there is no assurance that our models will capture or appropriately reflect all relevant inputs required to accurately determine fair value. Some of these


 
Wells Fargo & Company
129


Risk Factors (continued)

and other assets and liabilities may have no direct observable price levels, making their valuation particularly subjective, being based on significant estimation and judgment. In addition, sudden illiquidity in markets or declines in prices of certain loans and securities may make it more difficult to value certain balance sheet items, which may lead to the possibility that such valuations will be subject to further change or adjustment and could lead to declines in our earnings.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley) requires our management to evaluate the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting and requires our auditors to issue a report on our internal control over financial reporting. We are required to disclose, in our annual report on Form 10-K, the existence of any “material weaknesses” in our internal controls. We cannot assure that we will not identify one or more material weaknesses as of the end of any given quarter or year, nor can we predict the effect on our stock price of disclosure of a material weakness. Sarbanes-Oxley also limits the types of non-audit services our outside auditors may provide to us in order to preserve their independence from us. If our auditors were found not to be “independent” of us under SEC rules, we could be required to engage new auditors and re-file financial statements and audit reports with the SEC. We could be out of compliance with SEC rules until new financial statements and audit reports were filed, limiting our ability to raise capital and resulting in other adverse consequences.
 
RISKS RELATED TO ACQUISITIONS
 
Acquisitions could reduce our stock price upon announcement and reduce our earnings if we overpay or have difficulty integrating them.  We regularly explore opportunities to acquire companies or businesses in the financial services industry. We cannot predict the frequency, size or timing of our acquisitions, and we typically do not comment publicly on a possible acquisition until we have signed a definitive agreement. When we do announce an acquisition, our stock price may fall depending on the size of the acquisition, the type of business to be acquired, the purchase price, and the potential dilution to existing stockholders or our earnings per share if we issue common stock in connection with the acquisition.
We generally must receive federal regulatory approvals before we can acquire a bank, bank holding company or certain other financial services businesses depending on the size of the financial services business to be acquired. In deciding whether to approve a proposed acquisition, federal bank regulators will consider, among other factors, the effect of the acquisition on competition and the risk to the stability of the U.S. banking or financial system, our financial condition and future prospects
 
including current and projected capital ratios and levels, the competence, experience, and integrity of management and record of compliance with laws and regulations, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, including our record of compliance under the Community Reinvestment Act, and our effectiveness in combating money laundering. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and concerns regarding the large size of financial institutions such as Wells Fargo, the regulatory process for approving acquisitions has become more complex and regulatory approvals may be more difficult to obtain. We cannot be certain when or if, or on what terms and conditions, any required regulatory approvals will be granted. We might be required to sell banks, branches and/or business units or assets or issue additional equity as a condition to receiving regulatory approval for an acquisition. In addition, federal law prohibits regulatory approval of any transaction that would create an institution holding more than 10% of total U.S. insured deposits, or of any transaction (whether or not subject to prior approval) that would create a financial company with more than 10% of the liabilities of all financial companies in the U.S. As of September 30, 2015, we believe we already held more than 10% of total U.S. deposits. As a result, our size may limit our bank acquisition opportunities in the future.
Difficulty in integrating an acquired company or business may cause us not to realize expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and other projected benefits from the acquisition. The integration could result in higher than expected deposit attrition, loss of key team members, disruption of our business or the acquired business, or otherwise harm our ability to retain customers and team members or achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Time and resources spent on integration may also impair our ability to grow our existing businesses. Also, the negative effect of any divestitures required by regulatory authorities in acquisitions or business combinations may be greater than expected. Many of the foregoing risks may be increased if the acquired company or business operates internationally or in a geographic location where we do not already have significant business operations and/or team members.
 
*   *   *
 
Any factor described in this Report or in any of our other SEC filings could by itself, or together with other factors, adversely affect our financial results and condition. Refer to our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC in 2016 for material changes to the above discussion of risk factors. There are factors not discussed above or elsewhere in this Report that could adversely affect our financial results and condition.




130
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management evaluated the effectiveness, as of December 31, 2015 , of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer participated in the evaluation. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2015 .
 
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s Board, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and includes those policies and procedures that:
•
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company;
•
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and
•
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. No change occurred during any quarter in 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management's report on internal control over financial reporting is set forth below and should be read with these limitations in mind.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 , using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) . Based on this assessment, management concluded that as of December 31, 2015 , the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s financial statements included in this Annual Report, issued an audit report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. KPMG’s audit report appears on the following page.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
131




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Wells Fargo & Company:
 
We have audited Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 , based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 , based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 , and our report dated February 24, 2016 , expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
 

 
/s/ KPMG LLP                         
 
San Francisco, California
February 24, 2016

132
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Financial Statements

Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statement of Income
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets
$
1,971

 
1,685

 
1,376

Investment securities
8,937

 
8,438

 
8,116

Mortgages held for sale
785

 
767

 
1,290

Loans held for sale
19

 
78

 
13

Loans
36,575

 
35,652

 
35,571

Other interest income
990

 
932

 
723

Total interest income
49,277

 
47,552

 
47,089

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
963

 
1,096

 
1,337

Short-term borrowings
64

 
59

 
60

Long-term debt
2,592

 
2,488

 
2,585

Other interest expense
357

 
382

 
307

Total interest expense
3,976

 
4,025

 
4,289

Net interest income
45,301

 
43,527

 
42,800

Provision for credit losses
2,442

 
1,395

 
2,309

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
42,859

 
42,132

 
40,491

Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
5,168

 
5,050

 
5,023

Trust and investment fees
14,468

 
14,280

 
13,430

Card fees
3,720

 
3,431

 
3,191

Other fees
4,324

 
4,349

 
4,340

Mortgage banking
6,501

 
6,381

 
8,774

Insurance
1,694

 
1,655

 
1,814

Net gains from trading activities
614

 
1,161

 
1,623

Net gains (losses) on debt securities (1)
952

 
593

 
(29
)
Net gains from equity investments (2)
2,230

 
2,380

 
1,472

Lease income
621

 
526

 
663

Other
464

 
1,014

 
679

Total noninterest income
40,756

 
40,820

 
40,980

Noninterest expense
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries
15,883

 
15,375

 
15,152

Commission and incentive compensation
10,352

 
9,970

 
9,951

Employee benefits
4,446

 
4,597

 
5,033

Equipment
2,063

 
1,973

 
1,984

Net occupancy
2,886

 
2,925

 
2,895

Core deposit and other intangibles
1,246

 
1,370

 
1,504

FDIC and other deposit assessments
973

 
928

 
961

Other
12,125

 
11,899

 
11,362

Total noninterest expense
49,974

 
49,037

 
48,842

Income before income tax expense
33,641

 
33,915

 
32,629

Income tax expense
10,365

 
10,307

 
10,405

Net income before noncontrolling interests
23,276

 
23,608

 
22,224

Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
382

 
551

 
346

Wells Fargo net income
$
22,894

 
23,057

 
21,878

Less: Preferred stock dividends and other
1,424

 
1,236

 
989

Wells Fargo net income applicable to common stock
$
21,470

 
21,821

 
20,889

Per share information
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share
$
4.18

 
4.17

 
3.95

Diluted earnings per common share
4.12

 
4.10

 
3.89

Dividends declared per common share
1.475

 
1.350

 
1.150

Average common shares outstanding
5,136.5

 
5,237.2

 
5,287.3

Diluted average common shares outstanding
5,209.8

 
5,324.4

 
5,371.2

(1)
Total other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses were $136 million , $18 million and $39 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively. Of total OTTI, losses of $183 million , $49 million and $158 million were recognized in earnings, and reversal of losses of $(47) million , $(31) million and $(119) million were recognized as non-credit-related OTTI in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively. 
(2)
Includes OTTI losses of $376 million , $273 million and $186 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
133




Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
  
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Wells Fargo net income
$
22,894

 
23,057

 
21,878

Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
 
 
 
 
  
Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
  
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
(3,318
)
 
5,426

 
(7,661
)
Reclassification of net gains to net income
(1,530
)
 
(1,532
)
 
(285
)
Derivatives and hedging activities:
 
 
 
 
  
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
1,549

 
952

 
(32
)
Reclassification of net gains on cash flow hedges to net income
(1,089
)
 
(545
)
 
(296
)
Defined benefit plans adjustments:
 
 
 
 
  
Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the period
(512
)
 
(1,116
)
 
1,533

Amortization of net actuarial loss, settlements and other to net income
114

 
74

 
276

Foreign currency translation adjustments:
 
 
 
 
  
Net unrealized losses arising during the period
(137
)
 
(60
)
 
(44
)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income
(5
)
 
6

 
(12
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
(4,928
)
 
3,205

 
(6,521
)
Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive income
1,774

 
(1,300
)
 
2,524

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(3,154
)
 
1,905

 
(3,997
)
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) from noncontrolling interests
67

 
(227
)
 
267

Wells Fargo other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(3,221
)
 
2,132

 
(4,264
)
Wells Fargo comprehensive income
19,673

 
25,189


17,614

Comprehensive income from noncontrolling interests
449

 
324

 
613

Total comprehensive income
$
20,122

 
25,513


18,227

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.



134
Wells Fargo & Company
 



Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions, except shares)
2015

 
2014

Assets
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
19,111

 
19,571

Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments
270,130

 
258,429

Trading assets
77,202

 
78,255

Investment securities:
 
 
 
Available-for-sale, at fair value
267,358

 
257,442

Held-to-maturity, at cost (fair value $80,567 and $56,359)
80,197

 
55,483

Mortgages held for sale (includes $13,539 and $15,565 carried at fair value) (1)
19,603

 
19,536

Loans held for sale (includes $0 and $1 carried at fair value) (1)
279

 
722

Loans (includes $5,316 and $5,788 carried at fair value) (1)
916,559

 
862,551

Allowance for loan losses
(11,545
)
 
(12,319
)
Net loans
905,014

 
850,232

Mortgage servicing rights:
 
 
 
Measured at fair value
12,415

 
12,738

Amortized
1,308

 
1,242

Premises and equipment, net
8,704

 
8,743

Goodwill
25,529

 
25,705

Other assets (includes $3,065 and $2,512 carried at fair value) (1)
100,782

 
99,057

Total assets (2)
$
1,787,632


1,687,155

Liabilities
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing deposits
$
351,579

 
321,963

Interest-bearing deposits
871,733

 
846,347

Total deposits
1,223,312

 
1,168,310

Short-term borrowings
97,528

 
63,518

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
73,365

 
86,122

Long-term debt
199,536

 
183,943

Total liabilities (3)
1,593,741

 
1,501,893

Equity
 
 
 
Wells Fargo stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock
22,214

 
19,213

Common stock – $1-2/3 par value, authorized 9,000,000,000 shares; issued 5,481,811,474 shares
9,136

 
9,136

Additional paid-in capital
60,714

 
60,537

Retained earnings
120,866

 
107,040

Cumulative other comprehensive income
297

 
3,518

Treasury stock – 389,682,664 shares and 311,462,276 shares
(18,867
)
 
(13,690
)
Unearned ESOP shares
(1,362
)
 
(1,360
)
Total Wells Fargo stockholders' equity
192,998

 
184,394

Noncontrolling interests
893

 
868

Total equity
193,891

 
185,262

Total liabilities and equity
$
1,787,632

 
1,687,155

(1)
Parenthetical amounts represent assets and liabilities for which we have elected the fair value option.
(2)
Our consolidated assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , include the following assets of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs: Cash and due from banks, $157 million and $117 million ; Trading assets, $1 million and $0 million ; Investment securities, $425 million and $875 million ; Net loans, $4.8 billion and $4.5 billion ; Other assets, $242 million and $316 million ; and Total assets, $5.6 billion and $5.8 billion , respectively.
(3)
Our consolidated liabilities at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , include the following VIE liabilities for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to Wells Fargo: Accrued expenses and other liabilities, $57 million and $49 million ; Long-term debt, $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion ; and Total liabilities, $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion , respectively.
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
135




Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
 
 
 
 
 

Preferred stock 
 
 

Common stock 
 
(in millions, except shares)
Shares 

 
Amount 

 
Shares 

 
Amount 

Balance December 31, 2012
10,558,865

 
$
12,883

 
5,266,314,176

 
$
9,136

Balance January 1, 2013
10,558,865

 
12,883

 
5,266,314,176

 
9,136

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued
  
 
  
 
89,392,517

 


Common stock repurchased (1)
  
 
  
 
(124,179,383
)
 
 
Preferred stock issued to ESOP
1,200,000

 
1,200

 
  
 
 
Preferred stock released by ESOP
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
Preferred stock converted to common shares
(1,005,270
)
 
(1,006
)
 
25,635,395

 


Common stock warrants repurchased/exercised
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
Preferred stock issued
127,600

 
3,190

 
  
 
 
Common stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tax benefit from stock incentive compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock incentive compensation expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in deferred compensation and related plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change
322,330

 
3,384

 
(9,151,471
)
 
—

Balance December 31, 2013
10,881,195

 
$
16,267

 
5,257,162,705

 
$
9,136

Balance January 1, 2014
10,881,195

 
16,267

 
5,257,162,705

 
9,136

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued
 
 
 
 
75,340,898

 
  

Common stock repurchased (1)
 
 
 
 
(183,146,803
)
 
 
Preferred stock issued to ESOP
1,217,000

 
1,217

 
 
 
 
Preferred stock released by ESOP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock converted to common shares
(1,071,377
)
 
(1,071
)
 
20,992,398

 
  

Common stock warrants repurchased/exercised
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock issued
112,000

 
2,800

 
 
 
 
Common stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tax benefit from stock incentive compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock incentive compensation expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in deferred compensation and related plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change
257,623

 
2,946

 
(86,813,507
)
 
—

Balance December 31, 2014
11,138,818

 
$
19,213

 
5,170,349,198

 
$
9,136

(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2013 , includes $500 million related to a private forward repurchase transaction entered into in fourth quarter 2013 that settled in first quarter 2014 for 11.1 million shares of common stock. For the year ended December 31, 2014 , includes $750 million related to a private forward repurchase transaction that settled in first quarter 2015 for 14.3 million shares of common stock. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) for additional information.
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
(continued on following pages)

136
Wells Fargo & Company
 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wells Fargo stockholders' equity 
 
 
Additional
paid-in
capital 

 
Retained earnings 

 
Cumulative
other
comprehensive income 

 
Treasury
stock 

 
Unearned
ESOP
shares 

 
Total
Wells Fargo stockholders' equity 

 
Noncontrolling interests 

 
Total
equity 

59,802

 
77,679

 
5,650

 
(6,610
)
 
(986
)
 
157,554

 
1,357

 
158,911

59,802

 
77,679

 
5,650

 
(6,610
)
 
(986
)
 
157,554

 
1,357

 
158,911

 
 
21,878

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,878

 
346

 
22,224

 
 
 
 
(4,264
)
 
 
 
 
 
(4,264
)
 
267

 
(3,997
)
28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28

 
(1,104
)
 
(1,076
)
(2
)
 
(10
)
 
 
 
2,745

 
 
 
2,733

 
 
 
2,733

(300
)
 
 
 
 
 
(5,056
)
 
 
 
(5,356
)
 
 
 
(5,356
)
108

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,308
)
 
—

 
 
 
—

(88
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,094

 
1,006

 
 
 
1,006

191

 
 
 
 
 
815

 
 
 
—

 
 
 
—



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

 
 
 
—

(45
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,145

 
 
 
3,145

83

 
(6,169
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(6,086
)
 
 
 
(6,086
)
  

 
(1,017
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,017
)
 
 
 
(1,017
)
269

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
269

 
 
 
269

725

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
725

 
 
 
725

(475
)
 
 
 
 
 
2

 
 
 
(473
)
 
 
 
(473
)
494

 
14,682

 
(4,264
)
 
(1,494
)
 
(214
)
 
12,588

 
(491
)
 
12,097

60,296

 
92,361

 
1,386

 
(8,104
)
 
(1,200
)
 
170,142

 
866

 
171,008

60,296

 
92,361

 
1,386

 
(8,104
)
 
(1,200
)
 
170,142

 
866

 
171,008

 
 
23,057

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23,057

 
551

 
23,608

 
 
 
 
2,132

 
 
 
 
 
2,132

 
(227
)
 
1,905

(7
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(7
)
 
(322
)
 
(329
)
(273
)
 

 
 
 
2,756

 
 
 
2,483

 
 
 
2,483

(250
)
 
 
 
 
 
(9,164
)
 
 
 
(9,414
)
 
 
 
(9,414
)
108

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,325
)
 
—

 
 
 
—

(94
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,165

 
1,071

 
 
 
1,071

251

 
 
 
 
 
820

 
 
 
—

 
 
 
—

(9
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(9
)
 
 
 
(9
)
(25
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,775

 
 
 
2,775

76

 
(7,143
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(7,067
)
 
 
 
(7,067
)
 
 
(1,235
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,235
)
 
 
 
(1,235
)
453

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
453

 
 
 
453

858

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
858

 
 
 
858

(847
)
 
 
 
 
 
2

 
 
 
(845
)
 
 
 
(845
)
241

 
14,679

 
2,132

 
(5,586
)
 
(160
)
 
14,252

 
2

 
14,254

60,537

 
107,040

 
3,518

 
(13,690
)
 
(1,360
)
 
184,394

 
868

 
185,262


 
Wells Fargo & Company
137





(continued from previous pages)
Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
 
 
 
 
 

Preferred stock 
 
 

Common stock 
 
(in millions, except shares)
Shares 

 
Amount 

 
Shares 

 
Amount 

Balance December 31, 2014
11,138,818

 
$
19,213

 
5,170,349,198

 
$
9,136

Balance January 1, 2015
11,138,818

 
19,213

 
5,170,349,198

 
9,136

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued
 
 
 
 
69,876,577

 
 
Common stock repurchased (1)
 
 
 
 
(163,400,892
)
 
 
Preferred stock issued to ESOP
826,598

 
826

 
 
 
 
Preferred stock released by ESOP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock converted to common shares
(825,499
)
 
(825
)
 
15,303,927

 
 
Common stock warrants repurchased/exercised
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock issued
120,000

 
3,000

 
 
 
 
Common stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock dividends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tax benefit from stock incentive compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock incentive compensation expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in deferred compensation and related plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change
121,099

 
3,001

 
(78,220,388
)
 
—

Balance December 31, 2015
11,259,917

 
$
22,214

 
5,092,128,810

 
$
9,136

(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2015 , includes $500 million related to a private forward repurchase transaction that settled in first quarter 2016 for 9.2 million shares of common stock. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) for additional information.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

138
Wells Fargo & Company
 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wells Fargo stockholders' equity 
 
 
Additional
 paid-in
capital 

 
Retained earnings 

 
Cumulative
other
comprehensive
income 

 
Treasury
stock 

 
Unearned
ESOP
shares 

 
Total
Wells Fargo stockholders' equity 

 
Noncontrolling interests 

 
Total
equity 

60,537

 
107,040

 
3,518

 
(13,690
)
 
(1,360
)
 
184,394

 
868

 
185,262

60,537

 
107,040

 
3,518

 
(13,690
)
 
(1,360
)
 
184,394

 
868

 
185,262

 
 
22,894

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22,894

 
382

 
23,276

 
 
 
 
(3,221
)
 
 
 
 
 
(3,221
)
 
67

 
(3,154
)
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2

 
(424
)
 
(422
)
(397
)
 

 
 
 
3,041

 
 
 
2,644

 
 
 
2,644

250

 
 
 
 
 
(8,947
)
 
 
 
(8,697
)
 
 
 
(8,697
)
74

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(900
)
 
—

 
 
 
—

(73
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
898

 
825

 
 
 
825

107

 
 
 
 
 
718

 
 
 
—

 
 
 
—

(49
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(49
)
 
 
 
(49
)
(28
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,972

 
 
 
2,972

62

 
(7,642
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(7,580
)
 
 
 
(7,580
)
 
 
(1,426
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,426
)
 
 
 
(1,426
)
453

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
453

 
 
 
453

844

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
844

 
 
 
844

(1,068
)
 
 
 
 
 
11

 
 
 
(1,057
)
 
 
 
(1,057
)
177

 
13,826


(3,221
)

(5,177
)

(2
)

8,604


25


8,629

60,714

 
120,866


297


(18,867
)

(1,362
)

192,998


893


193,891


 
Wells Fargo & Company
139




Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income before noncontrolling interests
$
23,276

 
23,608

 
22,224

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for credit losses
2,442

 
1,395

 
2,309

Changes in fair value of MSRs, MHFS and LHFS carried at fair value
62

 
1,820

 
(3,229
)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
3,288

 
2,515

 
3,293

Other net gains
(6,496
)
 
(3,760
)
 
(9,384
)
Stock-based compensation
1,958

 
1,912

 
1,920

Excess tax benefits related to stock incentive compensation
(453
)
 
(453
)
 
(271
)
Originations of MHFS
(178,266
)
 
(144,812
)
 
(317,054
)
Proceeds from sales of and principal collected on mortgages originated for sale
133,194

 
117,097

 
311,431

Proceeds from sales of and principal collected on LHFS
7

 
207

 
575

Purchases of LHFS
(28
)
 
(154
)
 
(291
)
Net change in:
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets
47,244

 
11,186

 
43,638

Deferred income taxes
(2,265
)
 
2,354

 
4,977

Accrued interest receivable
(623
)
 
(372
)
 
(13
)
Accrued interest payable
160

 
119

 
(32
)
Other assets
(1,764
)
 
(10,681
)
 
4,693

Other accrued expenses and liabilities
(6,964
)
 
15,548

 
(7,145
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
14,772

 
17,529

 
57,641

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments
(11,866
)
 
(41,778
)
 
(78,184
)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Sales proceeds
25,431

 
6,089

 
2,837

Prepayments and maturities
33,912

 
37,257

 
50,737

Purchases
(79,778
)
 
(44,807
)
 
(89,474
)
Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Paydowns and maturities
5,290

 
5,168

 
30

Purchases
(25,424
)
 
(47,012
)
 
(5,782
)
Nonmarketable equity investments:
 
 
 
 
 
Sales proceeds
3,496

 
3,161

 
2,577

Purchases
(2,352
)
 
(3,087
)
 
(3,273
)
Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans originated by banking subsidiaries, net of principal collected
(57,016
)
 
(65,162
)
 
(43,744
)
Proceeds from sales (including participations) of loans held for investment
11,672

 
21,564

 
7,694

Purchases (including participations) of loans
(13,759
)
 
(6,424
)
 
(11,563
)
Principal collected on nonbank entities' loans
10,023

 
13,589

 
19,955

Loans originated by nonbank entities
(12,441
)
 
(13,570
)
 
(17,311
)
Net cash paid for acquisitions
(3
)
 
(174
)
 
—

Proceeds from sales of foreclosed assets and short sales
7,803

 
7,697

 
11,021

Net cash from purchases and sales of MSRs
(135
)
 
(150
)
 
407

Other, net
(2,088
)
 
(741
)
 
581

Net cash used by investing activities
(107,235
)
 
(128,380
)

(153,492
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in:
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
54,867

 
89,133

 
76,342

Short-term borrowings
34,010

 
8,035

 
(3,390
)
Long-term debt:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance
43,030

 
42,154

 
53,227

Repayment
(27,333
)
 
(15,829
)
 
(25,423
)
Preferred stock:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance
2,972

 
2,775

 
3,145

Cash dividends paid
(1,426
)
 
(1,235
)
 
(1,017
)
Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance
1,726

 
1,840

 
2,224

Repurchased
(8,697
)
 
(9,414
)
 
(5,356
)
Cash dividends paid
(7,400
)
 
(6,908
)
 
(5,953
)
Excess tax benefits related to stock incentive compensation
453

 
453

 
271

Net change in noncontrolling interests
(232
)
 
(552
)
 
(296
)
Other, net
33

 
51

 
136

Net cash provided by financing activities
92,003

 
110,503


93,910

Net change in cash and due from banks
(460
)
 
(348
)

(1,941
)
Cash and due from banks at beginning of year
19,571

 
19,919


21,860

Cash and due from banks at end of year
$
19,111

 
19,571

 
19,919

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
3,816

 
3,906

 
4,321

Cash paid for income taxes
13,688

 
8,808

 
7,132

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) for noncash activities.

140
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Notes to Financial Statements

See the Glossary of Acronyms at the end of this Report for terms used throughout the Financial Statements and related Notes.
Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company. We provide banking, insurance, trust and investments, mortgage banking, investment banking, retail banking, brokerage, and consumer and commercial finance through banking stores, the internet and other distribution channels to consumers, businesses and institutions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in foreign countries. When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (consolidated). Wells Fargo & Company (the Parent) is a financial holding company and a bank holding company. We also hold a majority interest in a real estate investment trust, which has publicly traded preferred stock outstanding.
Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and practices in the financial services industry. To prepare the financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management must make estimates based on assumptions about future economic and market conditions (for example, unemployment, market liquidity, real estate prices, etc.) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, income and expenses during the reporting period and the related disclosures. Although our estimates contemplate current conditions and how we expect them to change in the future, it is reasonably possible that actual conditions could be worse than anticipated in those estimates, which could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition. Management has made significant estimates in several areas, including allowance for credit losses and purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans (Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses)), valuations of residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) (Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) and Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities)) and financial instruments (Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities)) and income taxes (Note 21 (Income Taxes)). Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2015
In 2015 , we adopted the following new accounting guidance:
•
Accounting Standards Update (ASU or Update) 2014-11,
Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-
Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and
Disclosures ;
•
ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic
205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of
Disposals of Components of an Entity ; and
•
ASU 2014-01, Investments – Equity Method and Joint
Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in
Qualified Affordable Housing Projects .

ASU 2014-11 requires repurchase-to-maturity transactions to be accounted for as secured borrowings versus sales. The guidance also requires separate accounting for transfers of financial assets that are executed contemporaneously with repurchase agreements. The Update also includes new disclosures for transfers accounted for as sales and for repurchase agreements and similar arrangements, such as classes of collateral pledged for gross obligations and the remaining contractual maturity of repurchase agreements. We adopted the accounting changes in first quarter 2015 with no
 
impact to our consolidated financial statements or disclosures. We adopted the collateral and remaining contractual maturity disclosures for repurchase and similar agreements in second quarter 2015. For additional information, see Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral).

ASU 2014-08 changes the definition and reporting
requirements for discontinued operations. Under the new
guidance, an entity’s disposal of a component or group of
components must be reported in discontinued operations if the
disposal is a strategic shift that has or will have a significant effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. We adopted these changes in first quarter 2015 with prospective application. This Update did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2014-01 amends the accounting guidance for investments
in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low-income
housing tax credits. The Update requires incremental disclosures
for all entities that invest in qualified affordable housing projects. Additionally companies may make an accounting election to amortize the cost of their investments in proportion to the tax benefits received if certain criteria are met and present the amortization as a component of income tax expense. We adopted the new disclosure requirements in first quarter 2015 (see Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets)) and will continue our previous accounting for these investments rather than make the alternative election to amortize the initial cost of the investments in proportion to the tax benefits received.

Consolidation
Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent and our subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest.
We are also a variable interest holder in certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or where the entity does not have enough equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties (referred to as variable interest entities (VIEs)). Our variable interest arises from contractual, ownership or other monetary interests in the entity, which change with fluctuations in the fair value of the entity's net assets. We consolidate a VIE if we are the primary beneficiary. We are the primary beneficiary if we have a controlling financial interest, which includes both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE and a variable interest that potentially could be significant to the VIE. To determine whether or not a variable interest we hold could potentially be significant to the VIE, we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of our involvement with the VIE. We assess whether or not we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an ongoing basis.
Significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. When we have significant influence over operating and financing decisions for a company but do not own a majority of the voting equity interests, we account for the investment using the equity method of accounting, which requires us to recognize our proportionate share of the company’s earnings. If we do not have significant influence, we recognize the equity investment at cost except for (1) marketable


 
Wells Fargo & Company
141


Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

equity securities, which we recognize at fair value with changes in fair value included in OCI, and (2) nonmarketable equity investments for which we have elected the fair value option. Investments accounted for under the equity or cost method are included in other assets.
 
Cash and Due From Banks
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash items in transit, and amounts due from the Federal Reserve Bank and other depository institutions.
 
Trading Assets
Trading assets are predominantly securities, including corporate debt, U.S. government agency obligations and other securities that we acquire for short-term appreciation or other trading purposes, certain loans held for market-making purposes to support the buying and selling demands of our customers
and derivatives primarily held for customer accommodation purposes or risk mitigation and hedging. Interest-only strips and other retained interests in securitizations that can be contractually prepaid or otherwise settled in a way that the holder would not recover substantially all of its recorded investment are classified as trading assets. Trading assets are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. For securities and loans in trading assets, interest and dividend income are recorded in interest income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses are recorded in noninterest income. For other trading assets, including derivatives, the entire change in fair value is recorded in noninterest income.
 
Investments
Our investments include various debt and marketable equity securities and nonmarketable equity investments. We classify debt and marketable equity securities as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities based on our intent to hold to maturity. Our nonmarketable equity investments are reported in other assets.

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES Debt securities that we might not hold until maturity and marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, after applicable income taxes, are reported in cumulative OCI.
We conduct other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) analysis on a quarterly basis or more often if a potential loss-triggering event occurs. The initial indicator of OTTI for both debt and equity securities is a decline in fair value below the amount recorded for an investment and the severity and duration of the decline.
For a debt security for which there has been a decline in the fair value below amortized cost basis, we recognize OTTI if we (1) have the intent to sell the security, (2) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, or (3) we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.
Estimating recovery of the amortized cost basis of a debt security is based upon an assessment of the cash flows expected to be collected. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, discounted at the security’s effective yield, is less than amortized cost, OTTI is considered to have occurred. In performing an assessment of the cash flows expected to be collected, we consider all relevant information including:
•
the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis;
 
•
the historical and implied volatility of the fair value of the security;
•
the cause of the price decline, such as the general level of interest rates or adverse conditions specifically related to the security, an industry or a geographic area;
•
the issuer's financial condition, near-term prospects and ability to service the debt;
•
the payment structure of the debt security and the likelihood of the issuer being able to make payments that increase in the future;
•
for asset-backed securities, the credit performance of the underlying collateral, including delinquency rates, level of non-performing assets, cumulative losses to date, collateral value and the remaining credit enhancement compared with expected credit losses;
•
any change in rating agencies' credit ratings at evaluation date from acquisition date and any likely imminent action;
•
independent analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings and other independent market data; and
•
recoveries or additional declines in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date.
 
If we intend to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not we will be required to sell the security before recovery, an OTTI write-down is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the amortized cost basis and fair value of the security. For debt securities that are considered other-than-temporarily impaired that we do not intend to sell or it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell before recovery, the OTTI write-down is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and the amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in OCI. The measurement of the credit loss component is equal to the difference between the debt security's amortized cost basis and the present value of its expected future cash flows discounted at the security's effective yield. The remaining difference between the security’s fair value and the present value of expected future cash flows is due to factors that are not credit-related and, therefore, is recognized in OCI. We believe that we will fully collect the carrying value of securities on which we have recorded a non-credit-related impairment in OCI.
We hold investments in perpetual preferred securities (PPS) that are structured in equity form but have many of the characteristics of debt instruments, including periodic cash flows in the form of dividends, call features, ratings that are similar to debt securities and pricing like long-term callable bonds.
Because of the hybrid nature of these securities, we evaluate PPS for OTTI using a model similar to the model we use for debt securities as described above. Among the factors we consider in our evaluation of PPS are whether there is any evidence of deterioration in the credit of the issuer as indicated by a decline in cash flows or a rating agency downgrade to below investment grade and the estimated recovery period. OTTI write-downs of PPS are recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the cost basis and fair value of the security. Based upon the factors considered in our OTTI evaluation, we believe our investments in PPS currently rated investment grade will be fully realized and, accordingly, have not recognized OTTI on such securities.
For marketable equity securities other than PPS, OTTI evaluations focus on whether evidence exists that supports recovery of the unrealized loss within a timeframe consistent with temporary impairment. This evaluation considers the severity of and length of time fair value is below cost, our intent and ability to hold the security until forecasted recovery of the


142
Wells Fargo & Company
 

fair value of the security, and the investee's financial condition, capital strength, and near-term prospects.
We recognize realized gains and losses on the sale of investment securities in noninterest income using the specific identification method.
Unamortized premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income over the contractual life of the security using the interest method. As principal repayments are received on securities (i.e., primarily mortgage-backed securities (MBS)) a proportionate amount of the related premium or discount is recognized in income so that the effective interest rate on the remaining portion of the security continues unchanged.
 
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES Debt securities for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are reported at historical cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. We recognize OTTI when there is a decline in fair value and we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the debt security. The amortized cost is written-down to fair value with the credit loss component recorded to earnings and the remaining component recognized in OCI. The OTTI assessment related to whether we expect recovery of the amortized cost basis and determination of any credit loss component recognized in earnings for held-to-maturity securities is the same as described for available-for-sale securities. Security transfers to the held-to-maturity classification are recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses from the transfer of available-for-sale securities continue to be reported in cumulative OCI and are amortized into earnings over the remaining life of the security using the effective interest method.
 
NONMARKETABLE EQUITY INVESTMENTS Nonmarketable equity investments include low income housing tax credit investments, equity securities that are not publicly traded and securities acquired for various purposes, such as to meet regulatory requirements (for example, Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock). We have elected the fair value option for some of these investments with the remainder of these investments accounted for under the cost or equity method, which we review at least quarterly for possible OTTI. Our review typically includes an analysis of the facts and circumstances of each investment, the expectations for the investment's cash flows and capital needs, the viability of its business model and our exit strategy. We reduce the asset value when we consider declines in value to be other than temporary. We recognize the estimated loss as a loss from equity investments in noninterest income. 
 
Securities Purchased and Sold Agreements
Securities purchased under resale agreements and securities sold under repurchase agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the acquisition or sale price plus accrued interest. We monitor the fair value of securities purchased and sold and obtain collateral from or return it to counterparties when appropriate. These financing transactions do not create material credit risk given the collateral provided and the related monitoring process.
 
Mortgages and Loans Held for Sale
Mortgages held for sale (MHFS) include commercial and residential mortgages originated for sale and securitization in the secondary market, which is our principal market, or for sale as whole loans. We have elected the fair value option for substantially all residential MHFS (see Note 17 (Fair Values of
 
Assets and Liabilities)). The remaining residential MHFS are held at the lower of cost or fair value (LOCOM) and are valued on an aggregate portfolio basis. Commercial MHFS are held at LOCOM and are valued on an individual loan basis.
Loans held for sale (LHFS) are carried at LOCOM. Generally, consumer loans are valued on an aggregate portfolio basis, and commercial loans are valued on an individual loan basis.
Gains and losses on MHFS are recorded in mortgage banking noninterest income. Gains and losses on LHFS are recorded in other noninterest income. Direct loan origination costs and fees for MHFS and LHFS under the fair value option are recognized in income at origination. For MHFS and LHFS recorded at LOCOM, loan costs and fees are deferred at origination and are recognized in income at time of sale. Interest income on MHFS and LHFS is calculated based upon the note rate of the loan and is recorded to interest income.
Our lines of business are authorized to originate held-for-investment loans that meet or exceed established loan product profitability criteria, including minimum positive net interest margin spreads in excess of funding costs. When a determination is made at the time of commitment to originate loans as held for investment, it is our intent to hold these loans to maturity or for the “foreseeable future,” subject to periodic review under our management evaluation processes, including corporate asset/liability management. In determining the “foreseeable future” for loans, management considers (1) the current economic environment and market conditions, (2) our business strategy and current business plans, (3) the nature and type of the loan receivable, including its expected life, and (4) our current financial condition and liquidity demands. If subsequent changes, including changes in interest rates, significantly impact the ongoing profitability of certain loan products, we may subsequently change our intent to hold these loans, and we would take actions to sell such loans. Upon such management determination, we immediately transfer these loans to the MHFS or LHFS portfolio at LOCOM.
 
Loans
Loans are reported at their outstanding principal balances net of any unearned income, cumulative charge-offs, unamortized deferred fees and costs on originated loans and unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans. PCI loans are reported net of any remaining purchase accounting adjustments. See the “Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans” section in this Note for our accounting policy for PCI loans.
Unearned income, deferred fees and costs, and discounts and premiums are amortized to interest income over the contractual life of the loan using the interest method. Loan commitment fees are generally deferred and amortized into noninterest income on a straight-line basis over the commitment period.
We have certain private label and co-brand credit card loans through a program agreement that involves our active participation in the operating activity of the program with a third party. We share in the economic results of the loans subject to this agreement. We consider the program to be a collaborative arrangement and therefore report our share of revenue and losses on a net basis in interest income for loans, other noninterest income and provision for credit losses as applicable. Our net share of revenue from this activity represented less than 1% of our total revenues for 2015 .
Loans also include direct financing leases that are recorded at the aggregate of minimum lease payments receivable plus the estimated residual value of the leased property, less unearned


 
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income. Leveraged leases, which are a form of direct financing leases, are recorded net of related non-recourse debt. Leasing income is recognized as a constant percentage of outstanding lease financing balances over the lease terms in interest income.
 
NONACCRUAL AND PAST DUE LOANS We generally place loans on nonaccrual status when:
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the full and timely collection of interest or principal becomes uncertain (generally based on an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any);
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they are 90 days ( 120 days with respect to real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgages) past due for interest or principal, unless both well-secured and in the process of collection;
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part of the principal balance has been charged off;
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for junior lien mortgages, we have evidence that the related first lien mortgage may be 120 days past due or in the process of foreclosure regardless of the junior lien delinquency status; or
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consumer real estate and auto loans are discharged in bankruptcy, regardless of their delinquency status.
 
PCI loans are written down at acquisition to fair value using an estimate of cash flows deemed to be collectible. Accordingly, such loans are no longer classified as nonaccrual even though they may be contractually past due because we expect to fully collect the new carrying values of such loans (that is, the new cost basis arising out of purchase accounting).
When we place a loan on nonaccrual status, we reverse the accrued unpaid interest receivable against interest income and suspend amortization of any net deferred fees. If the ultimate collectability of the recorded loan balance is in doubt on a nonaccrual loan, the cost recovery method is used and cash collected is applied to first reduce the carrying value of the loan. Otherwise, interest income may be recognized to the extent cash is received. Generally, we return a loan to accrual status when all delinquent interest and principal become current under the terms of the loan agreement and collectability of remaining principal and interest is no longer doubtful.
For modified loans, we re-underwrite at the time of a restructuring to determine if there is sufficient evidence of sustained repayment capacity based on the borrower’s financial strength, including documented income, debt to income ratios and other factors. If the borrower has demonstrated performance under the previous terms and the underwriting process shows the capacity to continue to perform under the restructured terms, the loan will generally remain in accruing status. When a loan classified as a troubled debt restructuring (TDR) performs in accordance with its modified terms, the loan either continues to accrue interest (for performing loans) or will return to accrual status after the borrower demonstrates a sustained period of performance (generally six consecutive months of payments, or equivalent, inclusive of consecutive payments made prior to the modification). Loans will be placed on nonaccrual status and a corresponding charge-off is recorded if we believe it is probable that principal and interest contractually due under the modified terms of the agreement will not be collectible.
Our loans are considered past due when contractually required principal or interest payments have not been made on the due dates.
 
LOAN CHARGE-OFF POLICIES For commercial loans, we generally fully charge off or charge down to net realizable value
 
(fair value of collateral, less estimated costs to sell) for loans secured by collateral when:
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management judges the loan to be uncollectible;
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repayment is deemed to be protracted beyond reasonable time frames;
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the loan has been classified as a loss by either our internal loan review process or our banking regulatory agencies;
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the customer has filed bankruptcy and the loss becomes evident owing to a lack of assets; or
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the loan is 180 days past due unless both well-secured and in the process of collection.
 
For consumer loans, we fully charge off or charge down to net realizable value when deemed uncollectible due to bankruptcy discharge or other factors, or no later than reaching a defined number of days past due, as follows:
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1-4 family first and junior lien mortgages – We generally charge down to net realizable value when the loan is 180 days past due.
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Auto loans – We generally fully charge off when the loan is 120 days past due.
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Credit card loans – We generally fully charge off when the loan is 180 days past due.
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Unsecured loans (closed end) – We generally fully charge off when the loan is 120 days past due.
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Unsecured loans (open end) – We generally fully charge off when the loan is 180 days past due.
•
Other secured loans – We generally fully or partially charge down to net realizable value when the loan is 120 days past due.
 
IMPAIRED LOANS We consider a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, we determine that we will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the loan contract, including scheduled interest payments. This evaluation is generally based on delinquency information, an assessment of the borrower’s financial condition and the adequacy of collateral, if any. Our impaired loans predominantly include loans on nonaccrual status for commercial and industrial, commercial real estate (CRE) and any loans modified in a TDR, on both accrual and nonaccrual status.
When we identify a loan as impaired, we generally measure the impairment, if any, based on the difference between the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premium or discount) and the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. When the value of an impaired loan is calculated by discounting expected cash flows, interest income is recognized using the loan’s effective interest rate over the remaining life of the loan. When collateral is the sole source of repayment for the impaired loan, rather than the borrower’s income or other sources of repayment, we charge down to net realizable value.
 
TROUBLED DEBT RESTRUCTURINGS In situations where, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, we grant a concession for other than an insignificant period of time to the borrower that we would not otherwise consider, the related loan is classified as a TDR. These modified terms may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, term extensions, payment forbearance and other actions intended to minimize our economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. For modifications where we forgive principal, the entire amount of such principal forgiveness is immediately charged off. Loans classified as TDRs, including


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loans in trial payment periods (trial modifications), are considered impaired loans. Other than resolutions such as foreclosures, sales and transfers to held-for-sale, we may remove loans held for investment from TDR classification, but only if they have been refinanced or restructured at market terms and qualify as a new loan.
 
PURCHASED CREDIT-IMPAIRED LOANS Loans acquired with evidence of credit deterioration since their origination and where it is probable that we will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments are PCI loans. PCI loans are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition, and the historical allowance for credit losses related to these loans is not carried over. Some loans that otherwise meet the definition as credit-impaired are specifically excluded from the PCI loan portfolios, such as revolving loans where the borrower still has revolving privileges.
Evidence of credit quality deterioration as of the purchase date may include statistics such as past due and nonaccrual status, commercial risk ratings, recent borrower credit scores and recent loan-to-value percentages. Generally, acquired loans that meet our definition for nonaccrual status are considered to be credit-impaired.
PCI loans may be aggregated into pools based on common risk characteristics. Each pool is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an aggregate expectation of cash flows. Generally, commercial PCI loans are accounted for as individual loans and consumer PCI loans are included in pools.
Accounting for PCI loans involves estimating fair value at acquisition using the principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected discounted at the prevailing market rate of interest. The excess of cash flows expected to be collected over the carrying value (estimated fair value at acquisition date) is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income using an effective yield method over the remaining life of the loan, or pool of loans, in situations where there is a reasonable expectation about the timing and amount of cash flows to be collected. The difference between contractually required payments and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition, considering the impact of prepayments, is referred to as the nonaccretable difference.
Subsequent to acquisition, we regularly evaluate our estimates of cash flows expected to be collected. If we have probable decreases in cash flows expected to be collected (other than due to decreases in interest rate indices and changes in prepayment assumptions), we charge the provision for credit losses, resulting in an increase to the allowance for loan losses. If we have probable and significant increases in cash flows expected to be collected, we first reverse any previously established allowance for loan losses and then increase interest income as a prospective yield adjustment over the remaining life of the loan, or pool of loans. Estimates of cash flows are impacted by changes in interest rate indices for variable rate loans and prepayment assumptions, both of which are treated as prospective yield adjustments included in interest income.
Resolutions of loans may include sales of loans to third parties, receipt of payments in settlement with the borrower, or foreclosure of the collateral. For individual PCI loans, gains or losses on sales to third parties are included in noninterest income, and gains or losses as a result of a settlement with the borrower are included in interest income. Our policy is to remove an individual loan from a pool based on comparing the amount received from its resolution with its contractual amount. Any difference between these amounts is absorbed by the
 
nonaccretable difference for the entire pool. This removal method assumes that the amount received from resolution approximates pool performance expectations. The remaining accretable yield balance is unaffected and any material change in remaining effective yield caused by this removal method is addressed by our quarterly cash flow evaluation process for each pool. For loans that are resolved by payment in full, there is no release of the nonaccretable difference for the pool because there is no difference between the amount received at resolution and the contractual amount of the loan. Modified PCI loans are not removed from a pool even if those loans would otherwise be deemed TDRs. Modified PCI loans that are accounted for individually are considered TDRs and removed from PCI accounting if there has been a concession granted in excess of the original nonaccretable difference. We include these TDRs in our impaired loans.
 
FORECLOSED ASSETS   Foreclosed assets obtained through our lending activities primarily include real estate. Generally, loans have been written down to their net realizable value prior to foreclosure. Any further reduction to their net realizable value is recorded with a charge to the allowance for credit losses at foreclosure. We allow up to 90 days after foreclosure to finalize determination of net realizable value. Thereafter, changes in net realizable value are recorded to noninterest expense. The net realizable value of these assets is reviewed and updated periodically depending on the type of property. Certain government-guaranteed mortgage loans upon foreclosure are included in accounts receivable, not foreclosed assets. These receivables were loans predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA and are measured based on the balance expected to be recovered from the guarantor.
 
ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES (ACL) The allowance for credit losses is management’s estimate of credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio, including unfunded credit commitments, at the balance sheet date. We have an established process to determine the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses that assesses the losses inherent in our portfolio and related unfunded credit commitments. We develop and document our allowance methodology at the portfolio segment level – commercial loan portfolio and consumer loan portfolio. While we attribute portions of the allowance to our respective commercial and consumer portfolio segments, the entire allowance is available to absorb credit losses inherent in the total loan portfolio and unfunded credit commitments.
Our process involves procedures to appropriately consider the unique risk characteristics of our commercial and consumer loan portfolio segments. For each portfolio segment, losses are estimated collectively for groups of loans with similar characteristics, individually or pooled for impaired loans or, for PCI loans, based on the changes in cash flows expected to be collected.
Our allowance levels are influenced by loan volumes, loan grade migration or delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as economic conditions.
 
COMMERCIAL PORTFOLIO SEGMENT ACL METHODOLOGY Generally, commercial loans are assessed for estimated losses by grading each loan using various risk factors as identified through periodic reviews. Our estimation approach for the commercial portfolio reflects the estimated probability of default in accordance with the borrower’s financial strength and the severity of loss in the event of default, considering the quality of


 
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any underlying collateral. Probability of default and severity at the time of default are statistically derived through historical observations of default and losses after default within each credit risk rating. These estimates are adjusted as appropriate based on additional analysis of long-term average loss experience compared to previously forecasted losses, external loss data or other risks identified from current economic conditions and credit quality trends. The estimated probability of default and severity at the time of default are applied to loan equivalent exposures to estimate losses for unfunded credit commitments.
The allowance also includes an amount for the estimated impairment on nonaccrual commercial loans and commercial loans modified in a TDR, whether on accrual or nonaccrual status.
 
CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SEGMENT ACL METHODOLOGY For consumer loans that are not identified as a TDR, we determine the allowance predominantly on a collective basis utilizing forecasted losses to represent our best estimate of inherent loss. We pool loans, generally by product types with similar risk characteristics, such as residential real estate mortgages and credit cards. As appropriate and to achieve greater accuracy, we may further stratify selected portfolios by sub-product, origination channel, vintage, loss type, geographic location and other predictive characteristics. Models designed for each pool are utilized to develop the loss estimates. We use assumptions for these pools in our forecast models, such as historic delinquency and default, loss severity, home price trends, unemployment trends, and other key economic variables that may influence the frequency and severity of losses in the pool.
In determining the appropriate allowance attributable to our residential mortgage portfolio, we take into consideration portfolios determined to be at elevated risk, such as junior lien mortgages behind delinquent first lien mortgages and junior lien lines of credit subject to near term significant payment increases. We incorporate the default rates and high severity of loss for these higher risk portfolios, including the impact of our established loan modification programs. Accordingly, the loss content associated with the effects of loan modifications and higher risk portfolios has been captured in our allowance methodology.
We separately estimate impairment for consumer loans that have been modified in a TDR (including trial modifications), whether on accrual or nonaccrual status.
 
OTHER ACL MATTERS   The allowance for credit losses for both portfolio segments includes an amount for imprecision or uncertainty that may change from period to period. This amount represents management’s judgment of risks inherent in the processes and assumptions used in establishing the allowance. This imprecision considers economic environmental factors, modeling assumptions and performance, process risk, and other subjective factors, including industry trends and emerging risk assessments.
 
Securitizations and Beneficial Interests
In certain asset securitization transactions that meet the applicable criteria to be accounted for as a sale, assets are sold to an entity referred to as a Special Purpose Entity (SPE), which then issues beneficial interests in the form of senior and subordinated interests collateralized by the assets. In some cases, we may retain beneficial interests issued by the entity. Additionally, from time to time, we may also re-securitize certain assets in a new securitization transaction.
 
The assets and liabilities transferred to an SPE are excluded from our consolidated balance sheet if the transfer qualifies as a sale and we are not required to consolidate the SPE.
For transfers of financial assets recorded as sales, we recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained (including beneficial interests) and liabilities incurred. We record a gain or loss in noninterest income for the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets sold. Fair values are based on quoted market prices, quoted market prices for similar assets, or if market prices are not available, then the fair value is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses with assumptions for credit losses, prepayments and discount rates that are corroborated by and verified against market observable data, where possible. Retained interests and liabilities incurred from securitizations with off-balance sheet entities, including SPEs and VIEs, where we are not the primary beneficiary, are classified as investment securities, trading account assets, loans, MSRs or other liabilities (including liabilities for mortgage repurchase losses) and are accounted for as described herein.
 
Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs)
We recognize the rights to service mortgage loans for others, or MSRs, as assets whether we purchase the MSRs or the MSRs result from a sale or securitization of loans we originate (asset transfers). We initially record all of our MSRs at fair value. Subsequently, residential loan MSRs are carried at fair value. All of our MSRs related to our commercial mortgage loans are subsequently measured at LOCOM. The valuation and sensitivity of MSRs is discussed further in Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities), Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) and Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities).
For MSRs carried at fair value, changes in fair value are reported in noninterest income in the period in which the change occurs. MSRs subsequently measured at LOCOM are amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing income. The amortization of MSRs is reported in noninterest income, analyzed monthly and adjusted to reflect changes in prepayment speeds, as well as other factors.
MSRs accounted for at LOCOM are periodically evaluated for impairment based on the fair value of those assets. For purposes of impairment evaluation and measurement, we stratify MSRs based on the predominant risk characteristics of the underlying loans, including investor and product type. If, by individual stratum, the carrying amount of these MSRs exceeds fair value, a valuation allowance is established. The valuation reserve is adjusted as the fair value changes.
 
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Capital leases, where we are the lessee, are included in premises and equipment at the capitalized amount less accumulated amortization.
We primarily use the straight-line method of depreciation and amortization. Estimated useful lives range up to 40 years for buildings, up to 10 years for furniture and equipment, and the shorter of the estimated useful life (up to 8 years ) or the lease term for leasehold improvements. We amortize capitalized leased assets on a straight-line basis over the lives of the respective leases.
 
Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
Goodwill is recorded in business combinations under the purchase method of accounting when the purchase price is


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higher than the fair value of net assets, including identifiable intangible assets.
We assess goodwill for impairment at a reporting unit level on an annual basis or more frequently in certain circumstances. We have determined that our reporting units are one level below the operating segments. At the time we acquire a business, we allocate goodwill to applicable reporting units based on their relative fair value, and if we have a significant business reorganization, we may reallocate the goodwill. We have the option of performing a qualitative assessment of goodwill. We may also elect to bypass the qualitative test and proceed directly to a quantitative test.
If we perform a qualitative assessment of goodwill to test for impairment and conclude it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is greater than its carrying amount, quantitative tests are not required. However, if we determine it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, then we complete a quantitative assessment to determine if there is goodwill impairment. We apply various quantitative valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow and earnings multiple approaches, to determine the estimated fair value, which is compared to the carrying value of each reporting unit. If the fair value is less than the carrying amount, an additional test is required to measure the amount of impairment. We recognize impairment losses as a charge to noninterest expense (unless related to discontinued operations) and an adjustment to the carrying value of the goodwill asset. Subsequent reversals of goodwill impairment are prohibited.
We amortize core deposit and other customer relationship intangibles on an accelerated basis over useful lives not exceeding 10 years. We review such intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment is indicated if the sum of undiscounted estimated future net cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset. Impairment is permanently recognized by writing down the asset to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value.
 
Operating Lease Assets
Operating lease rental income for leased assets is recognized in other income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Related depreciation expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life, considering the estimated residual value of the leased asset. The useful life may be adjusted to the term of the lease depending on our plans for the asset after the lease term. On a periodic basis, leased assets are reviewed for impairment. Impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of leased assets exceeds fair value and is not recoverable. The carrying amount of leased assets is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the lease payments and the estimated residual value upon the eventual disposition of the equipment.
 
Liability for Mortgage Loan Repurchase Losses
In connection with our sales and securitization of residential mortgage loans to various parties, we establish a mortgage repurchase liability, initially at fair value, related to various representations and warranties that reflect management’s estimate of losses for loans for which we could have a repurchase obligation, whether or not we currently service those loans, based on a combination of factors. Such factors include default expectations, expected investor repurchase demands (influenced by current and expected mortgage loan file requests and mortgage insurance rescission notices, as well as estimated
 
levels of origination defects) and appeals success rates (where the investor rescinds the demand based on a cure of the defect or acknowledges that the loan satisfies the investor’s applicable representations and warranties), reimbursement by correspondent and other third-party originators, and projected loss severity. We continually update our mortgage repurchase liability estimate during the life of the loans.
The liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses is included in other liabilities. For additional information on our repurchase liability, see Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities).
 
Pension Accounting
We account for our defined benefit pension plans using an actuarial model. Two principal assumptions in determining net periodic pension cost are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets.
A discount rate is used to estimate the present value of our future pension benefit obligations. We use a consistent methodology to determine the discount rate based upon the yields on multiple portfolios of bonds with maturity dates that closely match the estimated timing and amounts of the expected benefit payments for our plans. Such portfolios are derived from a broad-based universe of high quality corporate bonds as of the measurement date.
Our determination of the reasonableness of our expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is highly quantitative by nature. We evaluate the current asset allocations and expected returns under two sets of conditions: (1) projected returns using several forward-looking capital market assumptions, and (2) historical returns for the main asset classes dating back to 1970 or the earliest period for which historical data was readily available for the asset classes included. Using long-term historical data allows us to capture multiple economic environments, which we believe is relevant when using historical returns. We place greater emphasis on the forward-looking return and risk assumptions than on historical results. We use the resulting projections to derive a base line expected rate of return and risk level for the Cash Balance Plan’s prescribed asset mix. We evaluate the portfolio based on: (1) the established target asset allocations over short term ( one -year) and longer term ( ten -year) investment horizons, and (2) the range of potential outcomes over these horizons within specific standard deviations. We perform the above analyses to assess the reasonableness of our expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. We consider the expected rate of return to be a long-term average view of expected returns. The use of an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may cause us to recognize pension income returns that are greater or less than the actual returns of plan assets in any given year. Differences between expected and actual returns in each year, if any, are included in our net actuarial gain or loss amount, which is recognized in OCI. We generally amortize net actuarial gain or loss in excess of a 5% corridor from accumulated OCI into net periodic pension cost over the estimated average remaining participation period, which at December 31, 2015 , is 20 years . See Note 20 (Employee Benefits and Other Expenses) for additional information on our pension accounting.
 
Income Taxes
We file consolidated and separate company federal income tax returns, foreign tax returns and various combined and separate company state tax returns.
We evaluate two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense represents our estimated taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period and


 
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includes income tax expense related to our uncertain tax positions. We determine deferred income taxes using the balance sheet method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities and recognizes enacted changes in tax rates and laws in the period in which they occur. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized subject to management's judgment that realization is “more likely than not.” Uncertain tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize. An uncertain tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that management believes has a greater than 50% likelihood of realization upon settlement. Tax benefits not meeting our realization criteria represent unrecognized tax benefits. Foreign taxes paid are generally applied as credits to reduce federal income taxes payable. We account for interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
We have stock-based employee compensation plans as more fully discussed in Note 19 (Common Stock and Stock Plans). Our Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan provides for awards of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share rights (RSRs), performance share awards (PSAs) and stock awards without restrictions. For most awards, we measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments, such as stock options, RSRs or PSAs, based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. The cost is normally recognized in our income statement over the vesting period of the award; awards with graded vesting are expensed on a straight-line method. Awards that continue to vest after retirement are expensed over the shorter of the period of time between the grant date and the final vesting period or between the grant date and when a team member becomes retirement eligible; awards to team members who are retirement eligible at the grant date are subject to immediate expensing upon grant.
Beginning in 2013, certain RSRs and all PSAs granted include discretionary performance-based vesting conditions and are subject to variable accounting. For these awards, the associated compensation expense fluctuates with changes in our stock price. For PSAs, compensation expense also fluctuates based on the estimated outcome of meeting the performance conditions. 
 
Earnings Per Common Share
We compute earnings per common share by dividing net income (after deducting dividends on preferred stock) by the average number of common shares outstanding during the year. We compute diluted earnings per common share by dividing net income (after deducting dividends on preferred stock) by the average number of common shares outstanding during the year plus the effect of common stock equivalents (for example, stock options, restricted share rights, convertible debentures and warrants) that are dilutive.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
We use fair value measurements in our fair value disclosures and to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, such as trading assets, or on a nonrecurring basis, such as measuring impairment on assets carried at amortized cost.
 
 
DETERMINATION OF FAIR VALUE We base our fair values on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. These fair value measurements are based on exit prices and determined by maximizing the use of observable inputs. However, for certain instruments we must utilize unobservable inputs in determining fair value due to the lack of observable inputs in the market, which requires greater judgment in measuring fair value.
In instances where there is limited or no observable market data, fair value measurements for assets and liabilities are based primarily upon our own estimates or combination of our own estimates and third-party vendor or broker pricing, and the measurements are often calculated based on current pricing for products we offer or issue, the economic and competitive environment, the characteristics of the asset or liability and other such factors. As with any valuation technique used to estimate fair value, changes in underlying assumptions used, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows, could significantly affect the results of current or future values. Accordingly, these fair value estimates may not be realized in an actual sale or immediate settlement of the asset or liability.
We incorporate lack of liquidity into our fair value measurement based on the type of asset or liability measured and the valuation methodology used. For example, for certain residential MHFS and certain securities where the significant inputs have become unobservable due to illiquid markets and vendor or broker pricing is not used, we use a discounted cash flow technique to measure fair value. This technique incorporates forecasting of expected cash flows (adjusted for credit loss assumptions and estimated prepayment speeds) discounted at an appropriate market discount rate to reflect the lack of liquidity in the market that a market participant would consider. For other securities where vendor or broker pricing is used, we use either unadjusted broker quotes or vendor prices or vendor or broker prices adjusted by weighting them with internal discounted cash flow techniques to measure fair value. These unadjusted vendor or broker prices inherently reflect any lack of liquidity in the market, as the fair value measurement represents an exit price from a market participant viewpoint.
Where markets are inactive and transactions are not orderly, transaction or quoted prices for assets or liabilities in inactive markets may require adjustment due to the uncertainty of whether the underlying transactions are orderly. For items that use price quotes in inactive markets, we analyze the degree of market inactivity and distressed transactions to determine the appropriate adjustment to the price quotes.
We continually assess the level and volume of market activity in our investment security classes in determining adjustments, if any, to price quotes. Given market conditions can change over time, our determination of which securities markets are considered active or inactive can change. If we determine a market to be inactive, the degree to which price quotes require adjustment, can also change. See Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) for discussion of the fair value hierarchy and valuation methodologies applied to financial instruments to determine fair value.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities
We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate the derivative as (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability, including hedges of foreign currency exposure (“fair value hedge”), (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a


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recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”), or (3) held for trading, customer accommodation or asset/liability risk management purposes, including economic hedges not qualifying for hedge accounting. For a fair value hedge, we record changes in the fair value of the derivative and, to the extent that it is effective, changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk, in current period earnings in the same financial statement category as the hedged item. For a cash flow hedge, we record changes in the fair value of the derivative to the extent that it is effective in OCI, with any ineffectiveness recorded in current period earnings. We subsequently reclassify these changes in fair value to net income in the same period(s) that the hedged transaction affects net income in the same financial statement category as the hedged item. For derivatives not designated as a fair value or cash flow hedge, we report changes in the fair values in current period noninterest income.
For fair value and cash flow hedges qualifying for hedge accounting, we formally document at inception the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, our risk management objective, strategy and our evaluation of effectiveness for our hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific forecasted transactions. Periodically, as required, we also formally assess whether the derivative we designated in each hedging relationship is expected to be and has been highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged item using the regression analysis method.
We discontinue hedge accounting prospectively when (1) a derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of a hedged item, (2) a derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, (3) we elect to discontinue the designation of a derivative as a hedge, or (4) in a cash flow hedge, a derivative is de-designated because it is not probable that a forecasted transaction will occur.
When we discontinue fair value hedge accounting, we no longer adjust the previously hedged asset or liability for changes in fair value, and cumulative adjustments to the hedged item are accounted for in the same manner as other components of the carrying amount of the asset or liability. If the derivative continues to be held after fair value hedge accounting ceases, we carry the derivative on the balance sheet at its fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings.
When we discontinue cash flow hedge accounting and it is probable that the forecasted transaction will occur, the accumulated amount reported in OCI at the de-designation date continues to be reported in OCI until the forecasted transaction affects earnings. If cash flow hedge accounting is discontinued and it is probable the forecasted transaction will not occur, the accumulated amount reported in OCI at the de-designation date is immediately recognized in earnings. If the derivative continues to be held after cash flow hedge accounting ceases, we carry the derivative on the balance sheet at its fair value with future changes in fair value included in earnings.
We may purchase or originate financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative. At inception of the financial instrument, we assess (1) if the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the financial instrument (host contract), (2) if the financial instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative and the host contract is not measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings, and (3) if a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative. If the
 
embedded derivative meets all of these conditions, we separate it from the host contract by recording the bifurcated derivative at fair value and the remaining host contract at the difference between the basis of the hybrid instrument and the fair value of the bifurcated derivative. The bifurcated derivative is carried at fair value with changes recorded in current period earnings.
By using derivatives, we are exposed to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that counterparties to the derivative contracts do not perform as expected. If a counterparty fails to perform, our counterparty credit risk is equal to the amount reported as a derivative asset on our balance sheet. The amounts reported as a derivative asset are derivative contracts in a gain position, and to the extent subject to legally enforceable master netting arrangements, net of derivatives in a loss position with the same counterparty and cash collateral received. We minimize counterparty credit risk through credit approvals, limits, monitoring procedures, executing master netting arrangements and obtaining collateral, where appropriate. To the extent derivatives subject to master netting arrangements meet the applicable requirements, including determining the legal enforceability of the arrangement, it is our policy to present derivative balances and related cash collateral amounts net on the balance sheet. Counterparty credit risk related to derivatives is considered in determining fair value and our assessment of hedge effectiveness.
 
Private Share Repurchases
During 2015 and 2014 , we repurchased approximately 64 million shares and 66 million shares of our common stock, respectively, under private forward repurchase contracts. We enter into these transactions with unrelated third parties to complement our open-market common stock repurchase strategies, to allow us to manage our share repurchases in a manner consistent with our capital plans, currently submitted under the 2015 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR), and to provide an economic benefit to the Company.
Our payments to the counterparties for these private share repurchase contracts are recorded in permanent equity in the quarter paid and are not subject to re-measurement. The classification of the up-front payments as permanent equity assures that we have appropriate repurchase timing consistent with our 2015 capital plan, which contemplated a fixed dollar amount available per quarter for share repurchases pursuant to Federal Reserve Board (FRB) supervisory guidance. In return, the counterparty agrees to deliver a variable number of shares based on a per share discount to the volume-weighted average stock price over the contract period. There are no scenarios where the contracts would not either physically settle in shares or allow us to choose the settlement method.
In fourth quarter 2015 , we entered into a private forward repurchase contract and paid $500 million to an unrelated third party. This contract settled in first quarter 2016 for 9.2 million shares of common stock. At December 31, 2014 , we had a $750 million private forward repurchase contract outstanding that settled in first quarter 2015 for 14.3 million shares of common stock. Our total number of outstanding shares of common stock is not reduced until settlement of the private share repurchase contract.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
149


Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION Noncash activities are presented in Table 1.1 , including information on transfers affecting MHFS, LHFS, and MSRs.


Table 1.1: Supplemental Cash Flow Information
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Trading assets retained from securitizations of MHFS
$
46,291

 
28,604

 
47,198

Capitalization of MSRs from sale of MHFS
1,736

 
1,302

 
3,616

Transfers from loans to MHFS
9,205

 
11,021

 
7,610

Transfers from loans to LHFS
90

 
9,849

 
274

Transfers from loans to foreclosed and other assets
3,274

 
4,094

 
4,470

Transfers from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity securities
4,972

 
1,810

 
6,042


SUBSEQUENT EVENTS We have evaluated the effects of events that have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2015 , and there have been no material events that would require recognition in our 2015 consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements, except for a business acquisition completed on January 1, 2016, as discussed in Note 2 (Business Combinations). Additionally, on February 1, 2016, and subsequent to the announcement of our 2015 financial results on January 15, 2016, we reached an agreement in principle with the Federal Government to pay $1.2 billion to resolve certain civil claims related to our Federal Housing Administration lending activities. This agreement was considered to be a recognizable subsequent event under GAAP and required adjustment to our December 31, 2015 consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, we provided for an additional legal accrual that increased operating losses within noninterest expense by $200 million and, as a result, reduced net income for the year ended December 31, 2015, by $134 million , or $0.03 per common share. See Note 15 (Legal Actions) for additional information.




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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 2:   Business Combinations
We regularly explore opportunities to acquire financial services companies and businesses. Generally, we do not make a public announcement about an acquisition opportunity until a definitive agreement has been signed. For information on additional contingent consideration related to acquisitions, which is considered to be a guarantee, see Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral).
During 2015 , we completed an acquisition of a small investment intermediary and purchased total assets of $3 million . We had two acquisitions pending as of December 31, 2015 . The first acquisition, which closed on January 1, 2016, was the purchase of $4.0 billion of operating and capital leases associated with GE Railcar Services, which included 77,000  railcars and just over 1,000 locomotives. The second
 
pending acquisition is the purchase of GE Capital's Commercial Distribution Finance and Vendor Finance businesses. The acquisition is expected to involve total assets of approximately $31 billion , and is expected to close in two phases. The North American portion, which represents approximately 90% of total assets to be acquired, is expected to close late in the first quarter of 2016. The international assets are expected to close in the second quarter of 2016. Approximately 2,900 full-time employees are expected to join Wells Fargo as a result of this transaction.
During 2014 , we completed one acquisition of a railcar and locomotive leasing business with combined total assets of $422 million . Additionally, no business combinations were completed in 2013 .




 
Wells Fargo & Company
151


Note 3:   Cash, Loan and Dividend Restrictions
Federal Reserve Board (FRB) regulations require that each of our subsidiary banks maintain reserve balances on deposit with the Federal Reserve Banks. The total daily average required reserve balance for all our subsidiary banks was $10.6 billion in 2015 and $12.9 billion in 2014 .
Federal law restricts the amount and the terms of both credit and non-credit transactions between a bank and its nonbank affiliates. They may not exceed 10% of the bank's capital and surplus (which for this purpose represents Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital, as calculated under the risk-based capital (RBC) guidelines, plus the balance of the allowance for credit losses excluded from Tier 2 capital) with any single nonbank affiliate and 20% of the bank's capital and surplus with all its nonbank affiliates. Transactions that are extensions of credit may require collateral to be held to provide added security to the bank. For further discussion of RBC, see Note 26 (Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements) in this Report.
Dividends paid by our subsidiary banks are subject to various federal and state regulatory limitations. Dividends that may be paid by a national bank without the express approval of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) are limited to that bank's retained net profits for the preceding two calendar years plus retained net profits up to the date of any dividend declaration in the current calendar year. Retained net profits, as defined by the OCC, consist of net income less dividends declared during the period. 
 
We also have a state-chartered subsidiary bank that is subject to state regulations that limit dividends. Under these provisions and regulatory limitations, our national and state-chartered subsidiary banks could have declared additional dividends of $17.8 billion at December 31, 2015 , without obtaining prior regulatory approval. We have elected to retain capital at our national and state-chartered subsidiary banks to meet internal capital policy minimums and regulatory requirements associated with the implementation of Basel III. Our nonbank subsidiaries are also limited by certain federal and state statutory provisions and regulations covering the amount of dividends that may be paid in any given year. Based on retained earnings at December 31, 2015 , our nonbank subsidiaries could have declared additional dividends of $9.5 billion at December 31, 2015 , without obtaining prior approval.
The FRB's Capital Plan Rule (codified at 12 CFR 225.8 of Regulation Y) establishes capital planning and prior notice and approval requirements for capital distributions including dividends by certain bank holding companies. The FRB has also published guidance regarding its supervisory expectations for capital planning, including capital policies regarding the process relating to common stock dividend and repurchase decisions in SR Letter 15-18. The effect of this guidance is to require the approval of the FRB (or specifically under the Capital Plan Rule, a notice of non-objection) for the Company to repurchase or redeem common or perpetual preferred stock as well as to raise the per share quarterly dividend from its current level of $0.375  per share as declared by the Company’s Board of Directors on January 26, 2016, payable on March 1, 2016.


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Wells Fargo & Company
 



Note 4:    Federal Funds Sold, Securities Purchased under Resale Agreements and Other   Short-Term Investments

Table 4.1 provides the detail of federal funds sold, securities purchased under short-term resale agreements (generally less than one year) and other short-term investments. The majority of interest-earning deposits at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , were held at the Federal Reserve.

Table 4.1: Fed Funds Sold and Other Short-Term Investments
(in millions)
Dec 31,
2015

 
Dec 31,
2014

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements
$
45,828

 
36,856

Interest-earning deposits
220,409

 
219,220

Other short-term investments
3,893

 
2,353

 Total
$
270,130

 
258,429


 
As part of maintaining our memberships in certain clearing organizations, we are required to stand ready to provide liquidity meant to sustain market clearing activity in the event unforeseen events occur or are deemed likely to occur. This includes commitments we have entered into to purchase securities under resale agreements from a central clearing organization that, at its option, require us to provide funding under such agreements. We do not have any outstanding amounts funded, and the amount of our unfunded contractual commitment was $2.2 billion and $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
We have classified securities purchased under long-term resale agreements (generally one year or more), which totaled $20.1 billion and $14.9 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, in loans. For additional information on the collateral we receive from other entities under resale agreements and securities borrowings, see the “Offsetting of Resale and Repurchase Agreements and Securities Borrowing and Lending Agreements” section of Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral).


 
Wells Fargo & Company
153


Note 5:   Investment Securities (continued)

Note 5:   Investment Securities
Table 5.1 provides the amortized cost and fair value by major categories of available-for-sale securities, which are carried at fair value, and held-to-maturity debt securities, which are
 
carried at amortized cost. The net unrealized gains (losses) for available-for-sale securities are reported on an after-tax basis as a component of cumulative OCI.


Table 5.1: Amortized Cost and Fair Value
(in millions)
 Amortized Cost 

 
Gross unrealized gains 

 
Gross unrealized losses

 
Fair value

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
36,374

 
24

 
(148
)
 
36,250

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
49,167

 
1,325

 
(502
)
 
49,990

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
103,391

 
1,983

 
(828
)
 
104,546

Residential
7,843

 
740

 
(25
)
 
8,558

Commercial
13,943

 
230

 
(85
)
 
14,088

Total mortgage-backed securities
125,177

 
2,953

 
(938
)
 
127,192

Corporate debt securities
15,548

 
312

 
(449
)
 
15,411

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations (1) 
31,210

 
125

 
(368
)
 
30,967

Other (2)
5,842

 
115

 
(46
)
 
5,911

Total debt securities
263,318

 
4,854

 
(2,451
)
 
265,721

Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
819

 
112

 
(13
)
 
918

Other marketable equity securities
239

 
482

 
(2
)
 
719

Total marketable equity securities
1,058

 
594

 
(15
)
 
1,637

Total available-for-sale securities
264,376

 
5,448

 
(2,466
)
 
267,358

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
44,660

 
580

 
(73
)
 
45,167

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
2,185

 
65

 
—

 
2,250

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
28,604

 
131

 
(314
)
 
28,421

Collateralized loans and other debt obligations (1)
1,405

 
—

 
(24
)
 
1,381

Other (2)
3,343

 
8

 
(3
)
 
3,348

Total held-to-maturity securities
80,197

 
784

 
(414
)
 
80,567

Total (3) 
$
344,573

 
6,232

 
(2,880
)
 
347,925

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
25,898

 
44

 
(138
)
 
25,804

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
43,939

 
1,504

 
(499
)
 
44,944

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
107,850

 
2,990

 
(751
)
 
110,089

Residential
8,213

 
1,080

 
(24
)
 
9,269

Commercial
16,248

 
803

 
(57
)
 
16,994

Total mortgage-backed securities
132,311


4,873

 
(832
)
 
136,352

Corporate debt securities
14,211

 
745

 
(170
)
 
14,786

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations (1)
25,137

 
408

 
(184
)
 
25,361

Other (2)
6,251

 
295

 
(27
)
 
6,519

Total debt securities
247,747

 
7,869

 
(1,850
)
 
253,766

Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
1,622

 
148

 
(70
)
 
1,700

Other marketable equity securities
284

 
1,694

 
(2
)
 
1,976

Total marketable equity securities
1,906

 
1,842

 
(72
)
 
3,676

Total available-for-sale-securities
249,653

 
9,711

 
(1,922
)
 
257,442

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
40,886

 
670

 
(8
)
 
41,548

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
1,962

 
27

 
—

 
1,989

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
5,476

 
165

 
—

 
5,641

Collateralized loans and other debt obligations (1)
1,404

 
—

 
(13
)
 
1,391

Other (2) 
5,755

 
35

 
—

 
5,790

Total held-to-maturity securities
55,483

 
897

 
(21
)
 
56,359

Total (3)
$
305,136

 
10,608

 
(1,943
)
 
313,801

(1)
The available-for-sale portfolio includes collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) with a cost basis and fair value of $247 million and $257 million , respectively, at December 31, 2015 , and $364 million and $500 million , respectively, at December 31, 2014 . The held-to-maturity portfolio only includes collateralized loan obligations.
(2)
The “Other” category of available-for-sale securities predominantly includes asset-backed securities collateralized by credit cards, student loans, home equity loans and auto leases or loans and cash. Included in the “Other” category of held-to-maturity securities are asset-backed securities collateralized by auto leases or loans and cash with a cost basis and fair value of $1.9 billion each at December 31, 2015 , and $3.8 billion each at December 31, 2014 . Also included in the “Other” category of held-to-maturity securities are asset-backed securities collateralized by dealer floorplan loans with a cost basis and fair value of $1.4 billion each at December 31, 2015 , and $1.9 billion and $2.0 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2014 .
(3)
At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we held no securities of any single issuer (excluding the U.S. Treasury and federal agencies and government-sponsored entities (GSEs)) with a book value that exceeded 10% of stockholders’ equity.

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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value
Table 5.2 shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of securities in the investment securities portfolio by length of time that individual securities in each category have been in a continuous loss position. Debt securities on which we have taken
 
credit-related OTTI write-downs are categorized as being "less than 12 months" or "12 months or more" in a continuous loss position based on the point in time that the fair value declined to below the cost basis and not the period of time since the credit-related OTTI write-down.


Table 5.2: Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value
 
Less than 12 months 
 
 
12 months or more 
 
 
Total 
 
(in millions)
Gross unrealized losses 

 
Fair value 

 
Gross unrealized losses 

 
Fair value 

 
Gross unrealized losses 

 
Fair value 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
(148
)
 
24,795

 
—

 
—

 
(148
)
 
24,795

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
(26
)
 
3,453

 
(476
)
 
12,377

 
(502
)
 
15,830

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 


Federal agencies
(522
)
 
36,329

 
(306
)
 
9,888

 
(828
)
 
46,217

Residential
(20
)
 
1,276

 
(5
)
 
285

 
(25
)
 
1,561

Commercial
(32
)
 
4,476

 
(53
)
 
2,363

 
(85
)
 
6,839

Total mortgage-backed securities
(574
)
 
42,081

 
(364
)
 
12,536

 
(938
)
 
54,617

Corporate debt securities
(244
)
 
4,941

 
(205
)
 
1,057

 
(449
)
 
5,998

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(276
)
 
22,214

 
(92
)
 
4,844

 
(368
)
 
27,058

Other
(33
)
 
2,768

 
(13
)
 
425

 
(46
)
 
3,193

Total debt securities
(1,301
)
 
100,252

 
(1,150
)
 
31,239

 
(2,451
)
 
131,491

Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
(1
)
 
24

 
(12
)
 
109

 
(13
)
 
133

Other marketable equity securities
(2
)
 
40

 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
40

Total marketable equity securities
(3
)
 
64

 
(12
)
 
109

 
(15
)
 
173

Total available-for-sale securities
(1,304
)
 
100,316

 
(1,162
)
 
31,348

 
(2,466
)
 
131,664

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
(73
)
 
5,264

 
—

 
—

 
(73
)
 
5,264

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
(314
)
 
23,115

 
—

 
—

 
(314
)
 
23,115

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(20
)
 
1,148

 
(4
)
 
233

 
(24
)
 
1,381

Other
(3
)
 
1,096

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
1,096

Total held-to-maturity securities
(410
)
 
30,623

 
(4
)
 
233

 
(414
)
 
30,856

Total
$
(1,714
)
 
130,939

 
(1,166
)
 
31,581

 
(2,880
)
 
162,520

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
(16
)
 
7,138

 
(122
)
 
5,719

 
(138
)
 
12,857

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
(198
)
 
10,228

 
(301
)
 
3,725

 
(499
)
 
13,953

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
(16
)
 
1,706

 
(735
)
 
37,854

 
(751
)
 
39,560

Residential
(18
)
 
946

 
(6
)
 
144

 
(24
)
 
1,090

Commercial
(9
)
 
2,202

 
(48
)
 
1,532

 
(57
)
 
3,734

Total mortgage-backed securities
(43
)
 
4,854

 
(789
)
 
39,530

 
(832
)
 
44,384

Corporate debt securities
(102
)
 
1,674

 
(68
)
 
1,265

 
(170
)
 
2,939

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(99
)
 
12,755

 
(85
)
 
3,958

 
(184
)
 
16,713

Other
(23
)
 
708

 
(4
)
 
277

 
(27
)
 
985

Total debt securities
(481
)
 
37,357

 
(1,369
)
 
54,474

 
(1,850
)
 
91,831

Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
(2
)
 
92

 
(68
)
 
633

 
(70
)
 
725

Other marketable equity securities
(2
)
 
41

 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
41

Total marketable equity securities
(4
)
 
133

 
(68
)
 
633

 
(72
)
 
766

Total available-for-sale securities
(485
)
 
37,490

 
(1,437
)
 
55,107

 
(1,922
)
 
92,597

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
(8
)
 
1,889

 
—

 
—

 
(8
)
 
1,889

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(13
)
 
1,391

 
—

 
—

 
(13
)
 
1,391

Total held-to-maturity securities
(21
)
 
3,280

 
—

 
—

 
(21
)
 
3,280

Total
$
(506
)
 
40,770

 
(1,437
)
 
55,107

 
(1,943
)
 
95,877


 
Wells Fargo & Company
155


Note 5:   Investment Securities (continued)

We have assessed each security with gross unrealized losses included in the previous table for credit impairment. As part of that assessment we evaluated and concluded that we do not intend to sell any of the securities and that it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell prior to recovery of the amortized cost basis. For debt securities, we evaluate, where necessary, whether credit impairment exists by comparing the present value of the expected cash flows to the securities’ amortized cost basis. For equity securities, we consider numerous factors in determining whether impairment exists, including our intent and ability to hold the securities for a period of time sufficient to recover the cost basis of the securities.
For descriptions of the factors we consider when analyzing securities for impairment, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and below.

SECURITIES OF U.S. TREASURY AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND FEDERAL AGENCY MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (MBS) The unrealized losses associated with U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities and federal agency MBS are primarily driven by changes in interest rates and not due to credit losses given the explicit or implicit guarantees provided by the U.S. government.

SECURITIES OF U.S. STATES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS The unrealized losses associated with securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions are primarily driven by changes in the relationship between municipal and term funding credit curves rather than by changes to the credit quality of the underlying securities. Substantially all of these investments are investment grade. The securities were generally underwritten in accordance with our own investment standards prior to the decision to purchase. Some of these securities are guaranteed by a bond insurer, but we did not rely on this guarantee when making our investment decision. These investments will continue to be monitored as part of our ongoing impairment analysis but are expected to perform, even if the rating agencies reduce the credit rating of the bond insurers. As a result, we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL MBS   The unrealized losses associated with private residential MBS and commercial MBS are primarily driven by changes in projected collateral losses, credit spreads and interest rates. We assess for credit impairment by estimating the present value of expected cash flows. The key assumptions for determining expected cash flows include default rates, loss severities and/or prepayment rates. We estimate security losses by forecasting the underlying mortgage loans in each transaction. We use forecasted loan performance to project cash flows to the various tranches in the structure. We also consider cash flow forecasts and, as applicable, independent industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings, and other independent market data. Based upon our assessment of the expected credit losses and the credit enhancement level of the securities, we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.
 
CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES  The unrealized losses associated with corporate debt securities are primarily related to unsecured debt obligations issued by various corporations. We evaluate the financial performance of each issuer on a quarterly basis to determine if the issuer can make all contractual principal and interest payments. Based upon this assessment, we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.

COLLATERALIZED LOAN AND OTHER DEBT OBLIGATIONS  The unrealized losses associated with collateralized loan and other debt obligations relate to securities primarily backed by commercial, residential or other consumer collateral. The unrealized losses are primarily driven by changes in projected collateral losses, credit spreads and interest rates. We assess for credit impairment by estimating the present value of expected cash flows. The key assumptions for determining expected cash flows include default rates, loss severities and prepayment rates. We also consider cash flow forecasts and, as applicable, independent industry analyst reports and forecasts, sector credit ratings, and other independent market data. Based upon our assessment of the expected credit losses and the credit enhancement level of the securities, we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.

OTHER DEBT SECURITIES  The unrealized losses associated with other debt securities predominantly relate to other asset-backed securities. The losses are primarily driven by changes in projected collateral losses, credit spreads and interest rates. We assess for credit impairment by estimating the present value of expected cash flows. The key assumptions for determining expected cash flows include default rates, loss severities and prepayment rates. Based upon our assessment of the expected credit losses and the credit enhancement level of the securities, we expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of these securities.

MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES   Our marketable equity securities include investments in perpetual preferred securities, which provide attractive tax-equivalent yields. We evaluate these hybrid financial instruments with investment-grade ratings for impairment using an evaluation methodology similar to the approach used for debt securities. Perpetual preferred securities are not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired if there is no evidence of credit deterioration or investment rating downgrades of any issuers to below investment grade, and we expect to continue to receive full contractual payments. We will continue to evaluate the prospects for these securities for recovery in their market value in accordance with our policy for estimating OTTI. We have recorded impairment write-downs on perpetual preferred securities where there was evidence of credit deterioration.

OTHER INVESTMENT SECURITIES MATTERS   The fair values of our investment securities could decline in the future if the underlying performance of the collateral for the residential and commercial MBS or other securities deteriorate, and our credit enhancement levels do not provide sufficient protection to our contractual principal and interest. As a result, there is a risk that significant OTTI may occur in the future.


156
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 5.3 shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of debt and perpetual preferred investment securities by those rated investment grade and those rated less than investment grade according to their lowest credit rating by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s). Credit ratings express opinions about the credit quality of a security. Securities rated investment grade, that is those rated BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, are generally considered by the rating agencies and market participants to be low credit risk. Conversely, securities rated below investment grade, labeled as "speculative grade" by the rating agencies, are considered to be distinctively higher
 
credit risk than investment grade securities. We have also included securities not rated by S&P or Moody’s in the table below based on our internal credit grade of the securities (used for credit risk management purposes) equivalent to the credit rating assigned by major credit agencies. The unrealized losses and fair value of unrated securities categorized as investment grade based on internal credit grades were $17 million and $3.7 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2015 , and $25 million and $1.6 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2014 . If an internal credit grade was not assigned, we categorized the security as non-investment grade.


Table 5.3: Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value by Investment Grade
 
Investment grade
 
 
Non-investment grade
 
(in millions)
Gross unrealized losses 

 
Fair value 

 
Gross unrealized losses 

 
Fair value 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
(148
)
 
24,795

 
—

 
—

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
(464
)
 
15,470

 
(38
)
 
360

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
(828
)
 
46,217

 
—

 
—

Residential
(12
)
 
795

 
(13
)
 
766

Commercial
(59
)
 
6,361

 
(26
)
 
478

Total mortgage-backed securities
(899
)
 
53,373

 
(39
)
 
1,244

Corporate debt securities
(140
)
 
4,167

 
(309
)
 
1,831

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(368
)
 
27,058

 
—

 
—

Other
(43
)
 
2,915

 
(3
)
 
278

Total debt securities
(2,062
)
 
127,778

 
(389
)
 
3,713

Perpetual preferred securities
(13
)
 
133

 
—

 
—

Total available-for-sale securities
(2,075
)
 
127,911

 
(389
)
 
3,713

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
(73
)
 
5,264

 
—

 
—

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
(314
)
 
23,115

 
—

 
—

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(24
)
 
1,381

 
—

 
—

Other
(3
)
 
1,096

 
—

 
—

Total held-to-maturity securities
(414
)
 
30,856

 
—

 
—

Total
$
(2,489
)
 
158,767

 
(389
)
 
3,713

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
(138
)
 
12,857

 
—

 
—

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
(459
)
 
13,600

 
(40
)
 
353

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
(751
)
 
39,560

 
—

 
—

Residential
—

 
139

 
(24
)
 
951

Commercial
(24
)
 
3,366

 
(33
)
 
368

Total mortgage-backed securities
(775
)
 
43,065

 
(57
)
 
1,319

Corporate debt securities
(39
)
 
1,807

 
(131
)
 
1,132

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(172
)
 
16,609

 
(12
)
 
104

Other
(23
)
 
782

 
(4
)
 
203

Total debt securities
(1,606
)
 
88,720

 
(244
)
 
3,111

Perpetual preferred securities
(70
)
 
725

 
—

 
—

Total available-for-sale securities
(1,676
)
 
89,445

 
(244
)
 
3,111

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
(8
)
 
1,889

 
—

 
—

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
(13
)
 
1,391

 
—

 
—

Total held-to-maturity securities
(21
)
 
3,280

 
—

 
—

Total
$
(1,697
)
 
92,725

 
(244
)
 
3,111


 
Wells Fargo & Company
157


Note 5:   Investment Securities (continued)

Contractual Maturities
Table 5.4 shows the remaining contractual maturities and contractual weighted-average yields (taxable-equivalent basis) of available-for-sale debt securities. The remaining contractual
 
principal maturities for MBS do not consider prepayments. Remaining expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay obligations before the underlying mortgages mature.


Table 5.4: Contractual Maturities
 
 
 
Remaining contractual maturity 
 
 
Total 

 
 
 
Within one year 
 
 
After one year through five years 
 
 
After five years through ten years 
 
 
After ten years 
 
(in millions)
amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
36,250

 
1.49
%
 
$
216

 
0.77
%
 
$
31,602

 
1.44
%
 
$
4,432

 
1.86
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
49,990

 
5.82

 
1,969

 
2.09

 
7,709

 
2.02

 
3,010

 
5.25

 
37,302

 
6.85

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
104,546

 
3.29

 
3

 
6.55

 
373

 
1.58

 
1,735

 
3.84

 
102,435

 
3.29

Residential
8,558

 
4.17

 
—

 
—

 
34

 
5.11

 
34

 
6.03

 
8,490

 
4.16

Commercial
14,088

 
5.06

 
—

 
—

 
61

 
2.79

 
—

 
—

 
14,027

 
5.07

Total mortgage-backed securities
127,192

 
3.54

 
3

 
6.55

 
468

 
1.99

 
1,769

 
3.88

 
124,952

 
3.55

Corporate debt securities
15,411

 
4.57

 
1,960

 
3.84

 
6,731

 
4.47

 
5,459

 
4.76

 
1,261

 
5.47

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
30,967

 
2.08

 
2

 
0.33

 
804

 
0.90

 
12,707

 
2.01

 
17,454

 
2.19

Other
5,911

 
2.05

 
68

 
2.47

 
1,228

 
2.57

 
953

 
1.94

 
3,662

 
1.89

Total available-for-sale debt securities at fair value
$
265,721

 
3.55
%
 
$
4,218

 
2.84
%
 
$
48,542

 
1.98
%
 
$
28,330

 
2.98
%
 
$
184,631

 
4.07
%
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
25,804

 
1.49
%
 
$
181

 
1.47
%
 
$
22,348

 
1.44
%
 
$
3,275

 
1.83
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
44,944

 
5.66

 
3,568

 
1.71

 
7,050

 
2.19

 
3,235

 
5.13

 
31,091

 
6.96

Mortgage-backed securities:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
110,089

 
3.27

 
—

 
—

 
276

 
2.86

 
1,011

 
3.38

 
108,802

 
3.27

Residential
9,269

 
4.50

 
—

 
—

 
9

 
4.81

 
83

 
5.63

 
9,177

 
4.49

Commercial
16,994

 
5.16

 
1

 
0.28

 
62

 
2.71

 
5

 
1.30

 
16,926

 
5.17

Total mortgage-backed securities
136,352

 
3.59

 
1

 
0.28

 
347

 
2.88

 
1,099

 
3.54

 
134,905

 
3.59

Corporate debt securities
14,786

 
4.90

 
600

 
4.32

 
7,634

 
4.54

 
5,209

 
5.30

 
1,343

 
5.70

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
25,361

 
1.83

 
23

 
1.95

 
944

 
0.71

 
8,472

 
1.67

 
15,922

 
1.99

Other
6,519

 
1.79

 
274

 
1.55

 
1,452

 
2.56

 
1,020

 
1.32

 
3,773

 
1.64

Total available-for-sale debt securities at fair value
$
253,766

 
3.60
%
 
$
4,647

 
2.03
%
 
$
39,775

 
2.20
%
 
$
22,310

 
3.12
%
 
$
187,034

 
3.99
%
(1)
Weighted-average yields displayed by maturity bucket are weighted based on fair value and predominantly represent contractual coupon rates without effect for any related hedging derivatives.

158
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 5.5 shows the amortized cost and weighted-average yields of held-to-maturity debt securities by contractual maturity.


Table 5.5: Amortized Cost by Contractual Maturity
 
 
 
Remaining contractual maturity 
 
 
Total 

 
 
 
Within one year 
 
 
After one year through five years 
 
 
After five years through ten years 
 
 
After ten years 
 
(in millions)
amount

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

 
Amount 

 
Yield 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Held-to-maturity securities (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
44,660

 
2.12
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
 
$
1,276

 
1.75
%
 
$
43,384

 
2.13
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
2,185

 
5.97

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
104

 
7.49

 
2,081

 
5.89

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
28,604

 
3.47

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
28,604

 
3.47

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,405

 
2.03

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,405

 
2.03

Other
3,343

 
1.68

 
—

 
—

 
2,351

 
1.74

 
992

 
1.53

 
—

 
—

Total held-to-maturity debt securities at amortized cost
$
80,197

 
2.69
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
 
$
3,627

 
1.74
%
 
$
44,480

 
2.13
%
 
$
32,090

 
3.57
%
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Held-to-maturity securities (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
40,886

 
2.12
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
 
$
40,886

 
2.12
%
 
$
—

 
—
%
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
1,962

 
5.60

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
9

 
6.60

 
1,953

 
5.59

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
5,476

 
3.89

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,476

 
3.89

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,404

 
1.96

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,404

 
1.96

Other
5,755

 
1.64

 
192

 
1.61

 
4,214

 
1.72

 
1,349

 
1.41

 
—

 
—

Total held-to-maturity debt securities at amortized cost
$
55,483

 
2.37
%
 
$
192

 
1.61
%
 
$
4,214

 
1.72
%
 
$
42,244

 
2.10
%
 
$
8,833

 
3.96
%
(1)
Weighted-average yields displayed by maturity bucket are weighted based on amortized cost and predominantly represent contractual coupon rates.

Table 5.6 shows the fair value of held-to-maturity debt securities by contractual maturity.


Table 5.6: Fair Value by Contractual Maturity
 
 
Remaining contractual maturity 
 
 
Total 

 
Within one year 

 
After one year through five years 

 
After five years through ten years 

 
After ten years 

(in millions)
amount

 
Amount

 
Amount

 
Amount

 
Amount

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
45,167

 
—

 
1,298

 
43,869

 
—

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
2,250

 
—

 
—

 
105

 
2,145

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
28,421

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
28,421

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,381

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,381

Other
3,348

 
—

 
2,353

 
995

 
—

Total held-to-maturity debt securities at fair value
$
80,567

 
—

 
3,651

 
44,969

 
31,947

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 

 

 

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 

 

 

Fair Value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
41,548

 
—

 
—

 
41,548

 
—

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
1,989

 
—

 
—

 
9

 
1,980

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
5,641

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,641

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,391

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,391

Other
5,790

 
193

 
4,239

 
1,358

 
—

Total held-to-maturity debt securities at fair value
$
56,359

 
193

 
4,239

 
42,915

 
9,012


 
Wells Fargo & Company
159


Note 5:   Investment Securities (continued)

Realized Gains and Losses
Table 5.7 shows the gross realized gains and losses on sales and OTTI write-downs related to the available-for-sale securities portfolio, which includes marketable equity securities, as well as
 
net realized gains and losses on nonmarketable equity investments (see Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets)).


Table 5.7: Realized Gains and Losses
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Gross realized gains
$
1,775

 
1,560

 
492

Gross realized losses
(67
)
 
(14
)
 
(24
)
OTTI write-downs
(185
)
 
(52
)
 
(183
)
Net realized gains from available-for-sale securities
1,523

 
1,494

 
285

Net realized gains from nonmarketable equity investments
1,659

 
1,479

 
1,158

Net realized gains from debt securities and equity investments
$
3,182

 
2,973

 
1,443


Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
Table 5.8 shows the detail of total OTTI write-downs included in earnings for available-for-sale debt securities, marketable equity
 
securities and nonmarketable equity investments. There were no OTTI write-downs on held-to-maturity securities during the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 or 2013 .


Table 5.8: OTTI Write-downs
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

OTTI write-downs included in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
$
18

 
11

 
2

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
—

 
—

 
1

Residential
54

 
26

 
72

Commercial
4

 
9

 
53

Corporate debt securities (1)
105

 
1

 
4

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
—

 
2

 
—

Other debt securities
2

 
—

 
26

Total debt securities
183

 
49

 
158

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Other marketable equity securities
2

 
3

 
25

Total marketable equity securities
2

 
3

 
25

Total investment securities
185

 
52

 
183

Nonmarketable equity investments (1)
374

 
270

 
161

Total OTTI write-downs included in earnings (1)
$
559

 
322

 
344

(1)
December 31, 2015, includes $287 million in OTTI write-downs of energy investments, of which $104 million related to corporate debt securities and $183 million related to nonmarketable equity investments.


160
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Other-Than-Temporarily Impaired Debt Securities
Table 5.9 shows the detail of OTTI write-downs on available-for-sale debt securities included in earnings and the related changes in OCI for the same securities.


Table 5.9: OTTI Write-downs Included in Earnings
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

OTTI on debt securities
 
 
 
 
 
Recorded as part of gross realized losses:
 
 
 
 
 
Credit-related OTTI
$
169

 
40

 
107

Intent-to-sell OTTI
14

 
9

 
51

Total recorded as part of gross realized losses
183

 
49

 
158

Changes to OCI for losses (reversal of losses) in non-credit-related OTTI (1):
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
(1
)
 
—

 
(2
)
Residential mortgage-backed securities
(42
)
 
(10
)
 
(27
)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
(16
)
 
(21
)
 
(90
)
Corporate debt securities
12

 
—

 
—

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Other debt securities
—

 
—

 
1

Total changes to OCI for non-credit-related OTTI
(47
)
 
(31
)
 
(119
)
Total OTTI losses recorded on debt securities
$
136

 
18

 
39

(1)
Represents amounts recorded to OCI for impairment, due to factors other than credit, on debt securities that have also had credit-related OTTI write-downs during the period. Increases represent initial or subsequent non-credit-related OTTI on debt securities. Decreases represent partial to full reversal of impairment due to recoveries in the fair value of securities due to non-credit factors.

Table 5.10 presents a rollforward of the OTTI credit loss that has been recognized in earnings as a write-down of available-for-sale debt securities we still own (referred to as "credit-impaired" debt securities) and do not intend to sell. Recognized credit loss
 
represents the difference between the present value of expected future cash flows discounted using the security’s current effective interest rate and the amortized cost basis of the security prior to considering credit loss.


Table 5.10: Rollforward of OTTI Credit Loss
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Credit loss recognized, beginning of year
$
1,025

 
1,171

 
1,289

Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
For securities with initial credit impairments
102

 
5

 
21

For securities with previous credit impairments
67

 
35

 
86

Total additions
169

 
40

 
107

Reductions:
 
 
 
 
 
For securities sold, matured, or intended/required to be sold
(93
)
 
(169
)
 
(194
)
For recoveries of previous credit impairments (1)
(9
)
 
(17
)
 
(31
)
Total reductions
(102
)
 
(186
)
 
(225
)
Credit loss recognized, end of year
$
1,092

 
1,025

 
1,171

(1)
Recoveries of previous credit impairments result from increases in expected cash flows subsequent to credit loss recognition. Such recoveries are reflected prospectively as interest yield adjustments using the effective interest method.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
161


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

Note 6:   Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses
Table 6.1 presents total loans outstanding by portfolio segment and class of financing receivable. Outstanding balances include a total net reduction of $3.8 billion and $4.5 billion at
 
December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, for unearned income, net deferred loan fees, and unamortized discounts and premiums.


Table 6.1: Loans Outstanding
 
December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
299,892

 
271,795

 
235,358

 
223,703

 
205,824

Real estate mortgage
122,160

 
111,996

 
112,427

 
106,392

 
106,028

Real estate construction
22,164

 
18,728

 
16,934

 
16,983

 
19,470

Lease financing
12,367

 
12,307

 
12,371

 
12,736

 
13,387

Total commercial
456,583

 
414,826

 
377,090

 
359,814

 
344,709

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
273,869

 
265,386

 
258,507

 
249,912

 
229,408

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
53,004

 
59,717

 
65,950

 
75,503

 
86,041

Credit card
34,039

 
31,119

 
26,882

 
24,651

 
22,905

Automobile
59,966

 
55,740

 
50,808

 
45,998

 
43,508

Other revolving credit and installment
39,098

 
35,763

 
43,049

 
42,473

 
43,060

Total consumer
459,976

 
447,725

 
445,196

 
438,537

 
424,922

Total loans
$
916,559

 
862,551

 
822,286

 
798,351

 
769,631


Our foreign loans are reported by respective class of financing receivable in the table above. Substantially all of our foreign loan portfolio is commercial loans. Loans are classified as foreign primarily based on whether the borrower’s primary
 
address is outside of the United States. Table 6.2 presents total commercial foreign loans outstanding by class of financing receivable.


Table 6.2: Commercial Foreign Loans Outstanding
 
December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Commercial foreign loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
49,049

 
44,707

 
41,547

 
37,148

 
38,609

Real estate mortgage
8,350

 
4,776

 
5,328

 
52

 
53

Real estate construction
444

 
218

 
187

 
79

 
88

Lease financing
274

 
336

 
338

 
312

 
269

Total commercial foreign loans
$
58,117

 
50,037

 
47,400

 
37,591

 
39,019



162
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Loan Concentrations
Loan concentrations may exist when there are amounts loaned to borrowers engaged in similar activities or similar types of loans extended to a diverse group of borrowers that would cause them to be similarly impacted by economic or other conditions. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we did not have concentrations representing 10% or more of our total loan portfolio in domestic commercial and industrial loans and lease financing by industry or CRE loans (real estate mortgage and real estate construction) by state or property type. Our real estate 1-4 family mortgage loans to borrowers in the state of California represented approximately 13% of total loans at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 , of which 2% were PCI loans in both years. These California loans are generally diversified among the larger metropolitan areas in California, with no single area consisting of more than 5% of total loans. We continuously monitor changes in real estate values and underlying economic or market conditions for all geographic areas of our real estate 1-4 family mortgage portfolio as part of our credit risk management process.
Some of our real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgage loans include an interest-only feature as part of the loan terms. These interest-only loans were approximately 9% of total loans at December 31, 2015 , and 12% at December 31, 2014 . Substantially all of these interest-only loans at origination were considered to be prime or near prime. We do not offer option adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) products, nor do we offer variable-rate mortgage products with fixed payment amounts, commonly referred to within the financial services industry as negative amortizing mortgage loans. We acquired an option payment loan portfolio (Pick-a-Pay) from Wachovia at December 31, 2008. A majority of the portfolio was identified as PCI loans. Since the acquisition, we have reduced our exposure to the option payment portion of the portfolio through our modification efforts and loss mitigation actions. At December 31, 2015 , approximately 2% of total loans remained with the payment option feature compared with 10% at December 31, 2008.
Our first and junior lien lines of credit products generally have a draw period of 10 years (with some up to 15 or 20 years ) with variable interest rate and payment options during the draw period of (1) interest only or (2) 1.5% of total outstanding balance plus accrued interest. During the draw period, the
 
borrower has the option of converting all or a portion of the line from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate with terms including interest-only payments for a fixed period between three to seven years or a fully amortizing payment with a fixed period between five to 30 years . At the end of the draw period, a line of credit generally converts to an amortizing payment schedule with repayment terms of up to 30 years based on the balance at time of conversion. At December 31, 2015 , our lines of credit portfolio had an outstanding balance of $63.6 billion , of which $9.6 billion , or 15% , is in its amortization period, another $11.3 billion , or 18% , of our total outstanding balance, will reach their end of draw period during 2016 through 2017 , $6.8 billion , or 11% , during 2018 through 2020 , and $35.9 billion , or 56% , will convert in subsequent years. This portfolio had unfunded credit commitments of $67.7 billion at December 31, 2015 . The lines that enter their amortization period may experience higher delinquencies and higher loss rates than the ones in their draw period. At December 31, 2015 , $506 million , or 5% , of outstanding lines of credit that are in their amortization period were 30 or more days past due, compared with $937 million , or 2% , for lines in their draw period. We have considered this increased inherent risk in our allowance for credit loss estimate. In anticipation of our borrowers reaching the end of their contractual commitment, we have created a program to inform, educate and help these borrowers transition from interest-only to fully-amortizing payments or full repayment. We monitor the performance of the borrowers moving through the program in an effort to refine our ongoing program strategy.

Loan Purchases, Sales, and Transfers
Table 6.3 summarizes the proceeds paid or received for purchases and sales of loans and transfers from loans held for investment to mortgages/loans held for sale at lower of cost or fair value. This loan activity primarily includes loans purchased and sales of whole loan or participating interests, whereby we receive or transfer a portion of a loan after origination. The table excludes PCI loans and loans recorded at fair value, including loans originated for sale because their loan activity normally does not impact the allowance for credit losses.
 

Table 6.3: Loan Purchases, Sales, and Transfers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
  
2015
 
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Commercial

 
Consumer

 
Total

 
Commercial

 
Consumer

 
Total

Purchases (1)
$
13,674

 
340

 
14,014

 
4,952

 
1,365

 
6,317

Sales (1)
(1,214
)
 
(160
)
 
(1,374
)
 
(1,706
)
 
(152
)
 
(1,858
)
Transfers to MHFS/LHFS (1)
(91
)
 
(16
)
 
(107
)
 
(99
)
 
(9,778
)
 
(9,877
)
(1)
All categories exclude activity in government insured/guaranteed real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans. As servicer, we are able to buy delinquent insured/guaranteed loans out of the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) pools, and manage and/or resell them in accordance with applicable requirements. These loans are predominantly insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Accordingly, these loans have limited impact on the allowance for loan losses.

Commitments to Lend
A commitment to lend is a legally binding agreement to lend funds to a customer, usually at a stated interest rate, if funded, and for specific purposes and time periods. We generally require a fee to extend such commitments. Certain commitments are subject to loan agreements with covenants regarding the financial performance of the customer or borrowing base formulas on an ongoing basis that must be met before we are required to fund the commitment. We may reduce or cancel
 
consumer commitments, including home equity lines and credit card lines, in accordance with the contracts and applicable law.
We may, as a representative for other lenders, advance funds or provide for the issuance of letters of credit under syndicated loan or letter of credit agreements. Any advances are generally repaid in less than a week and would normally require default of both the customer and another lender to expose us to loss. These temporary advance arrangements totaled


 
Wells Fargo & Company
163


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

approximately $75 billion at December 31, 2015 and $87 billion at December 31, 2014 .
We issue commercial letters of credit to assist customers in purchasing goods or services, typically for international trade. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we had $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion , respectively, of outstanding issued commercial letters of credit. We also originate multipurpose lending commitments under which borrowers have the option to draw on the facility for different purposes in one of several forms, including a standby letter of credit. See Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral) for additional information on standby letters of credit. 
When we make commitments, we are exposed to credit risk. The maximum credit risk for these commitments will generally be lower than the contractual amount because a significant portion of these commitments are expected to expire without being used by the customer. In addition, we manage the potential risk in commitments to lend by limiting the total amount of commitments, both by individual customer and in total, by monitoring the size and maturity structure of these commitments and by applying the same credit standards for these commitments as for all of our credit activities.
For loans and commitments to lend, we generally require collateral or a guarantee. We may require various types of collateral, including commercial and consumer real estate, autos, other short-term liquid assets such as accounts receivable or inventory and long-lived assets, such as equipment and other business assets. Collateral requirements for each loan or commitment may vary based on the loan product and our assessment of a customer’s credit risk according to the specific credit underwriting, including credit terms and structure.
 
The contractual amount of our unfunded credit commitments, including unissued standby and commercial letters of credit, is summarized by portfolio segment and class of financing receivable in Table 6.4 . The table excludes the standby and commercial letters of credit and temporary advance arrangements described above.
Table 6.4: Unfunded Credit Commitments
(in millions)
Dec 31,
2015

 
Dec 31,
2014

Commercial:
  

 
  

Commercial and industrial
$
296,710

 
278,093

Real estate mortgage
7,378

 
6,134

Real estate construction
18,047

 
15,587

Lease financing
—

 
3

Total commercial
322,135

 
299,817

Consumer:
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
34,621

 
32,055

Real estate 1-4 family
junior lien mortgage
43,309

 
45,492

Credit card
98,904

 
95,062

Other revolving credit and installment
27,899

 
24,816

Total consumer
204,733

 
197,425

Total unfunded
credit commitments
$
526,868

 
497,242






164
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Allowance for Credit Losses
Table 6.5 presents the allowance for credit losses, which consists of the allowance for loan losses and the allowance for unfunded credit commitments.


Table 6.5: Allowance for Credit Losses
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2012

 
2011

Balance, beginning of year
$
13,169

 
14,971

 
17,477

 
19,668

 
23,463

Provision for credit losses
2,442

 
1,395

 
2,309

 
7,217

 
7,899

Interest income on certain impaired loans (1)
(198
)
 
(211
)
 
(264
)
 
(315
)
 
(332
)
Loan charge-offs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
(734
)
 
(627
)
 
(739
)
 
(1,404
)
 
(1,681
)
Real estate mortgage
(59
)
 
(66
)
 
(190
)
 
(382
)
 
(636
)
Real estate construction
(4
)
 
(9
)
 
(28
)
 
(191
)
 
(351
)
Lease financing
(14
)
 
(15
)
 
(34
)
 
(24
)
 
(41
)
Total commercial
(811
)
 
(717
)
 
(991
)
 
(2,001
)
 
(2,709
)
Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
(507
)
 
(721
)
 
(1,439
)
 
(3,020
)
 
(3,896
)
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
(635
)
 
(864
)
 
(1,579
)
 
(3,437
)
 
(3,765
)
Credit card
(1,116
)
 
(1,025
)
 
(1,022
)
 
(1,105
)
 
(1,458
)
Automobile
(742
)
 
(729
)
 
(625
)
 
(651
)
 
(797
)
Other revolving credit and installment
(643
)
 
(668
)
 
(754
)
 
(759
)
 
(990
)
Total consumer
(3,643
)
 
(4,007
)
 
(5,419
)
 
(8,972
)
 
(10,906
)
Total loan charge-offs
(4,454
)
 
(4,724
)
 
(6,410
)
 
(10,973
)
 
(13,615
)
Loan recoveries:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
252

 
369

 
396

 
472

 
426

Real estate mortgage
127

 
160

 
226

 
163

 
143

Real estate construction
37

 
136

 
137

 
124

 
146

Lease financing
8

 
8

 
17

 
20

 
25

Total commercial
424

 
673

 
776

 
779

 
740

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
245

 
212

 
246

 
157

 
405

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
259

 
238

 
269

 
260

 
218

Credit card
175

 
161

 
127

 
188

 
257

Automobile
325

 
349

 
322

 
364

 
449

Other revolving credit and installment
134

 
146

 
161

 
191

 
247

Total consumer
1,138

 
1,106

 
1,125

 
1,160

 
1,576

Total loan recoveries
1,562

 
1,779

 
1,901

 
1,939

 
2,316

Net loan charge-offs (2)
(2,892
)
 
(2,945
)
 
(4,509
)
 
(9,034
)
 
(11,299
)
Other
(9
)
 
(41
)
 
(42
)
 
(59
)
 
(63
)
Balance, end of year
$
12,512

 
13,169

 
14,971

 
17,477

 
19,668

Components:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
$
11,545

 
12,319

 
14,502

 
17,060

 
19,372

Allowance for unfunded credit commitments
967

 
850

 
469

 
417

 
296

Allowance for credit losses (3)
$
12,512

 
13,169

 
14,971

 
17,477

 
19,668

Net loan charge-offs as a percentage of average total loans (2)
0.33
%
 
0.35

 
0.56

 
1.17

 
1.49

Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans (3)
1.26

 
1.43

 
1.76

 
2.13

 
2.52

Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans (3)
1.37

 
1.53

 
1.82

 
2.19

 
2.56

(1)
Certain impaired loans with an allowance calculated by discounting expected cash flows using the loan’s effective interest rate over the remaining life of the loan recognize reductions in the allowance as interest income.
(2)
For PCI loans, charge-offs are only recorded to the extent that losses exceed the purchase accounting estimates.
(3)
The allowance for credit losses includes $1 million , $11 million , $30 million , $117 million and $231 million at December 31, 2015 , 2014 ,  2013 , 2012 , and 2011 , respectively, related to PCI loans acquired from Wachovia. Loans acquired from Wachovia are included in total loans net of related purchase accounting net write-downs.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
165


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

Table 6.6 summarizes the activity in the allowance for credit losses by our commercial and consumer portfolio segments. 


Table 6.6: Allowance Activity by Portfolio Segment
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Commercial

 
Consumer 

 
Total 

 
Commercial 

 
Consumer 

 
Total 

Balance, beginning of year
$
6,377

 
6,792

 
13,169

 
6,103

 
8,868

 
14,971

Provision for credit losses
908

 
1,534

 
2,442

 
342

 
1,053

 
1,395

Interest income on certain impaired loans
(17
)
 
(181
)
 
(198
)
 
(20
)
 
(191
)
 
(211
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan charge-offs
(811
)
 
(3,643
)
 
(4,454
)
 
(717
)
 
(4,007
)
 
(4,724
)
Loan recoveries
424

 
1,138

 
1,562

 
673

 
1,106

 
1,779

Net loan charge-offs
(387
)
 
(2,505
)
 
(2,892
)
 
(44
)
 
(2,901
)
 
(2,945
)
Other
(9
)
 
—

 
(9
)
 
(4
)
 
(37
)
 
(41
)
Balance, end of year
$
6,872

 
5,640

 
12,512

 
6,377

 
6,792

 
13,169


Table 6.7 disaggregates our allowance for credit losses and recorded investment in loans by impairment methodology.

 
Table 6.7: Allowance by Impairment Methodology
 
Allowance for credit losses 
 
 
Recorded investment in loans 
 
(in millions)
Commercial

 
Consumer 

 
Total 

 
Commercial 

 
Consumer 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collectively evaluated (1)
$
5,999

 
3,436

 
9,435

 
452,063

 
420,705

 
872,768

Individually evaluated (2)
872

 
2,204

 
3,076

 
3,808

 
20,012

 
23,820

PCI (3)
1

 
—

 
1

 
712

 
19,259

 
19,971

Total
$
6,872

 
5,640

 
12,512

 
456,583

 
459,976

 
916,559

December 31, 2014
 
Collectively evaluated (1)
$
5,482

 
3,706

 
9,188

 
409,560

 
404,263

 
813,823

Individually evaluated (2)
884

 
3,086

 
3,970

 
3,759

 
21,649

 
25,408

PCI (3)
11

 
—

 
11

 
1,507

 
21,813

 
23,320

Total
$
6,377

 
6,792

 
13,169

 
414,826

 
447,725

 
862,551

(1)
Represents loans collectively evaluated for impairment in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 450-20, Loss Contingencies (formerly FAS 5), and pursuant to amendments by ASU 2010-20 regarding allowance for non-impaired loans.
(2)
Represents loans individually evaluated for impairment in accordance with ASC 310-10, Receivables  (formerly FAS 114), and pursuant to amendments by ASU 2010-20 regarding allowance for impaired loans.
(3)
Represents the allowance and related loan carrying value determined in accordance with ASC 310-30 , Receivables – Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality (formerly SOP 3-3) and pursuant to amendments by ASU 2010-20 regarding allowance for PCI loans.

Credit Quality
We monitor credit quality by evaluating various attributes and utilize such information in our evaluation of the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses. The following sections provide the credit quality indicators we most closely monitor. The credit quality indicators are generally based on information as of our financial statement date, with the exception of updated Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) scores and updated loan-to-value (LTV)/combined LTV (CLTV), which are obtained at least quarterly. Generally, these indicators are updated in the second month of each quarter, with updates no older than September 30, 2015 . See the “Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans” section of this Note for credit quality information on our PCI portfolio.

 
COMMERCIAL CREDIT QUALITY INDICATORS In addition to monitoring commercial loan concentration risk, we manage a consistent process for assessing commercial loan credit quality. Generally, commercial loans are subject to individual risk assessment using our internal borrower and collateral quality ratings. Our ratings are aligned to Pass and Criticized categories. The Criticized category includes Special Mention, Substandard, and Doubtful categories which are defined by bank regulatory agencies.
Table 6.8 provides a breakdown of outstanding commercial loans by risk category. Of the $7.1 billion in criticized commercial real estate (CRE) loans at December 31, 2015 , $1.0 billion has been placed on nonaccrual status and written down to net realizable collateral value. CRE loans have a high level of monitoring in place to manage these assets and mitigate loss exposure.


166
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 6.8: Commercial Loans by Risk Category
(in millions)
Commercial and industrial 

 
Real estate mortgage 

 
Real estate construction 

 
Lease financing 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By risk category:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
281,356

 
115,025

 
21,546

 
11,772

 
429,699

Criticized
18,458

 
6,593

 
526

 
595

 
26,172

Total commercial loans (excluding PCI)
299,814

 
121,618

 
22,072

 
12,367

 
455,871

Total commercial PCI loans (carrying value)
78

 
542

 
92

 
—

 
712

Total commercial loans
$
299,892

 
122,160

 
22,164

 
12,367

 
456,583

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By risk category:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
255,611

 
103,319

 
17,661

 
11,723

 
388,314

Criticized
16,109

 
7,416

 
896

 
584

 
25,005

Total commercial loans (excluding PCI)
271,720

 
110,735

 
18,557

 
12,307

 
413,319

Total commercial PCI loans (carrying value)
75

 
1,261

 
171

 
—

 
1,507

Total commercial loans
$
271,795

 
111,996

 
18,728

 
12,307

 
414,826


Table 6.9 provides past due information for commercial loans, which we monitor as part of our credit risk management practices.


Table 6.9: Commercial Loans by Delinquency Status
(in millions)
Commercial and industrial 

 
Real estate mortgage 

 
Real estate construction 

 
Lease financing 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD and still accruing
$
297,847

 
120,415

 
21,920

 
12,313

 
452,495

30-89 DPD and still accruing
507

 
221

 
82

 
28

 
838

90+ DPD and still accruing
97

 
13

 
4

 
—

 
114

Nonaccrual loans
1,363

 
969

 
66

 
26

 
2,424

Total commercial loans (excluding PCI)
299,814

 
121,618

 
22,072

 
12,367

 
455,871

Total commercial PCI loans (carrying value)
78

 
542

 
92

 
—

 
712

Total commercial loans
$
299,892

 
122,160

 
22,164

 
12,367

 
456,583

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD and still accruing
$
270,624

 
109,032

 
18,345

 
12,251

 
410,252

30-89 DPD and still accruing
527

 
197

 
25

 
32

 
781

90+ DPD and still accruing
31

 
16

 
—

 
—

 
47

Nonaccrual loans
538

 
1,490

 
187

 
24

 
2,239

Total commercial loans (excluding PCI)
271,720

 
110,735

 
18,557

 
12,307

 
413,319

Total commercial PCI loans (carrying value)
75

 
1,261

 
171

 
—

 
1,507

Total commercial loans
$
271,795

 
111,996

 
18,728

 
12,307

 
414,826


 
Wells Fargo & Company
167


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

CONSUMER CREDIT QUALITY INDICATORS We have various classes of consumer loans that present unique risks. Loan delinquency, FICO credit scores and LTV for loan types are common credit quality indicators that we monitor and utilize in our evaluation of the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses for the consumer portfolio segment.
 
Many of our loss estimation techniques used for the allowance for credit losses rely on delinquency-based models; therefore, delinquency is an important indicator of credit quality and the establishment of our allowance for credit losses. Table 6.10 provides the outstanding balances of our consumer portfolio by delinquency status.

 
Table 6.10: Consumer Loans by Delinquency Status
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Credit card 

 
Automobile 

 
Other revolving credit and installment

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD
$
225,195

 
51,778

 
33,208

 
58,503

 
38,690

 
407,374

30-59 DPD
2,072

 
325

 
257

 
1,121

 
175

 
3,950

60-89 DPD
821

 
184

 
177

 
253

 
107

 
1,542

90-119 DPD
402

 
110

 
150

 
84

 
86

 
832

120-179 DPD
460

 
145

 
246

 
4

 
21

 
876

180+ DPD
3,376

 
393

 
1

 
1

 
19

 
3,790

Government insured/guaranteed loans (1)
22,353

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22,353

Total consumer loans (excluding PCI)
254,679

 
52,935

 
34,039

 
59,966

 
39,098

 
440,717

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
19,190

 
69

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
19,259

Total consumer loans
$
273,869

 
53,004

 
34,039

 
59,966

 
39,098

 
459,976

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD
$
208,642

 
58,182

 
30,356

 
54,365

 
35,356

 
386,901

30-59 DPD
2,415

 
398

 
239

 
1,056

 
180

 
4,288

60-89 DPD
993

 
220

 
160

 
235

 
111

 
1,719

90-119 DPD
488

 
158

 
136

 
78

 
82

 
942

120-179 DPD
610

 
194

 
227

 
5

 
21

 
1,057

180+ DPD
4,258

 
464

 
1

 
1

 
13

 
4,737

Government insured/guaranteed loans (1)
26,268

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
26,268

Total consumer loans (excluding PCI)
243,674

 
59,616

 
31,119

 
55,740

 
35,763

 
425,912

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
21,712

 
101

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
21,813

Total consumer loans
$
265,386

 
59,717

 
31,119

 
55,740

 
35,763

 
447,725

(1)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA. Loans insured/guaranteed by the FHA/VA and 90+ DPD totaled $12.4 billion at December 31, 2015 , compared with $16.2 billion at December 31, 2014 .

Of the $5.5 billion of consumer loans not government insured/guaranteed that are 90 days or more past due at December 31, 2015 , $867 million was accruing, compared with $6.7 billion past due and $873 million accruing at December 31, 2014 .
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans 180 days or more past due totaled $3.4 billion , or 1.3% of total first mortgages (excluding PCI), at December 31, 2015 , compared with $4.3 billion , or 1.7% , at December 31, 2014 .
Table 6.11 provides a breakdown of our consumer portfolio by updated FICO. We obtain FICO scores at loan origination and the scores are updated at least quarterly. The majority of our portfolio is underwritten with a FICO score of 680 and above. FICO is not available for certain loan types and may not be obtained if we deem it unnecessary due to strong collateral and other borrower attributes, primarily security-based loans of $7.0 billion at December 31, 2015 , and $5.9 billion at December 31, 2014 .


168
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 6.11: Consumer Loans by FICO
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Credit card 

 
Automobile 

 
Other revolving credit and installment

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By updated FICO:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
< 600
$
8,716

 
3,025

 
2,927

 
9,260

 
965

 
24,893

600-639
6,961

 
2,367

 
2,875

 
6,619

 
1,086

 
19,908

640-679
13,006

 
4,613

 
5,354

 
10,014

 
2,416

 
35,403

680-719
24,460

 
7,863

 
6,857

 
10,947

 
4,388

 
54,515

720-759
38,309

 
10,966

 
7,017

 
8,279

 
6,010

 
70,581

760-799
92,975

 
16,369

 
5,693

 
7,761

 
8,351

 
131,149

800+
44,452

 
6,895

 
3,090

 
6,654

 
6,510

 
67,601

No FICO available
3,447

 
837

 
226

 
432

 
2,395

 
7,337

FICO not required
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
6,977

 
6,977

Government insured/guaranteed loans (1)
22,353

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22,353

Total consumer loans (excluding PCI)
254,679

 
52,935

 
34,039

 
59,966

 
39,098

 
440,717

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
19,190

 
69

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
19,259

Total consumer loans
$
273,869

 
53,004

 
34,039

 
59,966

 
39,098

 
459,976

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By updated FICO:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
< 600
$
11,166

 
4,001

 
2,639

 
8,825

 
894

 
27,525

600-639
7,866

 
2,794

 
2,588

 
6,236

 
1,058

 
20,542

640-679
13,894

 
5,324

 
4,931

 
9,352

 
2,366

 
35,867

680-719
24,412

 
8,970

 
6,285

 
9,994

 
4,389

 
54,050

720-759
35,490

 
12,171

 
6,407

 
7,475

 
5,896

 
67,439

760-799
82,123

 
17,897

 
5,234

 
7,315

 
7,673

 
120,242

800+
39,219

 
7,581

 
2,758

 
6,184

 
5,819

 
61,561

No FICO available
3,236

 
878

 
277

 
359

 
1,814

 
6,564

FICO not required
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,854

 
5,854

Government insured/guaranteed loans (1)
26,268

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
26,268

Total consumer loans (excluding PCI)
243,674

 
59,616

 
31,119

 
55,740

 
35,763

 
425,912

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
21,712

 
101

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
21,813

Total consumer loans
$
265,386

 
59,717

 
31,119

 
55,740

 
35,763

 
447,725

(1)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.
 
LTV refers to the ratio comparing the loan’s unpaid principal balance to the property’s collateral value. CLTV refers to the combination of first mortgage and junior lien mortgage (including unused line amounts for credit line products) ratios. LTVs and CLTVs are updated quarterly using a cascade approach which first uses values provided by automated valuation models (AVMs) for the property. If an AVM is not available, then the value is estimated using the original appraised value adjusted by the change in Home Price Index (HPI) for the property location. If an HPI is not available, the original appraised value is used. The HPI value is normally the only method considered for high value properties, generally with an original value of $1 million or more, as the AVM values have proven less accurate for these properties.
 
Table 6.12 shows the most updated LTV and CLTV distribution of the real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgage loan portfolios. We consider the trends in residential real estate markets as we monitor credit risk and establish our allowance for credit losses. In the event of a default, any loss should be limited to the portion of the loan amount in excess of the net realizable value of the underlying real estate collateral value. Certain loans do not have an LTV or CLTV primarily due to industry data availability and portfolios acquired from or serviced by other institutions.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
169


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

Table 6.12: Consumer Loans by LTV/CLTV
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage by LTV 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage by CLTV 

 
Total 

 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage by LTV 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage by CLTV 

 
Total 

By LTV/CLTV:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0-60%
$
109,558

 
15,805

 
125,363

 
95,719

 
15,603

 
111,322

60.01-80%
92,005

 
16,579

 
108,584

 
86,112

 
17,651

 
103,763

80.01-100%
22,765

 
11,385

 
34,150

 
25,170

 
14,004

 
39,174

100.01-120% (1)
4,480

 
5,545

 
10,025

 
6,133

 
7,254

 
13,387

> 120% (1)
2,065

 
3,051

 
5,116

 
2,856

 
4,058

 
6,914

No LTV/CLTV available
1,453

 
570

 
2,023

 
1,416

 
1,046

 
2,462

Government insured/guaranteed loans (2)
22,353

 
—

 
22,353

 
26,268

 
—

 
26,268

Total consumer loans (excluding PCI)
254,679

 
52,935

 
307,614

 
243,674

 
59,616

 
303,290

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
19,190

 
69

 
19,259

 
21,712

 
101

 
21,813

Total consumer loans
$
273,869

 
53,004

 
326,873

 
265,386

 
59,717

 
325,103

(1)
Reflects total loan balances with LTV/CLTV amounts in excess of 100%. In the event of default, the loss content would generally be limited to only the amount in excess of 100% LTV/CLTV.
(2)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.

NONACCRUAL LOANS Table 6.13 provides loans on nonaccrual status. PCI loans are excluded from this table because they continue to earn interest from accretable yield, independent of performance in accordance with their contractual terms.

Table 6.13: Nonaccrual Loans
 
December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Commercial:
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,363

 
538

Real estate mortgage
969

 
1,490

Real estate construction
66

 
187

Lease financing
26

 
24

Total commercial (1)
2,424

 
2,239

Consumer:
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage (2)
7,293

 
8,583

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
1,495

 
1,848

Automobile
121

 
137

Other revolving credit and installment
49

 
41

Total consumer
8,958

 
10,609

Total nonaccrual loans
(excluding PCI)
$
11,382

 
12,848

(1)
Includes LHFS of $0 million and $1 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
(2)
Includes MHFS of $177 million and $177 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
 
LOANS IN PROCESS OF FORECLOSURE Our recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in process of foreclosure was $11.0 billion and $12.7 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, which included $6.2 billion and $6.6 billion , respectively, of loans that are government insured/guaranteed. We commence the foreclosure process on consumer real estate loans when a borrower becomes 120 days delinquent in accordance with Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Guidelines. Foreclosure procedures and timelines vary depending on whether the property address resides in a judicial or non-judicial state. Judicial states require the foreclosure to be processed through the state's courts while non-judicial states are processed without court intervention. Foreclosure timelines vary according to state law.




170
Wells Fargo & Company
 

LOANS 90 DAYS OR MORE PAST DUE AND STILL ACCRUING    Certain loans 90 days or more past due as to interest or principal are still accruing, because they are (1) well-secured and in the process of collection or (2) real estate 1‑4 family mortgage loans or consumer loans exempt under regulatory rules from being classified as nonaccrual until later delinquency, usually 120 days past due. PCI loans of $2.9 billion at December 31, 2015 , and $3.7 billion at December 31, 2014 , are not included in these past due and still accruing loans even though they are 90 days or more contractually past due. These PCI loans are considered to be accruing because they continue to earn interest from accretable yield, independent of performance in accordance with their contractual terms.
Table 6.14 shows non-PCI loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing by class for loans not government insured/guaranteed.
 
Table 6.14: Loans 90 Days or More Past Due and Still Accruing
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing:
 
 
 
Total (excluding PCI):
$
14,380

 
17,810

Less: FHA insured/guaranteed by the VA (1)(2)
13,373

 
16,827

Less: Student loans guaranteed under the FFELP (3)
26

 
63

Total, not government insured/guaranteed
$
981

 
920

By segment and class, not government insured/guaranteed:
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
97

 
31

Real estate mortgage
13

 
16

Real estate construction
4

 
—

Total commercial
114

 
47

Consumer:
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage (2)
224

 
260

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage (2)
65

 
83

Credit card
397

 
364

Automobile
79

 
73

Other revolving credit and installment
102

 
93

Total consumer
867

 
873

Total, not government insured/guaranteed
$
981

 
920

(1)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.
(2)
Includes mortgage loans held for sale 90 days or more past due and still accruing.
(3)
Represents loans whose repayments are predominantly guaranteed by agencies on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education under the FFELP.


5


 
Wells Fargo & Company
171


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

IMPAIRED LOANS   Table 6.15 summarizes key information for impaired loans. Our impaired loans predominantly include loans on nonaccrual status in the commercial portfolio segment and loans modified in a TDR, whether on accrual or nonaccrual status. These impaired loans generally have estimated losses which are included in the allowance for credit losses. We have impaired loans with no allowance for credit losses when loss content has been previously recognized through charge-offs and we do not anticipate additional charge-offs or losses, or certain
 
loans are currently performing in accordance with their terms and for which no loss has been estimated. Impaired loans exclude PCI loans. Table 6.15 includes trial modifications that totaled $402 million at December 31, 2015 , and $452 million at December 31, 2014 .
For additional information on our impaired loans and allowance for credit losses, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies).


Table 6.15: Impaired Loans Summary
 
 
 
Recorded investment 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Unpaid principal balance (1) 

 
Impaired loans 

 
Impaired loans with related allowance for credit losses 

 
Related allowance for credit losses 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
2,746

 
1,835

 
1,648

 
435

Real estate mortgage
2,369

 
1,815

 
1,773

 
405

Real estate construction
262

 
131

 
112

 
23

Lease financing
38

 
27

 
27

 
9

Total commercial
5,415

 
3,808

 
3,560

 
872

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
19,626

 
17,121

 
11,057

 
1,643

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
2,704

 
2,408

 
1,859

 
447

Credit card
299

 
299

 
299

 
94

Automobile
173

 
105

 
41

 
5

Other revolving credit and installment
86

 
79

 
71

 
15

Total consumer (2)
22,888

 
20,012

 
13,327

 
2,204

Total impaired loans (excluding PCI)
$
28,303

 
23,820

 
16,887

 
3,076

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,524

 
926

 
757

 
240

Real estate mortgage
3,190

 
2,483

 
2,405

 
591

Real estate construction
491

 
331

 
308

 
45

Lease financing
33

 
19

 
19

 
8

Total commercial
5,238

 
3,759

 
3,489

 
884

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
21,324

 
18,600

 
12,433

 
2,322

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
3,094

 
2,534

 
2,009

 
653

Credit card
338

 
338

 
338

 
98

Automobile
190

 
127

 
55

 
8

Other revolving credit and installment
60

 
50

 
42

 
5

Total consumer (2)
25,006

 
21,649

 
14,877

 
3,086

Total impaired loans (excluding PCI)
$
30,244

 
25,408

 
18,366

 
3,970

(1)
Excludes the unpaid principal balance for loans that have been fully charged off or otherwise have zero recorded investment.
(2)
Years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , include the recorded investment of $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion , respectively, of government insured/guaranteed loans that are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA and generally do not have an allowance. Impaired loans may also have limited, if any, allowance when the recorded investment of the loan approximates estimated net realizable value as a result of charge-offs prior to a TDR modification.


172
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Commitments to lend additional funds on loans whose terms have been modified in a TDR amounted to $363 million and $341 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Table 6.16 provides the average recorded investment in impaired loans and the amount of interest income recognized on impaired loans by portfolio segment and class.

 
Table 6.16: Average Recorded Investment in Impaired Loans
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Average recorded investment 

 
Recognized interest income 

 
Average recorded investment 

 
Recognized interest income 

 
Average recorded investment 

 
Recognized interest income 

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,240

 
80

 
1,089

 
77

 
1,508

 
94

Real estate mortgage
2,128

 
140

 
2,924

 
150

 
3,842

 
141

Real estate construction
246

 
25

 
457

 
39

 
966

 
35

Lease financing
26

 
—

 
28

 
—

 
38

 
1

Total commercial
3,640

 
245

 
4,498

 
266

 
6,354

 
271

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
17,924

 
921

 
19,086

 
934

 
19,419

 
973

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
2,480

 
137

 
2,547

 
142

 
2,498

 
143

Credit card
317

 
39

 
381

 
46

 
480

 
57

Automobile
115

 
13

 
154

 
18

 
232

 
29

Other revolving credit and installment
61

 
5

 
39

 
4

 
30

 
3

Total consumer
20,897

 
1,115

 
22,207

 
1,144

 
22,659

 
1,205

Total impaired loans (excluding PCI)
$
24,537

 
1,360

 
26,705

 
1,410

 
29,013

 
1,476

Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash basis of accounting
$
412

 
435

 
426

Other (1)
948

 
975

 
1,050

Total interest income
$
1,360

 
1,410

 
1,476

(1)
Includes interest recognized on accruing TDRs, interest recognized related to certain impaired loans which have an allowance calculated using discounting, and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments related to certain impaired loans.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
173


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

TROUBLED DEBT RESTRUCTURINGS (TDRs)    When, for economic or legal reasons related to a borrower’s financial difficulties, we grant a concession for other than an insignificant period of time to a borrower that we would not otherwise consider, the related loan is classified as a TDR. We do not consider any loans modified through a loan resolution such as foreclosure or short sale to be a TDR.
We may require some consumer borrowers experiencing financial difficulty to make trial payments generally for a period of three to four months, according to the terms of a planned permanent modification, to determine if they can perform according to those terms. These arrangements represent trial modifications, which we classify and account for as TDRs. While loans are in trial payment programs, their original terms are not considered modified and they continue to advance through delinquency status and accrue interest according to their original terms. The planned modifications for these arrangements predominantly involve interest rate reductions or other interest rate concessions; however, the exact concession type and resulting financial effect are usually not finalized and do not take effect until the loan is permanently modified. The trial period terms are developed in accordance with our proprietary programs or the U.S. Treasury’s Making Home Affordable programs for real estate 1-4 family first lien (i.e. Home Affordable Modification Program – HAMP) and junior lien (i.e. Second Lien Modification Program – 2MP) mortgage loans.
 
At December 31, 2015 , the loans in trial modification period were $130 million under HAMP, $32 million under 2MP and $240 million under proprietary programs, compared with $149 million , $34 million and $269 million at December 31, 2014 , respectively. Trial modifications with a recorded investment of $136 million at December 31, 2015 , and $167 million at December 31, 2014 , were accruing loans and $266 million and $285 million , respectively, were nonaccruing loans. Our experience is that substantially all of the mortgages that enter a trial payment period program are successful in completing the program requirements and are then permanently modified at the end of the trial period. Our allowance process considers the impact of those modifications that are probable to occur.
Table 6.17 summarizes our TDR modifications for the periods presented by primary modification type and includes the financial effects of these modifications. For those loans that modify more than once, the table reflects each modification that occurred during the period. Loans that both modify and pay off within the period, as well as changes in recorded investment during the period for loans modified in prior periods, are not included in the table.


174
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 6.17: TDR Modifications
 
Primary modification type (1) 
 
 
Financial effects of modifications
 
(in millions)
Principal (2) 

 
Interest rate reduction 

 
Other
 concessions (3)

 
Total 

 
Charge- offs (4) 

 
Weighted average interest rate reduction 
 
 
Recorded investment related to interest rate reduction (5)

Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
10

 
33

 
1,806

 
1,849

 
62

 
1.11
 
%
$
33

Real estate mortgage
14

 
133

 
904

 
1,051

 
1

 
1.47
 
 
133

Real estate construction
11

 
15

 
72

 
98

 
—

 
0.95
 
 
15

Total commercial
35

 
181

 
2,782

 
2,998

 
63

 
1.36
 
 
181

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
400

 
339

 
1,892

 
2,631

 
53

 
2.50
 
 
656

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
34

 
99

 
172

 
305

 
43

 
3.09
 
 
127

Credit card
—

 
166

 
—

 
166

 
—

 
11.44
 
 
166

Automobile
1

 
5

 
87

 
93

 
38

 
8.28
 
 
5

Other revolving credit and installment
—

 
27

 
8

 
35

 
1

 
5.94
 
 
27

Trial modifications (6)
—

 
—

 
44

 
44

 
—

 
—
 
 
—

Total consumer
435


636


2,203


3,274


135

 
4.21
 
 
981

Total
$
470


817


4,985


6,272


198

 
3.77
 
%
$
1,162

Year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
4

 
51

 
914

 
969

 
36

 
1.53
 
%
$
51

Real estate mortgage
7

 
182

 
929

 
1,118

 
—

 
1.21
 
 
182

Real estate construction
—

 
10

 
270

 
280

 
—

 
2.12
 
 
10

Total commercial
11

 
243

 
2,113

 
2,367

 
36

 
1.32
 
 
243

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
571

 
401

 
2,690

 
3,662

 
92

 
2.50
 
 
833

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
50

 
114

 
246

 
410

 
64

 
3.27
 
 
157

Credit card
—

 
155

 
—

 
155

 
—

 
11.40
 
 
155

Automobile
2

 
5

 
85

 
92

 
36

 
8.56
 
 
5

Other revolving credit and installment
—

 
12

 
16

 
28

 
—

 
5.26
 
 
12

Trial modifications (6)
—

 
—

 
(74
)
 
(74
)
 
—

 
—
 
 
—

Total consumer
623

 
687

 
2,963

 
4,273

 
192

 
3.84
 
 
1,162

Total
$
634

 
930

 
5,076

 
6,640

 
228

 
3.41
 
%
$
1,405

Year ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
19

 
177

 
1,081

 
1,277

 
17

 
4.71
 
%
$
177

Real estate mortgage
33

 
307

 
1,391

 
1,731

 
8

 
1.66
 
 
308

Real estate construction
—

 
12

 
381

 
393

 
4

 
1.07
 
 
12

Total commercial
52

 
496

 
2,853

 
3,401

 
29

 
2.72
 
 
497

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
1,143

 
1,170

 
3,681

 
5,994

 
233

 
2.64
 
 
2,019

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
103

 
181

 
472

 
756

 
42

 
3.33
 
 
276

Credit card
—

 
182

 
—

 
182

 
—

 
10.38
 
 
182

Automobile
3

 
12

 
97

 
112

 
34

 
7.66
 
 
12

Other revolving credit and installment
—

 
10

 
12

 
22

 
—

 
4.87
 
 
10

Trial modifications (6)
—

 
—

 
50

 
50

 
—

 
—
 
 
—

Total consumer
1,249

 
1,555

 
4,312

 
7,116

 
309

 
3.31
 
 
2,499

Total
$
1,301

 
2,051

 
7,165

 
10,517

 
338

 
3.21
 
%
$
2,996

(1)
Amounts represent the recorded investment in loans after recognizing the effects of the TDR, if any. TDRs may have multiple types of concessions, but are presented only once in the first modification type based on the order presented in the table above. The reported amounts include loans remodified of $2.1 billion , $2.1 billion and $3.1 billion , for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively.
(2)
Principal modifications include principal forgiveness at the time of the modification, contingent principal forgiveness granted over the life of the loan based on borrower performance, and principal that has been legally separated and deferred to the end of the loan, with a zero percent contractual interest rate.
(3)
Other concessions include loan renewals, term extensions and other interest and noninterest adjustments, but exclude modifications that also forgive principal and/or reduce the contractual interest rate.
(4)
Charge-offs include write-downs of the investment in the loan in the period it is contractually modified. The amount of charge-off will differ from the modification terms if the loan has been charged down prior to the modification based on our policies. In addition, there may be cases where we have a charge-off/down with no legal principal modification. Modifications resulted in legally forgiving principal (actual, contingent or deferred) of $100 million , $149 million and $393 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , respectively.
(5)
Reflects the effect of reduced interest rates on loans with an interest rate concession as one of their concession types, which includes loans reported as a principal primary modification type that also have an interest rate concession.
(6)
Trial modifications are granted a delay in payments due under the original terms during the trial payment period. However, these loans continue to advance through delinquency status and accrue interest according to their original terms. Any subsequent permanent modification generally includes interest rate related concessions; however, the exact concession type and resulting financial effect are usually not known until the loan is permanently modified. Trial modifications for the period are presented net of previously reported trial modifications that became permanent in the current period.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
175


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

Table 6.18 summarizes permanent modification TDRs that have defaulted in the current period within 12 months of their permanent modification date. We are reporting these defaulted TDRs based on a payment default definition of 90 days past due
 
for the commercial portfolio segment and 60 days past due for the consumer portfolio segment.


Table 6.18: Defaulted TDRs
 
Recorded investment of defaults 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
66

 
62

 
235

Real estate mortgage
104

 
117

 
303

Real estate construction
4

 
4

 
70

Total commercial
174

 
183

 
608

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
187

 
334

 
370

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
17

 
29

 
34

Credit card
52

 
51

 
59

Automobile
13

 
14

 
18

Other revolving credit and installment
3

 
2

 
1

Total consumer
272

 
430

 
482

Total
$
446

 
613

 
1,090

Purchased Credit-Impaired Loans
Substantially all of our PCI loans were acquired from Wachovia on December 31, 2008, at which time we acquired commercial and consumer loans with a carrying value of $18.7 billion and $40.1 billion , respectively. The unpaid principal balance on December 31, 2008 was $98.2 billion for the total of commercial and consumer PCI loans. Table 6.19 presents PCI loans net of any remaining purchase accounting adjustments. Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage PCI loans are predominantly Pick-a-Pay loans.

Table 6.19: PCI Loans
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
78

 
75

Real estate mortgage
 
542

 
1,261

Real estate construction
 
92

 
171

Total commercial
 
712

 
1,507

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
 
19,190

 
21,712

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
 
69

 
101

Total consumer
 
19,259

 
21,813

Total PCI loans (carrying value)
 
$
19,971

 
23,320

Total PCI loans (unpaid principal balance)
 
$
28,278

 
32,924



176
Wells Fargo & Company
 

ACCRETABLE YIELD   The excess of cash flows expected to be
collected over the carrying value of PCI loans is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income using an effective yield method over the remaining life of the loan, or pools of loans. The accretable yield is affected by:
•
changes in interest rate indices for variable rate PCI loans – expected future cash flows are based on the variable rates in effect at the time of the regular evaluations of cash flows expected to be collected;
•
changes in prepayment assumptions – prepayments affect the estimated life of PCI loans which may change the amount of interest income, and possibly principal, expected to be collected; and
 
•
changes in the expected principal and interest payments over the estimated life – updates to expected cash flows are driven by the credit outlook and actions taken with borrowers. Changes in expected future cash flows from loan modifications are included in the regular evaluations of cash flows expected to be collected.
 
The change in the accretable yield related to PCI loans since the merger with Wachovia is presented in Table 6.20 .

 
Table 6.20: Change in Accretable Yield
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

 
2009-2012

Total, beginning of period
$
17,790

 
17,392

 
18,548

 
10,447

Addition of accretable yield due to acquisitions
—

 
—

 
1

 
131

Accretion into interest income (1)
(1,429
)
 
(1,599
)
 
(1,833
)
 
(9,351
)
Accretion into noninterest income due to sales (2)
(28
)
 
(37
)
 
(151
)
 
(242
)
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference for loans with improving credit-related cash flows
1,166

 
2,243

 
971

 
5,354

Changes in expected cash flows that do not affect nonaccretable difference (3)
(1,198
)
 
(209
)
 
(144
)
 
12,209

Total, end of period
$
16,301

 
17,790

 
17,392

 
18,548

(1)
Includes accretable yield released as a result of settlements with borrowers, which is included in interest income.
(2)
Includes accretable yield released as a result of sales to third parties, which is included in noninterest income.
(3)
Represents changes in cash flows expected to be collected due to the impact of modifications, changes in prepayment assumptions, changes in interest rates on variable rate PCI loans and sales to third parties.

COMMERCIAL PCI CREDIT QUALITY INDICATORS Table 6.21 provides a breakdown of commercial PCI loans by risk category.


Table 6.21: Commercial PCI Loans by Risk Category
(in millions)
Commercial and industrial 

 
Real estate mortgage 

 
Real estate construction 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By risk category:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
35

 
298

 
68

 
401

Criticized
43

 
244

 
24

 
311

Total commercial PCI loans
$
78

 
542

 
92

 
712

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By risk category:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
21

 
783

 
118

 
922

Criticized
54

 
478

 
53

 
585

Total commercial PCI loans
$
75

 
1,261

 
171

 
1,507



 
Wells Fargo & Company
177


Note 6: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses (continued)

Table 6.22 provides past due information for commercial PCI loans.


Table 6.22: Commercial PCI Loans by Delinquency Status
(in millions)
Commercial and industrial 

 
Real estate mortgage 

 
Real estate construction 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD and still accruing
$
78

 
510

 
90

 
678

30-89 DPD and still accruing
—

 
2

 
—

 
2

90+ DPD and still accruing
—

 
30

 
2

 
32

Total commercial PCI loans
$
78

 
542

 
92

 
712

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD and still accruing
$
75

 
1,135

 
161

 
1,371

30-89 DPD and still accruing
—

 
48

 
5

 
53

90+ DPD and still accruing
—

 
78

 
5

 
83

Total commercial PCI loans
$
75

 
1,261

 
171

 
1,507


CONSUMER PCI CREDIT QUALITY INDICATORS   Our consumer PCI loans were aggregated into several pools of loans at acquisition. Below, we have provided credit quality indicators based on the unpaid principal balance (adjusted for write-
 
downs) of the individual loans included in the pool, but we have not allocated the remaining purchase accounting adjustments, which were established at a pool level. Table 6.23 provides the delinquency status of consumer PCI loans.

 
Table 6.23: Consumer PCI Loans by Delinquency Status
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Total 

 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Total 

By delinquency status:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current-29 DPD and still accruing
$
18,086

 
202

 
18,288

 
19,236

 
168

 
19,404

30-59 DPD and still accruing
1,686

 
7

 
1,693

 
1,987

 
7

 
1,994

60-89 DPD and still accruing
716

 
3

 
719

 
1,051

 
3

 
1,054

90-119 DPD and still accruing
293

 
2

 
295

 
402

 
2

 
404

120-179 DPD and still accruing
319

 
3

 
322

 
440

 
3

 
443

180+ DPD and still accruing
3,035

 
12

 
3,047

 
3,654

 
83

 
3,737

Total consumer PCI loans (adjusted unpaid principal balance)
$
24,135

 
229

 
24,364

 
26,770

 
266

 
27,036

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
$
19,190

 
69

 
19,259

 
21,712

 
101

 
21,813


178
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 6.24 provides FICO scores for consumer PCI loans.  

Table 6.24: Consumer PCI Loans by FICO
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Total 

 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage 

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage 

 
Total 

By FICO:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
< 600
$
5,737

 
52

 
5,789

 
7,708

 
75

 
7,783

600-639
4,754

 
38

 
4,792

 
5,416

 
53

 
5,469

640-679
6,208

 
48

 
6,256

 
6,718

 
69

 
6,787

680-719
4,283

 
43

 
4,326

 
4,008

 
39

 
4,047

720-759
1,914

 
24

 
1,938

 
1,728

 
13

 
1,741

760-799
910

 
13

 
923

 
875

 
6

 
881

800+
241

 
3

 
244

 
220

 
1

 
221

No FICO available
88

 
8

 
96

 
97

 
10

 
107

Total consumer PCI loans (adjusted unpaid principal balance)
$
24,135

 
229

 
24,364

 
26,770

 
266

 
27,036

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
$
19,190

 
69

 
19,259

 
21,712

 
101

 
21,813


Table 6.25 shows the distribution of consumer PCI loans by LTV for real estate 1-4 family first mortgages and by CLTV for real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgages.


Table 6.25: Consumer PCI Loans by LTV/CLTV
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage by LTV

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage by CLTV

 
Total 

 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage by LTV

 
Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage by CLTV

 
Total

By LTV/CLTV:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0-60%
$
5,437

 
32

 
5,469

 
4,309

 
34

 
4,343

60.01-80%
10,036

 
65

 
10,101

 
11,264

 
71

 
11,335

80.01-100%
6,299

 
80

 
6,379

 
7,751

 
92

 
7,843

100.01-120% (1)
1,779

 
36

 
1,815

 
2,437

 
44

 
2,481

> 120% (1)
579

 
15

 
594

 
1,000

 
24

 
1,024

No LTV/CLTV available
5

 
1

 
6

 
9

 
1

 
10

Total consumer PCI loans (adjusted unpaid principal balance)
$
24,135

 
229

 
24,364

 
26,770

 
266

 
27,036

Total consumer PCI loans (carrying value)
$
19,190

 
69

 
19,259

 
21,712

 
101

 
21,813

(1)
Reflects total loan balances with LTV/CLTV amounts in excess of 100%. In the event of default, the loss content would generally be limited to only the amount in excess of 100% LTV/CLTV.




 
Wells Fargo & Company
179




Note 7:   Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets
Table 7.1: Premises and Equipment
(in millions)
Dec 31, 2015

 
Dec 31, 2014

Land
$
1,743

 
1,748

Buildings
8,479

 
8,155

Furniture and equipment
7,289

 
7,215

Leasehold improvements
2,131

 
2,009

Premises and equipment leased under capital leases
79

 
79

Total premises and equipment
19,721

 
19,206

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
11,017

 
10,463

Net book value, premises and equipment
$
8,704

 
8,743


Depreciation and amortization expense for premises and equipment was $1.2 billion in 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
Dispositions of premises and equipment, included in noninterest expense, resulted in a net gain of $75 million in 2015 , a net gain of $28 million in 2014 and a net loss of $15 million in 2013 .
We have obligations under a number of noncancelable operating leases for premises and equipment. The leases predominantly expire over the next fifteen years, with the longest expiring in 2105 , and many provide for periodic adjustment of rentals based on changes in various economic indicators. Some leases also include a renewal option. Table 7.2 provides the future minimum payments under capital leases and noncancelable operating leases, net of sublease rentals, with terms greater than one year as of December 31, 2015 .
Table 7.2: Minimum Lease Payments
(in millions)
Operating leases 

 
Capital leases 

Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
2016
$
1,131

 
2

2017
1,026

 
2

2018
902

 
3

2019
781

 
3

2020
628

 
3

Thereafter
2,234

 
6

Total minimum lease payments
$
6,702

 
19

Executory costs
 
 
$
(7
)
Amounts representing interest
 
 
(4
)
Present value of net minimum lease payments
 
 
$
8

Operating lease rental expense (predominantly for premises), net of rental income, was $1.3 billion , in 2015 ,  2014 and 2013 , respectively.
 
Table 7.3 presents the components of other assets.
Table 7.3: Other Assets
(in millions)
Dec 31, 2015

 
Dec 31, 2014

Nonmarketable equity investments:
 
 
 
Cost method:
 
 
 
Federal bank stock
$
4,814

 
4,733

Private equity
1,626

 
2,300

Auction rate securities (1)
595

 
—

Total cost method
7,035

 
7,033

Equity method:
 
 
 
LIHTC (2)
8,314

 
7,278

Private equity
3,300

 
3,043

Tax-advantaged renewable energy
1,625

 
1,710

New market tax credit and other
408

 
379

Total equity method
13,647

 
12,410

Fair value (3)
3,065

 
2,512

Total nonmarketable equity investments
23,747

 
21,955

Corporate/bank-owned life insurance
19,199

 
18,982

Accounts receivable (4)
26,251

 
27,151

Interest receivable
5,065

 
4,871

Core deposit intangibles
2,539

 
3,561

Customer relationship and other amortized intangibles
614

 
857

Foreclosed assets:
 
 
 
Residential real estate:
 
 
 
Government insured/guaranteed (4)
446

 
982

Non-government insured/guaranteed
414

 
671

Non-residential real estate
565

 
956

Operating lease assets
3,782

 
2,714

Due from customers on acceptances
273

 
201

Other (5)
17,887

 
16,156

Total other assets
$
100,782

 
99,057

(1)
Reflects auction rate perpetual preferred equity securities that were reclassified during 2015 with a cost basis of $689 million (fair value of $640 million ) from available-for-sale securities because they do not trade on a qualified exchange.
(2)
Represents low income housing tax credit investments.
(3)
Represents nonmarketable equity investments for which we have elected the fair value option. See Note 17 (Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) for additional information.
(4)
Certain government-guaranteed residential real estate mortgage loans upon foreclosure are included in Accounts receivable. Both principal and interest related to these foreclosed real estate assets are collectible because the loans were predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.
(5)
Includes derivatives designated as hedging instruments, derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, and derivative loan commitments, which are carried at fair value. See Note 16 (Derivatives) for additional information.


180
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 7.4 presents income (expense) related to nonmarketable equity investments.
Table 7.4: Nonmarketable Equity Investments
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Net realized gains from nonmarketable equity investments
$
1,659

 
1,479

 
1,158

All other
(743
)
 
(741
)
 
(287
)
Total
$
916

 
738

 
871


Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investments We invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the low income housing tax credit, which is designed to promote private development of low income housing. These investments generate a return primarily through realization of federal tax credits.
Total low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) investments were $8.3 billion and $7.3 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. In 2015 , we recognized pre-tax losses of $708 million related to our LIHTC investments. We also recognized a total tax benefit of $1.1 billion in 2015 , which included a tax credit of $829 million recorded in income taxes. We are periodically required to provide additional financial support during the investment period. Our liability for these unfunded commitments was $3.0 billion at December 31, 2015 , of which predominantly all is expected to be paid over the next three years. This liability is included in long-term debt.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
181


Note 8: Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities (continued)

Note 8:   Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities 

Involvement with SPEs
In the normal course of business, we enter into various types of on- and off-balance sheet transactions with SPEs, which are corporations, trusts or partnerships that are established for a limited purpose. Generally, SPEs are formed in connection with securitization transactions. In a securitization transaction, assets are transferred to an SPE, which then issues to investors various forms of interests in those assets and may also enter into derivative transactions. In a securitization transaction where we transferred assets from our balance sheet, we typically receive cash and/or other interests in an SPE as proceeds for the assets we transfer. Also, in certain transactions, we may retain the right to service the transferred receivables and to repurchase those receivables from the SPE if the outstanding balance of the receivables falls to a level where the cost exceeds the benefits of servicing such receivables. In addition, we may purchase the right to service loans in an SPE that were transferred to the SPE by a third party.
In connection with our securitization activities, we have various forms of ongoing involvement with SPEs, which may include:
•
underwriting securities issued by SPEs and subsequently making markets in those securities;
•
providing liquidity facilities to support short-term obligations of SPEs issued to third party investors;
•
providing credit enhancement on securities issued by SPEs or market value guarantees of assets held by SPEs through the use of letters of credit, financial guarantees, credit default swaps and total return swaps;
•
entering into other derivative contracts with SPEs;
•
holding senior or subordinated interests in SPEs;
•
acting as servicer or investment manager for SPEs; and
•
providing administrative or trustee services to SPEs.

 
SPEs formed in connection with securitization transactions are generally considered variable interest entities (VIEs). SPEs formed for other corporate purposes may be VIEs as well. A VIE is an entity that has either a total equity investment that is insufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support or whose equity investors lack the ability to control the entity’s activities or lack the ability to receive expected benefits or absorb obligations in a manner that’s consistent with their investment in the entity. A VIE is consolidated by its primary beneficiary, the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE and a variable interest that could potentially be significant to the VIE. A variable interest is a contractual, ownership or other interest whose value changes with changes in the fair value of the VIE’s net assets. To determine whether or not a variable interest we hold could potentially be significant to the VIE, we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of our involvement with the VIE. We assess whether or not we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an on-going basis.
We have segregated our involvement with VIEs between those VIEs which we consolidate, those which we do not consolidate and those for which we account for the transfers of financial assets as secured borrowings. Secured borrowings are transactions involving transfers of our financial assets to third parties that are accounted for as financings with the assets pledged as collateral. Accordingly, the transferred assets remain recognized on our balance sheet. Subsequent tables within this Note further segregate these transactions by structure type.


182
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 8.1 provides the classifications of assets and liabilities in our balance sheet for our transactions with VIEs.  
 



Table 8.1: Balance Sheet Transactions with VIEs
(in millions)
VIEs that we do not consolidate 

 
VIEs that we consolidate 

 
Transfers that we account for as secured borrowings 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
Cash
$
—

 
157

 
—

 
157

Trading assets
1,340

 
1

 
203

 
1,544

Investment securities (1) 
12,388

 
425

 
2,171

 
14,984

Loans
9,661

 
4,811

 
4,887

 
19,359

Mortgage servicing rights
12,518

 
—

 
—

 
12,518

Other assets
8,938

 
242

 
26

 
9,206

Total assets
44,845

 
5,636

 
7,287

 
57,768

Short-term borrowings
—

 
—

 
1,799

 
1,799

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
629

 
57

(2)  
1

 
687

Long-term debt
3,021

 
1,301

(2)  
4,844

 
9,166

Total liabilities
3,650

 
1,358

 
6,644

 
11,652

Noncontrolling interests
—

 
93

 
—

 
93

Net assets
$
41,195

 
4,185

 
643

 
46,023

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
$
—

 
117

 
4

 
121

Trading assets
2,165

 
—

 
204

 
2,369

Investment securities (1)
18,271

 
875

 
4,592

 
23,738

Loans
13,195

 
4,509

 
5,280

 
22,984

Mortgage servicing rights
12,562

 
—

 
—

 
12,562

Other assets
7,456

 
316

 
52

 
7,824

Total assets
53,649

 
5,817

 
10,132

 
69,598

Short-term borrowings
—

 
—

 
3,141

 
3,141

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
848

 
49

(2)  
1

 
898

Long-term debt
2,585

 
1,628

(2)  
4,990

 
9,203

Total liabilities
3,433

 
1,677

 
8,132

 
13,242

Noncontrolling interests
—

 
103

 
—

 
103

Net assets
$
50,216

 
4,037

 
2,000

 
56,253

(1)
Excludes certain debt securities related to loans serviced for the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) and GNMA.
(2)
There were no VIE liabilities with recourse to the general credit of Wells Fargo for the periods presented.

Transactions with Unconsolidated VIEs
Our transactions with VIEs include securitizations of residential mortgage loans, CRE loans, student loans, auto loans and leases and dealer floorplan loans; investment and financing activities involving collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) backed by asset-backed and CRE securities, tax credit structures, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) backed by corporate loans, and other types of structured financing. We have various forms of involvement with VIEs, including servicing, holding senior or subordinated interests, entering into liquidity arrangements, credit default swaps and other derivative contracts. Involvements with these unconsolidated VIEs are recorded on our balance sheet primarily in trading assets, investment securities, loans, MSRs, other assets, other liabilities, and long-term debt, as appropriate.
Table 8.2 provides a summary of unconsolidated VIEs with which we have significant continuing involvement, but we are not the primary beneficiary. We do not consider our continuing involvement in an unconsolidated VIE to be significant when it relates to third-party sponsored VIEs for which we were not the transferor (unless we are servicer and have other significant
 
forms of involvement) or if we were the sponsor only or sponsor and servicer but do not have any other forms of significant involvement.
Significant continuing involvement includes transactions where we were the sponsor or transferor and have other significant forms of involvement. Sponsorship includes transactions with unconsolidated VIEs where we solely or materially participated in the initial design or structuring of the entity or marketing of the transaction to investors. When we transfer assets to a VIE and account for the transfer as a sale, we are considered the transferor. We consider investments in securities (other than those held temporarily in trading), loans, guarantees, liquidity agreements, written options and servicing of collateral to be other forms of involvement that may be significant. We have excluded certain transactions with unconsolidated VIEs from the balances presented in the following table where we have determined that our continuing involvement is not significant due to the temporary nature and size of our variable interests, because we were not the transferor or because we were not involved in the design of the unconsolidated VIEs. We also exclude from the table secured


 
Wells Fargo & Company
183


Note 8: Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities (continued)

borrowing transactions with unconsolidated VIEs (for information on these transactions, see the Transactions with Consolidated VIEs and Secured Borrowings section in this Note).

Table 8.2: Unconsolidated VIEs
 
 
 
Carrying value –  asset (liability) 
 
(in millions)
Total
VIE
assets 

 
Debt and equity interests (1) 

 
Servicing assets 

 
Derivatives 

 
Other commitments and guarantees 

 
Net assets 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage loan securitizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conforming (2)
$
1,199,225

 
2,458

 
11,665

 
—

 
(386
)
 
13,737

Other/nonconforming
24,809

 
1,228

 
141

 
—

 
(1
)
 
1,368

Commercial mortgage securitizations
184,959

 
6,323

 
712

 
203

 
(26
)
 
7,212

Collateralized debt obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
3,247

 
—

 
—

 
64

 
(57
)
 
7

Loans (3)
3,314

 
3,207

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,207

Asset-based finance structures
13,063

 
8,956

 
—

 
(66
)
 
—

 
8,890

Tax credit structures
26,099

 
9,094

 
—

 
—

 
(3,047
)
 
6,047

Collateralized loan obligations
898

 
213

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
213

Investment funds
1,131

 
47

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
47

Other (4)
12,690

 
511

 
—

 
(44
)
 
—

 
467

Total
$
1,469,435

 
32,037

 
12,518

 
157

 
(3,517
)
 
41,195

 
 
 
Maximum exposure to loss 
 
 
 
 
Debt and equity interests (1) 

 
Servicing assets 

 
Derivatives 

 
Other commitments and guarantees 

 
Total exposure 

Residential mortgage loan securitizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conforming
 
 
$
2,458

 
11,665

 
—

 
1,452

 
15,575

Other/nonconforming
 
 
1,228

 
141

 
—

 
1

 
1,370

Commercial mortgage securitizations
 
 
6,323

 
712

 
203

 
7,152

 
14,390

Collateralized debt obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
 
 
—

 
—

 
64

 
57

 
121

Loans (3)
 
 
3,207

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,207

Asset-based finance structures
 
 
8,956

 
—

 
76

 
444

 
9,476

Tax credit structures
 
 
9,094

 
—

 
—

 
866

 
9,960

Collateralized loan obligations
 
 
213

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
213

Investment funds
 
 
47

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
47

Other (4)
 
 
511

 
—

 
117

 
150

 
778

Total


 
$
32,037

 
12,518

 
460

 
10,122

 
55,137


(continued on following page)


184
Wells Fargo & Company
 

(continued from previous page)


 
 
Carrying value - asset (liability) 
 
(in millions)
Total
VIE
assets

Debt and equity interests (1) 

 
Servicing assets 

 
Derivatives 

 
Other commitments and guarantees 

 
Net assets 

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgage loan securitizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conforming (2)
$
1,268,200

2,846

 
11,684

 
—

 
(581
)
 
13,949

Other/nonconforming
32,213

1,644

 
209

 
—

 
(8
)
 
1,845

Commercial mortgage securitizations
196,510

8,756

 
650

 
251

 
(32
)
 
9,625

Collateralized debt obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
5,039

11

 
—

 
163

 
(105
)
 
69

Loans (3)
5,347

5,221

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,221

Asset-based finance structures
18,954

13,044

 
—

 
(71
)
 
—

 
12,973

Tax credit structures
22,859

7,809

 
—

 
—

 
(2,585
)
 
5,224

Collateralized loan obligations
1,251

518

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
518

Investment funds
2,764

49

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
49

Other (4)
12,912

747

 
19

 
(18
)
 
(5
)
 
743

Total
$
1,566,049

40,645

 
12,562

 
325

 
(3,316
)
 
50,216

 
 
Maximum exposure to loss 
 
 
 
Debt and equity interests (1) 

 
Servicing assets 

 
Derivatives 

 
Other commitments and guarantees 

 
Total exposure

Residential mortgage loan securitizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conforming
 
$
2,846

 
11,684

 
—

 
2,507

 
17,037

Other/nonconforming
 
1,644

 
209

 
—

 
345

 
2,198

Commercial mortgage securitizations
 
8,756

 
650

 
251

 
5,715

 
15,372

Collateralized debt obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt securities
 
11

 
—

 
163

 
105

 
279

Loans (3)
 
5,221

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5,221

Asset-based finance structures
 
13,044

 
—

 
89

 
656

 
13,789

Tax credit structures
 
7,809

 
—

 
—

 
725

 
8,534

Collateralized loan obligations
 
518

 
—

 
—

 
38

 
556

Investment funds
 
49

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
49

Other (4)
 
747

 
19

 
150

 
156

 
1,072

Total
 
$
40,645

 
12,562

 
653

 
10,247

 
64,107

(1)
Includes total equity interests of $8.9 billion and $8.1 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Also includes debt interests in the form of both loans and securities. Excludes certain debt securities held related to loans serviced for FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA.
(2)
Excludes assets and related liabilities with a recorded carrying value on our balance sheet of $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, for certain delinquent loans that are eligible for repurchase primarily from GNMA loan securitizations. The recorded carrying value represents the amount that would be payable if the Company was to exercise the repurchase option. The carrying amounts are excluded from the table because the loans eligible for repurchase do not represent interests in the VIEs.
(3)
Represents senior loans to trusts that are collateralized by asset-backed securities. The trusts invest primarily in senior tranches from a diversified pool of primarily U.S. asset securitizations, of which all are current and 70% were rated as investment grade by the primary rating agencies at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 . These senior loans are accounted for at amortized cost and are subject to the Company’s allowance and credit charge-off policies.
(4)
Includes structured financing and credit-linked note structures. Also contains investments in auction rate securities (ARS) issued by VIEs that we do not sponsor and, accordingly, are unable to obtain the total assets of the entity.

In the two preceding tables, “Total VIE assets” represents the remaining principal balance of assets held by unconsolidated VIEs using the most current information available. For VIEs that obtain exposure to assets synthetically through derivative instruments, the remaining notional amount of the derivative is included in the asset balance. “Carrying value” is the amount in our consolidated balance sheet related to our involvement with the unconsolidated VIEs. “Maximum exposure to loss” from our involvement with off-balance sheet entities, which is a required disclosure under GAAP, is determined as the carrying value of our involvement with off-balance sheet (unconsolidated) VIEs plus the remaining undrawn liquidity and lending commitments, the notional amount of net written derivative contracts, and generally the notional amount of, or stressed loss estimate for, other commitments and guarantees. It represents estimated loss
 
that would be incurred under severe, hypothetical circumstances, for which we believe the possibility is extremely remote, such as where the value of our interests and any associated collateral declines to zero, without any consideration of recovery or offset from any economic hedges. Accordingly, this required disclosure is not an indication of expected loss.
 
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS   Residential mortgage loan securitizations are financed through the issuance of fixed-rate or floating-rate asset-backed securities, which are collateralized by the loans transferred to a VIE. We typically transfer loans we originated to these VIEs, account for the transfers as sales, retain the right to service the loans and may hold other beneficial interests issued by the VIEs. We also may be exposed to limited liability related to recourse agreements and repurchase


 
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185


Note 8: Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities (continued)

agreements we make to our issuers and purchasers, which are included in other commitments and guarantees. In certain instances, we may service residential mortgage loan securitizations structured by third parties whose loans we did not originate or transfer. Our residential mortgage loan securitizations consist of conforming and nonconforming securitizations.
Conforming residential mortgage loan securitizations are those that are guaranteed by the GSEs, including GNMA. Because of the power of the GSEs over the VIEs that hold the assets from these conforming residential mortgage loan securitizations, we do not consolidate them.
The loans sold to the VIEs in nonconforming residential mortgage loan securitizations are those that do not qualify for a GSE guarantee. We may hold variable interests issued by the VIEs, including senior securities. We do not consolidate the nonconforming residential mortgage loan securitizations included in the table because we either do not hold any variable interests, hold variable interests that we do not consider potentially significant or are not the primary servicer for a majority of the VIE assets.
Other commitments and guarantees include amounts related to loans sold that we may be required to repurchase, or otherwise indemnify or reimburse the investor or insurer for losses incurred, due to material breach of contractual representations and warranties as well as other retained recourse arrangements. The maximum exposure to loss for material breach of contractual representations and warranties represents a stressed case estimate we utilize for determining stressed case regulatory capital needs and is considered to be a remote scenario.
 
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE LOAN SECURITIZATIONS Commercial mortgage loan securitizations are financed through the issuance of fixed or floating-rate asset-backed securities, which are collateralized by the loans transferred to the VIE. In a typical securitization, we may transfer loans we originate to these VIEs, account for the transfers as sales, retain the right to service the loans and may hold other beneficial interests issued by the VIEs. In certain instances, we may service commercial mortgage loan securitizations structured by third parties whose loans we did not originate or transfer. We typically serve as primary or master servicer of these VIEs. The primary or master servicer in a commercial mortgage loan securitization typically cannot make the most significant decisions impacting the performance of the VIE and therefore does not have power over the VIE. We do not consolidate the commercial mortgage loan securitizations included in the disclosure because we either do not have power or do not have a variable interest that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
 
COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS (CDOs)   A CDO is a securitization where a VIE purchases a pool of assets consisting of asset-backed securities and issues multiple tranches of equity or notes to investors. In some CDOs, a portion of the assets are obtained synthetically through the use of derivatives such as credit default swaps or total return swaps.
In addition to our role as arranger we may have other forms of involvement with these CDOs. Such involvement may include acting as liquidity provider, derivative counterparty, secondary market maker or investor. For certain CDOs, we may also act as the collateral manager or servicer. We receive fees in connection with our role as collateral manager or servicer.
We assess whether we are the primary beneficiary of CDOs based on our role in them in combination with the variable
 
interests we hold. Subsequently, we monitor our ongoing involvement to determine if the nature of our involvement has changed. We are not the primary beneficiary of these CDOs in most cases because we do not act as the collateral manager or servicer, which generally denotes power. In cases where we are the collateral manager or servicer, we are not the primary beneficiary because we do not hold interests that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
 
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS (CLOs)   A CLO is a securitization where an SPE purchases a pool of assets consisting of loans and issues multiple tranches of equity or notes to investors. Generally, CLOs are structured on behalf of a third party asset manager that typically selects and manages the assets for the term of the CLO. Typically, the asset manager has the power over the significant decisions of the VIE through its discretion to manage the assets of the CLO. We assess whether we are the primary beneficiary of CLOs based on our role in them and the variable interests we hold. In most cases, we are not the primary beneficiary because we do not have the power to manage the collateral in the VIE.
In addition to our role as arranger, we may have other forms of involvement with these CLOs. Such involvement may include acting as underwriter, derivative counterparty, secondary market maker or investor. For certain CLOs, we may also act as the servicer, for which we receive fees in connection with that role. We also earn fees for arranging these CLOs and distributing the securities.
 
ASSET-BASED FINANCE STRUCTURES   We engage in various forms of structured finance arrangements with VIEs that are collateralized by various asset classes including energy contracts, auto and other transportation loans and leases, intellectual property, equipment and general corporate credit. We typically provide senior financing, and may act as an interest rate swap or commodity derivative counterparty when necessary. In most cases, we are not the primary beneficiary of these structures because we do not have power over the significant activities of the VIEs involved in them.
In fourth quarter 2014, we sold $8.3 billion of government guaranteed student loans, including the rights to service the loans, to a third party, resulting in a $217 million gain. In connection with the sale, we provided $6.5 billion in floating-rate loan financing to an asset backed financing entity (VIE) formed by the third party purchaser. Our financing, which is fully collateralized by government guaranteed student loans, is measured at amortized cost and classified in loans on the balance sheet. The collateral supporting our loan includes a portion of the student loans we sold. We are not the primary beneficiary of the VIE and, therefore, are not required to consolidate the entity as we do not have power over the significant activities of the entity. For information on the estimated fair value of the loan and related sensitivity analysis, see the Retained Interests from Unconsolidated VIEs section in this Note.
In addition, we also have investments in asset-backed securities that are collateralized by auto leases or loans and cash. These fixed-rate and variable-rate securities have been structured as single-tranche, fully amortizing, unrated bonds that are equivalent to investment-grade securities due to their significant overcollateralization. The securities are issued by VIEs that have been formed by third party auto financing institutions primarily because they require a source of liquidity to fund ongoing vehicle sales operations. The third party auto financing institutions manage the collateral in the VIEs, which is


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

indicative of power in them and we therefore do not consolidate these VIEs.

TAX CREDIT STRUCTURES   We co-sponsor and make investments in affordable housing and sustainable energy projects that are designed to generate a return primarily through the realization of federal tax credits. In some instances, our investments in these structures may require that we fund future capital commitments at the discretion of the project sponsors. While the size of our investment in a single entity may at times exceed 50% of the outstanding equity interests, we do not consolidate these structures due to the project sponsor’s ability to manage the projects, which is indicative of power in them.
 
INVESTMENT FUNDS   We do not consolidate the investment funds because we do not absorb the majority of the expected future variability associated with the funds’ assets, including variability associated with credit, interest rate and liquidity risks.

OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH VIEs  Other VIEs include entities that issue auction rate securities (ARS) which are debt instruments with long-term maturities that re-price more frequently, and preferred equities with no maturity. At December 31, 2015 , we held $502 million of ARS issued by VIEs compared with $567 million at December 31, 2014 . We acquired the ARS pursuant to agreements entered into in 2008 and 2009.
We do not consolidate the VIEs that issued the ARS because we do not have power over the activities of the VIEs.
 
TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES   VIEs that we wholly own issue debt securities or preferred equity to third party investors. All of the proceeds of the issuance are invested in debt securities or preferred equity that we issue to the VIEs. The VIEs’
 
operations and cash flows relate only to the issuance, administration and repayment of the securities held by third parties. We do not consolidate these VIEs because the sole assets of the VIEs are receivables from us, even though we own all of the voting equity shares of the VIEs, have fully guaranteed the obligations of the VIEs and may have the right to redeem the third party securities under certain circumstances. In our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we reported the debt securities issued to the VIEs as long-term junior subordinated debt with a carrying value of $2.2 billion and $2.1 billion , respectively, and the preferred equity securities issued to the VIEs as preferred stock with a carrying value of $2.5 billion at both dates. These amounts are in addition to the involvements in these VIEs included in the preceding table.
In 2013, we redeemed $2.8 billion of trust preferred securities that will no longer count as Tier 1 capital under the Dodd-Frank Act and the Basel Committee recommendations known as the Basel III standards.
 
Loan Sales and Securitization Activity
We periodically transfer consumer and CRE loans and other types of financial assets in securitization and whole loan sale transactions. We typically retain the servicing rights from these sales and may continue to hold other beneficial interests in the transferred financial assets. We may also provide liquidity to investors in the beneficial interests and credit enhancements in the form of standby letters of credit. Through these transfers we may be exposed to liability under limited amounts of recourse as well as standard representations and warranties we make to purchasers and issuers. Table 8.3 presents the cash flows for our transfers accounted for as sales.


Table 8.3: Cash Flows From Sales and Securitization Activity
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Mortgage loans 

 
Other financial assets 

 
Mortgage loans 

 
Other financial assets 

 
Mortgage loans 

 
Other financial assets 

Proceeds from securitizations and whole loan sales
$
202,335

 
531

 
164,331

 
—

 
357,807

 
—

Fees from servicing rights retained
3,675

 
5

 
4,062

 
8

 
4,240

 
10

Cash flows from other interests held (1)
1,297

 
38

 
1,417

 
75

 
2,284

 
93

Repurchases of assets/loss reimbursements (2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-agency securitizations and whole loan transactions
14

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
18

 
—

Agency securitizations (3)
300

 
—

 
316

 
—

 
1,079

 
—

Servicing advances, net of repayments
(764
)
 
—

 
(170
)
 
—

 
(34
)
 
—

(1)
Cash flows from other interests held include principal and interest payments received on retained bonds and excess cash flows received on interest-only strips.
(2)
Consists of cash paid to repurchase loans from investors and cash paid to investors to reimburse them for losses on individual loans that are already liquidated. In addition, during 2015 , we paid $19 million to third-party investors to settle repurchase liabilities on pools of loans, compared to $78 million and $1.3 billion in 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
(3)
Represent loans repurchased from GNMA, FNMA, and FHLMC under representation and warranty provisions included in our loan sales contracts. Excludes $11.3 billion in delinquent insured/guaranteed loans that we service and have exercised our option to purchase out of GNMA pools in 2015 , compared with $13.8 billion and $15.8 billion in 2014 and 2013 , respectively. These loans are predominantly insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.

In 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 , we recognized net gains of $506 million , $288 million and $149 million , respectively, from transfers accounted for as sales of financial assets. These net gains primarily relate to commercial mortgage securitizations and residential mortgage securitizations where the loans were not already carried at fair value.
Sales with continuing involvement during 2015 , 2014 and 2013 predominantly related to securitizations of residential mortgages that are sold to the government-sponsored entities (GSEs), including FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA (conforming residential mortgage securitizations). During 2015 , 2014 and
 
2013 we transferred $186.6 billion , $155.8 billion and $343.9 billion , respectively, in fair value of residential mortgages to unconsolidated VIEs and third-party investors and recorded the transfers as sales. Substantially all of these transfers did not result in a gain or loss because the loans were already carried at fair value. In connection with all of these transfers, in 2015 we recorded a $1.6 billion servicing asset, measured at fair value using a Level 3 measurement technique, securities of $1.9 billion , classified as Level 2, and a $43 million liability for repurchase losses which reflects management’s estimate of probable losses related to various representations and


 
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Note 8: Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities (continued)

warranties for the loans transferred, initially measured at fair value. In 2014 , we recorded a $1.2 billion servicing asset, securities of $751 million and a $44 million liability. In 2013 , we recorded a $3.5 billion servicing asset and a $143 million liability.
Table 8.4 presents the key weighted-average assumptions we used to measure residential mortgage servicing rights at the date of securitization.

Table 8.4: Residential Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
Residential mortgage servicing rights 
 
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment speed (1)
12.1
%
 
12.4

 
11.2

Discount rate
7.3

 
7.6

 
7.3

Cost to service ($ per loan) (2)
$
223

 
259

 
184

(1)
The prepayment speed assumption for residential mortgage servicing rights includes a blend of prepayment speeds and default rates. Prepayment speed assumptions are influenced by mortgage interest rate inputs as well as our estimation of drivers of borrower behavior.
(2)
Includes costs to service and unreimbursed foreclosure costs, which can vary period to period depending on the mix of modified government-guaranteed loans sold to GNMA.

During 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , we transferred $17.3 billion , $10.3 billion and $5.6 billion , respectively, in carrying value of commercial mortgages to unconsolidated VIEs and third-party investors and recorded the transfers as sales. These transfers resulted in gains of $338 million in 2015 , $198 million in 2014 and $152 million in 2013 , respectively, because the loans were carried at lower of cost or market value (LOCOM). In connection with these transfers, in 2015 we recorded a servicing asset of $180 million , initially measured at fair value using a Level 3 measurement technique, and securities of $241 million , classified as Level 2. In 2014 , we recorded a servicing asset of $99 million and securities of $100 million . In 2013 , we recorded a servicing asset of $20 million and securities of $54 million .

Retained Interests from Unconsolidated VIEs
Table 8.5 provides key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of residential mortgage servicing rights and other interests held to immediate adverse changes in those assumptions. “Other interests held” relate predominantly to residential and commercial mortgage loan securitizations. Residential mortgage-backed securities retained in securitizations issued through GSEs, such as FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA, are excluded from the table because these securities have a remote risk of credit loss due to the GSE guarantee. These securities also have economic characteristics similar to GSE mortgage-backed securities that we purchase, which are not included in the table. Subordinated interests include only those bonds whose credit rating was below AAA by a major rating agency at issuance. Senior interests include only those bonds whose credit rating was AAA by a major rating agency at issuance. The information presented excludes trading positions held in inventory.


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 8.5: Retained Interests from Unconsolidated VIEs

 
 
 
Other interests held
 
 
Residential mortgage servicing rights (1) 

 
Interest-only strips 

 
Consumer

 
Commercial (2)
 
($ in millions, except cost to service amounts)
 
 
Subordinated bonds

 
Subordinated bonds

 
Senior bonds

Fair value of interests held at December 31, 2015
$
12,415

 
34

 
1

 
342

 
673

Expected weighted-average life (in years)
6.0

 
3.6

 
11.6

 
1.9

 
5.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key economic assumptions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment speed assumption (3)
11.4
%
 
19.0

 
15.1

 
 
 
 
Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10% adverse change
$
616

 
1

 
—

 
 
 
 
25% adverse change
1,463

 
3

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate assumption
7.3
%
 
13.8

 
10.5

 
5.3

 
3.0

Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100 basis point increase
$
605

 
1

 
—

 
6

 
33

200 basis point increase
1,154

 
1

 
—

 
11

 
63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost to service assumption ($ per loan)
168

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10% adverse change
567

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25% adverse change
1,417

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit loss assumption
 
 
 
 
1.1
%
 
2.8

 
—

Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10% higher losses
 
 
 
 
$
—

 
—

 
—

25% higher losses
 
 
 
 
—

 
2

 
—

Fair value of interests held at December 31, 2014
$
12,738

 
117

 
36

 
294

 
546

Expected weighted-average life (in years)
5.7

 
3.9

 
5.5

 
2.9

 
6.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key economic assumptions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment speed assumption (3)
12.5
%
 
11.4

 
7.1

 
 
 
 
Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10% adverse change
$
738

 
2

 
—

 
 
 
 
25% adverse change
1,754

 
6

 
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate assumption
7.6
%
 
18.7

 
3.9

 
4.7

 
2.8

Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100 basis point increase
$
617

 
2

 
2

 
8

 
29

200 basis point increase
1,178

 
4

 
3

 
15

 
55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost to service assumption ($ per loan)
179

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10% adverse change
579

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25% adverse change
1,433

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit loss assumption
 
 
 
 
0.4
%
 
4.1

 
—

Decrease in fair value from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10% higher losses
 
 
 
 
$
—

 
3

 
—

25% higher losses
 
 
 
 
—

 
10

 
—

(1)
See narrative following this table for a discussion of commercial mortgage servicing rights.
(2)
Prepayment speed assumptions do not significantly impact the value of commercial mortgage securitization bonds as the underlying commercial mortgage loans experience significantly lower prepayments due to certain contractual restrictions, impacting the borrower’s ability to prepay the mortgage.
(3)
The prepayment speed assumption for residential mortgage servicing rights includes a blend of prepayment speeds and default rates. Prepayment speed assumptions are influenced by mortgage interest rate inputs as well as our estimation of drivers of borrower behavior.

 
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Note 8: Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities (continued)

In addition to residential mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) included in the previous table, we have a small portfolio of commercial MSRs with a fair value of $1.7 billion and $1.6 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The nature of our commercial MSRs, which are carried at LOCOM, is different from our residential MSRs. Prepayment activity on serviced loans does not significantly impact the value of commercial MSRs because, unlike residential mortgages, commercial mortgages experience significantly lower prepayments due to certain contractual restrictions, impacting the borrower’s ability to prepay the mortgage. Additionally, for our commercial MSR portfolio, we are typically master/primary servicer, but not the special servicer, who is separately responsible for the servicing and workout of delinquent and foreclosed loans. It is the special servicer, similar to our role as servicer of residential mortgage loans, who is affected by higher servicing and foreclosure costs due to an increase in delinquent and foreclosed loans. Accordingly, prepayment speeds and costs to service are not key assumptions for commercial MSRs as they do not significantly impact the valuation. The primary economic driver impacting the fair value of our commercial MSRs is forward interest rates, which are derived from market observable yield curves used to price capital markets instruments. Market interest rates most significantly affect interest earned on custodial deposit balances. The sensitivity of the current fair value to an immediate adverse 25% change in the assumption about interest earned on deposit balances at December 31, 2015 , and 2014 , results in a decrease in fair value of $150 million and $185 million , respectively. See Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) for further information on our commercial MSRs.
We also have a loan to an unconsolidated third party VIE that we extended in fourth quarter 2014 in conjunction with our sale of government guaranteed student loans. The loan is carried at amortized cost and approximates fair value at December 31, 2015 and 2014 . The carrying amount of the loan at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , was $4.9 billion and $6.5 billion , respectively. The estimated fair value of the loan is considered a Level 3 measurement that is determined using discounted cash flows
 
that are based on changes in the discount rate due to changes in the risk premium component (credit spreads). The primary economic assumption impacting the fair value of our loan is the discount rate. Changes in the credit loss assumption are not expected to affect the estimated fair value of the loan due to the government guarantee of the underlying collateral. The sensitivity of the current fair value to an immediate adverse increase of 200 basis points in the risk premium component of the discount rate assumption is a decrease in fair value of $82 million and $130 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. For more information on the student loan sale, see the discussion on Asset-Based Finance Structures earlier in this Note.
The sensitivities in the preceding paragraphs and table are hypothetical and caution should be exercised when relying on this data. Changes in value based on variations in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in the assumption to the change in value may not be linear. Also, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the value of the other interests held is calculated independently without changing any other assumptions. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in others (for example, changes in prepayment speed estimates could result in changes in the credit losses), which might magnify or counteract the sensitivities.

Off-Balance Sheet Loans
Table 8.6 presents information about the principal balances of off-balance sheet loans that were sold or securitized, including residential mortgage loans sold to FNMA, FHLMC, GNMA and other investors, for which we have some form of continuing involvement (primarily servicer). Delinquent loans include loans 90 days or more past due and loans in bankruptcy, regardless of delinquency status. For loans sold or securitized where servicing is our only form of continuing involvement, we would only experience a loss if we were required to repurchase a delinquent loan or foreclosed asset due to a breach in representations and warranties associated with our loan sale or servicing contracts.


Table 8.6: Off-Balance Sheet Loans Sold or Securitized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net charge-offs 
 
 
Total loans
 
 
Delinquent loans and foreclosed assets (1)
 
 
Year ended 
 
 
December 31, 
 
 
December 31, 
 
 
December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2015

 
2014

 
2015

 
2014

Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate mortgage
$
110,815

 
114,081

 
6,670

 
7,949

 
383

 
621

Total commercial
110,815

 
114,081

 
6,670

 
7,949

 
383

 
621

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
1,235,662

 
1,322,136

 
20,904

 
28,639

 
814

 
1,209

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other revolving credit and installment
—

 
1,599

 
—

 
75

 
—

 
1

Total consumer
1,235,662

 
1,323,736

 
20,904

 
28,714

 
814

 
1,210

Total off-balance sheet sold or securitized loans (2)
$
1,346,477

 
1,437,817

 
27,574

 
36,663

 
1,197

 
1,831

(1)
Includes $5.0 billion and $3.3 billion of commercial foreclosed assets and $2.2 billion and $2.7 billion of consumer foreclosed assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
(2)
At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the table includes total loans of $1.2 trillion and $1.3 trillion , delinquent loans of $12.1 billion and $16.5 billion , and foreclosed assets of $1.7 billion and $2.4 billion , respectively, for FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA. Net charge-offs exclude loans sold to FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA as we do not service or manage the underlying real estate upon foreclosure and, as such, do not have access to net charge-off information.

190
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Transactions with Consolidated VIEs and Secured Borrowings
Table 8.7 presents a summary of financial assets and liabilities for asset transfers accounted for as secured borrowings and involvements with consolidated VIEs. “Assets” are presented using GAAP measurement methods, which may include fair value, credit impairment or other adjustments, and therefore in
 
some instances will differ from “Total VIE assets.” For VIEs that obtain exposure synthetically through derivative instruments, the remaining notional amount of the derivative is included in “Total VIE assets.” On the consolidated balance sheet, we separately disclose the consolidated assets of certain VIEs that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs.


Table 8.7: Transactions with Consolidated VIEs and Secured Borrowings
 
 
 
Carrying value
 
(in millions)
Total VIE assets 

 
Assets

 
Liabilities 

 
Noncontrolling interests 

 
Net assets 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal tender option bond securitizations
$
2,818

 
2,400

 
(1,800
)
 
—

 
600

Commercial real estate loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Residential mortgage securitizations
4,738

 
4,887

 
(4,844
)
 
—

 
43

Total secured borrowings
7,556

 
7,287

 
(6,644
)
 
—

 
643

Consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonconforming residential mortgage loan securitizations
4,134

 
3,654

 
(1,239
)
 
—

 
2,415

Commercial real estate loans
1,185

 
1,185

 
—

 
—

 
1,185

Structured asset finance
54

 
20

 
(18
)
 
—

 
2

Investment funds
482

 
482

 
—

 
—

 
482

Other
305

 
295

 
(101
)
 
(93
)
 
101

Total consolidated VIEs
6,160

 
5,636

 
(1,358
)
 
(93
)
 
4,185

Total secured borrowings and consolidated VIEs
$
13,716

 
12,923

 
(8,002
)
 
(93
)
 
4,828

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured borrowings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal tender option bond securitizations
$
5,422

 
4,837

 
(3,143
)
 
—

 
1,694

Commercial real estate loans
250

 
250

 
(63
)
 
—

 
187

Residential mortgage securitizations
4,804

 
5,045

 
(4,926
)
 
—

 
119

Total secured borrowings
10,476

 
10,132

 
(8,132
)
 
—

 
2,000

Consolidated VIEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonconforming residential mortgage loan securitizations
5,041

 
4,491

 
(1,509
)
 
—

 
2,982

Structured asset finance
47

 
47

 
(23
)
 
—

 
24

Investment funds
904

 
904

 
(2
)
 
—

 
902

Other
431

 
375

 
(143
)
 
(103
)
 
129

Total consolidated VIEs
6,423

 
5,817

 
(1,677
)
 
(103
)
 
4,037

Total secured borrowings and consolidated VIEs
$
16,899

 
$
15,949

 
$
(9,809
)
 
$
(103
)
 
$
6,037


In addition to the structure types included in the previous table, at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we had approximately $6.0 billion of private placement debt financing issued through a consolidated VIE. The issuance is classified as long-term debt in our consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2015 , we pledged approximately $529 million in loans (principal and interest eligible to be capitalized), and $5.9 billion in available-for-sale securities to collateralize the VIE's borrowings, compared with $637 million and $5.7 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2014 . These assets were not transferred to the VIE, and accordingly we have excluded the VIE from the previous table.
We have raised financing through the securitization of certain financial assets in transactions with VIEs accounted for as secured borrowings. We also consolidate VIEs where we are the primary beneficiary. In certain transactions we provide contractual support in the form of limited recourse and liquidity to facilitate the remarketing of short-term securities issued to third party investors. Other than this limited contractual
 
support, the assets of the VIEs are the sole source of repayment of the securities held by third parties.
 
MUNICIPAL TENDER OPTION BOND SECURITIZATIONS   As part of our normal investment portfolio activities, we consolidate municipal bond trusts that hold highly rated, long-term, fixed-rate municipal bonds, the majority of which are rated AA or better. Our residual interests in these trusts generally allow us to capture the economics of owning the securities outright, and constructively make decisions that significantly impact the economic performance of the municipal bond vehicle, primarily by directing the sale of the municipal bonds owned by the vehicle. In addition, the residual interest owners have the right to receive benefits and bear losses that are proportional to owning the underlying municipal bonds in the trusts. The trusts obtain financing by issuing floating-rate trust certificates that reprice on a weekly or other basis to third-party investors. Under certain conditions, if we elect to terminate the trusts and withdraw the underlying assets, the third party investors are entitled to a small portion of any unrealized gain on the


 
Wells Fargo & Company
191


Note 8: Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities (continued)

underlying assets. We may serve as remarketing agent and/or liquidity provider for the trusts. The floating-rate investors have the right to tender the certificates at specified dates, often with as little as seven days’ notice. Should we be unable to remarket the tendered certificates, we are generally obligated to purchase them at par under standby liquidity facilities unless the bond’s credit rating has declined below investment grade or there has been an event of default or bankruptcy of the issuer and insurer.
 
NONCONFORMING RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN SECURITIZATIONS  We have consolidated certain of our nonconforming residential mortgage loan securitizations in accordance with consolidation accounting guidance. We have determined we are the primary beneficiary of these securitizations because we have the power to direct the most significant activities of the entity through our role as primary servicer and also hold variable interests that we have determined to be significant. The nature of our variable interests in these entities may include beneficial interests issued by the VIE, mortgage servicing rights and recourse or repurchase reserve liabilities. The beneficial interests issued by the VIE that we hold include either subordinate or senior securities held in an amount that we consider potentially significant.
 
INVESTMENT FUNDS  We have consolidated certain of our investment funds where we manage the assets of the fund and our interests absorb a majority of the funds’ variability. We consolidate these VIEs because we have discretion over the management of the assets and are the sole investor in these funds.


192
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 9:   Mortgage Banking Activities 
Mortgage banking activities, included in the Community Banking and Wholesale Banking operating segments, consist of residential and commercial mortgage originations, sale activity and servicing.
 
We apply the amortization method to commercial MSRs and apply the fair value method to residential MSRs. Table 9.1 presents the changes in MSRs measured using the fair value method.


Table 9.1: Analysis of Changes in Fair Value MSRs
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Fair value, beginning of year
$
12,738

 
15,580

 
11,538

Servicing from securitizations or asset transfers
1,556

 
1,196

 
3,469

Sales and other (1)
(9
)
 
(7
)
 
(583
)
Net additions
1,547

 
1,189

 
2,886

Changes in fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
Due to changes in valuation model inputs or assumptions:
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage interest rates (2)
247

 
(2,150
)
 
4,362

Servicing and foreclosure costs (3)
(83
)
 
(20
)
 
(228
)
Discount rates (4)
—

 
(55
)
 
—

Prepayment estimates and other (5)
50

 
103

 
(736
)
Net changes in valuation model inputs or assumptions
214

 
(2,122
)
 
3,398

Other changes in fair value (6)
(2,084
)
 
(1,909
)
 
(2,242
)
Total changes in fair value
(1,870
)
 
(4,031
)
 
1,156

Fair value, end of year
$
12,415

 
12,738

 
15,580

(1)
Includes sales and transfers of MSRs, which can result in an increase of total reported MSRs if the sales or transfers are related to nonperforming loan portfolios.
(2)
Includes prepayment speed changes as well as other valuation changes due to changes in mortgage interest rates (such as changes in estimated interest earned on custodial deposit balances).
(3)
Includes costs to service and unreimbursed foreclosure costs.
(4)
Reflects discount rate assumption change, excluding portion attributable to changes in mortgage interest rates.
(5)
Represents changes driven by other valuation model inputs or assumptions including prepayment speed estimation changes and other assumption updates. Prepayment speed estimation changes are influenced by observed changes in borrower behavior and other external factors that occur independent of interest rate changes.
(6)
Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows over time.

Table 9.2 presents the changes in amortized MSRs.

Table 9.2: Analysis of Changes in Amortized MSRs
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Balance, beginning of year
$
1,242

 
1,229

 
1,160

Purchases
144

 
157

 
176

Servicing from securitizations or asset transfers
180

 
110

 
147

Amortization
(258
)
 
(254
)
 
(254
)
Balance, end of year (1)
$
1,308

 
1,242

 
1,229

Fair value of amortized MSRs:
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of year
$
1,637

 
1,575

 
1,400

End of year
1,680

 
1,637

 
1,575

(1)
Commercial amortized MSRs are evaluated for impairment purposes by the following risk strata: agency (GSEs) and non-agency. There was no valuation allowance recorded for the periods presented on the commercial amortized MSRs.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
193


Note 9:   Mortgage Banking Activities   (continued)

We present the components of our managed servicing portfolio in Table 9.3 at unpaid principal balance for loans serviced and subserviced for others and at book value for owned loans serviced. 


Table 9.3: Managed Servicing Portfolio
(in billions)
Dec 31, 2015

 
Dec 31, 2014

Residential mortgage servicing:
 
 
 
Serviced for others
$
1,300

 
1,405

Owned loans serviced
345

 
342

Subserviced for others
4

 
5

Total residential servicing
1,649

 
1,752

Commercial mortgage servicing:
 
 
 
Serviced for others
478

 
456

Owned loans serviced
122

 
112

Subserviced for others
7

 
7

Total commercial servicing
607

 
575

Total managed servicing portfolio
$
2,256

 
2,327

Total serviced for others
$
1,778

 
1,861

Ratio of MSRs to related loans serviced for others
0.77
%
 
0.75

 
Table 9.4 presents the components of mortgage banking noninterest income. 


Table 9.4: Mortgage Banking Noninterest Income
 
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Servicing income, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Servicing fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractually specified servicing fees
 
$
4,037

 
4,285

 
4,442

Late charges
 
198

 
203

 
216

Ancillary fees
 
288

 
319

 
343

Unreimbursed direct servicing costs (1)
 
(625
)
 
(694
)
 
(1,074
)
Net servicing fees
 
3,898

 
4,113

 
3,927

Changes in fair value of MSRs carried at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due to changes in valuation model inputs or assumptions (2)
(A)
214

 
(2,122
)
 
3,398

Other changes in fair value (3)
 
(2,084
)
 
(1,909
)
 
(2,242
)
Total changes in fair value of MSRs carried at fair value
 
(1,870
)
 
(4,031
)
 
1,156

Amortization
 
(258
)
 
(254
)
 
(254
)
Net derivative gains (losses) from economic hedges (4)
(B)
671

 
3,509

 
(2,909
)
Total servicing income, net
 
2,441

 
3,337

 
1,920

Net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities
 
4,060

 
3,044

 
6,854

Total mortgage banking noninterest income
 
$
6,501

 
6,381

 
8,774

Market-related valuation changes to MSRs, net of hedge results (2)(4)
(A)+(B)
$
885

 
1,387

 
489

(1)
Primarily associated with foreclosure expenses and unreimbursed interest advances to investors.
(2)
Refer to the changes in fair value of MSRs table in this Note for more detail.
(3)
Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows over time.
(4)
Represents results from economic hedges used to hedge the risk of changes in fair value of MSRs. See Note 16 (Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments) for additional discussion and detail.


194
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 9.5 summarizes the changes in our liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses. This liability is in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheet and the provision for repurchase losses reduces net gains on mortgage loan origination/sales activities in "Mortgage banking" in our consolidated income statement. Because the level of mortgage loan repurchase losses depends upon economic factors, investor demand strategies and other external conditions that may change over the life of the underlying loans, the level of the liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses is difficult to estimate and requires considerable management judgment. We maintain regular contact with the GSEs, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and other significant investors to monitor their repurchase demand practices and issues as part of our process to update our repurchase liability estimate as new information becomes available. The Company reached settlements with both FHLMC and FNMA in 2013, that resolved substantially all repurchase liabilities associated with loans sold to FHLMC prior to January 1, 2009 and loans sold to FNMA that were originated prior to January 1, 2009.
Because of the uncertainty in the various estimates underlying the mortgage repurchase liability, there is a range of losses in excess of the recorded mortgage repurchase liability that is reasonably possible. The estimate of the range of possible loss for representations and warranties does not represent a probable loss, and is based on currently available information, significant judgment, and a number of assumptions that are subject to change. The high end of this range of reasonably possible losses exceeded our recorded liability by $293 million at December 31, 2015 , and was determined based upon modifying the assumptions (particularly to assume significant changes in investor repurchase demand practices) used in our best estimate of probable loss to reflect what we believe to be the high end of reasonably possible adverse assumptions. Our estimate of reasonably possible losses decreased in 2015 as court rulings during the year provided a better understanding of our exposure to repurchase risk.

Table 9.5: Analysis of Changes in Liability for Mortgage Loan Repurchase Losses
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Balance, beginning of year
$
615

 
899

 
2,206

Provision for repurchase losses:
 
 
 
 
 
Loan sales
43

 
44

 
143

Change in estimate (1)
(202
)
 
(184
)
 
285

Net additions (reductions)
(159
)
 
(140
)
 
428

Losses (2)
(78
)
 
(144
)
 
(1,735
)
Balance, end of year
$
378

 
615

 
899

(1)
Results from changes in investor demand, mortgage insurer practices, credit and the financial stability of correspondent lenders.
(2)
Year ended December 31, 2013, reflects $746 million and $508 million as a result of the settlements reached with FHLMC and FNMA, respectively, that resolved substantially all repurchase liabilities associated with loans sold to FHLMC prior to January 1, 2009 and loans sold to FNMA that were originated prior to January 1, 2009.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
195


Note 10:  Intangible Assets   (continued)

Note 10:   Intangible Assets

Table 10.1 presents the gross carrying value of intangible assets and accumulated amortization.

 
Table 10.1: Intangible Assets
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Gross carrying value 

 
Accumulated amortization 

 
Net carrying value 

 
Gross carrying value 

 
Accumulated amortization 

 
Net carrying value

Amortized intangible assets (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSRs (2)
$
3,228

 
(1,920
)
 
1,308

 
2,906

 
(1,664
)
 
1,242

Core deposit intangibles
12,834

 
(10,295
)
 
2,539

 
12,834

 
(9,273
)
 
3,561

Customer relationship and other intangibles
3,163

 
(2,549
)
 
614

 
3,179

 
(2,322
)
 
857

Total amortized intangible assets
$
19,225

 
(14,764
)
 
4,461

 
18,919

 
(13,259
)
 
5,660

Unamortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MSRs (carried at fair value) (2)
$
12,415

 
 
 
 
 
12,738

 
 
 
 
Goodwill
25,529

 
 
 
 
 
25,705

 
 
 
 
Trademark
14

 
 
 
 
 
14

 
 
 
 
(1)
Excludes fully amortized intangible assets.
(2)
See Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) for additional information on MSRs.

Table 10.2 provides the current year and estimated future amortization expense for amortized intangible assets. We based our projections of amortization expense shown below on existing
 
asset balances at December 31, 2015 . Future amortization expense may vary from these projections.


Table 10.2: Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets
(in millions)
Amortized MSRs 

 
Core deposit intangibles 

 
Customer relationship and other intangibles

 
Total 

Year ended December 31, 2015 (actual)
$
258

 
1,022

 
227

 
1,507

Estimate for year ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
$
259

 
919

 
208

 
1,386

2017
206

 
851

 
193

 
1,250

2018
170

 
769

 
185

 
1,124

2019
148

 
—

 
10

 
158

2020
135

 
—

 
6

 
141


For our goodwill impairment analysis, we allocate all of the goodwill to the individual operating segments. We identify reporting units that are one level below an operating segment (referred to as a component), and distinguish these reporting units based on how the segments and components are managed, taking into consideration the economic characteristics, nature of the products and customers of the components. At the time we acquire a business, we allocate goodwill to applicable reporting units based on their relative fair value, and if we have a significant business reorganization, we may reallocate the goodwill . See Note 24 (Operating Segments) for further information on management reporting.


196
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 10.3 shows the allocation of goodwill to our reportable operating segments for purposes of goodwill impairment testing.
 



Table 10.3: Goodwill
(in millions)
Community Banking 

 
Wholesale Banking 

 
Wealth and Investment Management

 
Consolidated Company 

December 31, 2013 (1)
$
16,878

 
7,557

 
1,202

 
25,637

Reduction in goodwill related to divested businesses and other
(8
)
 
(11
)
 
—

 
(19
)
Goodwill from business combinations
—

 
87

 
—

 
87

December 31, 2014
$
16,870

 
7,633

 
1,202

 
25,705

Reduction in goodwill related to divested businesses and other
(21
)
 
(158
)
 
—

 
(179
)
Goodwill from business combinations
—

 
—

 
3

 
3

December 31, 2015
$
16,849

 
7,475

 
1,205

 
25,529

(1)
December 31, 2013 has been revised to reflect realignment of our operating segments. See Note 24 (Operating Segments) for additional information.
Note 11:   Deposits
Table 11.1 presents a summary of the time certificates of deposit (CDs) and other time deposits issued by domestic and foreign offices.

Table 11.1: Time Certificates of Deposit
 
 
 
December 31,
 
(in billions)
 
2015

 
2014

Total domestic and foreign
$
98.5

 
124.9

Domestic:
 
 
 
 
 
$100,000 or more
48.9

 
14.7

 
$250,000 or more
43.0

 
6.9

Foreign:
 
 
 
 
$100,000 or more
9.5

 
16.4

 
$250,000 or more
9.5

 
16.4


Substantially all CDs and other time deposits issued by domestic and foreign offices were interest bearing. The contractual maturities of these deposits are presented in Table 11.2 .

Table 11.2: Contractual Maturities of CDs and Other Time Deposits
(in millions)
December 31, 2015

2016
$
81,846

2017
5,549

2018
3,643

2019
2,200

2020
1,121

Thereafter
4,155

Total
$
98,514


 
The contractual maturities of the domestic time deposits with a denomination of $100,000 or more are presented in Table 11.3 .

Table 11.3: Contractual Maturities of Domestic Time Deposits
(in millions)
2015

Three months or less
$
36,683

After three months through six months
6,010

After six months through twelve months
2,143

After twelve months
4,091

Total
$
48,927


Demand deposit overdrafts of $523 million and $581 million were included as loan balances at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
197


Note 12:   Short-Term Borrowings
Table 12.1 shows selected information for short-term borrowings, which generally mature in less than 30 days . We pledge certain financial instruments that we own to collateralize
 
repurchase agreements and other securities financings. For additional information, see the “Pledged Assets” section of Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral).


Table 12.1: Short-Term Borrowings
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Amount 

 
Rate 

 
Amount 

 
Rate 

 
Amount 

 
Rate 

As of December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
$
82,948

 
0.21
 %
 
$
51,052

 
0.07
%
 
$
36,263

 
0.05
%
Commercial paper
334

 
0.81

 
2,456

 
0.34

 
5,162

 
0.18

Other short-term borrowings (1)
14,246

 
(0.10
)
 
10,010

 
0.07

 
12,458

 
0.31

Total
$
97,528

 
0.17

 
$
63,518

 
0.08

 
$
53,883

 
0.12

Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average daily balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
$
75,021

 
0.09

 
$
44,680

 
0.08

 
$
36,227

 
0.08

Commercial paper
1,583

 
0.36

 
4,751

 
0.17

 
4,702

 
0.25

Other short-term borrowings (1)
10,861

 
(0.08
)
 
10,680

 
0.18

 
13,787

 
0.22

Total
$
87,465

 
0.07

 
$
60,111

 
0.10

 
$
54,716

 
0.13

Maximum month-end balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase (2)
$
89,800

 
N/A 

 
$
51,052

 
N/A 

 
$
39,451

 
N/A 

Commercial paper (3)
3,552

 
N/A 

 
6,070

 
N/A 

 
5,700

 
N/A 

Other short-term borrowings (4)
14,246

 
N/A 

 
12,209

 
N/A 

 
16,564

 
N/A 

N/A- Not applicable
(1)
Negative other short-term borrowings rate in 2015 is a result of increased customer demand for certain securities in stock loan transactions combined with the impact of low interest rates.
(2)
Highest month-end balance in each of the last three years was October 2015 , December 2014 and May 2013 .
(3)
Highest month-end balance in each of the last three years was March 2015 , March 2014 and March 2013 .
(4)
Highest month-end balance in each of the last three years was December 2015 , June 2014 and March 2013 .

198
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 13:   Long-Term Debt

We issue long-term debt denominated in multiple currencies, predominantly in U.S. dollars. Our issuances have both fixed and floating interest rates. As a part of our overall interest rate risk management strategy, we often use derivatives to manage our exposure to interest rate risk. We also use derivatives to manage our exposure to foreign currency risk. As a result, a major portion of the long-term debt presented below is hedged in a fair value or cash flow hedge relationship. See Note 16 (Derivatives) for further information on qualifying hedge contracts.
 
Table 13.1 presents a summary of our long-term debt carrying values, reflecting unamortized debt discounts and premiums, and purchase accounting adjustments, where applicable. The interest rates displayed represent the range of contractual rates in effect at December 31, 2015 . These interest rates do not include the effects of any associated derivatives designated in a hedge accounting relationship.
 


Table 13.1: Long-Term Debt
 
December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014

(in millions)
Maturity date(s) 
 
Stated interest rate(s) 
 
 
 
 
Wells Fargo & Company (Parent only)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate notes
2016-2045
 
0.375-6.75%
 
$
68,604

 
54,441

Floating-rate notes
2016-2048
 
0.070-3.152
 
15,942

 
15,317

Structured notes (1)
2016-2053
 
0.00-3.890
 
5,672

 
4,825

Total senior debt - Parent
 
 
 
 
90,218

 
74,583

Subordinated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate notes (2)
2016-2045
 
3.45-7.574%
 
25,119

 
19,688

Floating-rate notes
2016
 
0.691
 
639

 
1,215

Total subordinated debt - Parent
 
 
 
 
25,758

 
20,903

Junior subordinated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate notes - hybrid trust securities
2029-2036
 
5.95-7.95%
 
1,398

 
1,378

Floating-rate notes
2027
 
0.821-1.321
 
280

 
272

Total junior subordinated debt - Parent (3)
 
 
 
 
1,678

 
1,650

Total long-term debt - Parent (2)
 
 
 
 
117,654

 
97,136

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and other bank entities (Bank)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate notes

 

 
—

 
500

Floating-rate notes
2016-2053
 
0.084-0.806%
 
6,694

 
4,969

Floating-rate extendible notes (4)
2016-2017
 
0.407-0.766
 
6,315

 
11,048

Fixed-rate advances - Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) (5)
2016-2031
 
3.83-7.50
 
102

 
125

Floating-rate advances - FHLB (5)
2017-2020
 
0.32-0.87
 
37,000

 
34,000

Structured notes (1)
2016-2025
 
2.45-7.15
 
1

 
4

Capital leases (Note 7)
2016-2025
 
7.045-17.775
 
8

 
9

Total senior debt - Bank
 
 
 
 
50,120

 
50,655

Subordinated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate notes
2016-2038
 
5.25-7.74%
 
7,927

 
10,310

Floating-rate notes
2016-2017
 
0.572-2.64
 
989

 
994

Total subordinated debt - Bank
 
 
 
 
8,916

 
11,304

Junior subordinated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating-rate notes
2027
 
0.932-0.971%
 
322

 
313

Total junior subordinated debt - Bank (3)
 
 
 
 
322

 
313

Long-term debt issued by VIE - Fixed rate (6)
2020-2047
 
0.00-7.00%
 
456

 
609

Long-term debt issued by VIE - Floating rate (6)
2016-2047
 
0.00-18.78
 
845

 
996

Mortgage notes and other debt (7)
2016-2065
 
0.37-9.20
 
16,365

 
16,239

Total long-term debt - Bank
 
 
 
 
77,024

 
80,116


(continued on following page)

 
Wells Fargo & Company
199


Note 13: Long-Term Debt (continued)

(continued from previous page)

 
December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014

(in millions)
Maturity date(s) 
 
Stated interest rate(s) 

 
 
 
 
Other consolidated subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate notes
2016-2023
 
2.774-3.70%

 
4,628

 
6,317

FixFloat notes

 


 
—

 
20

Structured notes (1)
2021
 
0.427
%
 
1

 
1

Total senior debt - Other consolidated subsidiaries
  
 
 
 
4,629

 
6,338

Junior subordinated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating-rate notes
2027
 
0.822
%
 
155

 
155

Total junior subordinated debt - Other consolidated subsidiaries (3)
 
 
 
 
155

 
155

Long-term debt issued by VIE - Fixed rate (6)

 


 
—

 
23

Mortgage notes and other (7)
2017-2018
 
1.625-5.125%

 
74

 
175

Total long-term debt - Other consolidated subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
4,858

 
6,691

Total long-term debt
 
 
 
 
$
199,536

 
183,943

(1)
Largely consists of long-term notes where the performance of the note is linked to an embedded equity, commodity, or currency index, or basket of indices accounted for separately from the note as a free-standing derivative. For information on embedded derivatives, see the "Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments" section in Note 16 (Derivatives). In addition, a major portion consists of zero coupon callable notes where interest is paid as part of the final redemption amount.
(2)
Includes fixed-rate subordinated notes issued by the Parent at a discount of $137 million and $139 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively, to effect a modification of Wells Fargo Bank, NA notes. These notes are carried at their par amount on the balance sheet of the Parent presented in Note 25 (Parent-Only Financial Statements).
(3)
Represents junior subordinated debentures held by unconsolidated wholly-owned trusts formed for the sole purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. See Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) for additional information on our trust preferred security structures.
(4)
Represents floating-rate extendible notes where holders of the notes may elect to extend the contractual maturity of all or a portion of the principal amount on a periodic basis.
(5)
At December 31, 2015, FHLB advances were secured by residential loan collateral. Outstanding advances at December 31, 2014, were secured by investment securities and residential loan collateral.
(6)
For additional information on VIEs, see Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities).
(7)
Predominantly related to securitizations and secured borrowings, see Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities).
 
The aggregate carrying value of long-term debt that matures (based on contractual payment dates) as of December 31, 2015 , in each of the following five years and thereafter is presented in Table 13.2 .

Table 13.2: Maturity of Long-Term Debt
(in millions)
Parent 

 
Company 

2016
$
14,713

 
31,904

2017
13,259

 
21,953

2018
8,189

 
22,961

2019
6,384

 
21,402

2020
12,998

 
20,236

Thereafter
62,111

 
81,080

Total
$
117,654

 
199,536


As part of our long-term and short-term borrowing arrangements, we are subject to various financial and operational covenants. Some of the agreements under which debt has been issued have provisions that may limit the merger or sale of certain subsidiary banks and the issuance of capital stock or convertible securities by certain subsidiary banks. At December 31, 2015 , we were in compliance with all the covenants.



200
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 14:   Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral
Guarantees are contracts that contingently require us to make payments to a guaranteed party based on an event or a change in an underlying asset, liability, rate or index. Guarantees are generally in the form of standby letters of credit, securities
 
lending and other indemnifications, written put options, recourse obligations, and other types of arrangements. Table 14.1 shows carrying value, maximum exposure to loss on our guarantees and the related non-investment grade amounts.


Table 14.1: Guarantees – Carrying Value and Maximum Exposure to Loss
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
Maximum exposure to loss 
 
(in millions)
Carrying value 

 
Expires in one year or less 

 
Expires after one year through three years 

 
Expires after three years through five years 

 
Expires after five years 

 
Total 

 
Non-investment grade 

Standby letters of credit (1)
$
38

 
16,360

 
9,618

 
4,116

 
642

 
30,736

 
8,981

Securities lending and other indemnifications
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,841

 
1,841

 
—

Written put options (2)
371

 
7,387

 
6,463

 
4,505

 
1,440

 
19,795

 
9,583

Loans and MHFS sold with recourse
62

 
112

 
723

 
690

 
6,434

 
7,959

 
4,864

Factoring guarantees
—

 
1,598

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,598

 
1,598

Other guarantees
28

 
62

 
17

 
17

 
2,482

 
2,578

 
53

Total guarantees
$
499

 
25,519

 
16,821

 
9,328

 
12,839

 
64,507

 
25,079

 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Maximum exposure to loss 
 
(in millions)
Carrying value 

 
Expires in one year or less 

 
Expires after one year through three years 

 
Expires after three years through five years 

 
Expires after five years 

 
Total 

 
Non-investment grade 

Standby letters of credit (1)
$
41

 
16,271

 
10,269

 
6,295

 
645

 
33,480

 
8,447

Securities lending and other indemnifications
—

 
—

 
2

 
2

 
5,948

 
5,952

 
—

Written put options (2)
469

 
7,644

 
5,256

 
2,822

 
2,409

 
18,131

 
7,902

Loans and MHFS sold with recourse
72

 
131

 
486

 
822

 
5,386

 
6,825

 
3,945

Factoring guarantees
—

 
3,460

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,460

 
3,460

Other guarantees
24

 
9

 
85

 
22

 
2,158

 
2,274

 
69

Total guarantees
$
606

 
27,515

 
16,098

 
9,963

 
16,546

 
70,122

 
23,823

(1)
Total maximum exposure to loss includes direct pay letters of credit (DPLCs) of $11.8 billion and $15.0 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. We issue DPLCs to provide credit enhancements for certain bond issuances. Beneficiaries (bond trustees) may draw upon these instruments to make scheduled principal and interest payments, redeem all outstanding bonds because a default event has occurred, or for other reasons as permitted by the agreement. We also originate multipurpose lending commitments under which borrowers have the option to draw on the facility in one of several forms, including as a standby letter of credit. Total maximum exposure to loss includes the portion of these facilities for which we have issued standby letters of credit under the commitments.
(2)
Written put options, which are in the form of derivatives, are also included in the derivative disclosure in Note 16 (Derivatives).

“Maximum exposure to loss” and “Non-investment grade” are required disclosures under GAAP. Non-investment grade represents those guarantees on which we have a higher risk of being required to perform under the terms of the guarantee. If the underlying assets under the guarantee are non-investment grade (that is, an external rating that is below investment grade or an internal credit default grade that is equivalent to a below investment grade external rating), we consider the risk of performance to be high. Internal credit default grades are determined based upon the same credit policies that we use to evaluate the risk of payment or performance when making loans and other extensions of credit. These credit policies are further described in Note 6 (Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses).
Maximum exposure to loss represents the estimated loss that would be incurred under an assumed hypothetical circumstance, despite what we believe is its extremely remote possibility, where the value of our interests and any associated collateral declines to zero. Maximum exposure to loss estimates in the table above do not reflect economic hedges or collateral we could use to offset or recover losses we may incur under our
 
guarantee agreements. Accordingly, this required disclosure is not an indication of expected loss. We believe the carrying value, which is either fair value for derivative-related products or the allowance for lending-related commitments, is more representative of our exposure to loss than maximum exposure to loss.
 
STANDBY LETTERS OF CREDIT   We issue standby letters of credit, which include performance and financial guarantees, for customers in connection with contracts between our customers and third parties. Standby letters of credit are agreements where we are obligated to make payment to a third party on behalf of a customer if the customer fails to meet their contractual obligations. We consider the credit risk in standby letters of credit and commercial and similar letters of credit in determining the allowance for credit losses.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
201


Note 14:   Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral (continued)

SECURITIES LENDING AND OTHER INDEMNIFICATIONS  As a securities lending agent, we lend debt and equity securities from participating institutional clients’ portfolios to third-party borrowers. These arrangements are for an indefinite period of time, and we indemnify our clients against default by the borrower in returning these lent securities. This indemnity is supported by collateral received from the borrowers and is generally in the form of cash or highly liquid securities that are marked to market daily. For the transactions subject to the indemnifications, the fair value of securities loaned out at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , totaled $0 million and $211 million , respectively. The fair value of collateral supporting the loaned securities was $0 million and $218 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
We use certain third-party clearing agents to clear and settle transactions on behalf of some of our institutional brokerage customers. We indemnify the clearing agents against loss that could occur for non-performance by our customers on transactions that are not sufficiently collateralized. Transactions subject to the indemnifications may include customer obligations related to the settlement of margin accounts and short positions, such as written call options and securities borrowing transactions. Outstanding customer obligations were $352 million and $950 million and the related collateral was $1.5 billion and $5.6 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Our estimate of maximum exposure to loss, which requires judgment regarding the range and likelihood of future events, was $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2015 , and $5.7 billion as of December 31, 2014 .
We enter into other types of indemnification agreements in the ordinary course of business under which we agree to indemnify third parties against any damages, losses and expenses incurred in connection with legal and other proceedings arising from relationships or transactions with us. These relationships or transactions include those arising from service as a director or officer of the Company, underwriting agreements relating to our securities, acquisition agreements and various other business transactions or arrangements. Because the extent of our obligations under these agreements depends entirely upon the occurrence of future events, we are unable to determine our potential future liability under these agreements. We do, however, record a liability for residential mortgage loans that we expect to repurchase pursuant to various representations and warranties. See Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) for additional information on the liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses.
 
WRITTEN PUT OPTIONS Written put options are contracts that give the counterparty the right to sell to us an underlying instrument held by the counterparty at a specified price and may include options, floors, caps and credit default swaps. These written put option contracts generally permit net settlement. While these derivative transactions expose us to risk if the option is exercised, we manage this risk by entering into offsetting trades or by taking short positions in the underlying instrument. We offset substantially all put options written to customers with purchased options. Additionally, for certain of these contracts, we require the counterparty to pledge the underlying instrument as collateral for the transaction. Our ultimate obligation under written put options is based on future market conditions and is only quantifiable at settlement. See Note 16 (Derivatives) for additional information regarding written derivative contracts.
 
 
LOANS AND MHFS SOLD WITH RECOURSE   In certain loan sales or securitizations, we provide recourse to the buyer whereby we are required to indemnify the buyer for any loss on the loan up to par value plus accrued interest. We provide recourse, predominantly to the GSEs, on loans sold under various programs and arrangements. Predominantly all of these programs and arrangements require that we share in the loans’ credit exposure for their remaining life by providing recourse to the GSE, up to 33.33% of actual losses incurred on a pro-rata basis in the event of borrower default. Under the remaining recourse programs and arrangements, if certain events occur within a specified period of time from transfer date, we have to provide limited recourse to the buyer to indemnify them for losses incurred for the remaining life of the loans. The maximum exposure to loss reported in the accompanying table represents the outstanding principal balance of the loans sold or securitized that are subject to recourse provisions or the maximum losses per the contractual agreements. However, we believe the likelihood of loss of the entire balance due to these recourse agreements is remote, and amounts paid can be recovered in whole or in part from the sale of collateral. During 2015 and 2014 we repurchased $6 million and $14 million , respectively, of loans associated with these agreements. We also provide representation and warranty guarantees on loans sold under the various recourse programs and arrangements. Our loss exposure relative to these guarantees is separately considered and provided for, as necessary, in determination of our liability for loan repurchases due to breaches of representation and warranties. See Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities) for additional information on the liability for mortgage loan repurchase losses.

FACTORING GUARANTEES   Under certain factoring arrangements, we are required to purchase trade receivables from third parties, generally upon their request, if receivable debtors default on their payment obligations.
 
OTHER GUARANTEES   We are members of exchanges and clearing houses that we use to clear our trades and those of our customers. It is common that all members in these organizations are required to collectively guarantee the performance of other members. Our obligations under the guarantees are based on either a fixed amount or a multiple of the collateral we are required to maintain with these organizations. We have not recorded a liability for these arrangements as of the dates presented in the previous table because we believe the likelihood of loss is remote.
Other guarantees also include liquidity agreements and contingent performance arrangements. We provide liquidity to certain off-balance sheet entities that hold securitized fixed-rate municipal bonds and consumer or commercial assets that are partially funded with the issuance of money market and other short-term notes. See Note 8 (Securitization and Variable Interest Entities) for additional information on securitization and VIEs.
Under our contingent performance arrangements, we are required to pay the counterparties to transactions related to various customer relationships and lease agreements if third parties default on certain obligations.



202
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Pledged Assets
As part of our liquidity management strategy, we pledge assets to secure trust and public deposits, borrowings and letters of credit from the FHLB and FRB, securities sold under agreements to repurchase (repurchase agreements), securities lending arrangements, and for other purposes as required or permitted by law or insurance statutory requirements. The types of collateral we pledge include securities issued by federal agencies, GSEs, domestic and foreign companies and various commercial and consumer loans. Table 14.2 provides the total carrying
 
amount of pledged assets by asset type. The table excludes pledged consolidated VIE assets of $5.6 billion and $5.8 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, which can only be used to settle the liabilities of those entities. The table also excludes $7.3 billion and $10.1 billion in assets pledged in transactions accounted for as secured borrowings at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. See Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) for additional information on consolidated VIE assets and secured borrowings.
 


Table 14.2: Pledged Assets
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Trading assets and other (1)
$
73,396

 
49,685

Investment securities (2)
113,912

 
101,997

Mortgages held for sale and loans (3)
453,058

 
418,338

Total pledged assets
$
640,366

 
570,020

(1)
Represent assets pledged to collateralize repurchase agreements and other securities financings. Balance includes $73.0 billion and $49.4 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, under agreements that permit the secured parties to sell or repledge the collateral.
(2)
Includes carrying value of $6.5 billion and $6.6 billion (fair value of $6.5 billion and $6.8 billion ) in collateral for repurchase agreements at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, which are pledged under agreements that do not permit the secured parties to sell or repledge the collateral. Also includes $13.0 billion and $164 million in collateral pledged under repurchase agreements at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, that permit the secured parties to sell or repledge the collateral. Substantially all other pledged securities are pursuant to agreements that do not permit the secured party to sell or repledge the collateral.
(3)
Includes mortgages held for sale of $ 8.7 billion at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 . Balance consists of mortgages held for sale and loans that are pledged under agreements that do not permit the secured parties to sell or repledge the collateral. Amounts exclude $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, of pledged loans recorded on our balance sheet representing certain delinquent loans that are eligible for repurchase primarily from GNMA loan securitizations. See Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) for additional information.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
203


Note 14:   Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral (continued)

Securities Financing Activities
We enter into resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowing and lending agreements (collectively, “securities financing activities”) primarily to finance inventory positions, acquire securities to cover short trading positions, accommodate customers’ financing needs, and settle other securities obligations. These activities are conducted through our broker dealer subsidiaries and to a lesser extent through other bank entities. The majority of our securities financing activities involve high quality, liquid securities, such as U.S. Treasury securities and government agency securities, and to a lesser extent, less liquid securities, including equity securities, corporate bonds and asset-backed securities. We account for these transactions as collateralized financings in which we typically receive or pledge securities as collateral. We believe these financing transactions generally do not have material credit risk given the collateral provided and the related monitoring processes.

OFFSETTING OF RESALE AND REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND SECURITIES BORROWING AND LENDING AGREEMENTS Table 14.3 presents resale and repurchase agreements subject to master repurchase agreements (MRA) and securities borrowing and lending agreements subject to master securities lending agreements (MSLA). We account for transactions subject to these agreements as collateralized
 
financings, and those with a single counterparty are presented net on our balance sheet, provided certain criteria are met that permit balance sheet netting. Most transactions subject to these agreements do not meet those criteria and thus are not eligible for balance sheet netting.
Collateral we pledged consists of non-cash instruments, such as securities or loans, and is not netted on the balance sheet against the related liability. Collateral we received includes securities or loans and is not recognized on our balance sheet. Collateral pledged or received may be increased or decreased over time to maintain certain contractual thresholds, as the assets underlying each arrangement fluctuate in value. Generally, these agreements require collateral to exceed the asset or liability recognized on the balance sheet. The following table includes the amount of collateral pledged or received related to exposures subject to enforceable MRAs or MSLAs. While these agreements are typically over-collateralized, U.S. GAAP requires disclosure in this table to limit the amount of such collateral to the amount of the related recognized asset or liability for each counterparty.
In addition to the amounts included in Table 14.3 , we also have balance sheet netting related to derivatives that is disclosed in Note 16 (Derivatives).



Table 14.3: Offsetting – Resale and Repurchase Agreements
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Assets:
 
 
 
Resale and securities borrowing agreements
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized
$
74,935

 
58,148

Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheet (1)
(9,158
)
 
(6,477
)
Net amounts in consolidated balance sheet (2)
65,777

 
51,671

Collateral not recognized in consolidated balance sheet (3)
(65,035
)
 
(51,624
)
Net amount (4)
$
742

 
47

Liabilities:
 
 
 
Repurchase and securities lending agreements
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized (5)
$
91,278

 
56,583

Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheet (1)
(9,158
)
 
(6,477
)
Net amounts in consolidated balance sheet (6)
82,120

 
50,106

Collateral pledged but not netted in consolidated balance sheet (7)
(81,772
)
 
(49,713
)
Net amount (8)
$
348

 
393

(1)
Represents recognized amount of resale and repurchase agreements with counterparties subject to enforceable MRAs or MSLAs that have been offset in the consolidated balance sheet.
(2)
At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , includes $45.7 billion and $36.8 billion , respectively, classified on our consolidated balance sheet in federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments and $20.1 billion and $14.9 billion , respectively, in loans.
(3)
Represents the fair value of collateral we have received under enforceable MRAs or MSLAs, limited for table presentation purposes to the amount of the recognized asset due from each counterparty. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we have received total collateral with a fair value of $84.9 billion and $64.5 billion , respectively, all of which, we have the right to sell or repledge. These amounts include securities we have sold or repledged to others with a fair value of $51.1 billion at December 31, 2015 and $40.8 billion at December 31, 2014 .
(4)
Represents the amount of our exposure that is not collateralized and/or is not subject to an enforceable MRA or MSLA.
(5)
For additional information on underlying collateral and contractual maturities, see the "Repurchase and Securities Lending Agreements" section in this Note.
(6)
Amount is classified in short-term borrowings on our consolidated balance sheet.
(7)
Represents the fair value of collateral we have pledged, related to enforceable MRAs or MSLAs, limited for table presentation purposes to the amount of the recognized liability owed to each counterparty. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we have pledged total collateral with a fair value of $92.9 billion and $56.5 billion , respectively, of which, the counterparty does not have the right to sell or repledge $6.9 billion at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 .
(8)
Represents the amount of our obligation that is not covered by pledged collateral and/or is not subject to an enforceable MRA or MSLA.


204
Wells Fargo & Company
 

REPURCHASE AND SECURITIES LENDING AGREEMENTS Securities sold under repurchase agreements and securities lending arrangements are effectively short-term collateralized borrowings. In these transactions, we receive cash in exchange for transferring securities as collateral and recognize an obligation to reacquire the securities for cash at the transaction's maturity. These types of transactions create risks, including (1) the counterparty may fail to return the securities at maturity, (2) the fair value of the securities transferred may decline below the amount of our obligation to reacquire the securities, and therefore create an obligation for us to pledge additional amounts, and (3) the counterparty may accelerate the maturity
 
on demand, requiring us to reacquire the security prior to contractual maturity. We attempt to mitigate these risks by the fact that the majority of our securities financing activities involve highly liquid securities, we underwrite and monitor the financial strength of our counterparties, we monitor the fair value of collateral pledged relative to contractually required repurchase amounts, and we monitor that our collateral is properly returned through the clearing and settlement process in advance of our cash repayment. Table 14.4 provides the underlying collateral types of our gross obligations under repurchase and securities lending agreements.


Table 14.4: Underlying Collateral Types of Gross Obligations
  
 
December 31, 2015

(in millions)
 
Total Gross Obligation

Repurchase agreements:
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
 
$
32,254

Securities of U.S. States and political subdivisions
 
7

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
 
37,033

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities
 
1,680

Corporate debt securities
 
4,674

Asset-backed securities
 
2,275

Equity securities
 
2,457

Other
 
1,162

Total repurchases
 
81,542

Securities lending:
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
 
61

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
 
76

Corporate debt securities
 
899

Equity securities (1)
 
8,700

Total securities lending
 
9,736

  Total repurchases and securities lending
 
$
91,278

(1)
Equity securities are generally exchange traded and either re-hypothecated under margin lending agreements or obtained through contemporaneous securities borrowing transactions with other counterparties.

Table 14.5 provides the contractual maturities of our gross obligations under repurchase and securities lending agreements.


Table 14.5: Contractual Maturities of Gross Obligations
  
December 31, 2015
 
(in millions)
Overnight/Continuous

 
Up to 30 days

 
30-90 days

 
>90 days

 
Total Gross Obligation

Repurchase agreements
$
58,021

 
19,561

 
2,935

 
1,025

 
81,542

Securities lending
7,845

 
362

 
1,529

 
—

 
9,736

Total repurchases and securities lending (1)
$
65,866

 
19,923

 
4,464

 
1,025

 
91,278

(1)
Repurchase and securities lending transactions are largely conducted under enforceable master lending agreements that allow either party to terminate the transaction on demand. These transactions have been reported as continuous obligations unless the MRA or MSLA has been modified with an overriding agreement that specifies an alternative termination date.



 
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Note 15:   Legal Actions (continued)

Note 15:   Legal Actions
Wells Fargo and certain of our subsidiaries are involved in a number of judicial, regulatory and arbitration proceedings concerning matters arising from the conduct of our business activities. These proceedings include actions brought against Wells Fargo and/or our subsidiaries with respect to corporate related matters and transactions in which Wells Fargo and/or our subsidiaries were involved. In addition, Wells Fargo and our subsidiaries may be requested to provide information or otherwise cooperate with government authorities in the conduct of investigations of other persons or industry groups.
Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome, Wells Fargo and/or our subsidiaries have generally denied, or believe we have a meritorious defense and will deny, liability in all significant litigation pending against us, including the matters described below, and we intend to defend vigorously each case, other than matters we describe as having settled. Reserves are established for legal claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts reserved for those claims.

FHA INSURANCE LITIGATION   On October 9, 2012, the United States filed a complaint, captioned United States of America v. Wells Fargo Bank, N . A. , in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint makes claims with respect to Wells Fargo's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lending program for the period 2001 to 2010. The complaint alleges, among other allegations, that Wells Fargo improperly certified certain FHA mortgage loans for United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) insurance that did not qualify for the program, and therefore Wells Fargo should not have received insurance proceeds from HUD when some of the loans later defaulted. The complaint further alleges Wells Fargo knew some of the mortgages did not qualify for insurance and did not disclose the deficiencies to HUD before making insurance claims. On February 1, 2016, Wells Fargo reached an agreement in principle with the United States Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, and HUD (collectively, the Federal Government) to pay $1.2 billion to resolve the complaint’s allegations, as well as other potential civil claims relating to Wells Fargo’s FHA lending activities for other periods. Although Wells Fargo and the Federal Government have reached an agreement in principle to resolve these matters, there can be no assurance that Wells Fargo and the Federal Government will agree on the final documentation of the settlement.
 
INTERCHANGE LITIGATION   Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo & Company, Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Corporation are named as defendants, separately or in combination, in putative class actions filed on behalf of a plaintiff class of merchants and in individual actions brought by individual merchants with regard to the interchange fees associated with Visa and MasterCard payment card transactions. These actions have been consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Visa, MasterCard and several banks and bank holding companies are named as defendants in various of these actions. The amended and consolidated complaint asserts claims against defendants based
 
on alleged violations of federal and state antitrust laws and seeks damages, as well as injunctive relief. Plaintiff merchants allege that Visa, MasterCard and payment card issuing banks unlawfully colluded to set interchange rates. Plaintiffs also allege that enforcement of certain Visa and MasterCard rules and alleged tying and bundling of services offered to merchants are anticompetitive. Wells Fargo and Wachovia, along with other defendants and entities, are parties to Loss and Judgment Sharing Agreements, which provide that they, along with other entities, will share, based on a formula, in any losses from the Interchange Litigation. On July 13, 2012, Visa, MasterCard and the financial institution defendants, including Wells Fargo, signed a memorandum of understanding with plaintiff merchants to resolve the consolidated class actions and reached a separate settlement in principle of the consolidated individual actions. The settlement payments to be made by all defendants in the consolidated class and individual actions total approximately $6.6 billion before reductions applicable to certain merchants opting out of the settlement. The class settlement also provided for the distribution to class merchants of 10 basis points of default interchange across all credit rate categories for a period of eight consecutive months. The District Court granted final approval of the settlement, which has been appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals by settlement objector merchants. Other merchants have opted out of the settlement and are pursuing several individual actions. Several merchants have now filed a motion to vacate the class settlement.
 
MORTGAGE RELATED REGULATORY INVESTIGATIONS  Federal and state government agencies, including the United States Department of Justice, continue investigations or examinations of certain mortgage related practices of Wells Fargo and predecessor institutions. Wells Fargo, for itself and for predecessor institutions, has responded, and continues to respond, to requests from these agencies seeking information regarding the origination, underwriting and securitization of residential mortgages, including sub-prime mortgages.
 
ORDER OF POSTING LITIGATION  A series of putative class actions have been filed against Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as well as many other banks, challenging the "high to low" order in which the banks post debit card transactions to consumer deposit accounts. There are currently several such cases pending against Wells Fargo Bank (including the Wachovia Bank cases to which Wells Fargo succeeded), most of which have been consolidated in multi-district litigation proceedings (the "MDL proceedings") in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The court in the MDL proceedings has certified a class of putative plaintiffs and Wells Fargo has moved to compel arbitration of the claims of unnamed class members.
On August 10, 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Gutierrez v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. , a case that was not consolidated in the MDL proceedings described above, enjoining the bank’s use of the high to low posting method for debit card transactions with respect to the plaintiff class of California depositors, directing the bank to establish a different posting methodology and ordering remediation of approximately $203 million . On October 26, 2010, a final judgment was entered in Gutierrez. Following appellate proceedings which reversed in part and


206
Wells Fargo & Company
 

affirmed in part the trial court's judgment, Wells Fargo filed a petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on April 10, 2015. The Supreme Court has not yet acted on the petition.

OUTLOOK  When establishing a liability for contingent litigation losses, the Company determines a range of potential losses for each matter that is both probable and estimable, and records the amount it considers to be the best estimate within the range. The high end of the range of reasonably possible potential litigation losses in excess of the Company’s liability for probable and estimable losses was approximately $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2015 . For these matters and others where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible but not probable, there may be a range of possible losses in excess of the established liability that cannot be estimated. Based on information currently available, advice of counsel, available insurance coverage and established reserves, Wells Fargo believes that the eventual outcome of the actions against Wells Fargo and/or its subsidiaries, including the matters described above, will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on Wells Fargo’s consolidated financial position. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of those matters, if unfavorable, may be material to Wells Fargo’s results of operations for any particular period.



 
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207


Note 16: Derivatives (continued)

Note 16:   Derivatives
We primarily use derivatives to manage exposure to market risk, including interest rate risk, credit risk and foreign currency risk, and to assist customers with their risk management objectives. We designate certain derivatives as hedging instruments in a qualifying hedge accounting relationship (fair value or cash flow hedge). Our remaining derivatives consist of economic hedges that do not qualify for hedge accounting and derivatives held for customer accommodation, trading or other purposes.
Our asset/liability management approach to interest rate, foreign currency and certain other risks includes the use of derivatives. Such derivatives are typically designated as fair value or cash flow hedges, or economic hedges. This helps minimize significant, unplanned fluctuations in earnings, fair values of assets and liabilities, and cash flows caused by interest rate, foreign currency and other market risk volatility. This approach involves modifying the repricing characteristics of certain assets and liabilities so that changes in interest rates, foreign currency and other exposures do not have a significantly adverse effect on the net interest margin, cash flows and earnings. As a result of fluctuations in these exposures, hedged assets and liabilities will gain or lose fair value. In a fair value or economic hedge, the effect of this unrealized gain or loss will generally be offset by the gain or loss on the derivatives linked to the hedged assets and liabilities. In a cash flow hedge, where we manage the variability of cash payments due to interest rate fluctuations by the effective use of derivatives linked to hedged assets and liabilities, the hedged asset or liability is not adjusted and the unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is generally reflected in other comprehensive income and not in earnings.
 
We also offer various derivatives, including interest rate, commodity, equity, credit and foreign exchange contracts, to our customers as part of our trading businesses. These derivative transactions, which involve us engaging in market-making activities or acting as an intermediary, are conducted in an effort to help customers manage their market risks. We usually offset our exposure from such derivatives by entering into other financial contracts, such as separate derivative or security transactions. The customer accommodations and any offsetting derivatives are treated as customer accommodation, trading and other derivatives in our disclosures. Additionally, this category includes embedded derivatives that are required to be accounted for separately from their host contracts.
Table 16.1 presents the total notional or contractual amounts and fair values for our derivatives. Derivative transactions can be measured in terms of the notional amount, but this amount is not recorded on the balance sheet and is not, when viewed in isolation, a meaningful measure of the risk profile of the instruments. The notional amount is generally not exchanged, but is used only as the basis on which interest and other payments are determined. Derivatives designated as qualifying hedging instruments and economic hedges are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value in other assets or other liabilities. Customer accommodation, trading and other derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value in trading assets, other assets or other liabilities.


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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 16.1: Notional or Contractual Amounts and Fair Values of Derivatives
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Notional or 

 
Fair value 
 
 
Notional or 

 
Fair value 
 
 
contractual 

 
Asset 

 
Liability 

 
contractual 

 
Asset 

 
Liability 

(in millions)
amount 

 
derivatives 

 
derivatives 

 
amount 

 
derivatives 

 
derivatives 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts (1)
$
191,684

 
7,477

 
2,253

 
148,967

 
6,536

 
2,435

Foreign exchange contracts (1)
25,115

 
378

 
2,494

 
26,778

 
752

 
1,347

Total derivatives designated as
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     qualifying hedging instruments
 
 
7,855

 
4,747

 
 
 
7,288

 
3,782

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts (2)
211,375

 
195

 
315

 
221,527

 
697

 
487

Equity contracts
7,427

 
531

 
47

 
5,219

 
367

 
96

Foreign exchange contracts
16,407

 
321

 
100

 
14,405

 
275

 
28

Subtotal (3)
 
 
1,047

 
462

 
 
 
1,339

 
611

Customer accommodation, trading and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
other derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
4,685,898

 
55,053

 
55,409

 
4,378,767

 
56,465

 
57,137

Commodity contracts
47,571

 
4,659

 
5,519

 
88,640

 
7,461

 
7,702

Equity contracts
139,956

 
7,068

 
4,761

 
138,422

 
8,638

 
6,942

Foreign exchange contracts
295,962

 
8,248

 
8,339

 
253,742

 
6,377

 
6,452

Credit contracts - protection sold
10,544

 
83

 
541

 
12,304

 
151

 
943

Credit contracts - protection purchased
18,018

 
567

 
88

 
16,659

 
755

 
168

Other contracts
1,041

 
—

 
58

 
1,994

 
—

 
44

Subtotal
 
 
75,678

 
74,715

 
 
 
79,847

 
79,388

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
76,725

 
75,177

 
 
 
81,186

 
79,999

Total derivatives before netting
 
 
84,580

 
79,924

 
 
 
88,474

 
83,781

Netting (3)
 
 
(66,924
)
 
(66,004
)
 
 
 
(65,869
)
 
(65,043
)
Total
 
 
$
17,656

 
13,920

 
 
 
22,605

 
18,738

(1)
Notional amounts presented exclude $1.9 billion of interest rate contracts at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 , for certain derivatives that are combined for designation as a hedge on a single instrument. The notional amount for foreign exchange contracts at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , excludes $7.8 billion and $2.7 billion , respectively for certain derivatives that are combined for designation as a hedge on a single instrument.
(2)
Includes economic hedge derivatives used to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of residential MSRs, MHFS, loans, derivative loan commitments and other interests held.
(3)
Represents balance sheet netting of derivative asset and liability balances, related cash collateral and portfolio level counterparty valuation adjustments. See the next table in this Note for further information.

Table 16.2 provides information on the gross fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, the balance sheet netting adjustments and the resulting net fair value amount recorded on our balance sheet, as well as the non-cash collateral associated with such arrangements. We execute substantially all of our derivative transactions under master netting arrangements. We reflect all derivative balances and related cash collateral subject to enforceable master netting arrangements on a net basis within the balance sheet. The “Gross amounts recognized” column in the following table include $69.9 billion and $74.0 billion of gross derivative assets and liabilities, respectively, at December 31, 2015 , and $69.6 billion and $75.0 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2014 , with counterparties subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that are carried on the balance sheet net of offsetting amounts. The remaining gross derivative assets and liabilities of $14.6 billion and $5.9 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2015 and $18.9 billion and $8.8 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2014 , include those with counterparties subject to master netting arrangements for which we have not assessed the enforceability because they are with counterparties where we do not currently have positions to offset, those subject to master netting arrangements where we have not been able to confirm the enforceability and those not subject to master netting arrangements. As such, we do not net
 
derivative balances or collateral within the balance sheet for these counterparties.
We determine the balance sheet netting adjustments based on the terms specified within each master netting arrangement. We disclose the balance sheet netting amounts within the column titled “Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheet.” Balance sheet netting adjustments are determined at the counterparty level for which there may be multiple contract types. For disclosure purposes, we allocate these adjustments to the contract type for each counterparty proportionally based upon the “Gross amounts recognized” by counterparty. As a result, the net amounts disclosed by contract type may not represent the actual exposure upon settlement of the contracts.
Balance sheet netting does not include non-cash collateral that we receive and pledge. For disclosure purposes, we present the fair value of this non-cash collateral in the column titled “Gross amounts not offset in consolidated balance sheet (Disclosure-only netting)” within the table. We determine and allocate the Disclosure-only netting amounts in the same manner as balance sheet netting amounts.
The “Net amounts” column within the following table represents the aggregate of our net exposure to each counterparty after considering the balance sheet and Disclosure-only netting adjustments. We manage derivative exposure by


 
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209


Note 16: Derivatives (continued)

monitoring the credit risk associated with each counterparty using counterparty specific credit risk limits, using master netting arrangements and obtaining collateral. Derivative contracts executed in over-the-counter markets include bilateral contractual arrangements that are not cleared through a central clearing organization but are typically subject to master netting arrangements. The percentage of our bilateral derivative transactions outstanding at period end in such markets, based on gross fair value, is provided within the following table. Other
 
derivative contracts executed in over-the-counter or exchange-traded markets are settled through a central clearing organization and are excluded from this percentage. In addition to the netting amounts included in the table, we also have balance sheet netting related to resale and repurchase agreements that are disclosed within Note 14 (Guarantees, Pledged Assets and Collateral).



Table 16.2: Gross Fair Value of Derivative Assets and Liabilities
(in millions)
Gross amounts recognized

 
Gross amounts offset in consolidated balance sheet (1) 

 
Net amounts in consolidated balance sheet (2) 

 
Gross amounts not offset in consolidated balance sheet (Disclosure-only netting) (3) 

 
Net amounts 

 
Percent exchanged in over-the-counter market (4) 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
62,725

 
(56,612
)
 
6,113

 
(749
)
 
5,364

 
39
%
Commodity contracts
4,659

 
(998
)
 
3,661

 
(76
)
 
3,585

 
35

Equity contracts
7,599

 
(2,625
)
 
4,974

 
(471
)
 
4,503

 
51

Foreign exchange contracts
8,947

 
(6,141
)
 
2,806

 
(34
)
 
2,772

 
98

Credit contracts-protection sold
83

 
(79
)
 
4

 
—

 
4

 
76

Credit contracts-protection purchased
567

 
(469
)
 
98

 
(2
)
 
96

 
100

Total derivative assets
$
84,580

 
(66,924
)
 
17,656

 
(1,332
)
 
16,324

 
 
Derivative liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
57,977

 
(53,259
)
 
4,718

 
(3,543
)
 
1,175

 
35
%
Commodity contracts
5,519

 
(1,052
)
 
4,467

 
(40
)
 
4,427

 
84

Equity contracts
4,808

 
(2,241
)
 
2,567

 
(154
)
 
2,413

 
85

Foreign exchange contracts
10,933

 
(8,968
)
 
1,965

 
(634
)
 
1,331

 
100

Credit contracts-protection sold
541

 
(434
)
 
107

 
(107
)
 
—

 
100

Credit contracts-protection purchased
88

 
(50
)
 
38

 
(6
)
 
32

 
70

Other contracts
58

 
—

 
58

 
—

 
58

 
100

Total derivative liabilities
$
79,924

 
(66,004
)
 
13,920

 
(4,484
)
 
9,436

 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
63,698

 
(56,051
)
 
7,647

 
(769
)
 
6,878

 
45
%
Commodity contracts
7,461

 
(1,233
)
 
6,228

 
(72
)
 
6,156

 
27

Equity contracts
9,005

 
(2,842
)
 
6,163

 
(405
)
 
5,758

 
54

Foreign exchange contracts
7,404

 
(4,923
)
 
2,481

 
(85
)
 
2,396

 
98

Credit contracts-protection sold
151

 
(131
)
 
20

 
—

 
20

 
90

Credit contracts-protection purchased
755

 
(689
)
 
66

 
(1
)
 
65

 
100

Total derivative assets
$
88,474

 
(65,869
)
 
22,605

 
(1,332
)
 
21,273

 
 
Derivative liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
60,059

 
(54,394
)
 
5,665

 
(4,244
)
 
1,421

 
44
%
Commodity contracts
7,702

 
(1,459
)
 
6,243

 
(33
)
 
6,210

 
81

Equity contracts
7,038

 
(2,845
)
 
4,193

 
(484
)
 
3,709

 
82

Foreign exchange contracts
7,827

 
(5,511
)
 
2,316

 
(270
)
 
2,046

 
100

Credit contracts-protection sold
943

 
(713
)
 
230

 
(199
)
 
31

 
100

Credit contracts-protection purchased
168

 
(121
)
 
47

 
(18
)
 
29

 
86

Other contracts
44

 
—

 
44

 
—

 
44

 
100

Total derivative liabilities
$
83,781

 
(65,043
)
 
18,738

 
(5,248
)
 
13,490

 
 
(1)
Represents amounts with counterparties subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that have been offset in the consolidated balance sheet, including related cash collateral and portfolio level counterparty valuation adjustments. Counterparty valuation adjustments were $375 million and $266 million related to derivative assets and $81 million and $56 million related to derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Cash collateral totaled $5.3 billion and $4.7 billion , netted against derivative assets and liabilities, respectively, at December 31, 2015 , and $5.2 billion and $4.6 billion , respectively, at December 31, 2014 .
(2)
Net derivative assets of $12.4 billion and $16.9 billion are classified in Trading assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. $5.3 billion and $5.7 billion are classified in Other assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Net derivative liabilities are classified in Accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
(3)
Represents the fair value of non-cash collateral pledged and received against derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty that are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements. U.S. GAAP does not permit netting of such non-cash collateral balances in the consolidated balance sheet but requires disclosure of these amounts.
(4)
Represents derivatives executed in over-the-counter markets not settled through a central clearing organization. Over-the-counter percentages are calculated based on Gross amounts recognized as of the respective balance sheet date. The remaining percentage represents derivatives settled through a central clearing organization, which are executed in either over-the-counter or exchange-traded markets.
 



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Wells Fargo & Company
 

Fair Value Hedges
We use interest rate swaps to convert certain of our fixed-rate long-term debt to floating rates to hedge our exposure to interest rate risk. We also enter into cross-currency swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward contracts to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk and interest rate risk associated with the issuance of non-U.S. dollar denominated long-term debt. In addition, we use interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward contracts to hedge against changes in fair value of certain investments in available-for-sale debt securities due to changes in interest rates, foreign currency rates, or both. We also use interest rate swaps to hedge against changes in fair value for certain mortgages held for sale. The entire derivative gain or loss is included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness for all fair value hedge relationships, except for those involving foreign-currency denominated available-for-sale securities and long-
 
term debt hedged with foreign currency forward derivatives for which the time value component of the derivative gain or loss related to the changes in the difference between the spot and forward price is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
We use statistical regression analysis to assess hedge effectiveness, both at inception of the hedging relationship and on an ongoing basis. The regression analysis involves regressing the periodic change in fair value of the hedging instrument against the periodic changes in fair value of the asset or liability being hedged due to changes in the hedged risk(s). The assessment includes an evaluation of the quantitative measures of the regression results used to validate the conclusion of high effectiveness.
Table 16.3 shows the net gains (losses) recognized in the income statement related to derivatives in fair value hedging relationships.


Table 16.3: Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships
 
Interest rate contracts hedging: 
 
 
Foreign exchange contracts hedging: 
 
 
Total net gains (losses) on fair value hedges 

(in millions)
Available-for-sale securities

 
Mortgages held for sale

 
Long-term debt 

 
Available-for-sale securities 

 
Long-term debt 

 
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (expense) recognized on derivatives
$
(782
)
 
(13
)
 
1,955

 
—

 
182

 
1,342

Gains (losses) recorded in noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives
(18
)
 
(9
)
 
327

 
253

 
(2,370
)
 
(1,817
)
Recognized on hedged item
7

 
(4
)
 
(251
)
 
(247
)
 
2,390

 
1,895

Net recognized on fair value hedges (ineffective portion) (1)
$
(11
)
 
(13
)
 
76

 
6

 
20

 
78

Year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (expense) recognized on derivatives
$
(722
)
 
(15
)
 
1,843

 
(10
)
 
308

 
1,404

Gains (losses) recorded in noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives
(1,943
)
 
(49
)
 
3,623

 
391

 
(1,418
)
 
604

Recognized on hedged item
1,911

 
32

 
(3,143
)
 
(388
)
 
1,490

 
(98
)
Net recognized on fair value hedges (ineffective portion) (1)
$
(32
)
 
(17
)
 
480

 
3

 
72

 
506

Year ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (expense) recognized on derivatives
$
(584
)
 
(11
)
 
1,632

 
(8
)
 
280

 
1,309

Gains (losses) recorded in noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives
1,889

 
47

 
(3,767
)
 
(49
)
 
(847
)
 
(2,727
)
Recognized on hedged item
(1,874
)
 
(57
)
 
3,521

 
49

 
722

 
2,361

Net recognized on fair value hedges (ineffective portion) (1)
$
15

 
(10
)
 
(246
)
 
—

 
(125
)
 
(366
)
(1)
Included $(7) million , $(1) million and $(5) million , respectively, for years ended December 31, 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 of the time value component recognized as net interest income (expense) on forward derivatives hedging foreign currency available-for-sale securities and long-term debt that were excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

 
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Note 16: Derivatives (continued)

Cash Flow Hedges
We use interest rate swaps to hedge the variability in interest payments received on certain floating-rate commercial loans and paid on certain floating-rate debt due to changes in the benchmark interest rate. Gains and losses on derivatives that are reclassified from OCI to interest income (for loans) and interest expense (for debt) in the current period are included in the line item in which the hedged item’s effect on earnings is recorded. All parts of gain or loss on these derivatives are included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness. We assess hedge effectiveness using regression analysis, both at inception of the hedging relationship and on an ongoing basis. The regression analysis involves regressing the periodic changes in cash flows of the hedging instrument against the periodic changes in cash flows of the forecasted transaction being hedged due to changes in the
 
hedged risk(s). The assessment includes an evaluation of the quantitative measures of the regression results used to validate the conclusion of high effectiveness.
Based upon current interest rates, we estimate that $826 million (pre tax) of deferred net gains on derivatives in OCI at December 31, 2015 , will be reclassified into net interest income during the next twelve months. Future changes to interest rates may significantly change actual amounts reclassified to earnings. We are hedging our exposure to the variability of future cash flows for all forecasted transactions for a maximum of 7 years.
Table 16.4 shows the net gains (losses) recognized related to derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships.


Table 16.4: Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Gains (losses) (pre tax) recognized in OCI on derivatives
 
$
1,549

 
952

 
(32
)
Gains (pre tax) reclassified from cumulative OCI into net income (1)
 
1,089

 
545

 
296

Gains (losses) (pre tax) recognized in noninterest income for hedge ineffectiveness (2)
 
1

 
2

 
1

(1)
See Note 23 (Other Comprehensive Income) for detail on components of net income.
(2)
None of the change in value of the derivatives was excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
We use economic hedge derivatives primarily to hedge the risk of changes in the fair value of certain residential MHFS, certain loans held for investment, residential MSRs measured at fair value, derivative loan commitments and other interests held. The resulting gain or loss on these economic hedge derivatives is reflected in mortgage banking noninterest income, net gains (losses) from equity investments and other noninterest income.
The derivatives used to hedge MSRs measured at fair value, which include swaps, swaptions, constant maturity mortgages, forwards, Eurodollar and Treasury futures and options contracts, resulted in net derivative gains of $671 million in 2015 , net derivative gains of $3.5 billion in 2014 and net derivative losses of $2.9 billion in 2013 , which are included in mortgage banking noninterest income. The aggregate fair value of these derivatives was a net liability of $3 million at December 31, 2015 and a net asset of $492 million at December 31, 2014 . The change in fair value of these derivatives for each period end is due to changes in the underlying market indices and interest rates as well as the purchase and sale of derivative financial instruments throughout the period as part of our dynamic MSR risk management process.
Interest rate lock commitments for mortgage loans that we intend to sell are considered derivatives. Our interest rate exposure on these derivative loan commitments, as well as substantially all residential MHFS, is hedged with economic hedge derivatives such as swaps, forwards and options, Eurodollar futures and options, and Treasury futures, forwards and options contracts. The derivative loan commitments, economic hedge derivatives and residential MHFS are carried at fair value with changes in fair value included in mortgage banking noninterest income. For the fair value measurement of interest rate lock commitments we include, at inception and during the life of the loan commitment, the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan. Fair value changes subsequent to inception are based on changes in fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the exercise of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will not fund within the terms of the commitment (referred to as a
 
fall-out factor). The value of the underlying loan is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time. However, changes in investor demand can also cause changes in the value of the underlying loan value that cannot be hedged. The aggregate fair value of derivative loan commitments on the balance sheet was a net asset of $56 million and $98 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and is included in the caption “Interest rate contracts” under “Customer accommodation, trading and other derivatives” in Table 16.1.
We also enter into various derivatives primarily to provide derivative products to customers. These derivatives are not linked to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to forecasted transactions in an accounting hedge relationship and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting. We also enter into derivatives for risk management that do not otherwise qualify for hedge accounting. They are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as other noninterest income.
Customer accommodation, trading and other derivatives also include embedded derivatives that are required to be accounted for separately from their host contract. We periodically issue hybrid long-term notes and CDs where the performance of the hybrid instrument notes is linked to an equity, commodity or currency index, or basket of such indices. These notes contain explicit terms that affect some or all of the cash flows or the value of the note in a manner similar to a derivative instrument and therefore are considered to contain an “embedded” derivative instrument. The indices on which the performance of the hybrid instrument is calculated are not clearly and closely related to the host debt instrument. The “embedded” derivative is separated from the host contract and accounted for as a derivative. Additionally, we may invest in hybrid instruments that contain embedded derivatives, such as credit derivatives, that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract. In such instances, we either elect fair value option for the hybrid instrument or separate the embedded derivative from the host contract and account for the host contract and derivative separately.


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Table 16.5 shows the net gains recognized in the income statement related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.


Table 16.5: Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Net gains (losses) recognized on economic hedge derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized in noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage banking (1)
$
723

 
1,759

 
1,412

Other (2)
(42
)
 
(230
)
 
119

Equity contracts (3)
(393
)
 
(469
)
 
(317
)
Foreign exchange contracts (2)
496

 
758

 
24

Credit contracts (2)
—

 
(1
)
 
(6
)
Subtotal
784

 
1,817

 
1,232

Net gains (losses) recognized on customer accommodation, trading and other derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized in noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage banking (4)
941

 
1,350

 
(561
)
Other (5)
265

 
(855
)
 
743

Commodity contracts (5)
88

 
77

 
324

Equity contracts (5)
563

 
(719
)
 
(622
)
Foreign exchange contracts (5)
812

 
593

 
746

Credit contracts (5)
44

 
7

 
(53
)
Other (5)
(15
)
 
(39
)
 
—

Subtotal
2,698

 
414

 
577

Net gains recognized related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
$
3,482

 
2,231

 
1,809

(1)
Predominantly mortgage banking noninterest income including gains (losses) on the derivatives used as economic hedges of MSRs measured at fair value, interest rate lock commitments and mortgages held for sale.
(2)
Predominantly included in other noninterest income.
(3)
Predominantly included in net gains (losses) from equity investments in noninterest income.
(4)
Predominantly mortgage banking noninterest income including gains (losses) on interest rate lock commitments.
(5)
Predominantly included in net gains from trading activities in noninterest income.

Credit Derivatives
Credit derivative contracts are arrangements whose value is derived from the transfer of credit risk of a reference asset or entity from one party (the purchaser of credit protection) to another party (the seller of credit protection). We use credit derivatives primarily to assist customers with their risk management objectives. We may also use credit derivatives in structured product transactions or liquidity agreements written to special purpose vehicles. The maximum exposure of sold credit derivatives is managed through posted collateral, purchased credit derivatives and similar products in order to achieve our desired credit risk profile. This credit risk management provides an ability to recover a significant portion of any amounts that would be paid under the sold credit derivatives. We would be required to perform under the noted credit derivatives in the event of default by the referenced obligors. Events of default include events such as bankruptcy, capital restructuring or lack of principal and/or interest payment. In certain cases, other triggers may exist, such as the credit downgrade of the referenced obligors or the inability of the special purpose vehicle for which we have provided liquidity to obtain funding.


 
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Note 16: Derivatives (continued)

Table 16.6 provides details of sold and purchased credit derivatives.


Table 16.6: Sold and Purchased Credit Derivatives
 
 
 
Notional amount
 
 
 
(in millions)
Fair value liability 

 
Protection sold (A)

 
Protection sold - non-investment grade

 
Protection purchased with identical underlyings (B)

 
Net protection sold (A)-(B) 

 
Other protection purchased 

 
Range of maturities 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit default swaps on:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
$
44

 
4,838

 
1,745

 
3,602

 
1,236

 
2,272

 
2016 - 2025
Structured products
275

 
598

 
463

 
395

 
203

 
142

 
2017 - 2047
Credit protection on:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Default swap index
—

 
1,727

 
370

 
1,717

 
10

 
960

 
2016 - 2020
Commercial mortgage-backed securities index
203

 
822

 
—

 
766

 
56

 
316

 
2047 - 2057
Asset-backed securities index
18

 
47

 
—

 
1

 
46

 
71

 
2045 - 2046
Other
1

 
2,512

 
2,512

 
—

 
2,512

 
7,776

 
2016 - 2025
Total credit derivatives
$
541

 
10,544

 
5,090

 
6,481

 
4,063

 
11,537

 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit default swaps on:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate bonds
$
23

 
6,344

 
2,904

 
4,894

 
1,450

 
2,831

 
2015 - 2021
Structured products
654

 
1,055

 
874

 
608

 
447

 
277

 
2017 - 2052
Credit protection on:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Default swap index
—

 
1,659

 
292

 
777

 
882

 
1,042

 
2015 - 2019
Commercial mortgage-backed securities index
246

 
1,058

 
—

 
608

 
450

 
355

 
2047 - 2063
Asset-backed securities index
19

 
52

 
1

 
1

 
51

 
81

 
2045 - 2046
Other
1

 
2,136

 
2,136

 
—

 
2,136

 
5,185

 
2015 - 2025
Total credit derivatives
$
943

 
12,304

 
6,207

 
6,888

 
5,416

 
9,771

 
 

Protection sold represents the estimated maximum exposure to loss that would be incurred under an assumed hypothetical circumstance, where the value of our interests and any associated collateral declines to zero, without any consideration of recovery or offset from any economic hedges. We believe this hypothetical circumstance to be an extremely remote possibility and accordingly, this required disclosure is not an indication of expected loss. The amounts under non-investment grade represent the notional amounts of those credit derivatives on which we have a higher risk of being required to perform under the terms of the credit derivative and are a function of the underlying assets.
 
We consider the risk of performance to be high if the underlying assets under the credit derivative have an external rating that is below investment grade or an internal credit default grade that is equivalent thereto. We believe the net protection sold, which is representative of the net notional amount of protection sold and purchased with identical underlyings, in combination with other protection purchased, is more representative of our exposure to loss than either non-investment grade or protection sold. Other protection purchased represents additional protection, which may offset the exposure to loss for protection sold, that was not purchased with an identical underlying of the protection sold.



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Credit-Risk Contingent Features
Certain of our derivative contracts contain provisions whereby if the credit rating of our debt were to be downgraded by certain major credit rating agencies, the counterparty could demand additional collateral or require termination or replacement of derivative instruments in a net liability position. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with such credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position was $12.3 billion at December 31, 2015 , and $13.6 billion at December 31, 2014 , respectively, for which we posted $8.8 billion and $10.5 billion , respectively, in collateral in the normal course of business. If the credit rating of our debt had been downgraded below investment grade, which is the credit-risk-related contingent feature that if triggered requires the maximum amount of collateral to be posted, on December 31, 2015 , or December 31, 2014 , we would have been required to post additional collateral of $3.6 billion or $3.1 billion , respectively, or potentially settle the contract in an amount equal to its fair value. Some contracts require that we provide more collateral than the fair value of derivatives that are in a net liability position if a downgrade occurs.

 
Counterparty Credit Risk
By using derivatives, we are exposed to counterparty credit risk if counterparties to the derivative contracts do not perform as expected. If a counterparty fails to perform, our counterparty credit risk is equal to the amount reported as a derivative asset on our balance sheet. The amounts reported as a derivative asset are derivative contracts in a gain position, and to the extent subject to legally enforceable master netting arrangements, net of derivatives in a loss position with the same counterparty and cash collateral received. We minimize counterparty credit risk through credit approvals, limits, monitoring procedures, executing master netting arrangements and obtaining collateral, where appropriate. To the extent the master netting arrangements and other criteria meet the applicable requirements, including determining the legal enforceability of the arrangement, it is our policy to present derivative balances and related cash collateral amounts net on the balance sheet. We incorporate credit valuation adjustments (CVA) to reflect counterparty credit risk in determining the fair value of our derivatives. Such adjustments, which consider the effects of enforceable master netting agreements and collateral arrangements, reflect market-based views of the credit quality of each counterparty. Our CVA calculation is determined based on observed credit spreads in the credit default swap market and indices indicative of the credit quality of the counterparties to our derivatives.


 
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Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Note 17:   Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the recurring table in this Note. From time to time, we may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, such as certain residential and commercial MHFS, certain LHFS, loans held for investment, nonmarketable equity investments and certain other assets. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of LOCOM accounting or write-downs of individual assets.
Following is a discussion of the fair value hierarchy and the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis and for estimating fair value for financial instruments not recorded at fair value.
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
We group our assets and liabilities measured at fair value in three levels based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:
•
Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
•
Level 2 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
•
Level 3 – Valuation is generated from techniques that use significant assumptions that are not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
 
In the determination of the classification of financial instruments in Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, we consider all available information, including observable market data, indications of market liquidity and orderliness, and our understanding of the valuation techniques and significant inputs used. For securities in inactive markets, we use a predetermined percentage to evaluate the impact of fair value adjustments derived from weighting both external and internal indications of value to determine if the instrument is classified as Level 2 or Level 3. Otherwise, the classification of Level 2 or Level 3 is based upon the specific facts and circumstances of each instrument or instrument category and judgments are made regarding the significance of the Level 3 inputs to the instruments’ fair value measurement in its entirety. If Level 3 inputs are considered significant, the instrument is classified as Level 3.
 
Assets
SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ASSETS  Short-term financial assets include cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and securities purchased under resale agreements and due from customers on acceptances. These assets are carried at historical cost. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization.
 
TRADING ASSETS (EXCLUDING DERIVATIVES) AND INVESTMENT SECURITIES   Trading assets and available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Other investment securities classified as held-to-maturity are subject to impairment and fair value measurement if fair value declines below amortized cost and we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the debt security. Fair value measurement is based upon various sources of market pricing. We use quoted prices in active markets, where available, and classify such instruments within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Examples include exchange-traded equity securities and some highly liquid government securities, such as U.S. Treasuries. When instruments are traded in secondary markets and quoted market prices do not exist for such securities, we generally rely on internal valuation techniques or on prices obtained from vendors (predominantly third-party pricing services), and accordingly, we classify these instruments as Level 2 or 3.
Trading securities are mostly valued using internal trader prices that are subject to price verification procedures performed by separate internal personnel. The majority of fair values derived using internal valuation techniques are verified against multiple pricing sources, including prices obtained from third-party vendors. Vendors compile prices from various sources and often apply matrix pricing for similar securities when no price is observable. We review pricing methodologies provided by the vendors in order to determine if observable market information is being used versus unobservable inputs. When evaluating the appropriateness of an internal trader price compared with vendor prices, considerations include the range and quality of vendor prices. Vendor prices are used to ensure the reasonableness of a trader price; however, valuing financial instruments involves judgments acquired from knowledge of a particular market. If a trader asserts that a vendor price is not reflective of market value, justification for using the trader price, including recent sales activity where possible, must be provided to and approved by the appropriate levels of management.
Similarly, while investment securities traded in secondary markets are typically valued using unadjusted vendor prices or vendor prices adjusted by weighting them with internal discounted cash flow techniques, these prices are reviewed and, if deemed inappropriate by a trader who has the most knowledge of a particular market, can be adjusted. These investment securities, which include those measured using unadjusted vendor prices, are generally classified as Level 2 and typically involve using quoted market prices for the same or similar securities, pricing models, discounted cash flow analyses using significant inputs observable in the market where available or a combination of multiple valuation techniques. Examples include certain residential and commercial MBS, other asset-backed securities municipal bonds, U.S. government and agency MBS, and corporate debt securities.
Security fair value measurements using significant inputs that are unobservable in the market due to limited activity or a less liquid market are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Such measurements include securities valued using internal models or a combination of multiple valuation techniques where the unobservable inputs are significant to the overall fair value measurement. Securities classified as Level 3 include certain residential and commercial MBS, other asset-backed securities, CDOs and certain CLOs, and certain residual and retained interests in residential mortgage loan


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securitizations. We value CDOs using the prices of similar instruments, the pricing of completed or pending third-party transactions or the pricing of the underlying collateral within the CDO. Where vendor prices are not readily available, we use management's best estimate.

MORTGAGES HELD FOR SALE (MHFS)  MHFS are carried at LOCOM or at fair value. We carry substantially all of our residential MHFS portfolio at fair value. Fair value is based on quoted market prices, where available, or the prices for other mortgage whole loans with similar characteristics. As necessary, these prices are adjusted for typical securitization activities, including servicing value, portfolio composition, market conditions and liquidity. Predominantly all of our MHFS are classified as Level 2. For the portion where market pricing data is not available, we use a discounted cash flow model to estimate fair value and, accordingly, classify as Level 3.
 
LOANS HELD FOR SALE (LHFS)  LHFS are carried at LOCOM or at fair value. The fair value of LHFS is based on current offerings in secondary markets for loans with similar characteristics. As such, we classify those loans subjected to nonrecurring fair value adjustments as Level 2.
 
LOANS  For information on how we report the carrying value of loans, including PCI loans, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). Although most loans are not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, reverse mortgages are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. In addition, we record nonrecurring fair value adjustments to loans to reflect partial write-downs that are based on the observable market price of the loan or current appraised value of the collateral.
We provide fair value estimates in this disclosure for loans that are not recorded at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Those estimates differentiate loans based on their financial characteristics, such as product classification, loan category, pricing features and remaining maturity. Prepayment and credit loss estimates are evaluated by product and loan rate.
The fair value of commercial loans is calculated by discounting contractual cash flows, adjusted for credit loss estimates, using discount rates that are appropriate for loans with similar characteristics and remaining maturity. For real estate 1-4 family first and junior lien mortgages, we calculate fair value by discounting contractual cash flows, adjusted for prepayment and credit loss estimates, using discount rates based on current industry pricing (where readily available) or our own estimate of an appropriate discount rate for loans of similar size, type, remaining maturity and repricing characteristics.
The estimated fair value of consumer loans is generally calculated by discounting the contractual cash flows, adjusted for prepayment and credit loss estimates, based on the current rates we offer for loans with similar characteristics.
Loan commitments, standby letters of credit and commercial and similar letters of credit generate ongoing fees at our current pricing levels, which are recognized over the term of the commitment period. In situations where the credit quality of the counterparty to a commitment has declined, we record an allowance. A reasonable estimate of the fair value of these instruments is the carrying value of deferred fees adjusted for the related allowance.
 
DERIVATIVES  Quoted market prices are available and used for our exchange-traded derivatives, such as certain interest rate futures and option contracts, which we classify as Level 1. However, substantially all of our derivatives are traded in over-
 
the-counter (OTC) markets where quoted market prices are not always readily available. Therefore we value most OTC derivatives using internal valuation techniques. Valuation techniques and inputs to internally-developed models depend on the type of derivative and nature of the underlying rate, price or index upon which the derivative's value is based. Key inputs can include yield curves, credit curves, foreign exchange rates, prepayment rates, volatility measurements and correlation of such inputs. Where model inputs can be observed in a liquid market and the model does not require significant judgment, such derivatives are typically classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Examples of derivatives classified as Level 2 include generic interest rate swaps, foreign currency swaps, commodity swaps, and certain option and forward contracts. When instruments are traded in less liquid markets and significant inputs are unobservable, such derivatives are classified as Level 3. Examples of derivatives classified as Level 3 include complex and highly structured derivatives, certain credit default swaps, interest rate lock commitments written for our mortgage loans that we intend to sell and long-dated equity options where volatility is not observable. Additionally, significant judgments are required when classifying financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy, particularly between Level 2 and 3, as is the case for certain derivatives.
 
MSRs AND CERTAIN OTHER INTERESTS HELD IN SECURITIZATIONS MSRs and certain other interests held in securitizations (e.g., interest-only strips) do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices. Accordingly, we determine the fair value of MSRs using a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income cash flows. The model incorporates assumptions that market participants use in estimating future net servicing income cash flows, including estimates of prepayment speeds (including housing price volatility), discount rates, default rates, cost to service (including delinquency and foreclosure costs), escrow account earnings, contractual servicing fee income, ancillary income and late fees. Commercial MSRs are carried at LOCOM and, therefore, can be subject to fair value measurements on a nonrecurring basis. Changes in the fair value of MSRs occur primarily due to the collection/realization of expected cash flows as well as changes in valuation inputs and assumptions. For other interests held in securitizations (such as interest-only strips), we use a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future cash flows. The model incorporates our own estimates of assumptions market participants use in determining the fair value, including estimates of prepayment speeds, discount rates, defaults and contractual fee income. Interest-only strips are recorded as trading assets. Our valuation approach is validated by our internal valuation model validation group. Fair value measurements of our MSRs and interest-only strips use significant unobservable inputs and, accordingly, we classify them as Level 3. 

FORECLOSED ASSETS  Foreclosed assets are carried at net realizable value, which represents fair value less costs to sell. Fair value is generally based upon independent market prices or appraised values of the collateral and, accordingly, we classify foreclosed assets as Level 2.
 
NONMARKETABLE EQUITY INVESTMENTS  For certain equity securities that are not publicly traded, we have elected the fair value option, and we use a market comparable pricing technique to estimate their fair value. The remaining


 
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Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

nonmarketable equity investments include low income housing tax credit investments, Federal Reserve Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock, and private equity investments that are recorded under the cost or equity method of accounting. We estimate fair value to record OTTI write-downs on a nonrecurring basis. Additionally, we provide fair value estimates in this disclosure for cost method investments that are not measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis.
Federal Bank stock carrying values approximate fair value. For the remaining cost or equity method investments for which we determine fair value, we estimate the fair value using all available information and consider the range of potential inputs including discounted cash flow models, transaction prices, trading multiples of comparable public companies, and entry level multiples. Where appropriate these metrics are adjusted to account for comparative differences with public companies and for company-specific issues like liquidity or marketability. For investments in private equity funds, we generally use the NAV provided by the fund sponsor as a practical expedient to measure fair value. In some cases, NAVs may require adjustments based on certain unobservable inputs.

Liabilities
DEPOSIT LIABILITIES  Deposit liabilities are carried at historical cost. The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing checking, and market rate and other savings, is equal to the amount payable on demand at the measurement date. The fair value of other time deposits is calculated based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is estimated using the rates currently offered for like wholesale deposits with similar remaining maturities.
 
SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL LIABILITIES Short-term financial liabilities are carried at historical cost and include federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements, commercial paper and other short-term borrowings. The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization.
 
OTHER LIABILITIES  Other liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, excluding derivative liabilities (see the “Derivatives” section for derivative liabilities), primarily include short sale liabilities. Short sale liabilities are predominantly classified as either Level 1 or Level 2, generally depending upon whether the underlying securities have readily obtainable quoted prices in active exchange markets.
 
LONG-TERM DEBT  Long-term debt is generally carried at amortized cost. For disclosure, we are required to estimate the fair value of long-term debt and generally do so using the discounted cash flow method. Contractual cash flows are discounted using rates currently offered for new notes with similar remaining maturities and, as such, these discount rates include our current spread levels.  
 
Level 3 Asset and Liability Valuation Processes
We generally determine fair value of our Level 3 assets and liabilities by using internally-developed models and, to a lesser extent, prices obtained from vendors, which predominantly consist of third-party pricing services. Our valuation processes vary depending on which approach is utilized.
 
 
INTERNAL MODEL VALUATIONS  Our internally-developed models primarily use discounted cash flow techniques. Use of such techniques requires determining relevant inputs, some of which are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are generally derived from historic performance of similar assets or determined from previous market trades in similar instruments. These unobservable inputs usually consist of discount rates, default rates, loss severity upon default, volatilities, correlations and prepayment rates, which are inherent within our Level 3 instruments. Such inputs can be correlated to similar portfolios with known historic experience or recent trades where particular unobservable inputs may be implied, but due to the nature of various inputs being reflected within a particular trade, the value of each input is considered unobservable. We attempt to correlate each unobservable input to historic experience and other third-party data where available.
Internal valuation models are subject to review prescribed within our model risk management policies and procedures, which include model validation. The purpose of model validation includes ensuring the model is appropriate for its intended use and the appropriate controls exist to help mitigate risk of invalid valuations. Model validation assesses the adequacy and appropriateness of the model, including reviewing its key components, such as inputs, processing components, logic or theory, output results and supporting model documentation. Validation also includes ensuring significant unobservable model inputs are appropriate given observable market transactions or other market data within the same or similar asset classes. This process ensures modeled approaches are appropriate given similar product valuation techniques and are in line with their intended purpose.
We have ongoing monitoring procedures in place for our Level 3 assets and liabilities that use such internal valuation models. These procedures, which are designed to provide reasonable assurance that models continue to perform as expected after approved, include:
•
ongoing analysis and benchmarking to market transactions and other independent market data (including pricing vendors, if available);
•
back-testing of modeled fair values to actual realized transactions; and
•
review of modeled valuation results against expectations, including review of significant or unusual value fluctuations.

We update model inputs and methodologies periodically to reflect these monitoring procedures. Additionally, procedures and controls are in place to ensure existing models are subject to periodic reviews, and we perform full model revalidations as necessary.
All internal valuation models are subject to ongoing review by business-unit-level management, and all models are subject to additional oversight by a corporate-level risk management department. Corporate oversight responsibilities include evaluating the adequacy of business unit risk management programs, maintaining company-wide model validation policies and standards and reporting the results of these activities to management and our Corporate Model Risk Committee (CMoR). The CMoR consists of senior executive management and reports on top model risk issues to the Company’s Risk Committee of the Board.

VENDOR-DEVELOPED VALUATIONS  In certain limited circumstances we obtain pricing from third-party vendors for the value of our Level 3 assets or liabilities. We have processes in place to approve such vendors to ensure information obtained


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and valuation techniques used are appropriate. Once these vendors are approved to provide pricing information, we monitor and review the results to ensure the fair values are reasonable and in line with market experience in similar asset classes. While the input amounts used by the pricing vendor in determining fair value are not provided, and therefore unavailable for our review, we do perform one or more of the following procedures to validate the prices received:
•
comparison to other pricing vendors (if available);
•
variance analysis of prices;
•
corroboration of pricing by reference to other independent market data, such as market transactions and relevant benchmark indices;
•
review of pricing by Company personnel familiar with market liquidity and other market-related conditions; and
•
investigation of prices on a specific instrument-by-instrument basis.
 
Fair Value Measurements from Vendors
For certain assets and liabilities, we obtain fair value measurements from vendors, which predominantly consist of third-party pricing services, and record the unadjusted fair value in our financial statements. For instruments where we utilize vendor prices to record the price of an instrument, we perform additional procedures (see the "Vendor-Developed Valuation" section). Methodologies employed, controls relied upon and inputs used by third-party pricing vendors are subject to additional review when such services are provided. This review may consist of, in part, obtaining and evaluating control reports issued and pricing methodology materials distributed.
Table 17.1 presents unadjusted fair value measurements provided by brokers or third-party pricing services fair value hierarchy level . Fair value measurements obtained from brokers or third-party pricing services that we have adjusted to determine the fair value recorded in our financial statements are excluded from Table 17.1 .


Table 17.1: Fair Value Measurements by Brokers or Third-Party Pricing Services
 
Brokers 
 
 
Third-party pricing services 
 
(in millions)
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives)
$
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
—

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
—

 
—

 
—

 
32,868

 
3,382

 
—

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
48,443

 
51

Mortgage-backed securities
—

 
226

 
—

 
—

 
126,525

 
73

Other debt securities (1)
—

 
503

 
409

 
—

 
48,721

 
345

Total debt securities
—

 
729

 
409

 
32,868

 
227,071

 
469

Total marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
484

 
—

Total available-for-sale securities
—

 
729

 
409

 
32,868

 
227,555

 
469

Derivatives (trading and other assets)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
224

 
—

Derivatives (liabilities)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(221
)
 
—

Other liabilities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives)
$
—

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
105

 
—

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
—

 
—

 
—

 
19,899

 
5,905

 
—

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
42,666

 
61

Mortgage-backed securities
—

 
152

 
—

 
—

 
135,997

 
133

Other debt securities (1)
—

 
1,035

 
601

 
—

 
41,933

 
541

Total debt securities
—

 
1,187

 
601

 
19,899

 
226,501

 
735

Total marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
569

 
—

Total available-for-sale securities
—

 
1,187

 
601

 
19,899

 
227,070

 
735

Derivatives (trading and other assets)
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
290

 
—

Derivatives (liabilities)
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(292
)
 
—

Other liabilities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

(1)
Includes corporate debt securities, collateralized loan and other debt obligations, asset-backed securities, and other debt securities.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
219


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 
Table 17.2 presents the balances of assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.


Table 17.2: Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
(in millions)
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Netting 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
13,357

 
3,469

 
—

 
—

 
16,826

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
1,667

 
8

 
—

 
1,675

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations   (1) 
—

 
346

 
343

 
—

 
689

Corporate debt securities
—

 
7,909

 
56

 
—

 
7,965

Mortgage-backed securities
—

 
20,619

 
—

 
—

 
20,619

Asset-backed securities
—

 
1,005

 
—

 
—

 
1,005

Equity securities
15,010

 
101

 
—

 
—

 
15,111

Total trading securities (2) 
28,367

 
35,116

 
407

 
—

 
63,890

Other trading assets
—

 
891

 
34

 
—

 
925

Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
28,367

 
36,007

 
441

 
—

 
64,815

Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
32,868

 
3,382

 
—

 
—

 
36,250

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
48,490

 
1,500

(3)
—

 
49,990

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
—

 
104,546

 
—

 
—

 
104,546

Residential
—

 
8,557

 
1

 
—

 
8,558

Commercial
—

 
14,015

 
73

 
—

 
14,088

Total mortgage-backed securities
—

 
127,118

 
74

 
—

 
127,192

Corporate debt securities
54

 
14,952

 
405

 
—

 
15,411

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations (4) 
—

 
30,402

 
565

(3)
—

 
30,967

Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auto loans and leases
—

 
15

 
—

 
—

 
15

Home equity loans
—

 
414

 
—

 
—

 
414

Other asset-backed securities
—

 
4,290

 
1,182

(3)
—

 
5,472

Total asset-backed securities
—

 
4,719

 
1,182

 
—

 
5,901

Other debt securities
—

 
10

 
—

 
—

 
10

Total debt securities
32,922

 
229,073

 
3,726

 
—

 
265,721

Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
434

 
484

 
—

 
—

 
918

Other marketable equity securities
719

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
719

Total marketable equity securities
1,153

 
484

 
—

 
—

 
1,637

Total available-for-sale securities
34,075

 
229,557

 
3,726

 
—

 
267,358

Mortgages held for sale
—

 
12,457

 
1,082

 
—

 
13,539

Loans held for sale
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loans
—

 
—

 
5,316

 
—

 
5,316

Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
—

 
—

 
12,415

 
—

  
12,415

Derivative assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
16

 
62,390

 
319

 
—

 
62,725

Commodity contracts
—

 
4,623

 
36

 
—

 
4,659

Equity contracts
3,726

 
2,907

 
966

 
—

 
7,599

Foreign exchange contracts
48

 
8,899

 
—

 
—

 
8,947

Credit contracts
—

 
375

 
275

 
—

 
650

Netting
—

 
—

 
—

 
(66,924
)
(5)
(66,924
)
Total derivative assets (6) 
3,790

 
79,194

 
1,596

 
(66,924
)
 
17,656

Other assets
—

 
—

 
3,088

 
—

 
3,088

Total assets recorded at fair value
$
66,232

 
357,215

 
27,664

 
(66,924
)
 
384,187

Derivative liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
$
(41
)
 
(57,905
)
 
(31
)
 
—

 
(57,977
)
Commodity contracts
—

 
(5,495
)
 
(24
)
 
—

 
(5,519
)
Equity contracts
(704
)
 
(3,027
)
 
(1,077
)
 
—

  
(4,808
)
Foreign exchange contracts
(37
)
 
(10,896
)
 
—

 
—

 
(10,933
)
Credit contracts
—

 
(351
)
 
(278
)
 
—

 
(629
)
Other derivative contracts
—

 
—

 
(58
)
 
—

 
(58
)
Netting
—

 
—

 
—

 
66,004

(5)
66,004

Total derivative liabilities (6) 
(782
)
 
(77,674
)
 
(1,468
)
 
66,004

 
(13,920
)
Short sale liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
(8,621
)
 
(1,074
)
 
—

 
—

 
(9,695
)
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Corporate debt securities
—

 
(4,209
)
 
—

 
—

 
(4,209
)
Equity securities
(1,692
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1,696
)
Other securities
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
—

 
(70
)
Total short sale liabilities
(10,313
)
 
(5,357
)
 
—

 
—

 
(15,670
)
Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
—

 
—

 
(30
)
 
—

 
(30
)
Total liabilities recorded at fair value
$
(11,095
)
 
(83,031
)
 
(1,498
)
 
66,004

 
(29,620
)
(1)
The entire balance is collateralized loan obligations. 
(2)
Net gains from trading activities recognized in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2015 , include $1.0 billion in net unrealized losses on trading securities held at December 31, 2015 . 
(3)
Balances consist of securities that are mostly investment grade based on ratings received from the ratings agencies or internal credit grades categorized as investment grade if external ratings are not available. The securities are classified as Level 3 due to limited market activity.
(4)
Includes collateralized debt obligations of $257 million .
(5)
Represents balance sheet netting of derivative asset and liability balances and related cash collateral. See Note 16 (Derivatives) for additional information.
(6)
Derivative assets and derivative liabilities include contracts qualifying for hedge accounting, economic hedges, and derivatives included in trading assets and trading liabilities, respectively.

(continued on following page)

220
Wells Fargo & Company
 

(continued from previous page)
(in millions)
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Netting 

 
Total 

December 31, 2014
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
Trading assets (excluding derivatives)
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
$
10,506

 
3,886

 
—

  
—

  
14,392

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
1,537

 
7

  
—

  
1,544

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations (1)
—

 
274

 
445

  
—

  
719

Corporate debt securities
—

 
7,517

 
54

  
—

  
7,571

Mortgage-backed securities
—

 
16,273

 
—

  
—

  
16,273

Asset-backed securities
—

 
776

 
79

  
—

  
855

Equity securities
18,512

 
38

 
10

  
—

  
18,560

Total trading securities (2)
29,018

 
30,301

 
595

  
—

  
59,914

Other trading assets
—

 
1,398

 
55

  
—

  
1,453

Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
29,018

 
31,699

 
650

  
—

  
61,367

Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
19,899

 
5,905

 
—

  
—

  
25,804

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
42,667

 
2,277

(3)
—

  
44,944

Mortgage-backed securities:
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
Federal agencies
—

 
110,089

 
—

  
—

  
110,089

Residential
—

 
9,245

 
24

  
—

  
9,269

Commercial
—

 
16,885

 
109

  
—

  
16,994

Total mortgage-backed securities
—

 
136,219

 
133

  
—

  
136,352

Corporate debt securities
83

 
14,451

 
252

  
—

  
14,786

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations (4)
—

 
24,274

 
1,087

(3)
—

  
25,361

Asset-backed securities:
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
Auto loans and leases
—

 
31

 
245

(3)
—

  
276

Home equity loans
—

 
662

 
—

  
—

  
662

Other asset-backed securities
—

 
4,189

 
1,372

(3)
—

  
5,561

Total asset-backed securities
—

 
4,882

 
1,617

 
—

  
6,499

Other debt securities
—

 
20

 
—

  
—

  
20

Total debt securities
19,982

 
228,418

 
5,366

  
—

  
253,766

Marketable equity securities:
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
Perpetual preferred securities (5)
468

 
569

 
663

(3)
—

  
1,700

Other marketable equity securities
1,952

 
24

 
—

  
—

  
1,976

Total marketable equity securities
2,420

 
593

 
663

  
—

  
3,676

Total available-for-sale securities
22,402

 
229,011

 
6,029

  
—

  
257,442

Mortgages held for sale
—

 
13,252

 
2,313

  
—

  
15,565

Loans held for sale
—

 
1

 
—

  
—

  
1

Loans
—

 
—

 
5,788

  
—

  
5,788

Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
—

 
—

 
12,738

  
—

  
12,738

Derivative assets:
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
Interest rate contracts
27

 
63,306

 
365

  
—

  
63,698

Commodity contracts
—

 
7,438

 
23

  
—

  
7,461

Equity contracts
4,102

 
3,544

 
1,359

  
—

  
9,005

Foreign exchange contracts
65

 
7,339

 
—

  
—

  
7,404

Credit contracts
—

 
440

 
466

  
—

  
906

Netting
—

 
—

 
—

  
(65,869
)
(6)
(65,869
)
Total derivative assets (7)
4,194

 
82,067

 
2,213

  
(65,869
)
  
22,605

Other assets
—

 
—

 
2,593

  
—

  
2,593

Total assets recorded at fair value
$
55,614

 
356,030

 
32,324

  
(65,869
)
  
378,099

Derivative liabilities:
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
Interest rate contracts
(29
)
 
(59,958
)
 
(72
)
  
—

  
(60,059
)
Commodity contracts
—

 
(7,680
)
 
(22
)
  
—

  
(7,702
)
Equity contracts
(1,290
)
 
(4,305
)
 
(1,443
)
  
—

  
(7,038
)
Foreign exchange contracts
(60
)
 
(7,767
)
 
—

  
—

  
(7,827
)
Credit contracts
—

 
(456
)
 
(655
)
  
—

  
(1,111
)
Other derivative contracts
—

 
—

 
(44
)
  
—

  
(44
)
Netting
—

 
—

 
—

  
65,043

(6)
65,043

Total derivative liabilities (7)
(1,379
)
 
(80,166
)
 
(2,236
)
  
65,043

  
(18,738
)
Short sale liabilities:
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
(7,043
)
 
(1,636
)
 
—

  
—

  
(8,679
)
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
(26
)
 
—

  
—

  
(26
)
Corporate debt securities
—

 
(5,055
)
 
—

  
—

  
(5,055
)
Equity securities
(2,259
)
 
(2
)
 
—

  
—

  
(2,261
)
Other securities
—

 
(73
)
 
(6
)
  
—

  
(79
)
Total short sale liabilities
(9,302
)
 
(6,792
)
 
(6
)
  
—

  
(16,100
)
Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
—

 
—

 
(28
)
  
—

  
(28
)
Total liabilities recorded at fair value
$
(10,681
)
 
(86,958
)
 
(2,270
)
  
65,043

  
(34,866
)
(1)
The entire balance is collateralized loan obligations.
(2)
Net gains from trading activities recognized in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2014 , include $211 million in net unrealized gains on trading securities held at December 31, 2014 .
(3)
Balances consist of securities that are mostly investment grade based on ratings received from the ratings agencies or internal credit grades categorized as investment grade if external ratings are not available. The securities are classified as Level 3 due to limited market activity.
(4)
Includes collateralized debt obligations of $500 million . 
(5)
Perpetual preferred securities include ARS and corporate preferred securities. See Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) for additional information.
(6)
Represents balance sheet netting of derivative asset and liability balances and related cash collateral. See Note 16 (Derivatives) for additional information.
(7)
Derivative assets and derivative liabilities include contracts qualifying for hedge accounting, economic hedges, and derivatives included in trading assets and trading liabilities, respectively.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
221


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Changes in Fair Value Levels
We monitor the availability of observable market data to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy and transfer between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 accordingly. Observable market data includes but is not limited to quoted prices and market transactions. Changes in economic conditions or market liquidity generally will drive changes in availability of observable market data. Changes in
 
availability of observable market data, which also may result in changing the valuation technique used, are generally the cause of transfers between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
Transfers into and out of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 for the periods presented are provided within Table 17.3 . The amounts reported as transfers represent the fair value as of the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred.
 


Table 17.3: Transfers Between Fair Value Levels
 
Transfers Between Fair Value Levels
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3 (1)
 
 
(in millions)
In
 
Out
 
In
 
Out
 
In
 
Out
 
Total
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives)
$
15

 
(9
)
 
103

 
(28
)
 
13

 
(94
)
 
—

Available-for-sale securities (2)
—

 
—

 
76

 
(8
)
 
8

 
(76
)
 
—

Mortgages held for sale
—

 
—

 
471

 
(194
)
 
194

 
(471
)
 
—

Loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net derivative assets and liabilities (3)
—

 
—

 
48

 
15

 
(15
)
 
(48
)
 
—

Short sale liabilities
(1
)
 
1

 
(1
)
 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total transfers
$
14

 
(8
)
 
697

 
(214
)
 
200

 
(689
)
 
—

Year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives)
$
—

 
(11
)
 
70

 
(31
)
 
31

 
(59
)
 
—

Available-for-sale securities
—

 
(8
)
 
370

 
(148
)
 
148

 
(362
)
 
—

Mortgages held for sale
—

 
—

 
229

 
(440
)
 
440

 
(229
)
 
—

Loans
—

 
—

 
49

 
(270
)
 
270

 
(49
)
 
—

Net derivative assets and liabilities (4)
—

 
—

 
(134
)
 
20

 
(20
)
 
134

 
—

Short sale liabilities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total transfers
$
—

 
(19
)
 
584

 
(869
)
 
869

 
(565
)
 
—

Year ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives) (5)
$
—

 
(242
)
 
535

 
(56
)
 
52

 
(289
)
 
—

Available-for-sale securities (5) (6)
17

 
—

 
12,830

 
(117
)
 
100

 
(12,830
)
 
—

Mortgages held for sale
—

 
—

 
343

 
(336
)
 
336

 
(343
)
 
—

Loans
—

 
—

 
193

 
—

 
—

 
(193
)
 
—

Net derivative assets and liabilities (4)
—

 
—

 
(142
)
 
13

 
(13
)
 
142

 
—

Short sale liabilities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total transfers
$
17

 
(242
)
 
13,759

 
(496
)
 
475

 
(13,513
)
 
—

(1)
All transfers in and out of Level 3 are disclosed within the recurring Level 3 rollforward tables in this Note.
(2)
Transfers out of Level 3 exclude $640 million in auction rate perpetual preferred equity securities that were transferred in second quarter 2015 from available-for-sale securities to nonmarketable equity investments in other assets. See Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets) for additional information.
(3)
Includes net derivatives assets that were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 due to increased observable market data. Also includes net derivative liabilities that were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 due to a decrease in observable market data.
(4)
Includes net derivative liabilities that were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 due to increased observable market data. Also includes net derivative liabilities that were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 due to a decrease in observable market data.
(5)
Consists of $231 million of collateralized loan obligations classified as trading assets and $12.5 billion classified as available-for-sale securities that we transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 in 2013 as a result of increased observable market data in the valuation of such instruments.
(6)
Transfers out of available-for-sale securities classified as Level 3 exclude $6.0 billion in asset-backed securities that were transferred from the available-for-sale portfolio to held-to-maturity securities.
 




222
Wells Fargo & Company
 

The changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2015 , are presented in Table 17.4 .

Table 17.4: Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Assets and Liabilities on a Recurring Basis – 2015
 
 
 
Total net gains 
(losses) included in 
 
 
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements, 
net (1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized 
gains (losses) 
included in 
income related 
to assets and 
liabilities held 
at period end

 
(in millions)
Balance, 
beginning 
of period

 
Net
income

 
Other
compre-
hensive
income 

 
 
Transfers 
into 
Level 3

 
Transfers 
out of 
Level 3

 
Balance, 
end of 
period

 
(2)
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions
$
7

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
8

 
—

 
Collateralized loan and other
debt obligations
445

 
8

 
—

 
(110
)
 
—

 
—

 
343

 
(28
)
 
Corporate debt securities
54

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
12

 
(12
)
 
56

 
(2
)
 
Mortgage-backed securities
—

 
1

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
Asset-backed securities
79

 
16

 
—

 
(14
)
 
—

 
(81
)
 
—

 
—

 
Equity securities
10

 
1

 
—

 
(11
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Total trading securities
595

 
28

 
—

 
(135
)
 
12

 
(93
)
 
407

 
(29
)
 
Other trading assets
55

 
3

 
—

 
(24
)
 
1

 
(1
)
 
34

 
(14
)
 
Total trading assets
(excluding derivatives)
650

 
31

 
—

 
(159
)
 
13

 
(94
)
 
441

 
(43
)
(3)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions
2,277

 
6

 
(16
)
 
(691
)
 
—

 
(76
)
 
1,500

 
(5
)
 
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
Residential
24

 
5

 
(6
)
 
(22
)
 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
Commercial
109

 
12

 
(18
)
 
(30
)
 
—

 
—

 
73

 
(2
)
 
Total mortgage-backed securities
133

 
17

 
(24
)
 
(52
)
 
—

 
—

 
74

 
(2
)
 
Corporate debt securities
252

 
12

 
(46
)
 
179

 
8

 
—

 
405

 
(32
)
 
Collateralized loan and other
debt obligations
1,087

 
218

 
(169
)
 
(571
)
 
—

 
—

 
565

 
—

 
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
Auto loans and leases
245

 
—

 
19

 
(264
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Home equity loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Other asset-backed securities
1,372

 
2

 
(13
)
 
(179
)
 
—

 
—

 
1,182

 
(1
)
 
Total asset-backed securities
1,617

 
2

 
6

 
(443
)
 
—

 
—

 
1,182

 
(1
)
 
Total debt securities
5,366

 
255

 
(249
)
 
(1,578
)
 
8

 
(76
)
 
3,726

 
(40
)
(4)
Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
663

 
3

 
(2
)
 
(24
)
 
—

 
(640
)
 
—

 
—

 
Other marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Total marketable
equity securities
663

 
3

 
(2
)
 
(24
)
 
—

 
(640
)
 
—

 
—

(5)
Total available-for-sale
securities
6,029

 
258

 
(251
)
 
(1,602
)
 
8

 
(716
)
 
3,726

 
(40
)
 
Mortgages held for sale
2,313

 
23

 
—

 
(977
)
 
194

 
(471
)
 
1,082

 
(23
)
(6)
Loans
5,788

 
(128
)
 
—

 
(344
)
 
—

 
—

 
5,316

 
(117
)
(6)
Mortgage servicing rights (residential) (7)
12,738

 
(1,870
)
 
—

 
1,547

 
—

 
—

 
12,415

 
214

(6)
Net derivative assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
293

 
1,132

 
—

 
(1,137
)
 
—

 
—

 
288

 
97

 
Commodity contracts
1

 
7

 
—

 
6

 
(2
)
 
—

 
12

 
10

 
Equity contracts
(84
)
 
116

 
—

 
(82
)
 
(13
)
 
(48
)
 
(111
)
 
74

 
Foreign exchange contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Credit contracts
(189
)
 
19

 
—

 
167

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
10

 
Other derivative contracts
(44
)
 
(15
)
 
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
(58
)
 
(15
)
 
Total derivative contracts
(23
)
 
1,259

 
—

 
(1,045
)
 
(15
)
 
(48
)
 
128

 
176

(8)
Other assets
2,593

 
443

 
—

 
52

 
—

 
—

 
3,088

 
457

(3)
Short sale liabilities
(6
)
 
—

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

(3)
Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
(28
)
 
(13
)
 
—

 
11

 
—

 
—

 
(30
)
 
—

(6)
(1)
See Table 17.5 for detail.
(2)
Represents only net gains (losses) that are due to changes in economic conditions and management’s estimates of fair value and excludes changes due to the collection/realization of cash flows over time.
(3)
Included in net gains (losses) from trading activities and other noninterest income in the income statement.
(4)
Included in net gains (losses) from debt securities in the income statement.
(5)
Included in net gains (losses) from equity investments in the income statement.
(6)
Included in mortgage banking and other noninterest income in the income statement.
(7)
For more information on the changes in mortgage servicing rights, see Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities).
(8)
Included in mortgage banking, trading activities, equity investments and other noninterest income in the income statement.

(continued on following page)

 
Wells Fargo & Company
223


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

(continued from previous page)
 
Table 17.5 presents gross purchases, sales, issuances and settlements related to the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2015 .

Table 17.5: Gross Purchases, Sales, Issuances and Settlements – Level 3 – 2015
(in millions)
Purchases 

 
Sales 

 
Issuances 

 
Settlements 

 
Net 

Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
$
4

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
1

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,093

 
(1,203
)
 
—

 
—

 
(110
)
Corporate debt securities
45

 
(45
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Mortgage-backed securities
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Asset-backed securities
—

 
(5
)
 
—

 
(9
)
 
(14
)
Equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
(11
)
 
(11
)
Total trading securities
1,142

 
(1,256
)
 
—

 
(21
)
 
(135
)
Other trading assets
4

 
(27
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(24
)
Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
1,146

 
(1,283
)
 
—

 
(22
)
 
(159
)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
(65
)
 
555

 
(1,181
)
 
(691
)
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
—

 
(22
)
 
—

 
—

 
(22
)
Commercial
—

 
(8
)
 
—

 
(22
)
 
(30
)
Total mortgage-backed securities
—

 
(30
)
 
—

 
(22
)
 
(52
)
Corporate debt securities
200

 
(11
)
 
—

 
(10
)
 
179

Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
109

 
(325
)
 
—

 
(355
)
 
(571
)
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auto loans and leases
—

 
—

 
—

 
(264
)
 
(264
)
Home equity loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other asset-backed securities
141

 
(1
)
 
274

 
(593
)
 
(179
)
Total asset-backed securities
141

 
(1
)
 
274

 
(857
)
 
(443
)
Total debt securities
450

 
(432
)
 
829

 
(2,425
)
 
(1,578
)
Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
(24
)
 
(24
)
Other marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
(24
)
 
(24
)
Total available-for-sale securities
450

 
(432
)
 
829

 
(2,449
)
 
(1,602
)
Mortgages held for sale
202

 
(1,605
)
 
777

 
(351
)
 
(977
)
Loans
72

 
—

 
379

 
(795
)
 
(344
)
Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
—

 
(3
)
 
1,556

 
(6
)
 
1,547

Net derivative assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,137
)
 
(1,137
)
Commodity contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
6

 
6

Equity contracts
15

 
(103
)
 
—

 
6

 
(82
)
Foreign exchange contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Credit contracts
12

 
(3
)
 
—

 
158

 
167

Other derivative contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Total derivative contracts
27

 
(106
)
 
—

 
(966
)
 
(1,045
)
Other assets
97

 
(20
)
 
—

 
(25
)
 
52

Short sale liabilities
21

 
(15
)
 
—

 
—

 
6

Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
—

 
—

 
—

 
11

 
11


224
Wells Fargo & Company
 

The changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2014 , are summarized in Table 17.6 .

Table 17.6: Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Assets and Liabilities on a Recurring Basis – 2014
 
 
 
Total net gains 
 (losses) included in 
 
 
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements,
net (1) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized
gains (losses)
included in 
income related 
to assets and 
liabilities held 
at period end

 
(in millions)
Balance,
beginning
of period 

 
Net
income 

 
Other
compre-
hensive
income 

 
 
Transfers
into
Level 3 

 
Transfers
out of
Level 3

 
Balance,
end of
period 

 
(2)
Year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions
$
39

 
1

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(31
)
 
7

 
—

 
Collateralized loan and other
debt obligations
541

 
36

 
—

 
(121
)
 
4

 
(15
)
 
445

 
(48
)
 
Corporate debt securities
53

 
—

 
—

 
(21
)
 
26

 
(4
)
 
54

 
1

 
Mortgage-backed securities
1

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
Asset-backed securities
122

 
32

 
—

 
(70
)
 
—

 
(5
)
 
79

 
32

 
Equity securities
13

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
10

 
—

 
Total trading securities
769

 
69

 
—

 
(215
)
 
30

 
(58
)
 
595

 
(15
)
 
Other trading assets
54

 
(10
)
 
—

 
11

 
1

 
(1
)
 
55

 
(1
)
 
Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
823

 
59

 
—

 
(204
)
 
31

 
(59
)
 
650

 
(16
)
(3)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions
3,214

 
21

 
(86
)
 
(569
)
 
59

 
(362
)
 
2,277

 
(2
)
 
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
64

 
11

 
(5
)
 
(46
)
 
—

 
—

 
24

 
—

 
Commercial
138

 
9

 
(1
)
 
(37
)
 
—

 
—

 
109

 
(4
)
 
Total mortgage-backed securities
202

 
20

 
(6
)
 
(83
)
 
—

 
—

 
133

 
(4
)
 
Corporate debt securities
281

 
25

 
(25
)
 
(29
)
 
—

 
—

 
252

 
—

 
Collateralized loan and other
debt obligations
1,420

 
117

 
(47
)
 
(403
)
 
—

 
—

 
1,087

 
(2
)
 
Asset-backed securities:

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Auto loans and leases
492

 
—

 
(33
)
 
(214
)
 
—

 
—

 
245

 
—

 
Home equity loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Other asset-backed securities
1,657

 
5

 
(6
)
 
(373
)
 
89

 
—

 
1,372

 
—

 
Total asset-backed securities
2,149

 
5

 
(39
)
 
(587
)
 
89

 
—

 
1,617

 
—

 
Total debt securities
7,266

 
188

 
(203
)
 
(1,671
)
 
148

 
(362
)
 
5,366

 
(8
)
(4)
Marketable equity securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Perpetual preferred securities
729

 
8

 
(29
)
 
(45
)
 
—

 
—

 
663

 
—

 
Other marketable equity securities
—

 
4

 
—

 
(4
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Total marketable equity securities
729

 
12

 
(29
)
 
(49
)
 
—

 
—

 
663

 
—

(5)
Total available-for-sale
securities
7,995

 
200

 
(232
)
 
(1,720
)
 
148

 
(362
)
 
6,029

 
(8
)
 
Mortgages held for sale
2,374

 
4

 
—

 
(276
)
 
440

 
(229
)
 
2,313

 
7

(6)
Loans
5,723

 
(52
)
 
—

 
(104
)
 
270

 
(49
)
 
5,788

 
(32
)
(6)
Mortgage servicing rights (residential) (7)
15,580

 
(4,031
)
 
—

 
1,189

 
—

 
—

 
12,738

 
(2,122
)
(6)
Net derivative assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Interest rate contracts
(40
)
 
1,588

 
—

 
(1,255
)
 
—

 
—

 
293

 
317

 
Commodity contracts
(10
)
 
(21
)
 
—

 
(2
)
 
(3
)
 
37

 
1

 
(1
)
 
Equity contracts
(46
)
 
96

 
—

 
(214
)
 
(17
)
 
97

 
(84
)
 
(42
)
 
Foreign exchange contracts
9

 
5

 
—

 
(14
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Credit contracts
(375
)
 
26

 
—

 
160

 
—

 
—

 
(189
)
 
(38
)
 
Other derivative contracts
(3
)
 
(41
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(44
)
 
(40
)
 
Total derivative contracts
(465
)
 
1,653

 
—

 
(1,325
)
 
(20
)
 
134

 
(23
)
 
196

(8)
Other assets
1,503

 
514

 
—

 
576

 
—

 
—

 
2,593

 
(8
)
(3)
Short sale liabilities
—

 
1

 
—

 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

 
(6
)
 
1

(3)
Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
(39
)
 
(10
)
 
—

 
21

 
—

 
—

 
(28
)
 
(1
)
(6)
(1)
See Table 17.7 for detail.
(2)
Represents only net gains (losses) that are due to changes in economic conditions and management’s estimates of fair value and excludes changes due to the collection/realization of cash flows over time.
(3)
Included in net gains (losses) from trading activities and other noninterest income in the income statement.
(4)
Included in net gains (losses) from debt securities in the income statement.
(5)
Included in net gains (losses) from equity investments in the income statement.
(6)
Included in mortgage banking and other noninterest income in the income statement.
(7)
For more information on the changes in mortgage servicing rights, see Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities).
(8)
Included in mortgage banking, trading activities, equity investments and other noninterest income in the income statement.

(continued on following page)

 
Wells Fargo & Company
225


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

(continued from previous page)
 
Table 17.7 presents gross purchases, sales, issuances and settlements related to the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2014 .

Table 17.7: Gross Purchases, Sales, Issuances and Settlements – Level 3 – 2014
(in millions)
Purchases 

 
Sales 

 
Issuances 

 
Settlements 

 
Net 

Year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
$
10

 
(12
)
 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,057

 
(1,174
)
 
—

 
(4
)
 
(121
)
Corporate debt securities
85

 
(106
)
 
—

 
—

 
(21
)
Mortgage-backed securities
3

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
2

Asset-backed securities
17

 
(47
)
 
—

 
(40
)
 
(70
)
Equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Total trading securities
1,172

 
(1,340
)
 
—

 
(47
)
 
(215
)
Other trading assets
11

 
(1
)
 
1

 
—

 
11

Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
1,183

 
(1,341
)
 
1

 
(47
)
 
(204
)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
73

 
(144
)
 
336

 
(834
)
 
(569
)
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
—

 
(44
)
 
—

 
(2
)
 
(46
)
Commercial
—

 
(31
)
 
—

 
(6
)
 
(37
)
Total mortgage-backed securities
—

 
(75
)
 
—

 
(8
)
 
(83
)
Corporate debt securities
21

 
(32
)
 
10

 
(28
)
 
(29
)
Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
134

 
(34
)
 
—

 
(503
)
 
(403
)
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auto loans and leases
—

 
—

 
—

 
(214
)
 
(214
)
Home equity loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other asset-backed securities
117

 
(16
)
 
522

 
(996
)
 
(373
)
Total asset-backed securities
117

 
(16
)
 
522

 
(1,210
)
 
(587
)
Total debt securities
345

 
(301
)
 
868

 
(2,583
)
 
(1,671
)
Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
(45
)
 
(45
)
Other marketable equity securities
—

 
(4
)
 
—

 
—

 
(4
)
Total marketable equity securities
—

 
(4
)
 
—

 
(45
)
 
(49
)
Total available-for-sale securities
345

 
(305
)
 
868

 
(2,628
)
 
(1,720
)
Mortgages held for sale
208

 
(276
)
 
167

 
(375
)
 
(276
)
Loans
76

 
—

 
438

 
(618
)
 
(104
)
Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
—

 
(7
)
 
1,196

 
—

 
1,189

Net derivative assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,255
)
 
(1,255
)
Commodity contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
(2
)
Equity contracts
—

 
(116
)
 
—

 
(98
)
 
(214
)
Foreign exchange contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
(14
)
 
(14
)
Credit contracts
3

 
(2
)
 
—

 
159

 
160

Other derivative contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total derivative contracts
3

 
(118
)
 
—

 
(1,210
)
 
(1,325
)
Other assets
608

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(31
)
 
576

Short sale liabilities
20

 
(27
)
 
—

 
—

 
(7
)
Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
—

 
—

 
—

 
21

 
21


226
Wells Fargo & Company
 

The changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2013 are summarized in Table 17.8 .

Table 17.8: Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Assets and Liabilities on a Recurring Basis – 2013
 
 
 
Total net gains 
 (losses) included in 
 
 
Purchases,
sales,
issuances
and
settlements,
net (1) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized
gains (losses)
included in 
income related 
to assets and 
liabilities held 
at period end

 
(in millions)
Balance,
beginning
of period 

 
Net
income 

 
Other
compre-
hensive
income 

 
 
Transfers
into
Level 3 

 
Transfers
out of
Level 3 

 
Balance,
end of
period 

 
(2)
Year ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions
$
46

 
3

 
—

 
(10
)
 
—

 
—

 
39

 
—

 
Collateralized loan and other
debt obligations
742

 
67

 
—

 
(37
)
 
—

 
(231
)
 
541

 
(33
)
 
Corporate debt securities
52

 
9

 
—

 
(1
)
 
13

 
(20
)
 
53

 
6

 
Mortgage-backed securities
6

 
1

 
—

 
9

 
—

 
(15
)
 
1

 
1

 
Asset-backed securities
138

 
16

 
—

 
(35
)
 
25

 
(22
)
 
122

 
15

 
Equity securities
3

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
13

 
—

 
13

 
—

 
Total trading securities
987

 
96

 
—

 
(77
)
 
51

 
(288
)
 
769

 
(11
)
 
Other trading assets
76

 
(22
)
 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(1
)
 
54

 
(8
)
 
Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
1,063

 
74

 
—

 
(77
)
 
52

 
(289
)
 
823

 
(19
)
(3)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions
3,631

 
11

 
(85
)
 
(182
)
 
53

 
(214
)
 
3,214

 
—

 
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
94

 
17

 
(1
)
 
(40
)
 
—

 
(6
)
 
64

 
—

 
Commercial
203

 
(13
)
 
28

 
(58
)
 
—

 
(22
)
 
138

 
(8
)
 
Total mortgage-backed securities
297

 
4

 
27

 
(98
)
 
—

 
(28
)
 
202

 
(8
)
 
Corporate debt securities
274

 
10

 
(10
)
 
(13
)
 
23

 
(3
)
 
281

 
—

 
Collateralized loan and other
debt obligations
13,188

 
8

 
124

 
625

 
—

 
(12,525
)
 
1,420

 
—

 
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auto loans and leases
5,921

 
(1
)
 
(34
)
 
(1,067
)
 
—

 
(4,327
)
 
492

 
—

 
Home equity loans
51

 
3

 
(1
)
 
(5
)
 
—

 
(48
)
 
—

 
—

 
Other asset-backed securities
3,283

 
27

 
19

 
31

 
24

 
(1,727
)
 
1,657

 
(7
)
 
Total asset-backed securities
9,255

 
29

 
(16
)
 
(1,041
)
 
24

 
(6,102
)
 
2,149

 
(7
)
(4)
Total debt securities
26,645

 
62

 
40

 
(709
)
 
100

 
(18,872
)
 
7,266

 
(15
)
(5)
Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
794

 
10

 
(2
)
 
(73
)
 
—

 
—

 
729

 
—

 
Other marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
Total marketable equity securities
794

 
10

 
(2
)
 
(73
)
 
—

 
—

 
729

 
—

(6)
Total available-for-sale securities
27,439

 
72

 
38

 
(782
)
 
100

 
(18,872
)
 
7,995

 
(15
)
 
Mortgages held for sale
3,250

 
5

 
—

 
(874
)
 
336

 
(343
)
 
2,374

 
(74
)
(7)
Loans
6,021

 
(211
)
 
—

 
106

 
—

 
(193
)
 
5,723

 
(178
)
(7)
Mortgage servicing rights (residential) (8)
11,538

 
1,156

 
—

 
2,886

 
—

 
—

 
15,580

 
3,398

(7)
Net derivative assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
659

 
(662
)
 
—

 
(39
)
 
—

 
2

 
(40
)
 
(186
)
 
Commodity contracts
21

 
—

 
—

 
(66
)
 
(1
)
 
36

 
(10
)
 
(19
)
 
Equity contracts
(122
)
 
(151
)
 
—

 
137

 
(14
)
 
104

 
(46
)
 
48

 
Foreign exchange contracts
21

 
(15
)
 
—

 
1

 
2

 
—

 
9

 
(8
)
 
Credit contracts
(1,150
)
 
(30
)
 
—

 
805

 
—

 
—

 
(375
)
 
345

 
Other derivative contracts
(78
)
 
75

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
Total derivative contracts
(649
)
 
(783
)
 
—

 
838

 
(13
)
 
142

 
(465
)
 
180

(9)
Other assets
162

 
315

 
—

 
1,026

 
—

 
—

 
1,503

 
(2
)
(3)
Short sale liabilities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

(3)
Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
(49
)
 
3

 
—

 
7

 
—

 
—

 
(39
)
 
5

(7)
 
(1)
See Table 17.9 for detail.
(2)
Represents only net gains (losses) that are due to changes in economic conditions and management’s estimates of fair value and excludes changes due to the collection/realization of cash flows over time.
(3)
Included in net gains (losses) from trading activities and other noninterest income in the income statement.
(4)
Level 3 transfers out include $6.0 billion in asset-backed securities that were transferred from the available-for-sale portfolio to held-to-maturity securities.
(5)
Included in net gains (losses) from debt securities in the income statement.
(6)
Included in net gains (losses) from equity investments in the income statement.
(7)
Included in mortgage banking and other noninterest income in the income statement.
(8)
For more information on the changes in mortgage servicing rights, see Note 9 (Mortgage Banking Activities).
(9)
Included in mortgage banking, trading activities, equity investments and other noninterest income in the income statement.
 
(continued on following page)

 
Wells Fargo & Company
227


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

(continued from previous page)

Table 17.9 presents gross purchases, sales, issuances and settlements related to the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2013 . 

Table 17.9: Gross Purchases, Sales, Issuances and Settlements – Level 3 – 2013
(in millions)
Purchases 

 
Sales 

 
Issuances 

 
Settlements 

 
Net 

Year ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets (excluding derivatives):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
$
127

 
(136
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(10
)
Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,030

 
(1,064
)
 
—

 
(3
)
 
(37
)
Corporate debt securities
117

 
(117
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Mortgage-backed securities
429

 
(420
)
 
—

 
—

 
9

Asset-backed securities
53

 
(45
)
 
—

 
(43
)
 
(35
)
Equity securities
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
(3
)
Total trading securities
1,756

 
(1,785
)
 
—

 
(48
)
 
(77
)
Other trading assets
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total trading assets (excluding derivatives)
1,756

 
(1,785
)
 
—

 
(48
)
 
(77
)
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
—

 
(69
)
 
648

 
(761
)
 
(182
)
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
—

 
(37
)
 
—

 
(3
)
 
(40
)
Commercial
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
(57
)
 
(58
)
Total mortgage-backed securities
—

 
(38
)
 
—

 
(60
)
 
(98
)
Corporate debt securities
—

 
—

 
20

 
(33
)
 
(13
)
Collateralized loan and other debt obligations
1,008

 
(14
)
 
—

 
(369
)
 
625

Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auto loans and leases
1,751

 
—

 
1,047

 
(3,865
)
 
(1,067
)
Home equity loans
—

 
(5
)
 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
Other asset-backed securities
1,164

 
(36
)
 
1,116

 
(2,213
)
 
31

Total asset-backed securities
2,915

 
(41
)
 
2,163

 
(6,078
)
 
(1,041
)
Total debt securities
3,923

 
(162
)
 
2,831

 
(7,301
)
 
(709
)
Marketable equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perpetual preferred securities
—

 
(20
)
 
—

 
(53
)
 
(73
)
Other marketable equity securities
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total marketable equity securities
—

 
(20
)
 
—

 
(53
)
 
(73
)
Total available-for-sale securities
3,923

 
(182
)
 
2,831

 
(7,354
)
 
(782
)
Mortgages held for sale
286

 
(574
)
 
—

 
(586
)
 
(874
)
Loans
23

 
—

 
452

 
(369
)
 
106

Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
—

 
(583
)
 
3,469

 
—

 
2,886

Net derivative assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
(39
)
 
(39
)
Commodity contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
(66
)
 
(66
)
Equity contracts
—

 
(148
)
 
—

 
285

 
137

Foreign exchange contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Credit contracts
7

 
(5
)
 
(4
)
 
807

 
805

Other derivative contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total derivative contracts
7

 
(153
)
 
(4
)
 
988

 
838

Other assets
1,064

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(36
)
 
1,026

Short sale liabilities
8

 
(8
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Other liabilities (excluding derivatives)
—

 
—

 
(4
)
 
11

 
7


Table 17.10 and Table 17.11 provide quantitative information about the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of substantially all of our Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for which we use an internal model.
The significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets and liabilities that are valued using fair values obtained from third-party vendors are not included in the table as the specific inputs applied are not provided by the vendor (see discussion regarding vendor-developed valuations within the “Level 3 Asset and Liability Valuation Processes” section previously within this Note). In addition, the table excludes the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs for certain classes of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured using an internal model that we
 
consider, both individually and in the aggregate, insignificant relative to our overall Level 3 assets and liabilities. We made this determination based upon an evaluation of each class that considered the magnitude of the positions, nature of the unobservable inputs and potential for significant changes in fair value due to changes in those inputs .


228
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 17.10: Valuation Techniques – Recurring Basis – 2015

($ in millions, except cost to service amounts)
Fair Value Level 3

 
Valuation Technique(s)
 
Significant Unobservable Input
 
Range of
Inputs 
 
 
 
Weighted
Average (1)

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading and available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government, healthcare and
other revenue bonds
$
1,213

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.8

-
5.6

%
 
1.9

 
51

 
Vendor priced
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auction rate securities and other
municipal bonds
244

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.8

-
4.5

 
 
2.0

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average life
 
1.0

-
10.0

yrs
 
4.7

Collateralized loan and other debt
obligations (2)
343

 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(20.0
)
-
20.3

%
 
2.9

 
565

 
Vendor priced
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diversified payment rights (3)
608

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.0

-
5.0

 
 
3.2

Other commercial and consumer
508

(4)
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
2.5

-
6.3

 
 
3.8

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average life
 
1.0

-
9.4

yrs
 
4.3

 
66

 
Vendor priced
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages held for sale (residential)
1,033

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Default rate
 
0.5

-
13.7

%
 
3.6

 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
1.1

-
6.3

 
 
4.7

 
 
 
 
 
Loss severity
 
0.1

-
22.7

 
 
11.2

 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment rate
 
2.6

-
9.6

 
 
6.4

 
49

 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(53.3
)
-
0.0

 
 
(32.6
)
Loans
5,316

(5)
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.0

-
3.9

 
 
3.1

 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment rate
 
0.2

-
100.0

 
 
14.6

 
 
 
 
 
Utilization rate
 
0.0

-
0.8

 
 
0.3

Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
12,415

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Cost to service per loan (6)
 
$
70

-
599

 
 
168

 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
6.8

-
11.8

%
 
7.3

 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment rate (7)
 
10.1

-
18.9

 
 
11.4

Net derivative assets and (liabilities):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts
230

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Default rate
 
0.1

-
9.6

 
 
2.6

 
 
 
 
 
Loss severity
 
50.0

-
50.0

 
 
50.0

 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment rate
 
0.3

-
2.5

 
 
2.2

Interest rate contracts: derivative loan
commitments
58

(8)
Discounted cash flow
 
Fall-out factor
 
1.0

-
99.0

 
 
18.8

 
 
 
 
 
Initial-value servicing
 
(30.6
)
-
127.0

bps
 
41.5

Equity contracts
72

 
Discounted cash flow
 
Conversion factor
 
(10.6
)
-
0.0

%
 
(8.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average life
 
0.5

-
2.0

yrs
 
1.5

 
(183
)
 
Option model
 
Correlation factor
 
(77.0
)
-
98.5

%
 
66.0

 
 
 
 
 
Volatility factor
 
6.5

-
91.3

 
 
24.2

Credit contracts
(9
)
 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(53.6
)
-
18.2

 
 
(0.6
)
 
6

 
Option model
 
Credit spread
 
0.0

-
19.9

 
 
1.6

 
 
 
 
 
Loss severity
 
13.0

-
73.0

 
 
49.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets: nonmarketable equity investments
3,065

 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(19.1
)
-
(5.5
)
 
 
(15.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insignificant Level 3 assets, net of liabilities
516

(9)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total level 3 assets, net of liabilities
$
26,166

(10)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Weighted averages are calculated using outstanding unpaid principal balance for cash instruments, such as loans and securities, and notional amounts for derivative instruments.
(2)
Includes $257 million of collateralized debt obligations.
(3)
Securities backed by specified sources of current and future receivables generated from foreign originators.
(4)
Consists largely of investments in asset-backed securities that are revolving in nature, in which the timing of advances and repayments of principal are uncertain.
(5)
Consists predominantly of reverse mortgage loans securitized with GNMA that were accounted for as secured borrowing transactions.
(6)
The high end of the range of inputs is for servicing modified loans. For non-modified loans the range is $70 - $335 .
(7)
Includes a blend of prepayment speeds and expected defaults. Prepayment speeds are influenced by mortgage interest rates as well as our estimation of drivers of borrower behavior.
(8)
Total derivative loan commitments were a net asset of $56 million , of which a $2 million derivative liability was classified as level 2 at December 31, 2015.
(9)
Represents the aggregate amount of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis that are individually and in the aggregate insignificant. The amount includes corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed securities, certain other assets, other liabilities and certain net derivative assets and liabilities, such as commodity contracts and other derivative contracts.
(10)
Consists of total Level 3 assets of $27.7 billion and total Level 3 liabilities of $1.5 billion , before netting of derivative balances.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
229


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Table 17.11: Valuation Techniques – Recurring Basis – 2014
($ in millions, except cost to service amounts)    
Fair Value
Level 3

  
Valuation Technique(s)
 
Significant
Unobservable Input
 
Range of Inputs 
 
Weighted   
Average (1)
 
December 31, 2014
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
 

Trading and available-for-sale securities:
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
 

Securities of U.S. states and
political subdivisions:
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
 

Government, healthcare and
other revenue bonds
$
1,900

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.4

-
5.6

%
 
1.5

 
61

  
Vendor priced
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
  

Auction rate securities and other
municipal bonds
323

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.5

-
7.6

  
 
3.9

 
  
  
  
 
Weighted average life
 
1.3

-
19.4

yrs
 
6.4

Collateralized loan and other debt
obligations (2)
565

  
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(53.9
)
-
25.0

%
 
0.9

 
967

  
Vendor priced
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
  

Asset-backed securities:
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
  

Auto loans and leases
245

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.4

-
0.4

  
 
0.4

Other asset-backed securities:
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
 

Diversified payment rights (3)
661

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.9

-
7.1

 
 
2.9

Other commercial and consumer
750

(4)
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
1.9

-
21.5

  
 
5.0

 
  
  
  
 
Weighted average life
 
1.6

-
10.7

yrs
 
4.0

 
40

  
Vendor priced
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
  

Marketable equity securities:
perpetual preferred
663

(5)
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
4.1

-
9.3

% 
 
6.6

  
  
  
  
 
Weighted average life
 
1.0

-
11.8

yrs
 
9.7

Mortgages held for sale (residential)
2,235

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Default rate
 
0.4

-
15.0

%
 
2.6

  
  
  
  
 
Discount rate
 
1.1

-
7.7

  
 
5.2

  
  
  
  
 
Loss severity
 
0.1

-
26.4

  
 
18.3

  
  
  
  
 
Prepayment rate
 
2.0

-
15.5

  
 
8.1

 
78

 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(93.0
)
-
10.0

 
 
(30.0
)
Loans
5,788

(6)
Discounted cash flow
 
Discount rate
 
0.0

-
3.8

  
 
3.1

 
  
  
  
 
Prepayment rate
 
0.6

-
100.0

  
 
11.2

 
  
  
  
 
Utilization rate
 
0.0

-
1.0

  
 
0.4

Mortgage servicing rights (residential)
12,738

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Cost to service per
loan (7)
 
$
86

-
683

  
 
179

 
  
  
  
 
Discount rate
 
5.9

-
16.9

%
 
7.6

 
  
  
  
 
Prepayment rate (8)
 
8.0

-
22.0

  
 
12.5

Net derivative assets and (liabilities):
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
  

Interest rate contracts
196

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Default rate
 
0.00

-
0.02

  
 
0.01

  
  
  
  
 
Loss severity
 
50.0

-
50.0

  
 
50.0

Interest rate contracts: derivative loan
commitments
97

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Fall-out factor
 
1.0

-
99.0

  
 
24.5

 
  
  
  
 
Initial-value servicing
 
(31.1
)
-
113.3

bps
 
46.5

Equity contracts
162

  
Discounted cash flow
 
Conversion factor
 
(11.2
)
-
0.0

%
 
(8.4
)
 
  
  
  
 
Weighted average life
 
1.0

-
2.0

yrs
 
1.3

 
(246
)
  
Option model
 
Correlation factor
 
(56.0
)
-
96.3

%
 
42.1

 
  
  
  
 
Volatility factor
 
8.3

-
80.9

  
 
28.3

Credit contracts
(192
)
  
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(28.6
)
-
26.3

  
 
1.8

 
3

  
Option model
 
Credit spread
 
0.0

-
17.0

  
 
0.9

 
  
  
  
 
Loss severity
 
11.5

-
72.5

  
 
48.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets: nonmarketable equity investments
2,512

  
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
(19.7
)
-
(4.0
)
  
 
(14.7
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insignificant Level 3 assets, net of liabilities
507

(9)
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
 

Total level 3 assets, net of liabilities
$
30,054

(10)
  
 
  
 
  

  
  

  
 
 

(1)
Weighted averages are calculated using outstanding unpaid principal balance for cash instruments such as loans and securities, and notional amounts for derivative instruments.
(2)
Includes $500 million of collateralized debt obligations.
(3)
Securities backed by specified sources of current and future receivables generated from foreign originators.
(4)
Consists primarily of investments in asset-backed securities that are revolving in nature, in which the timing of advances and repayments of principal are uncertain.
(5)
Consists of auction rate preferred equity securities with no maturity date that are callable by the issuer.
(6)
Consists predominantly of reverse mortgage loans securitized with GNMA that were accounted for as secured borrowing transactions.
(7)
The high end of the range of inputs is for servicing modified loans. For non-modified loans the range is $86 - $270 .
(8)
Includes a blend of prepayment speeds and expected defaults. Prepayment speeds are influenced by mortgage interest rates as well as our estimation of drivers of borrower behavior.
(9)
Represents the aggregate amount of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis that are individually and in the aggregate insignificant. The amount includes corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed securities, certain other assets, other liabilities and certain net derivative assets and liabilities, such as commodity contracts and other derivative contracts. 
(10)
Consists of total Level 3 assets of $32.3 billion and total Level 3 liabilities of $2.3 billion , before netting of derivative balances.

230
Wells Fargo & Company
 

The valuation techniques used for our Level 3 assets and liabilities, as presented in the previous tables, are described as follows: 
•
Discounted cash flow - Discounted cash flow valuation techniques generally consist of developing an estimate of future cash flows that are expected to occur over the life of an instrument and then discounting those cash flows at a rate of return that results in the fair value amount.
•
Market comparable pricing - Market comparable pricing valuation techniques are used to determine the fair value of certain instruments by incorporating known inputs, such as recent transaction prices, pending transactions, or prices of other similar investments that require significant adjustment to reflect differences in instrument characteristics.
•
Option model - Option model valuation techniques are generally used for instruments in which the holder has a contingent right or obligation based on the occurrence of a future event, such as the price of a referenced asset going above or below a predetermined strike price. Option models estimate the likelihood of the specified event occurring by incorporating assumptions such as volatility estimates, price of the underlying instrument and expected rate of return.
•
Vendor-priced  – Prices obtained from third party pricing vendors or brokers that are used to record the fair value of the asset or liability, of which the related valuation technique and significant unobservable inputs are not provided.
 
Significant unobservable inputs presented in the previous tables are those we consider significant to the fair value of the Level 3 asset or liability. We consider unobservable inputs to be significant if by their exclusion the fair value of the Level 3 asset or liability would be impacted by a predetermined percentage change, or based on qualitative factors, such as nature of the instrument, type of valuation technique used, and the significance of the unobservable inputs relative to other inputs used within the valuation. Following is a description of the significant unobservable inputs provided in the table.
 
•
Comparability adjustment – is an adjustment made to observed market data, such as a transaction price in order to reflect dissimilarities in underlying collateral, issuer, rating, or other factors used within a market valuation approach, expressed as a percentage of an observed price.
•
Conversion Factor – is the risk-adjusted rate in which a particular instrument may be exchanged for another instrument upon settlement, expressed as a percentage change from a specified rate.
•
Correlation factor - is the likelihood of one instrument changing in price relative to another based on an established relationship expressed as a percentage of relative change in price over a period over time.

 
•
Cost to service - is the expected cost per loan of servicing a portfolio of loans, which includes estimates for unreimbursed expenses (including delinquency and foreclosure costs) that may occur as a result of servicing such loan portfolios.
•
Credit spread – is the portion of the interest rate in excess of a benchmark interest rate, such as OIS, LIBOR or U.S. Treasury rates, that when applied to an investment captures changes in the obligor’s creditworthiness.
•
Default rate – is an estimate of the likelihood of not collecting contractual amounts owed expressed as a constant default rate (CDR).
•
Discount rate – is a rate of return used to present value the future expected cash flow to arrive at the fair value of an instrument. The discount rate consists of a benchmark rate component and a risk premium component. The benchmark rate component, for example, OIS, LIBOR or U.S. Treasury rates, is generally observable within the market and is necessary to appropriately reflect the time value of money. The risk premium component reflects the amount of compensation market participants require due to the uncertainty inherent in the instruments’ cash flows resulting from risks such as credit and liquidity.
•
Fall-out factor - is the expected percentage of loans associated with our interest rate lock commitment portfolio that are likely of not funding.
•
Initial-value servicing - is the estimated value of the underlying loan, including the value attributable to the embedded servicing right, expressed in basis points of outstanding unpaid principal balance.
•
Loss severity – is the percentage of contractual cash flows lost in the event of a default.
•
Prepayment rate – is the estimated rate at which forecasted prepayments of principal of the related loan or debt instrument are expected to occur, expressed as a constant prepayment rate (CPR).
•
Utilization rate – is the estimated rate in which incremental portions of existing reverse mortgage credit lines are expected to be drawn by borrowers, expressed as an annualized rate.
•
Volatility factor – is the extent of change in price an item is estimated to fluctuate over a specified period of time expressed as a percentage of relative change in price over a period over time.
•
Weighted average life – is the weighted average number of years an investment is expected to remain outstanding based on its expected cash flows reflecting the estimated date the issuer will call or extend the maturity of the instrument or otherwise reflecting an estimate of the timing of an instrument’s cash flows whose timing is not contractually fixed.

 


 
Wells Fargo & Company
231


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Significant Recurring Level 3 Fair Value Asset and Liability Input Sensitivity
We generally use discounted cash flow or similar internal modeling techniques to determine the fair value of our Level 3 assets and liabilities. Use of these techniques requires determination of relevant inputs and assumptions, some of which represent significant unobservable inputs as indicated in the preceding tables. Accordingly, changes in these unobservable inputs may have a significant impact on fair value.
Certain of these unobservable inputs will (in isolation) have a directionally consistent impact on the fair value of the instrument for a given change in that input. Alternatively, the fair value of the instrument may move in an opposite direction for a given change in another input. Where multiple inputs are used within the valuation technique of an asset or liability, a change in one input in a certain direction may be offset by an opposite change in another input having a potentially muted impact to the overall fair value of that particular instrument. Additionally, a change in one unobservable input may result in a change to another unobservable input (that is, changes in certain inputs are interrelated to one another), which may counteract or magnify the fair value impact.
 
SECURITIES, LOANS, MORTGAGES HELD FOR SALE and NONMARKETABLE EQUITY INVESTMENTS  The fair values of predominantly all Level 3 trading securities, mortgages held for sale, loans, other nonmarketable equity investments, and available-for-sale securities have consistent inputs, valuation techniques and correlation to changes in underlying inputs. The internal models used to determine fair value for these Level 3 instruments use certain significant unobservable inputs within a discounted cash flow or market comparable pricing valuation technique. Such inputs include discount rate, prepayment rate, default rate, loss severity, utilization rate, comparability adjustment and weighted average life.
These Level 3 assets would decrease (increase) in value based upon an increase (decrease) in discount rate, default rate, loss severity, or weighted average life inputs and would generally decrease (increase) in value based upon an increase (decrease) in prepayment rate. Conversely, the fair value of these Level 3 assets would generally increase (decrease) in value if the utilization rate input were to increase (decrease).
Generally, a change in the assumption used for default rate is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the risk premium component of the discount rate (specifically, the portion related to credit risk) and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment rates. The comparability adjustment input may have a positive or negative impact on fair value depending on the change in fair value the comparability adjustment references. Unobservable inputs for comparability adjustment, loss severity, utilization rate and weighted average life do not increase or decrease based on movements in the other significant unobservable inputs for these Level 3 assets.
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS   Level 3 derivative instruments are valued using market comparable pricing, option pricing and discounted cash flow valuation techniques. We utilize certain unobservable inputs within these techniques to determine the fair value of the Level 3 derivative instruments. The significant unobservable inputs consist of credit spread, a comparability adjustment, prepayment rate, default rate, loss severity, initial-value servicing, fall-out factor, volatility factor, weighted average life, conversion factor, and correlation factor.
 
Level 3 derivative assets (liabilities) where we are long the underlying would decrease (increase) in value upon an increase (decrease) in default rate, fall-out factor, credit spread, conversion factor, or loss severity inputs. Conversely, Level 3 derivative assets (liabilities) would generally increase (decrease) in value upon an increase (decrease) in prepayment rate, initial-value servicing, weighted average life, or volatility factor inputs. The inverse of the above relationships would occur for instruments in which we are short the underlying. The correlation factor and comparability adjustment inputs may have a positive or negative impact on the fair value of these derivative instruments depending on the change in value of the item the correlation factor and comparability adjustment is referencing. The correlation factor and comparability adjustment are considered independent from movements in other significant unobservable inputs for derivative instruments.
Generally, for derivative instruments for which we are subject to changes in the value of the underlying referenced instrument, a change in the assumption used for default rate is accompanied by directionally similar change in the risk premium component of the discount rate (specifically, the portion related to credit risk) and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment rates. Unobservable inputs for loss severity, fall-out factor, initial-value servicing, weighted average life, conversion factor, and volatility do not increase or decrease based on movements in other significant unobservable inputs for these Level 3 instruments.
 
MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS   We use a discounted cash flow valuation technique to determine the fair value of Level 3 mortgage servicing rights. These models utilize certain significant unobservable inputs including prepayment rate, discount rate and costs to service. An increase in any of these unobservable inputs will reduce the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights and alternatively, a decrease in any one of these inputs would result in the mortgage servicing rights increasing in value. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the default rate is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for cost to service and a directionally opposite change in the assumption used for prepayment. The sensitivity of our residential MSRs is discussed further in Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities).



232
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
We may be required, from time to time, to measure certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from application of LOCOM accounting or write-downs of individual
 
assets. Table 17.12 provides the fair value hierarchy and carrying amount of all assets that were still held as of December 31, 2015 , and 2014 , and for which a nonrecurring fair value adjustment was recorded during the years then ended.
 


Table 17.12: Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Total 

 
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Total 

Mortgages held for sale (LOCOM) (1)
$
—

 
4,667

 
1,047

 
5,714

 
—

 
2,197

 
1,098

 
3,295

Loans held for sale
—

 
279

 
—

 
279

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial
—

 
191

 
—

 
191

 
—

 
243

 
—

 
243

Consumer
—

 
1,406

 
7

 
1,413

 
—

 
2,018

 
5

 
2,023

Total loans (2)
—

 
1,597

 
7

 
1,604

 
—

 
2,261

 
5

 
2,266

Other assets (3)
—

 
280

 
654

 
934

 
—

 
417

 
460

 
877

(1)
Consists of commercial mortgages and residential real estate 1-4 family first mortgage loans.
(2)
Represents carrying value of loans for which adjustments are based on the appraised value of the collateral.
(3)
Includes the fair value of foreclosed real estate, other collateral owned and nonmarketable equity investments.
 
Table 17.13 presents the increase (decrease) in value of certain assets for which a nonrecurring fair value adjustment was recognized during the periods presented.

Table 17.13: Change in Value of Assets with Nonrecurring Fair Value Adjustment
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Mortgages held for sale (LOCOM)
$
(3
)
 
33

Loans held for sale
(3
)
 
—

Loans:

 
 
Commercial
(165
)
 
(125
)
Consumer
(1,001
)
 
(1,336
)
Total loans (1)
(1,166
)
 
(1,461
)
Other assets (2)
(396
)
 
(341
)
Total
$
(1,568
)
 
(1,769
)
(1)
Represents write-downs of loans based on the appraised value of the collateral.
(2)
Includes the losses on foreclosed real estate and other collateral owned that were measured at fair value subsequent to their initial classification as foreclosed assets. Also includes impairment losses on nonmarketable equity investments. 


 
Wells Fargo & Company
233


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Table 17.14 provides quantitative information about the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of substantially all of our Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for which we use an internal model. The table is limited to financial instruments that had nonrecurring fair value adjustments during the periods presented.
We have excluded from the table classes of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured using an internal model that we
 
consider, both individually and in the aggregate, insignificant relative to our overall Level 3 nonrecurring measurements. We made this determination based upon an evaluation of each class, which considered the magnitude of the positions, nature of the unobservable inputs and potential for significant changes in fair value due to changes in those inputs.
 


Table 17.14: Valuation Techniques – Nonrecurring Basis
($ in millions)
Fair Value Level 3

 
Valuation Technique(s) (1)
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs (1)
 
Range of inputs
 
Weighted Average (2)

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages held for sale (LOCOM)
$
1,047

(3)
Discounted cash flow
 
Default rate
(4)
0.5
-
5.0
%
 
4.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
1.5
-
8.5

 
3.5

 
 
 
 
 
Loss severity
 
0.0
-
26.1

 
2.9

 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment rate
(5)
2.6
-
100.0

 
65.4

Other assets: nonmarketable equity investments
286

 
Net asset value
 
Net asset value
(6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
228

 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
5.0
-
9.2

 
8.5

Insignificant level 3 assets
147

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
1,708

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential mortgages held for sale (LOCOM)
$
1,098

(3)
Discounted cash flow
 
Default rate
(4)
0.9
-
3.8
%
 
2.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
1.5
-
8.5

 
3.6

 
 
 
 
 
Loss severity
 
0.0
-
29.8

 
3.8

 
 
 
 
 
Prepayment rate
(5)
2.0
-
100.0

 
65.5

Other assets: nonmarketable equity investments
171

 
Market comparable pricing
 
Comparability adjustment
 
6.0
-
6.0

 
6.0

Insignificant level 3 assets
294

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
1,563

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Refer to the narrative following Table 17.11 for a definition of the valuation technique(s) and significant unobservable inputs.
(2)
For residential MHFS, weighted averages are calculated using outstanding unpaid principal balance of the loans.
(3)
Consists of $1.0 billion government insured/guaranteed loans purchased from GNMA-guaranteed mortgage securitization at both December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and $41 million and $78 million of other mortgage loans that are not government insured/guaranteed at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
(4)
Applies only to non-government insured/guaranteed loans.
(5)
Includes the impact on prepayment rate of expected defaults for the government insured/guaranteed loans, which impacts the frequency and timing of early resolution of loans.
(6)
The range and weighted average have not been provided since the investments have been recorded at their net asset redemption values.


234
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Alternative Investments
Table 17.15 summarizes our investments in various types of funds for which we use net asset values (NAVs) per share as a practical expedient to measure fair value on recurring and nonrecurring bases. The investments are included in trading
 
assets, available-for-sale securities, and other assets. The table excludes those investments that are probable of being sold at an amount different from the funds’ NAVs.
 


Table 17.15: Alternative Investments
(in millions)
Fair value 

 
Unfunded commitments 

 
Redemption frequency 
 
Redemption notice period 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offshore funds
$
2

 
—

 
Daily - Monthly
 
1 - 30 days
Hedge funds
—

 
—

 
Daily - Quarterly
 
1 - 90 days
Private equity funds (1)(2)
555

 
135

 
N/A
 
N/A
Venture capital funds (2)
85

 
9

 
N/A
 
N/A
Total (3)
$
642

 
144

 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offshore funds
$
125

 
—

 
Daily - Quarterly
 
1 - 60 days
Hedge funds
1

 
—

 
Daily - Quarterly
 
1-90 days
Private equity funds (1)(2)
1,313

 
243

 
N/A
 
N/A
Venture capital funds (2)
68

 
9

 
N/A
 
N/A
Total (3)
$
1,507

 
252

 
 
 
 
N/A - Not applicable
(1)
Excludes a private equity fund investment of $0 million and $171 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. This investment was sold in second quarter 2015 for an amount different from the fund's NAV.
(2)
Includes certain investments subject to the Volcker Rule that we may have to divest.
(3)
December 31, 2015 and 2014 , include $602 million and $1.3 billion respectively, of fair value for nonmarketable equity investments carried at cost for which we use NAVs as a practical expedient for determining nonrecurring fair value adjustments. The fair values of investments that had nonrecurring fair value adjustments were $154 million and $108 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.

Offshore funds primarily invest in foreign mutual funds. Redemption restrictions are in place for investments with a fair value of $0 million and $24 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Private equity funds invest in equity and debt securities issued by private and publicly-held companies in connection with leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and expansion opportunities. These investments do not allow redemptions. Alternatively, we receive distributions as the underlying assets of the funds liquidate, which we expect to occur over the next 2 years .
Venture capital funds invest in domestic and foreign companies in a variety of industries, including information technology, financial services and healthcare. These investments can never be redeemed with the funds. Instead, we receive distributions as the underlying assets of the fund liquidate, which we expect to occur over the next 5 years .




 
Wells Fargo & Company
235


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Fair Value Option
The fair value option is an irrevocable election, generally only permitted upon initial recognition of financial assets or liabilities, to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in earnings. We may elect the fair value option to align the measurement model with how the financial assets or liabilities are managed or to reduce complexity or accounting asymmetry. Following is a discussion of the portfolios for which we elected the fair value option.

TRADING ASSETS - LOANS We engage in holding loans for market-making purposes to support the buying and selling demands of our customers. These loans are generally held for a short period of time and managed within parameters of internally approved market risk limits. We have elected to measure and carry them at fair value, which best aligns with our risk management practices. Fair value for these loans is primarily determined using readily available market data based on recent transaction prices for similar loans.

MORTGAGES HELD FOR SALE (MHFS) We measure MHFS at fair value for MHFS originations for which an active secondary market and readily available market prices exist to reliably support fair value pricing models used for these loans. Loan origination fees on these loans are recorded when earned, and related direct loan origination costs are recognized when incurred. We also measure at fair value certain of our other interests held related to residential loan sales and securitizations. We believe fair value measurement for MHFS and other interests held, which we hedge with economic hedge derivatives along with our MSRs measured at fair value, reduces certain timing differences and better matches changes in the value of these assets with changes in the value of derivatives used as economic hedges for these assets.
 
LOANS HELD FOR SALE (LHFS) We elected to measure certain LHFS portfolios at fair value in conjunction with customer accommodation activities, which better aligns the measurement basis of the assets held with our management objectives given the trading nature of these portfolios.

LOANS Loans that we measure at fair value consist predominantly of reverse mortgage loans previously transferred under a GNMA reverse mortgage securitization program accounted for as a secured borrowing. Before the transfer, they were classified as MHFS measured at fair value and, as such, remain carried on our balance sheet under the fair value option.

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS We elected to measure at fair value certain nonmarketable equity securities that are hedged with derivative instruments to better reflect the economics of the transactions. These securities are included in other assets.
Similarly, we may elect fair value option for the assets and liabilities of certain consolidated VIEs. This option is generally elected for newly consolidated VIEs for which predominantly all of our interests, prior to consolidation, are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded to earnings. Accordingly, such an election allows us to continue fair value accounting through earnings for those interests and eliminate income statement mismatch otherwise caused by differences in the measurement basis of the consolidated VIEs assets and liabilities.
Table 17.16 reflects differences between the fair value carrying amount of certain assets and liabilities for which we have elected the fair value option and the contractual aggregate unpaid principal amount at maturity.


Table 17.16: Fair Value Option
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions)
Fair value carrying amount 

 
Aggregate unpaid principal 

 
Fair value carrying amount less aggregate unpaid principal 

 
Fair value carrying amount 

 
Aggregate unpaid principal 

 
Fair value carrying amount less aggregate unpaid principal 

Trading assets - loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total loans
$
886

 
935

 
(49
)
 
1,387

 
1,410

 
(23
)
Nonaccrual loans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(1
)
Mortgages held for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Total loans
13,539

 
13,265

 
274

 
15,565

 
15,246

 
319

Nonaccrual loans
161

 
228

 
(67
)
 
160

 
252

 
(92
)
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing
19

 
22

 
(3
)
 
27

 
30

 
(3
)
Loans held for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Total loans
—

 
5

 
(5
)
 
1

 
10

 
(9
)
Nonaccrual loans
—

 
5

 
(5
)
 
1

 
10

 
(9
)
Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Total loans
5,316

 
5,184

 
132

 
5,788

 
5,527

 
261

Nonaccrual loans
305

 
322

 
(17
)
 
367

 
376

 
(9
)
Other assets (1)
3,065

 
N/A

 
N/A

 
2,512

 
N/A

 
N/A

(1)
Consists of nonmarketable equity investments carried at fair value. See Note 7 (Premises, Equipment, Lease Commitments and Other Assets) for more information.


236
Wells Fargo & Company
 

The assets and liabilities accounted for under the fair value option are initially measured at fair value. Gains and losses from initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. The changes in fair value related to initial measurement and subsequent changes in fair value included in earnings for these assets and liabilities measured at fair value are shown in Table 17.17 by income statement line item.

Table 17.17: Fair Value Option – Changes in Fair Value Included in Earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Mortgage banking noninterest income 

 
Net gains (losses) from trading activities 

 
Other noninterest income 

 
Mortgage banking noninterest income 

 
Net gains (losses) from trading activities 

 
Other noninterest income 

 
Mortgage banking noninterest income 

 
Net gains (losses) from trading activities 

 
Other noninterest income 

Trading assets - loans
$
—

 
4

 
4

 
—

 
29

 
4

 
—

 
40

 
3

Mortgages held for sale
1,808

 
—

 
—

 
2,211

 
—

 
—

 
2,073

 
—

 
—

Loans held for sale
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Loans
—

 
—

 
(122
)
 
—

 
—

 
(49
)
 
—

 
—

 
(216
)
Other assets
—

 
—

 
457

 
—

 
—

 
518

 
—

 
—

 
324

Other interests held (1)
—

 
(6
)
 
—

 
—

 
(12
)
 
—

 
—

 
(15
)
 
—

(1)
Includes retained interests in securitizations.

For performing loans, instrument-specific credit risk gains or losses were derived principally by determining the change in fair value of the loans due to changes in the observable or implied credit spread. Credit spread is the market yield on the loans less the relevant risk-free benchmark interest rate. For nonperforming loans, we attribute all changes in fair value to instrument-specific credit risk. Table 17.18 shows the estimated gains and losses from earnings attributable to instrument-specific credit risk related to assets accounted for under the fair value option.

Table 17.18: Fair Value Option – Gains/Losses Attributable to Instrument-Specific Credit Risk
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Gains (losses) attributable to instrument-specific credit risk:
 
 
 
 
 
Trading assets - loans
$
4

 
29

 
40

Mortgages held for sale
29

 
60

 
126

Total
$
33


89


166




 
Wells Fargo & Company
237


Note 17: Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Table 17.19 is a summary of fair value estimates for financial instruments, excluding financial instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as they are included within Table 17.2 included earlier in this Note. The carrying amounts in the following table are recorded on the balance sheet under the indicated captions, except for nonmarketable equity investments, which are included in other assets.
We have not included assets and liabilities that are not financial instruments in our disclosure, such as the value of the
 
long-term relationships with our deposit, credit card and trust customers, amortized MSRs, premises and equipment, goodwill and other intangibles, deferred taxes and other liabilities. The total of the fair value calculations presented does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company.




Table 17.19: Fair Value Estimates for Financial Instruments
 
 
 
Estimated fair value 
 
(in millions)
Carrying amount 

 
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Total

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks (1)
$
19,111

 
19,111

 
—

 
—

 
19,111

Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments (1)
270,130

 
14,057

 
255,911

 
162

 
270,130

Held-to-maturity securities
80,197

 
45,167

 
32,052

 
3,348

 
80,567

Mortgages held for sale (2)
6,064

 
—

 
5,019

 
1,047

 
6,066

Loans held for sale (2)
279

 
—

 
279

 
—

 
279

Loans, net (3)
887,497

 
—

 
60,848

 
839,816

 
900,664

Nonmarketable equity investments (cost method)
7,035

 
—

 
14

 
7,890

 
7,904

Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Deposits
1,223,312

 
—

 
1,194,781

 
28,616

 
1,223,397

Short-term borrowings (1)
97,528

 
—

 
97,528

 
—

 
97,528

Long-term debt (4)
199,528

 
—

 
188,015

 
10,468

 
198,483

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks (1)
$
19,571

 
19,571

 
—

 
—

 
19,571

Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments (1)
258,429

 
8,991

 
249,438

 
—

 
258,429

Held to maturity securities
55,483

 
41,548

 
9,021

 
5,790

 
56,359

Mortgages held for sale (2)
3,971

 
—

 
2,875

 
1,098

 
3,973

Loans held for sale (2)
721

 
—

 
739

 
—

 
739

Loans, net (3)
832,671

 
—

 
60,052

 
784,786

 
844,838

Nonmarketable equity investments (cost method)
7,033

 
—

 
—

 
8,377

 
8,377

Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
1,168,310

 
—

 
1,132,845

 
35,566

 
1,168,411

Short-term borrowings (1)
63,518

 
—

 
63,518

 
—

 
63,518

Long-term debt (4)
183,934

 
—

 
174,996

 
10,479

 
185,475

(1)
Amounts consist of financial instruments in which carrying value approximates fair value.
(2)
Balance reflects MHFS and LHFS, as applicable, other than those MHFS and LHFS for which we elected the fair value option.
(3)
Loans exclude balances for which the fair value option was elected and also exclude lease financing with a carrying amount of $12.4 billion and $12.3 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
(4)
The carrying amount and fair value exclude obligations under capital leases of $8 million and $9 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
 
Loan commitments, standby letters of credit and commercial and similar letters of credit are not included in the table above. The estimated fair value of these instruments totaled $1.0 billion and $945 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.




238
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 18:   Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue 20 million shares of preferred stock and 4 million shares of preference stock, both without par value. Preferred shares outstanding rank senior to common shares both as to dividends and liquidation preference but have no general voting rights. We have not issued any preference shares
 
under this authorization. If issued, preference shares would be limited to one vote per share. Our total authorized, issued and outstanding preferred stock is presented in the following two tables along with the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

Table 18.1: Preferred Stock Shares
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Liquidation 
 preference 
 per share 

 
Shares 
 authorized 
and designated 

 
Liquidation 
 preference 
 per share 

 
Shares 
 authorized 
 and designated

DEP Shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares (DEP)
$
10

 
97,000

 
$
10

 
97,000

Series G
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.25% Class A Preferred Stock
—

 
—

 
15,000

 
50,000

Series H
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating Class A Preferred Stock
20,000

 
50,000

 
20,000

 
50,000

Series I
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating Class A Preferred Stock
100,000

 
25,010

 
100,000

 
25,010

Series J
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
1,000

 
2,300,000

 
1,000

 
2,300,000

Series K
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.98% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
1,000

 
3,500,000

 
1,000

 
3,500,000

Series L
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred Stock
1,000

 
4,025,000

 
1,000

 
4,025,000

Series N
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.20% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
30,000

 
25,000

 
30,000

Series O
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.125% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
27,600

 
25,000

 
27,600

Series P
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.25% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
26,400

 
25,000

 
26,400

Series Q
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.85% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
69,000

 
25,000

 
69,000

Series R
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
34,500

 
25,000

 
34,500

Series S
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.900% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
80,000

 
25,000

 
80,000

Series T
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.000% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
32,200

 
25,000

 
32,200

Series U
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
80,000

 
—

 
—

Series V
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.000% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
40,000

 
—

 
—

ESOP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (1)
—

 
1,252,386

 
—

 
1,251,287

Total

 
11,669,096

 

 
11,597,997

(1)
See the ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock section of this Note for additional information about the liquidation preference for the ESOP Cumulative Preferred Stock.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
239


Note 18: Preferred Stock (continued)

Table 18.2: Preferred Stock – Par and Carrying Value
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
(in millions, except shares)
Shares issued and outstanding 

 
Par value

 
Carrying
value 

 
Discount 

 
Shares issued and outstanding

 
Par value 

 
Carrying value

 
Discount 

DEP Shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares (DEP)
96,546

 
$
—

 
—

 
—

 
96,546

 
$
—

 
—

 
—

Series I (1) 


 


 


 
 
 


 


 


 
 
Floating Class A Preferred Stock
25,010

 
2,501

 
2,501

 
—

 
25,010

 
2,501

 
2,501

 
—

Series J (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
2,150,375

 
2,150

 
1,995

 
155

 
2,150,375

 
2,150

 
1,995

 
155

Series K (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.98% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
3,352,000

 
3,352

 
2,876

 
476

 
3,352,000

 
3,352

 
2,876

 
476

Series L (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred Stock
3,968,000

 
3,968

 
3,200

 
768

 
3,968,000

 
3,968

 
3,200

 
768

Series N (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.20% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
30,000

 
750

 
750

 
—

 
30,000

 
750

 
750

 
—

Series O (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.125% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
26,000

 
650

 
650

 
—

 
26,000

 
650

 
650

 
—

Series P (1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.25% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
25,000

 
625

 
625

 
—

 
25,000

 
625

 
625

 
—

Series Q (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.85% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
69,000

 
1,725

 
1,725

 
—

 
69,000

 
1,725

 
1,725

 
—

Series R (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
33,600

 
840

 
840

 
—

 
33,600

 
840

 
840

 
—

Series S (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.900% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
80,000

 
2,000

 
2,000

 
—

 
80,000

 
2,000

 
2,000

 
—

Series T (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.000% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
32,000

 
800

 
800

 
—

 
32,000

 
800

 
800

 
—

Series U (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
80,000

 
2,000

 
2,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Series V (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.000% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock
40,000

 
1,000

 
1,000

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

ESOP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
1,252,386

 
1,252

 
1,252

 
—

 
1,251,287

 
1,251

 
1,251

 
—

Total
11,259,917

 
$
23,613

 
22,214

 
1,399

 
11,138,818

 
$
20,612

 
19,213

 
1,399

(1)
Preferred shares qualify as Tier 1 capital.

In January 2015, we issued 2 million Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/25th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series U, for an aggregate public offering price of $2.0 billion . In September 2015, we issued 40 million Depositary Shares each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series V, for an aggregate public offering price of $1.0 billion .
See Note 8 (Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities) for additional information on our trust preferred securities. We do not have a commitment to issue Series H preferred stock.


240
Wells Fargo & Company
 

ESOP CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK All shares of our ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (ESOP Preferred Stock) were issued to a trustee acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan (the 401(k) Plan). Dividends on the ESOP Preferred Stock are cumulative from the date of initial issuance and are payable quarterly at annual rates based upon the year of issuance. Each share of ESOP Preferred Stock released from the unallocated reserve of the 401(k) Plan is converted into shares of our common stock based on the stated value of the ESOP Preferred Stock and the then current market
 
price of our common stock. The ESOP Preferred Stock is also convertible at the option of the holder at any time, unless previously redeemed. We have the option to redeem the ESOP Preferred Stock at any time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price per share equal to the higher of (a) $1,000 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends or (b) the fair market value, as defined in the Certificates of Designation for the ESOP Preferred Stock.


Table 18.3: ESOP Preferred Stock
 
Shares issued and outstanding
 
 
Carrying value 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

 
Adjustable dividend rate
(in millions, except shares)
2015

 
2014

 
2015

 
2014

 
Minimum 

 
Maximum 
ESOP Preferred Stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$1,000 liquidation preference per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
220,408

 
—

 
$
220

 
—

 
8.90
%
 
9.90
2014
283,791

 
352,158

 
284

 
352

 
8.70

 
9.70
2013
251,304

 
288,000

 
251

 
288

 
8.50

 
9.50
2012
166,353

 
189,204

 
166

 
189

 
10.00

 
11.00
2011
177,614

 
205,263

 
178

 
205

 
9.00

 
10.00
2010
113,234

 
141,011

 
113

 
141

 
9.50

 
10.50
2008
28,972

 
42,204

 
29

 
42

 
10.50

 
11.50
2007
10,710

 
24,728

 
11

 
25

 
10.75

 
11.75
2006
—

 
8,719

 
—

 
9

 
10.75

 
11.75
Total ESOP Preferred Stock (1)
1,252,386

 
1,251,287

 
$
1,252

 
1,251

 
 
 
 
Unearned ESOP shares (2)
 
 
 
 
$
(1,362
)
 
(1,360
)
 
 
 
 
(1)
At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , additional paid-in capital included $110 million and $109 million , respectively, related to ESOP preferred stock.  
(2)
We recorded a corresponding charge to unearned ESOP shares in connection with the issuance of the ESOP Preferred Stock. The unearned ESOP shares are reduced as shares of the ESOP Preferred Stock are committed to be released.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
241


Note 19: Common Stock and Stock Plans (continued)

Note 19:   Common Stock and Stock Plans
Common Stock
Table 19.1 presents our reserved, issued and authorized shares of common stock at December 31, 2015 .

Table 19.1: Common Stock Shares
 
Number of shares 

Dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plans
9,011,692

Director plans
825,868

Stock plans (1)
414,005,566

Convertible securities and warrants
100,652,100

Total shares reserved
524,495,226

Shares issued
5,481,811,474

Shares not reserved or issued
2,993,693,300

Total shares authorized
9,000,000,000

(1)
Includes employee options, restricted shares and restricted share rights, 401(k) profit sharing and compensation deferral plans.

At December 31, 2015 , we had warrants outstanding and exercisable to purchase 34,816,632 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $33.92 per share, expiring on October 28, 2018. We purchased none of these warrants in 2015 or 2014. Warrants to purchase 3,607,802 and 684,430 shares of our common stock were exercised in 2015 and 2014, respectively. These warrants were issued in connection with our participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Capital Purchase Program (CPP). 
 
Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plans
Participants in our dividend reinvestment and common stock direct purchase plans may purchase shares of our common stock at fair market value by reinvesting dividends and/or making optional cash payments, under the plan's terms.
 
Employee Stock Plans
We offer stock-based employee compensation plans as described below. For information on our accounting for stock-based compensation plans, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies).
 
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS  Our Long- Term Incentive Compensation Plan (LTICP) provides for awards of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock rights (RSRs), performance share awards (PSAs), performance units and stock awards with or without restrictions.
Beginning in 2010, we granted RSRs and performance shares as our primary long-term incentive awards instead of stock options. Holders of RSRs are entitled to the related shares of common stock at no cost generally vesting over three to five years after the RSRs were granted. RSRs generally continue to vest after retirement according to the original vesting schedule. Except in limited circumstances, RSRs are canceled when employment ends.
 
Holders of each vested PSA are entitled to the related shares of common stock at no cost. PSAs continue to vest after retirement according to the original vesting schedule subject to satisfying the performance criteria and other vesting conditions.
Holders of RSRs and PSAs may be entitled to receive additional RSRs and PSAs (dividend equivalents) or cash payments equal to the cash dividends that would have been paid had the RSRs or PSAs been issued and outstanding shares of common stock. RSRs and PSAs granted as dividend equivalents are subject to the same vesting schedule and conditions as the underlying award.
Stock options must have an exercise price at or above fair market value (as defined in the plan) of the stock at the date of grant (except for substitute or replacement options granted in connection with mergers or other acquisitions) and a term of no more than 10 years . Except for options granted in 2004 and 2005, which generally vested in full upon grant, options generally become exercisable over three years beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Except as otherwise permitted under the plan, if employment is ended for reasons other than retirement, permanent disability or death, the option exercise period is reduced or the options are canceled.
Compensation expense for most of our RSRs, and PSAs granted prior to 2013 is based on the quoted market price of the related stock at the grant date; beginning in 2013 certain RSRs and all PSAs granted include discretionary performance based vesting conditions and are subject to variable accounting. For these awards, the associated compensation expense fluctuates with changes in our stock price. Stock option expense is based on the fair value of the awards at the date of grant. Table 19.2 summarizes the major components of stock incentive compensation expense and the related recognized tax benefit.

Table 19.2: Stock Incentive Compensation Expense
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

RSRs
$
675

 
639

 
568

Performance shares
169

 
219

 
157

Total stock incentive compensation expense
$
844

 
858

 
725

Related recognized tax benefit
$
318

 
324

 
273


For various acquisitions and mergers, we converted employee and director stock options of acquired or merged companies into stock options to purchase our common stock based on the terms of the original stock option plan and the agreed-upon exchange ratio. In addition, we converted restricted stock awards into awards that entitle holders to our stock after the vesting conditions are met. Holders receive cash dividends on outstanding awards if provided in the original award.
The total number of shares of common stock available for grant under the plans at December 31, 2015 , was 214 million .
 


242
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Director Awards
Beginning in 2011, we granted only common stock awards under the LTICP to non-employee directors elected or re-elected at the annual meeting of stockholders and prorated awards to directors who join the Board at any other time. Stock awards vest immediately. Options also were granted to directors prior to 2011 and can be exercised after 12 months through the tenth anniversary of the grant date. Options granted prior to 2005 may include the right to acquire a “reload” stock option. Reload grants are fully vested upon grant and are expensed immediately. The last reload options were granted in 2013. As of December 31, 2015 , none of the options outstanding included a reload feature.  

Restricted Share Rights
A summary of the status of our RSRs and restricted share awards at December 31, 2015 , and changes during 2015 is presented in Table 19.3 .

Table 19.3: Restricted Share Rights
 
Number 

 
Weighted- 
 average 
 grant-date 
 fair value 

Nonvested at January 1, 2015
53,572,149

 
$
36.46

Granted
13,363,597

 
55.34

Vested
(25,712,018
)
 
37.39

Canceled or forfeited
(588,936
)
 
41.98

Nonvested at December 31, 2015
40,634,792

 
42.00

 
 
 
 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of RSRs granted during 2014 and 2013 was $36.46 and $35.52 , respectively.
At December 31, 2015 , there was $686 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested RSRs. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years . The total fair value of RSRs that vested during 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $1.4 billion , $1.0 billion and $472 million , respectively.
 
 
Performance Share Awards
Holders of PSAs are entitled to the related shares of common stock at no cost subject to the Company's achievement of specified performance criteria over a three -year period. PSAs are granted at a target number; based on the Company's performance, the number of awards that vest can be adjusted downward to zero and upward to a maximum of either 125% or 150% of target. The awards vest in the quarter after the end of the performance period. For PSAs whose performance period ended December 31, 2015 , the determination of the number of performance shares that will vest will occur in first quarter of 2016 after review of the Company’s performance by the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors. Beginning in 2013, PSAs granted include discretionary performance-based vesting conditions and are subject to variable accounting. For these awards, the associated compensation expense fluctuates with changes in our stock price and the estimated outcome of meeting the performance conditions. The total expense that will be recognized on these awards cannot be finalized until the determination of the awards that will vest.
A summary of the status of our PSAs at December 31, 2015 , and changes during 2015 is in Table 19.4 , based on the performance adjustments recognized as of December 2015.

Table 19.4: Performance Share Awards
 
Number 

 
Weighted- 
 average 
 grant-date 
 fair value (1)

Nonvested at January 1, 2015
9,294,768

 
$
36.87

Granted
3,530,859

 
45.52

Vested
(5,399,517
)
 
37.75

Nonvested at December 31, 2015
7,426,110

 
40.34

 
 
 
 
(1)
Reflects approval date fair value for grants subject to variable accounting.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of performance awards granted during 2014 and 2013 was $36.87 and $33.56 , respectively.
At December 31, 2015 , there was $34 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested performance awards. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years . The total fair value of PSAs that vested during 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $299 million , $262 million , and $168 million , respectively.




 
Wells Fargo & Company
243


Note 19: Common Stock and Stock Plans (continued)

Stock Options
Table 19.5 summarizes stock option activity and related information for the stock plans. Options assumed in mergers are included in the activity and related information for Incentive
 
Compensation Plans if originally issued under an employee plan, and in the activity and related information for Director Awards if originally issued under a director plan.

 
Table 19.5: Stock Option Activity
 
Number 

 
Weighted- 
 average 
 exercise price

 
Weighted- 
 average 
 remaining contractual term (in yrs.)
 
Aggregate 
 intrinsic 
 value 
 (in millions) 

Incentive compensation plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014
97,663,200

 
$
43.40

 
 
 
 
Canceled or forfeited
(2,258,720
)
 
238.54

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(20,084,720
)
 
30.63

 
 
 
 
Options exercisable and outstanding as of December 31, 2015
75,319,760

 
40.96

 
2.0
 
$
1,956

Director awards
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014
391,547

 
32.07

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(84,657
)
 
30.95

 
 
 
 
Options exercisable and outstanding as of December 31, 2015
306,890

 
32.37

 
1.5
 
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $497 million , $805 million and $643 million , respectively.
Cash received from the exercise of stock options for 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $618 million , $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion , respectively.
We do not have a specific policy on repurchasing shares to satisfy share option exercises. Rather, we have a general policy on repurchasing shares to meet common stock issuance requirements for our benefit plans (including share option exercises), conversion of our convertible securities, acquisitions and other corporate purposes. Various factors determine the amount and timing of our share repurchases, including our capital requirements, the number of shares we expect to issue for acquisitions and employee benefit plans, market conditions (including the trading price of our stock), and regulatory and legal considerations. These factors can change at any time, and there can be no assurance as to the number of shares we will repurchase or when we will repurchase them.
The fair value of each option award granted on or after January 1, 2006, is estimated using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The expected term of reload options granted is generally based on the midpoint between the valuation date and the contractual termination date of the original option. Our expected volatilities are based on a combination of the historical volatility of our common stock and implied volatilities for traded options on our common stock. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Both expected volatility and the risk-free rates are based on a period commensurate with our expected term. The expected dividend is based on a fixed dividend amount.
Table 19.6 presents the weighted-average per share fair value of options granted and the assumptions used based on a Black-Scholes option valuation model. All of the options granted in 2013 resulted from the reload feature.
 
Table 19.6: Weighted-Average Per Share Fair Value of Options Granted
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Per share fair value of options granted
$
—

 
—

 
1.58

Expected volatility
—
%
 
—

 
18.3

Expected dividends
$
—

 
—

 
0.93

Expected term (in years)
—

 
—

 
0.5

Risk-free interest rate
—
%
 
—

 
0.1

 
 
 
 
 
 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan
The Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan (401(k) Plan) is a defined contribution plan with an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) feature. The ESOP feature enables the 401(k) Plan to borrow money to purchase our preferred or common stock. From 1994 through 2015, with the exception of 2009, we loaned money to the 401(k) Plan to purchase shares of our ESOP preferred stock. As our employer contributions are made to the 401(k) Plan and are used by the 401(k) Plan to make ESOP loan payments, the ESOP preferred stock in the 401(k) Plan is released and converted into our common stock shares. Dividends on the common stock shares allocated as a result of the release and conversion of the ESOP preferred stock reduce retained earnings, and the shares are considered outstanding for computing earnings per share. Dividends on the unallocated ESOP preferred stock do not reduce retained earnings, and the shares are not considered to be common stock equivalents for computing earnings per share. Loan principal and interest payments are made from our employer contributions to the 401(k) Plan, along with dividends paid on the ESOP preferred stock. With each principal and interest payment, a portion of the ESOP preferred stock is released and converted to common stock shares, which are allocated to the 401(k) Plan participants and invested in the Wells Fargo ESOP Fund within the 401(k) Plan.


244
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 19.7 presents the balance of common stock and unreleased preferred stock held in the Wells Fargo ESOP fund, the fair value of unreleased ESOP preferred stock and the
 
dividends on allocated shares of common stock and unreleased ESOP Preferred Stock paid to the 401(k) Plan.


Table 19.7: Common Stock and Unreleased Preferred Stock in the Wells Fargo ESOP Fund
 
Shares outstanding
 
 
December 31,
 
(in millions, except shares)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Allocated shares (common)
137,418,176

 
136,801,782

 
137,354,139

Unreleased shares (preferred)
1,252,386

 
1,251,287

 
1,105,664

Fair value of unreleased ESOP preferred shares
$
1,252

 
1,251

 
1,105

 
Dividends paid
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Allocated shares (common)
$
201

 
186

 
159

Unreleased shares (preferred)
143

 
152

 
132


Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Sales Agents
WF Deferred Compensation Holdings, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent formed solely to sponsor a deferred compensation plan for independent sales agents who provide investment, financial and other qualifying services for or with respect to participating affiliates.

 
The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractors, which became effective January 1, 2002, allowed participants to defer all or part of their eligible compensation payable to them by a participating affiliate. The plan was frozen for new compensation deferrals effective January 1, 2012. The Parent has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the deferred compensation obligations of WF Deferred Compensation Holdings, Inc. under the plan.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
245


Note 20: Employee Benefits and Other Expenses (continued)

Note 20:   Employee Benefits and Other Expenses
Pension and Postretirement Plans
We sponsor a frozen noncontributory qualified defined benefit retirement plan called the Wells Fargo & Company Cash Balance Plan (Cash Balance Plan), which covers eligible employees of Wells Fargo. The Cash Balance Plan was frozen on July 1, 2009 and no new benefits accrue after that date.
Prior to July 1, 2009, eligible employees' Cash Balance Plan accounts were allocated a compensation credit based on a percentage of their certified compensation; the freeze discontinued the allocation of compensation credits after June 30, 2009. Investment credits continue to be allocated to participants based on their accumulated balances.
We recognize settlement losses for our Cash Balance Plan based on an assessment of whether our estimated lump sum payments related to the Cash Balance Plan will, in aggregate for the year, exceed the sum of its annual service and interest cost (threshold). Lump sum payments did not exceed this threshold in 2015 and 2014 . In 2013, lump sum payments exceeded this threshold. Settlement losses of $123 million were recognized in 2013, representing the pro rata portion of the net loss remaining in cumulative other comprehensive income based on the percentage reduction in the Cash Balance Plan’s projected benefit obligation. A remeasurement of the Cash Balance liability and related plan assets occurs at the end of each quarter in which settlement losses are recognized.
We did not make a contribution to our Cash Balance Plan in 2015 . We do not expect that we will be required to make a
 
contribution to the Cash Balance Plan in 2016; however, this is dependent on the finalization of the actuarial valuation in 2016. Our decision of whether to make a contribution in 2016 will be based on various factors including the actual investment performance of plan assets during 2016. Given these uncertainties, we cannot estimate at this time the amount, if any, that we will contribute in 2016 to the Cash Balance Plan. For the nonqualified pension plans and postretirement benefit plans, there is no minimum required contribution beyond the amount needed to fund benefit payments; we may contribute more to our postretirement benefit plans dependent on various factors.
We provide health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees and reserve the right to terminate, modify or amend any of the benefits at any time.
The information set forth in the following tables is based on current actuarial reports using the measurement date of December 31 for our pension and postretirement benefit plans. In 2015 and 2014, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) published updated mortality tables. The benefit obligations at December 31, 2015 and 2014 , reflect the SOA's updated mortality tables, which did not have a material effect on these obligations.
Table 20.1 presents the changes in the benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets, the funded status, and the amounts recognized on the balance sheet.


Table 20.1: Changes in Benefit Obligation and Fair Value of Plan Assets
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
benefits 

 
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
benefits 

Change in benefit obligation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
11,125

 
730

 
1,100

 
10,198

 
669

 
982

Service cost
2

 
—

 
6

 
1

 
—

 
7

Interest cost
429

 
25

 
42

 
465

 
27

 
42

Plan participants’ contributions
—

 
—

 
68

 
—

 
—

 
73

Actuarial loss (gain)
(196
)
 
(25
)
 
(56
)
 
1,161

 
89

 
136

Benefits paid
(676
)
 
(82
)
 
(139
)
 
(692
)
 
(54
)
 
(148
)
Medicare Part D subsidy
—

 
—

 
9

 
—

 
—

 
9

Curtailment
—

 
—

 
(25
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Foreign exchange impact
(11
)
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
(8
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
10,673

 
647

 
1,002

 
11,125

 
730

 
1,100

Change in plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
9,626

 
—

 
624

 
9,409

 
—

 
645

Actual return on plan assets
(112
)
 
—

 
2

 
909

 
—

 
26

Employer contribution
7

 
82

 
4

 
7

 
54

 
19

Plan participants’ contributions
—

 
—

 
68

 
—

 
—

 
73

Benefits paid
(676
)
 
(82
)
 
(139
)
 
(692
)
 
(54
)
 
(148
)
Medicare Part D subsidy
—

 
—

 
9

 
—

 
—

 
9

Foreign exchange impact
(9
)
 
—

 
—

 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

Fair value of plan assets at end of year
8,836

 
—

 
568

 
9,626

 
—

 
624

Funded status at end of year
$
(1,837
)
 
(647
)
 
(434
)
 
(1,499
)
 
(730
)
 
(476
)
Amounts recognized on the balance sheet at end of year:
Liabilities
$
(1,837
)
 
(647
)
 
(434
)
 
(1,499
)
 
(730
)
 
(476
)

246
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 20.2 provides information for pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets.

Table 20.2: Pension Plans with Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets
 
Dec 31,

 
Dec 31,

(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Projected benefit obligation
$
11,317

 
11,855

Accumulated benefit obligation
11,314

 
11,851

Fair value of plan assets
8,832

 
9,626

 


 
Table 20.3 presents the components of net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income.

 



Table 20.3: Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Comprehensive Income
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
benefits 

 
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
benefits 

 
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
 benefits 

Service cost
$
2

 
—

 
6

 
1

 
—

 
7

 
—

 
—

 
11

Interest cost
429

 
25

 
42

 
465

 
27

 
42

 
465

 
29

 
47

Expected return on plan assets
(644
)
 
—

 
(35
)
 
(629
)
 
—

 
(36
)
 
(674
)
 
—

 
(36
)
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)
108

 
18

 
(4
)
 
91

 
11

 
(28
)
 
137

 
15

 
(1
)
Amortization of prior service credit
—

 
—

 
(3
)
 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
Settlement loss (1)
—

 
13

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
124

 
3

 
—

Curtailment gain
—

 
—

 
(43
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net periodic benefit cost
(105
)
 
56

 
(37
)
 
(72
)
 
40

 
(17
)
 
52

 
47

 
19

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss (gain)
560

 
(25
)
 
(23
)
 
881

 
89

 
146

 
(1,175
)
 
(17
)
 
(341
)
Amortization of net actuarial gain (loss)
(108
)
 
(18
)
 
4

 
(91
)
 
(11
)
 
28

 
(137
)
 
(15
)
 
1

Prior service credit
—

 
—

 
18

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Amortization of prior service credit
—

 
—

 
3

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

Settlement (1)
—

 
(13
)
 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(124
)
 
(3
)
 
—

Total recognized in other comprehensive income
452

 
(56
)
 
2

 
790

 
76

 
176

 
(1,436
)
 
(35
)
 
(338
)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income
$
347

 
—

 
(35
)
 
718

 
116

 
159

 
(1,384
)
 
12

 
(319
)
(1)
Qualified settlements in 2013 include $123 million for the Cash Balance Plan.

Table 20.4 provides the amounts recognized in cumulative OCI (pre tax).


Table 20.4: Benefits Recognized in Cumulative OCI
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
benefits 

 
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Other 
benefits 

Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
3,128

 
168

 
(165
)
 
2,677

 
224

 
(147
)
Net prior service credit
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(20
)
Total
$
3,127

 
168

 
(165
)
 
2,675

 
224

 
(167
)
The net actuarial loss for the defined benefit pension plans and other post retirement plans that will be amortized from cumulative OCI into net periodic benefit cost in 2016 is $141 million . The net prior service credit for other post retirement plans was fully recognized in 2015 in conjunction with a curtailment.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
247


Note 20: Employee Benefits and Other Expenses (continued)

Plan Assumptions
For additional information on our pension accounting assumptions, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting
 
Policies). Table 20.5 presents the weighted-average discount rates used to estimate the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits.


Table 20.5: Discount Rates Used to Estimate Projected Benefit Obligation
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 
 
Other 
benefits 
 
Qualified 
 
Non- 
qualified 
 
Other 
benefits 
Discount rate
4.25
%
 
4.25
 
4.25
 
4.00
 
3.75
 
4.00

Table 20.6 presents the weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost.


Table 20.6: Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost
 
December 31, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
Pension benefits 
 
 
 
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 
 
Other 
benefits 
 
Qualified 
 
Non- 
qualified 
 
Other 
benefits 
 
Qualified 
 
Non- 
qualified 
 
Other 
 benefits 
Discount rate (1)
4.00
%
 
3.60
 
4.00
 
4.75
 
4.16
 
4.50
 
4.38
 
4.08
 
3.75
Expected return on plan assets
7.00

 
N/A
 
6.00
 
7.00
 
N/A
 
6.00
 
7.50
 
N/A
 
6.00
(1)
The discount rate for the 2013 qualified pension benefits and for the 2015 , 2014 , and 2013 nonqualified pension benefits includes the impact of quarter-end remeasurements when settlement losses are recognized.

To account for postretirement health care plans we use health care cost trend rates to recognize the effect of expected changes in future health care costs due to medical inflation, utilization changes, new technology, regulatory requirements and Medicare cost shifting. In determining the end of year benefit obligation we assume an average annual increase of approximately 9.30% , for health care costs in 2016. This rate is assumed to trend down 0.40% - 0.60% per year until the trend rate reaches an ultimate rate of 5.00% in 2024 . The 2015 periodic benefit cost was determined using an initial annual trend rate of 7.00% . This rate was assumed to decrease 0.25% per year until the trend rate reached an ultimate rate of 5.00% in 2023 . Increasing the assumed health care trend by one percentage point in each year would increase the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2015 , by $34 million and the total of the interest cost and service cost components of the net periodic benefit cost for 2015 by $2 million . Decreasing the assumed health care trend by one percentage point in each year would decrease the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2015 , by $30 million and the total of the interest cost and service cost components of the net periodic benefit cost for 2015 by $2 million . 

Investment Strategy and Asset Allocation
We seek to achieve the expected long-term rate of return with a prudent level of risk given the benefit obligations of the pension plans and their funded status. Our overall investment strategy is designed to provide our Cash Balance Plan with long-term growth opportunities while ensuring that risk is mitigated through diversification across numerous asset classes and various investment strategies. We target the asset allocation for our Cash Balance Plan at a target mix range of 30% - 50% equities, 40% - 60% fixed income, and approximately 10% in real estate, venture capital, private equity and other investments. The Employee Benefit Review Committee (EBRC), which includes several members of senior management, formally reviews the investment risk and performance of our Cash Balance Plan on a quarterly basis. Annual Plan liability analysis and periodic asset/liability evaluations are also conducted.
 
Other benefit plan assets include (1) assets held in a 401(h) trust, which are invested with a target mix of 40% - 60% for both equities and fixed income, and (2) assets held in the Retiree Medical Plan Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust, which are invested with a general target asset mix of 20% - 40% equities and 60% - 80% fixed income. In addition, the strategy for the VEBA trust assets considers the effect of income taxes by utilizing a combination of variable annuity and low turnover investment strategies. Members of the EBRC formally review the investment risk and performance of these assets on a quarterly basis.

Projected Benefit Payments
Future benefits that we expect to pay under the pension and other benefit plans are presented in Table 20.7 . Other benefits payments are expected to be reduced by prescription drug subsidies from the federal government provided by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.
 
Table 20.7: Projected Benefit Payments
 
Pension benefits
 
 
Other benefits
 
(in millions)
Qualified 

 
Non- 
qualified 

 
Future 
benefits 

 
Subsidy 
receipts 

Year ended
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016
$
762

 
61

 
86

 
11

2017
753

 
60

 
87

 
12

2018
737

 
56

 
87

 
12

2019
740

 
53

 
87

 
12

2020
745

 
52

 
87

 
12

2021-2025
3,578

 
224

 
410

 
61



248
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Fair Value of Plan Assets
Table 20.8 presents the balances of pension plan assets and other benefit plan assets measured at fair value. See Note 17
 
(Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities) for fair value hierarchy level definitions.

Table 20.8: Pension and Other Benefit Plan Assets
 
Carrying value at year end
 
 
Pension plan assets
 
 
Other benefits plan assets
 
(in millions)
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Total 

 
Level 1 

 
Level 2 

 
Level 3 

 
Total 

December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
5

 
109

 
—

 
114

 
119

 
21

 
—

 
140

Long duration fixed income  (1) 
446

 
3,253

 
16

 
3,715

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Intermediate (core) fixed income  (2) 
4

 
499

 
—

 
503

 
—

 
182

 
—

 
182

High-yield fixed income
—

 
276

 
4

 
280

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

International fixed income
51

 
250

 
—

 
301

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Domestic large-cap stocks  (3) 
809

 
378

 
—

 
1,187

 
—

 
118

 
—

 
118

Domestic mid-cap stocks
226

 
125

 
—

 
351

 
—

 
31

 
—

 
31

Domestic small-cap stocks  (4) 
207

 
13

 
—

 
220

 
—

 
17

 
—

 
17

Global stocks (5)
48

 
161

 
—

 
209

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

International stocks  (6) 
463

 
287

 
—

 
750

 
22

 
33

 
—

 
55

Emerging market stocks
—

 
311

 
—

 
311

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Real estate/timber  (7) 
109

 
1

 
245

 
355

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Hedge funds  (8) 
—

 
160

 
71

 
231

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Private equity
—

 
—

 
148

 
148

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other
—

 
66

 
27

 
93

 
2

 
—

 
23

 
25

Total plan investments
$
2,368

 
5,889

 
511

 
8,768

 
143

 
402

 
23

 
568

Net receivables
 
 
 
 
 
 
68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

Total plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
8,836

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
568

December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
31

 
224

 
—

 
255

 
139

 
21

 
—

 
160

Long duration fixed income (1)
556

 
3,622

 
12

 
4,190

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Intermediate (core) fixed income (2)
127

 
329

 
—

 
456

 
61

 
115

 
—

 
176

High-yield fixed income
1

 
321

 
5

 
327

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

International fixed income
53

 
284

 
—

 
337

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Domestic large-cap stocks (3)
833

 
375

 
—

 
1,208

 
—

 
102

 
—

 
102

Domestic mid-cap stocks
252

 
140

 
—

 
392

 
—

 
47

 
—

 
47

Domestic small-cap stocks (4)
238

 
17

 
—

 
255

 
—

 
37

 
—

 
37

Global stocks (5)
47

 
155

 
—

 
202

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

International stocks (6)
457

 
276

 
—

 
733

 
25

 
53

 
—

 
78

Emerging market stocks
—

 
412

 
—

 
412

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Real estate/timber (7)
121

 
1

 
265

 
387

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Hedge funds (8)
—

 
203

 
84

 
287

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Private equity
—

 
—

 
155

 
155

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other
—

 
23

 
52

 
75

 
2

 
—

 
22

 
24

Total plan investments
$
2,716

 
6,382

 
573

 
9,671

 
227

 
375

 
22

 
624

Payable upon return of securities loaned
 
 
 
 
 
 
(53
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

Net receivables
 
 
 
 
 
 
8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

Total plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
9,626

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
624

(1)
This category includes a diversified mix of assets which are being managed in accordance with a duration target of approximately 10 years and an emphasis on corporate credit bonds combined with investments in U.S. Treasury securities and other U.S. agency and non-agency bonds.
(2)
This category includes assets that are primarily intermediate duration, investment grade bonds held in investment strategies benchmarked to the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Includes U.S. Treasury securities, agency and non-agency asset-backed bonds and corporate bonds. 
(3)
This category covers a broad range of investment styles, including active, enhanced index and passive approaches, as well as style characteristics of value, core and growth emphasized strategies. Assets in this category are currently diversified across eight unique investment strategies with no single investment manager strategy representing more than 2.5% of total plan assets.
(4)
This category consists of a highly diversified combination of four distinct investment management strategies with no single strategy representing more than 2% of total plan assets. Allocations in this category are spread across actively managed approaches with distinct value and growth emphasized approaches in fairly equal proportions.
(5)
This category consists of three unique investment strategies providing exposure to broadly diversified, global equity investments, which generally have an allocation of 40 - 60% in U.S. domiciled equities and an equivalent allocation range in primarily developed market, non-U.S. equities, with no single strategy representing more than 1.5% of total Plan assets.
(6)
This category includes assets diversified across six unique investment strategies providing exposure to companies based primarily in developed market, non-U.S. countries with no single strategy representing more than 2.5% of total plan assets.
(7)
This category primarily includes investments in private and public real estate, as well as timber specific limited partnerships; real estate holdings are diversified by geographic location and sector (e.g., retail, office, apartments).
(8)
This category consists of several investment strategies diversified across more than 30 hedge fund managers. Single manager allocation exposure is limited to 0.15% (15 basis points) of total plan assets.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
249


Note 20: Employee Benefits and Other Expenses (continued)

Table 20.9 presents the changes in Level 3 pension plan and other benefit plan assets measured at fair value.


Table 20.9: Fair Value Level 3 Pension and Other Benefit Plan Assets
 
Balance beginning 
 of year

 
Gains (losses) 
 
 
Purchases, 
 sales 
 and  
settlements (net)

 
Transfers 
 Into/
(Out of) 
 Level 3

 
Balance 
 end of 
 year 

(in millions)
 
Realized 

 
Unrealized (1) 

 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long duration fixed income
$
12

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
3

 
16

High-yield fixed income
5

 
—

 
—

 
2

 
(3
)
 
4

Real estate/timber
265

 
10

 
8

 
(38
)
 
—

 
245

Hedge funds
84

 
4

 
(5
)
 
(21
)
 
9

 
71

Private equity
155

 
19

 
(5
)
 
(21
)
 
—

 
148

Other
52

 
9

 
(7
)
 
(27
)
 
—

 
27

 
$
573

 
42

 
(9
)
 
(104
)
 
9

 
511

Other benefits plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
$
22

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
23

 
$
22


—


—


1


—


23

Year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long duration fixed income
$
1

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
10

 
12

High-yield fixed income
—

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
2

 
5

International stocks
1

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

Real estate/timber
294

 
9

 
34

 
(72
)
 
—

 
265

Hedge funds
152

 
1

 
4

 
(9
)
 
(64
)
 
84

Private equity
158

 
12

 
(3
)
 
(12
)
 
—

 
155

Other
52

 
2

 
1

 
(3
)
 
—

 
52

 
$
658

 
24

 
36

 
(93
)
 
(52
)
 
573

Other benefits plan assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
$
22

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22

 
$
22

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22

(1)
All unrealized gains (losses) relate to instruments held at period end.

VALUATION METHODOLOGIES  Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents – includes investments in collective investment funds valued at fair value based upon the quoted market values of the underlying net assets. The unit price is quoted on a private market that is not active; however, the unit price is based on underlying investments traded on an active market. This group of assets also includes investments in registered investment companies valued at the NAV of shares held at year end and in interest-bearing bank accounts.
 
Long Duration, Intermediate (Core), High-Yield, and International Fixed Income – includes investments traded on the secondary markets; prices are measured by using quoted market prices for similar securities, pricing models, and discounted cash flow analyses using significant inputs observable in the market where available, or a combination of multiple valuation techniques. This group of assets also includes highly liquid government securities such as U.S. Treasuries, limited partnerships valued at the NAV provided by the fund sponsor and registered investment companies and collective investment funds described above.
 
 
Domestic, Global, International and Emerging Market Stocks – investments in exchange-traded equity securities are valued at quoted market values. This group of assets also includes investments in registered investment companies, collective investment funds and limited partnerships described above.
 
Real Estate and Timber – the fair value of real estate and timber is estimated based primarily on appraisals prepared by third-party appraisers. Market values are estimates and the actual market price of the real estate can only be determined by negotiation between independent third parties in a sales transaction. This group of assets also includes investments in exchange-traded equity securities and collective investment funds described above.
 
Hedge Funds and Private Equity – the fair values of hedge funds are valued based on the proportionate share of the underlying net assets of the investment funds that comprise the fund, based on valuations supplied by the underlying investment funds. Investments in private equity funds are valued at the NAV provided by the fund sponsor. Market values are estimates and the actual market price of the investments can only be determined by negotiation between independent third parties in a sales transaction.



250
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Other – insurance contracts that are generally stated at cash surrender value. This group of assets also includes investments in collective investment funds and private equity described above.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. While we believe our valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

Defined Contribution Retirement Plans
We sponsor a defined contribution retirement plan named the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan (401(k) Plan). Under the 401(k) Plan, after one month of service, eligible employees may contribute up to 50% of their certified compensation, subject to statutory limits. Eligible employees who complete 1 year of service are eligible for company matching contributions, which are generally dollar for dollar up to 6% of an employee's eligible certified compensation. Matching contributions are 100% vested. The 401(k) Plan includes an employer discretionary profit sharing contribution feature to allow us to make a contribution to eligible employees’ 401(k) Plan accounts. Eligible employees who complete 1 year of service are eligible for profit sharing contributions. Profit sharing contributions are vested after 3 years of service. Total defined contribution retirement plan expenses were $1.1 billion in both 2015 and 2014 and $1.2 billion in 2013 . 
 
Other Expenses
Table 20.10 presents expenses exceeding 1% of total interest income and noninterest income in any of the years presented that are not otherwise shown separately in the financial statements or Notes to Financial Statements.
 
Table 20.10: Other Expenses
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Outside professional services
$
2,665

 
2,689

 
2,519

Operating losses
1,871

 
1,249

 
821

Outside data processing
985

 
1,034

 
983

Contract services
978

 
975

 
935

Travel and entertainment
692

 
904

 
885



 
Wells Fargo & Company
251


Note 21:   Income Taxes  (continued)

Note 21:   Income Taxes
Table 21.1 presents the components of income tax expense.
Table 21.1: Income Tax Expense
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Current:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
10,822

 
7,321

 
4,601

State and local
1,669

 
520

 
736

Foreign
139

 
112

 
91

Total current
12,630

 
7,953

 
5,428

Deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
(2,047
)
 
2,117

 
4,457

State and local
(235
)
 
224

 
522

Foreign
17

 
13

 
(2
)
Total deferred
(2,265
)
 
2,354

 
4,977

Total
$
10,365

 
10,307

 
10,405

The tax effects of our temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented in Table 21.2 .

Table 21.2: Net Deferred Tax Liability
 
December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Deferred tax assets
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
$
4,363

 
4,592

Deferred compensation and employee benefits
4,589

 
4,608

Accrued expenses
1,460

 
1,213

PCI loans
1,816

 
1,935

Net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards
528

 
631

Other
1,448

 
1,700

Total deferred tax assets
14,204

 
14,679

Deferred tax assets valuation allowance
(358
)
 
(426
)
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 
Mortgage servicing rights
(5,399
)
 
(5,860
)
Leasing
(3,866
)
 
(4,057
)
Mark to market, net
(5,471
)
 
(7,635
)
Intangible assets
(1,233
)
 
(1,494
)
Net unrealized gains on investment securities
(1,008
)
 
(2,737
)
Insurance reserves
(2,071
)
 
(2,087
)
Other
(2,063
)
 
(1,635
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(21,111
)
 
(25,505
)
Net deferred tax liability (1)
$
(7,265
)
 
(11,252
)
(1)
Included in accrued expenses and other liabilities.

 
Deferred taxes related to net unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities, net unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, foreign currency translation, and employee benefit plan adjustments are recorded in cumulative OCI (see Note 23 (Other Comprehensive Income)). These associated adjustments increased OCI by $1.8 billion in 2015 .
We have determined that a valuation reserve is required for 2015 in the amount of $358 million predominantly attributable to deferred tax assets in various state and foreign jurisdictions where we believe it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized. In these jurisdictions, carry back limitations, lack of sources of taxable income, and tax planning strategy limitations contributed to our conclusion that the deferred tax assets would not be realizable. We have concluded that it is more likely than not that the remaining deferred tax assets will be realized based on our history of earnings, sources of taxable income in carry back periods, and our ability to implement tax planning strategies.
At December 31, 2015 , we had net operating loss carry forwards with related deferred tax assets of $528 million . If these carry forwards are not utilized, they will expire in varying amounts through 2035 .
At December 31, 2015 , we had undistributed foreign earnings of $2.0 billion related to foreign subsidiaries. We intend to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. and accordingly have not provided $557 million of income tax liability on these earnings.
Table 21.3 reconciles the statutory federal income tax expense and rate to the effective income tax expense and rate. Our effective tax rate is calculated by dividing income tax expense by income before income tax expense less the net income from noncontrolling interests.



252
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 21.3: Effective Income Tax Expense and Rate
 
December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Amount 

 
Rate 

 
Amount 

 
Rate 

 
Amount 

 
Rate 

Statutory federal income tax expense and rate
$
11,641

 
35.0
 %
 
$
11,677

 
35.0
 %
 
$
11,299

 
35.0
 %
Change in tax rate resulting from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State and local taxes on income, net of federal income tax benefit
1,025

 
3.1

 
971

 
2.9

 
964

 
3.0

Tax-exempt interest
(641
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(550
)
 
(1.6
)
 
(490
)
 
(1.5
)
Tax credits
(1,108
)
 
(3.3
)
 
(1,074
)
 
(3.2
)
 
(967
)
 
(3.0
)
Life insurance
(186
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(179
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(173
)
 
(0.5
)
Leveraged lease tax expense
140

 
0.4

 
158

 
0.5

 
302

 
0.9

Other
(506
)
 
(1.5
)
 
(696
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(530
)
 
(1.7
)
Effective income tax expense and rate
$
10,365

 
31.2
 %
 
$
10,307

 
30.9
 %
 
$
10,405

 
32.2
 %

The effective tax rate for 2015 includes net reductions in reserves for uncertain tax positions primarily due to audit resolutions of prior period matters with U.S. federal and state taxing authorities. The effective tax rate for 2014 included a net reduction in the reserve for uncertain tax positions primarily due to the resolution of prior period matters with state taxing authorities. The effective tax rate for 2013 included a net reduction in the reserve for uncertain tax positions primarily due to settlements with authorities regarding certain cross border transactions and tax benefits recognized from the realization for tax purposes of a previously written down investment.
Table 21.4 presents the change in unrecognized tax benefits.

Table 21.4: Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits
 
Year ended 
 December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Balance at beginning of year
$
5,002

 
5,528

Additions:
 
 
 
For tax positions related to the current year
196

 
412

For tax positions related to prior years
225

 
324

Reductions:
 
 
 
For tax positions related to prior years
(413
)
 
(213
)
Lapse of statute of limitations
(22
)
 
(50
)
Settlements with tax authorities
(182
)
 
(999
)
Balance at end of year
$
4,806

 
5,002

 
Of the $4.8 billion of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2015 , approximately $3.0 billion would, if recognized, affect the effective tax rate. The remaining $1.8 billion of unrecognized tax benefits relates to income tax positions on temporary differences.
We recognize interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , we have accrued approximately $524 million and $660 million for the payment of interest and penalties, respectively. In 2015 , we recognized in income tax expense a net tax benefit related to interest and penalties of $79 million . In 2014 , we recognized in income tax expense a net tax benefit related to interest and penalties of $142 million .
 

We are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in numerous state and foreign jurisdictions. We are routinely examined by tax authorities in these various jurisdictions. The IRS is currently examining the 2011 through 2014 consolidated federal income tax returns of Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, we are currently subject to examination by various state, local and foreign taxing authorities. With few exceptions, Wells Fargo and its subsidiaries are not subject to federal, state, local and foreign income tax examinations for taxable years prior to 2007. Wachovia Corporation and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to federal examination and, with limited exception, are no longer subject to state, local and foreign income tax examinations.
We are litigating or appealing various issues related to prior IRS examinations for the periods 2003 through 2010, and we are appealing various issues related to IRS examinations of Wachovia’s 2006 through 2008 tax years. For the 2003 through 2006 Wells Fargo periods and the 2006 through 2008 Wachovia periods, we have paid the IRS the contested income tax and interest associated with these issues and refund claims have been filed for the respective years. It is possible that one or more of these examinations, appeals or litigation may be resolved within the next twelve months resulting in a decrease of up to $600 million to our gross unrecognized tax benefits.



 
Wells Fargo & Company
253


Note 22:   Earnings Per Common Share
Table 22.1 shows earnings per common share and diluted earnings per common share and reconciles the numerator and denominator of both earnings per common share calculations. See Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) for
 
discussion of private share repurchases and the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and Note 19 (Common Stock and Stock Plans) for information about stock and options activity and terms and conditions of warrants.


Table 22.1: Earnings Per Common Share Calculations
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Wells Fargo net income
$
22,894

 
23,057

 
21,878

Less: Preferred stock dividends and other
1,424

 
1,236

 
989

Wells Fargo net income applicable to common stock (numerator)
$
21,470

 
21,821

 
20,889

Earnings per common share
 
 
 
 
 
Average common shares outstanding (denominator)
5,136.5

 
5,237.2

 
5,287.3

Per share
$
4.18

 
4.17

 
3.95

Diluted earnings per common share
 
 
 
 
 
Average common shares outstanding
5,136.5

 
5,237.2

 
5,287.3

Add: Stock options
26.7

 
32.9

 
33.1

Restricted share rights
32.8

 
41.6

 
44.8

Warrants
13.8

 
12.7

 
6.0

Diluted average common shares outstanding (denominator)
5,209.8

 
5,324.4

 
5,371.2

Per share
$
4.12

 
4.10

 
3.89


Table 22.2 presents the outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock that were anti-dilutive (the exercise price was higher than the weighted-average market price), and therefore not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share.

Table 22.2: Outstanding Anti-Dilutive Options
 
Weighted-average shares
 
 
Year ended December 31, 
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Options
5.7

 
8.0

 
11.1



254
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 23:   Other Comprehensive Income 
Table 23.1 provides the components of other comprehensive income (OCI), reclassifications to net income by income statement line item, and the related tax effects.


Table 23.1: Summary of Other Comprehensive Income
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Before 
 tax 

 
Tax 
 effect 

 
Net of 
 tax 

 
Before 
 tax 

 
Tax 
 effect 

 
Net of 
 tax 

 
Before 
 tax 

 
Tax 
 effect 

 
Net of 
 tax 

Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
$
(3,318
)
 
1,237

 
(2,081
)
 
5,426

 
(2,111
)
 
3,315

 
(7,661
)
 
2,981

 
(4,680
)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income:
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


Interest income on investment securities (1)
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(37
)
 
14

 
(23
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Net (gains) losses on debt securities
(952
)
 
356

 
(596
)
 
(593
)
 
224

 
(369
)
 
29

 
(11
)
 
18

Net (gains) losses from equity investments
(571
)
 
213

 
(358
)
 
(901
)
 
340

 
(561
)
 
(314
)
 
118

 
(196
)
Other noninterest income
(6
)
 
3

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Subtotal reclassifications to net income
(1,530
)
 
572


(958
)

(1,532
)

578


(954
)

(285
)

107


(178
)
Net change
(4,848
)
 
1,809


(3,039
)
 
3,894

 
(1,533
)
 
2,361

 
(7,946
)
 
3,088

 
(4,858
)
Derivatives and hedging activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
1,549

 
(584
)
 
965

 
952

 
(359
)
 
593

 
(32
)
 
12

 
(20
)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income:
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


Interest income on investment securities
(3
)
 
1

 
(2
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

Interest income on loans
(1,103
)
 
416

 
(687
)
 
(588
)
 
222

 
(366
)
 
(426
)
 
156

 
(270
)
Interest expense on long-term debt
17

 
(6
)
 
11

 
44

 
(17
)
 
27

 
91

 
(34
)
 
57

Other noninterest income
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
35

 
(13
)
 
22

Salaries expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4

 
(2
)
 
2

Subtotal reclassifications
 to net income
(1,089
)
 
411


(678
)

(545
)

205


(340
)

(296
)

107


(189
)
Net change
460

 
(173
)
 
287

 
407

 
(154
)
 
253

 
(328
)
 
119

 
(209
)
Defined benefit plans adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the period
(512
)
 
193

 
(319
)
 
(1,116
)
 
420

 
(696
)
 
1,533

 
(578
)
 
955

Reclassification of amounts to net periodic benefit costs (2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of net actuarial loss
122

 
(46
)
 
76

 
74

 
(28
)
 
46

 
151

 
(57
)
 
94

Settlements and other
(8
)
 
3

 
(5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
125

 
(46
)
 
79

Subtotal reclassifications to net periodic benefit costs
114

 
(43
)
 
71

 
74

 
(28
)
 
46

 
276

 
(103
)
 
173

Net change
(398
)
 
150

 
(248
)
 
(1,042
)
 
392

 
(650
)
 
1,809

 
(681
)
 
1,128

Foreign currency translation adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized losses arising during the period
(137
)
 
(12
)
 
(149
)
 
(60
)
 
(5
)
 
(65
)
 
(44
)
 
(7
)
 
(51
)
Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income:
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


Net gains from equity investments
(5
)
 
—

 
(5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Other noninterest income
—

 
—

 
—

 
6

 
—

 
6

 
(12
)
 
5

 
(7
)
Subtotal reclassifications
to net income
(5
)
 
—

 
(5
)
 
6

 
—

 
6

 
(12
)
 
5

 
(7
)
Net change
(142
)
 
(12
)
 
(154
)
 
(54
)
 
(5
)
 
(59
)
 
(56
)
 
(2
)
 
(58
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
$
(4,928
)
 
1,774

 
(3,154
)
 
3,205

 
(1,300
)
 
1,905

 
(6,521
)
 
2,524

 
(3,997
)
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) from noncontrolling interests, net of tax
 
 
 
 
67

 
 
 
 
 
(227
)
 
 
 
 
 
267

Wells Fargo other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 
 
 
$
(3,221
)
 
 
 
 
 
2,132

 
 
 
 
 
(4,264
)
(1)
Represents net unrealized gains and losses amortized over the remaining lives of securities that were transferred from the available-for-sale portfolio to the held-to-maturity portfolio.
(2)
These items are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost, which is recorded in employee benefits expense (see Note 20 (Employee Benefits and Other Expenses) for additional details).

 
Wells Fargo & Company
255


Note 23: Other Comprehensive Income (continued)

Table 23.2: Cumulative OCI Balances
(in millions)
Investment 
 securities 

 
Derivatives 
 and 
 hedging 
 activities 

 
Defined 
 benefit 
 plans 
 adjustments 

 
Foreign 
 currency 
 translation 
adjustments 

 
Cumulative 
 other 
comprehensive 
 income 

Balance, December 31, 2012
$
7,462

 
289

 
(2,181
)
 
80

 
5,650

Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
(4,680
)
 
(20
)
 
955

 
(51
)
 
(3,796
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
(178
)
 
(189
)
 
173

 
(7
)
 
(201
)
Net change
(4,858
)
 
(209
)
 
1,128

 
(58
)
 
(3,997
)
Less: Other comprehensive income from noncontrolling interests
266

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
267

Balance, December 31, 2013
2,338


80


(1,053
)

21


1,386

Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
3,315

 
593

 
(696
)
 
(65
)
 
3,147

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
(954
)
 
(340
)
 
46

 
6

 
(1,242
)
Net change
2,361

 
253

 
(650
)
 
(59
)
 
1,905

Less: Other comprehensive loss from noncontrolling interests
(227
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(227
)
Balance, December 31, 2014
4,926


333


(1,703
)

(38
)

3,518

Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period
(2,081
)
 
965

 
(319
)
 
(149
)
 
(1,584
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
(958
)
 
(678
)
 
71

 
(5
)
 
(1,570
)
Net change
(3,039
)

287


(248
)

(154
)

(3,154
)
Less: Other comprehensive income (loss) from noncontrolling interests
74

 
—

 
—

 
(7
)
 
67

Balance, December 31, 2015
$
1,813


620


(1,951
)

(185
)

297


256
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 24:   Operating Segments
We have three reportable operating segments: Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management (WIM) (formerly Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement). We define our operating segments by product type and customer segment and their results are based on our management accounting process, for which there is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance equivalent to GAAP for financial accounting. The management accounting process measures the performance of the operating segments based on our management structure and is not necessarily comparable with similar information for other financial services companies. If the management structure and/or the allocation process changes, allocations, transfers and assignments may change. A number of business movements that impact operating segment reporting were implemented in 2015. We realigned our asset management business from Wholesale Banking to WIM; our reinsurance business from WIM to Wholesale Banking; and our strategic auto investment, business banking, and merchant payment services businesses from Community Banking to Wholesale Banking. Results for these operating segments were revised for prior periods to reflect the impact of these realignments.
 
Community Banking offers a complete line of diversified financial products and services to consumers and small businesses with annual sales generally up to $5 million in which the owner generally is the financial decision maker. Community Banking also offers investment management and other services to retail customers and securities brokerage through affiliates. These products and services include the Wells Fargo Advantage Funds SM , a family of mutual funds. Loan products include lines of credit, auto floor plan lines, equity lines and loans, equipment and transportation loans, education loans, origination and purchase of residential mortgage loans and servicing of mortgage loans and credit cards. Other credit products and financial services available to small businesses and their owners include equipment leases, real estate and other commercial financing, Small Business Administration financing, venture capital financing, cash management, payroll services, retirement plans, Health Savings Accounts, credit cards, and merchant payment processing. Community Banking also offers private label financing solutions for retail merchants across the United States and purchases retail installment contracts from auto dealers in the United States and Puerto Rico. Consumer and business deposit products include checking accounts, savings deposits, market rate accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts, time deposits, global remittance and debit cards.
Community Banking serves customers through a complete range of channels, including traditional banking stores, in-store banking centers, business centers, ATMs, Online and Mobile Banking, and Wells Fargo Customer Connection, a 24-hours a day, seven days a week telephone service.
The Community Banking segment also includes the results of our Corporate Treasury activities net of allocations in support of other segments and results of investments in our affiliated venture capital partnerships.
 
Wholesale Banking provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States with annual sales generally in excess of $5 million and to financial institutions globally. Wholesale Banking provides a complete line of business banking, commercial, corporate, capital markets, cash management and
 
real estate banking products and services. These include traditional commercial loans and lines of credit, letters of credit, asset-based lending, equipment leasing, international trade facilities, trade financing, collection services, foreign exchange services, treasury management, merchant payment processing, institutional fixed-income sales, interest rate, commodity and equity risk management, online/electronic products such as the Commercial Electronic Office ® ( CEO ® ) portal, insurance, corporate trust fiduciary and agency services, and investment banking services. Wholesale Banking also supports the CRE market with products and services such as construction loans for commercial and residential development, land acquisition and development loans, secured and unsecured lines of credit, interim financing arrangements for completed structures, rehabilitation loans, affordable housing loans and letters of credit, permanent loans for securitization, CRE loan servicing and real estate and mortgage brokerage services.
 
Wealth and Investment Management (f ormerly Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement) provides a full range of personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses including Wells Fargo Advisors, The Private Bank, Abbot Downing, Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust, and Wells Fargo Asset Management. We deliver financial planning, private banking, credit, investment management and fiduciary services to high-net worth and ultra-high-net worth individuals and families. We also serve customers’ brokerage needs, supply retirement and trust services to institutional clients and provide investment management capabilities delivered to global institutional clients through separate accounts and the Wells Fargo Funds.
 
Other includes items not assigned to a specific business segment and elimination of certain items that are included in more than one business segment, substantially all of which represents products and services for Wealth and Investment Management customers served through Community Banking distribution channels.


 
Wells Fargo & Company
257


Note 24: Operating Segments (continued)

Table 24.1: Operating Segments

(income/expense in millions, average balances in billions)
Community 
 Banking 

 
Wholesale 
 Banking 

 
Wealth and Investment Management

 
Other (1) 

 
Consolidated
 Company 

2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income  (2)  
$
29,242

 
$
14,350

 
$
3,478

 
$
(1,769
)
 
$
45,301

Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
2,427

 
27

 
(25
)
 
13

 
2,442

Noninterest income
20,099

 
11,554

 
12,299

 
(3,196
)
 
40,756

Noninterest expense
26,981

 
14,116

 
12,067

 
(3,190
)
 
49,974

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)
19,933

 
11,761


3,735


(1,788
)

33,641

Income tax expense (benefit)
6,202

 
3,424

 
1,420

 
(681
)
 
10,365

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interests
13,731

 
8,337

 
2,315

 
(1,107
)
 
23,276

Less: Net income (loss) from noncontrolling interests
240

 
143

 
(1
)
 
—

 
382

Net income (loss)  (3)  
$
13,491

 
$
8,194

 
$
2,316

 
$
(1,107
)
 
$
22,894

2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (2)
$
27,999

 
$
14,073

 
$
3,032

 
$
(1,577
)
 
$
43,527

Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
1,796

 
(382
)
 
(50
)
 
31

 
1,395

Noninterest income
20,159

 
11,325

 
12,237

 
(2,901
)
 
40,820

Noninterest expense
26,290

 
13,831

 
11,993

 
(3,077
)
 
49,037

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)
20,072

 
11,949

 
3,326

 
(1,432
)
 
33,915

Income tax expense (benefit)
6,049

 
3,540

 
1,262

 
(544
)
 
10,307

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interests
14,023

 
8,409

 
2,064

 
(888
)
 
23,608

Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
337

 
210

 
4

 
—

 
551

Net income (loss) (3)
$
13,686

 
$
8,199

 
$
2,060

 
$
(888
)
 
$
23,057

2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (2)
$
27,123

 
$
14,353

 
$
2,797

 
$
(1,473
)
 
$
42,800

Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
2,841

 
(521
)
 
(16
)
 
5

 
2,309

Noninterest income
20,556

 
11,494

 
11,533

 
(2,603
)
 
40,980

Noninterest expense
27,090

 
13,077

 
11,486

 
(2,811
)
 
48,842

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)
17,748

 
13,291

 
2,860

 
(1,270
)
 
32,629

Income tax expense (benefit)
5,442

 
4,364

 
1,082

 
(483
)
 
10,405

Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interests
12,306

 
8,927

 
1,778

 
(787
)
 
22,224

Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
159

 
175

 
12

 
—

 
346

Net income (loss) (3)
$
12,147

 
$
8,752

 
$
1,766

 
$
(787
)
 
$
21,878

2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average loans
$
475.9

 
397.3

 
60.1

 
(47.9
)
 
885.4

Average assets
910.0

 
724.9

 
192.8

 
(84.8
)
 
1,742.9

Average deposits
654.4

 
438.9

 
172.3

 
(71.5
)
 
1,194.1

2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average loans
468.8

 
355.6

 
52.1

 
(42.1
)
 
834.4

Average assets
853.2

 
636.5

 
186.1

 
(82.5
)
 
1,593.3

Average deposits
614.3

 
404.0

 
163.5

 
(67.7
)
 
1,114.1

(1)
Includes items not specific to a business segment and the elimination of certain items that are included in more than one business segment, substantially all of which represents products and services for Wealth and Investment Management customers served through Community Banking distribution channels. 
(2)
Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on assets and the cost of liabilities to fund those assets. Interest earned includes actual interest earned on segment assets and, if the segment has excess liabilities, interest credits for providing funding to other segments. The cost of liabilities includes interest expense on segment liabilities and, if the segment does not have enough liabilities to fund its assets, a funding charge based on the cost of excess liabilities from another segment.
(3)
Represents segment net income (loss) for Community Banking; Wholesale Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management segments and Wells Fargo net income for the consolidated company.

258
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Note 25:   Parent-Only Financial Statements
The following tables present Parent-only condensed financial statements.


Table 25.1: Parent-Only Statement of Income
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Income
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends from subsidiaries:
 
 
 
 
 
Bank
$
13,804

 
15,077

 
10,612

Nonbank
542

 
526

 
33

Interest income from subsidiaries
907

 
772

 
848

Other interest income
199

 
216

 
240

Other income
576

 
1,032

 
484

Total income
16,028

 
17,623

 
12,217

Expense
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Indebtedness to nonbank subsidiaries
325

 
357

 
334

Short-term borrowings
1

 
7

 
5

Long-term debt
1,784

 
1,540

 
1,546

Other
4

 
5

 
15

Noninterest expense
932

 
797

 
1,175

Total expense
3,046

 
2,706

 
3,075

Income before income tax benefit and
 
 
 
 
 
equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
12,982

 
14,917

 
9,142

Income tax benefit
(870
)
 
(926
)
 
(570
)
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
9,042

 
7,214

 
12,166

Net income
$
22,894

 
23,057

 
21,878


 
Wells Fargo & Company
259


Note 25: Parent-Only Financial Statements (continued)

Table 25.2: Parent-Only Statement of Comprehensive Income
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Net income
$
22,894

 
23,057

 
21,878

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities
52

 
142

 
(248
)
Derivatives and hedging activities
—

 
12

 
39

Defined benefit plans adjustment
(254
)
 
(633
)
 
1,136

Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of subsidiaries
(3,019
)
 
2,611

 
(5,191
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
(3,221
)
 
2,132

 
(4,264
)
Total comprehensive income
$
19,673

 
25,189

 
17,614



Table 25.3: Parent-Only Balance Sheet
 
December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents due from:
 
 
 
Subsidiary banks
$
36,162

 
43,843

Nonaffiliates
4

 
3

Investment securities issued by:
 
 
 
Subsidiary banks
14,992

 
10,001

Nonaffiliates
8,201

 
10,753

Loans to subsidiaries:
 
 
 
Bank
47,363

 
18,166

Nonbank
35,327

 
35,783

Investments in subsidiaries:
 
 
 
Bank
169,081

 
162,806

Nonbank
25,638

 
24,567

Other assets
6,857

 
6,225

Total assets
$
343,625

 
312,147

Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings
$
—

 
2,270

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
8,135

 
6,984

Long-term debt
117,791

 
97,275

Indebtedness to nonbank subsidiaries
24,701

 
21,224

Total liabilities
150,627

 
127,753

Stockholders' equity
192,998

 
184,394

Total liabilities and equity
$
343,625

 
312,147


260
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Table 25.4: Parent-Only Statement of Cash Flows
 
Year ended December 31,
 
(in millions)
2015

 
2014

 
2013

Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
12,337

 
18,019

 
8,607

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Sales proceeds
5,345

 
1,196

 
3,606

Prepayments and maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
     Subsidiary banks
7,750

 
25

 
—

Nonaffiliates
—

 
—

 
12

Purchases:
 
 
 
 
 
Subsidiary banks
(12,750
)
 
(10,025
)
 
—

Nonaffiliates
(2,709
)
 
(14
)
 
(6,016
)
Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Net repayments from (advances to) subsidiaries
460

 
(2,199
)
 
655

Capital notes and term loans made to subsidiaries
(29,860
)
 
(11,275
)
 
(6,700
)
Principal collected on notes/loans made to subsidiaries
301

 
2,526

 
1,472

Net increase in investment in subsidiaries
(1,283
)
 
(1,096
)
 
(1,188
)
Other, net
714

 
470

 
461

Net cash used by investing activities
(32,032
)
 
(20,392
)
 
(7,698
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase in short-term borrowings and indebtedness to subsidiaries
2,084

 
2,314

 
6,732

Long-term debt:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance
31,487

 
22,627

 
18,714

Repayment
(9,194
)
 
(8,659
)
 
(13,096
)
Preferred stock:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance
2,972

 
2,775

 
3,145

Cash dividends paid
(1,426
)
 
(1,235
)
 
(1,017
)
Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance
1,726

 
1,840

 
2,224

Repurchased
(8,697
)
 
(9,414
)
 
(5,356
)
Cash dividends paid
(7,400
)
 
(6,908
)
 
(5,953
)
Excess tax benefits related to stock option payments
453

 
453

 
271

Other, net
10

 
37

 
114

Net cash provided by financing activities
12,015

 
3,830

 
5,778

Net change in cash and due from banks
(7,680
)

1,457


6,687

Cash and due from banks at beginning of year
43,846

 
42,389

 
35,702

Cash and due from banks at end of year
$
36,166

 
43,846

 
42,389


 
Wells Fargo & Company
261


Note 26:   Regulatory and Agency Capital Requirements
The Company and each of its subsidiary banks are subject to regulatory capital adequacy requirements promulgated by federal bank regulatory agencies. The Federal Reserve establishes capital requirements for the consolidated financial holding company, and the OCC has similar requirements for the Company’s national banks, including Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the Bank).
Table 26.1 presents regulatory capital information for Wells Fargo & Company and the Bank using Basel III, which increased minimum required capital ratios, and introduced a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio. Beginning second quarter 2015, our capital ratios were calculated in accordance with the Basel III Standardized and Advanced Approaches. Accordingly, we must report the lower of our CET1, tier 1 and total capital ratios calculated under the Standardized Approach and under the Advanced Approach in the assessment of our capital adequacy. The information presented for 2015 reflects the transition to determining risk-weighted assets (RWAs) under the Basel III Standardized and Advanced Approaches with Transition Requirements from RWAs determined using general risk-based capital rules (General Approach) effective in 2014. The Standardized and General Approaches each apply assigned
 
risk weights to broad risk categories but many of the risk categories and/or weights were changed by Basel III for the Standardized Approach and will generally result in higher risk-weighted assets than from those prescribed for the General Approach. Calculation of RWAs under the Advanced Approach differs by requiring applicable banks to utilize a risk-sensitive methodology, which relies upon the use of internal credit models, and includes an operational risk component. The Basel III revised definition of capital, and changes are being phased-in effective January 1, 2014, through the end of 2021.
The Bank is an approved seller/servicer of mortgage loans and is required to maintain minimum levels of shareholders’ equity, as specified by various agencies, including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, GNMA, FHLMC and FNMA. At December 31, 2015, the Bank met these requirements. Other subsidiaries, including the Company’s insurance and broker-dealer subsidiaries, are also subject to various minimum capital levels, as defined by applicable industry regulations. The minimum capital levels for these subsidiaries, and related restrictions, are not significant to our consolidated operations.


Table 26.1: Regulatory Capital Information
 
Wells Fargo & Company 
 
 
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 
 
 
 
 
Advanced Approach

 
Standardized
Approach

 
General
Approach

 
Advanced Approach

 
Standardized
Approach

 
General
Approach

 
Advanced & Standardized Approach Minimum
capital
ratios (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
(in billions, except ratios)
2015

 
2015

 
2014

 
2015

 
2015

 
2014

 
2015
Regulatory capital:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity tier 1
$
144.2

 
144.2

 
137.1

 
126.9

 
126.9

 
119.9

 
 
Tier 1
164.6

 
164.6

 
154.7

 
126.9

 
126.9

 
119.9

 
 
Total
195.2

 
205.6

 
192.9

 
140.5

 
150.0

 
144.0

 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-weighted
$
1,263.2

 
1,303.1

 
1,242.5

 
1,100.9

 
1,197.6

 
1,142.5

 
 
Adjusted average (2)
1,757.1

 
1,757.1

 
1,637.0

 
1,584.3

 
1,584.3

 
1,487.6

 
 
Regulatory capital ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity tier 1 capital
11.42
%
 
11.07

*
11.04

 
11.53

 
10.60

*
10.49

 
4.50
Tier 1 capital
13.03

 
12.63

*
12.45

 
11.53

 
10.60

*
10.49

 
6.00
Total capital
15.45

*
15.77

 
15.53

 
12.77

 
12.52

*
12.61

 
8.00
Tier 1 leverage (2)
9.37

 
9.37

 
9.45

 
8.01

 
8.01

 
8.06

 
4.00
 
*Denotes the lowest capital ratio as determined under the Basel III Advanced and Standardized Approaches.
(1)
As defined by the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC, which apply to Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
(2)
The leverage ratio consists of Tier 1 capital divided by quarterly average total assets, excluding goodwill and certain other items. The minimum leverage ratio guideline is 3% for banking organizations that do not anticipate significant growth and that have well-diversified risk, excellent asset quality, high liquidity, good earnings, effective management and monitoring of market risk and, in general, are considered top-rated, strong banking organizations.

262
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Wells Fargo & Company:
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 . These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 , in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 , based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 24, 2016 , expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
 
/s/ KPMG LLP                         
 
San Francisco, California
February 24, 2016

 
Wells Fargo & Company
263


Quarterly Financial Data
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income - Quarterly (Unaudited)
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
 
Quarter ended 
 
 
Quarter ended 
 
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

 
Dec 31,

 
Sep 30,

 
Jun 30,

 
Mar 31,

Interest income
$
12,643

 
12,445

 
12,226

 
11,963

 
12,183

 
11,964

 
11,793

 
11,612

Interest expense
1,055

 
988

 
956

 
977

 
1,003

 
1,023

 
1,002

 
997

Net interest income
11,588

 
11,457

 
11,270

 
10,986

 
11,180


10,941


10,791


10,615

Provision for credit losses
831

 
703

 
300

 
608

 
485

 
368

 
217

 
325

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
10,757

 
10,754

 
10,970

 
10,378

 
10,695


10,573


10,574


10,290

Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
1,329

 
1,335

 
1,289

 
1,215

 
1,241

 
1,311

 
1,283

 
1,215

Trust and investment fees
3,511

 
3,570

 
3,710

 
3,677

 
3,705

 
3,554

 
3,609

 
3,412

Card fees
966

 
953

 
930

 
871

 
925

 
875

 
847

 
784

Other fees
1,040

 
1,099

 
1,107

 
1,078

 
1,124

 
1,090

 
1,088

 
1,047

Mortgage banking
1,660

 
1,589

 
1,705

 
1,547

 
1,515

 
1,633

 
1,723

 
1,510

Insurance
427

 
376

 
461

 
430

 
382

 
388

 
453

 
432

Net gains (losses) from trading activities
99

 
(26
)
 
133

 
408

 
179

 
168

 
382

 
432

Net gains on debt securities
346

 
147

 
181

 
278

 
186

 
253

 
71

 
83

Net gains from equity investments
423

 
920

 
517

 
370

 
372

 
712

 
449

 
847

Lease income
145

 
189

 
155

 
132

 
127

 
137

 
129

 
133

Other
52

 
266

 
(140
)
 
286

 
507

 
151

 
241

 
115

Total noninterest income
9,998

 
10,418

 
10,048

 
10,292

 
10,263

 
10,272


10,275


10,010

Noninterest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries
4,061

 
4,035

 
3,936

 
3,851

 
3,938

 
3,914

 
3,795

 
3,728

Commission and incentive compensation
2,457

 
2,604

 
2,606

 
2,685

 
2,582

 
2,527

 
2,445

 
2,416

Employee benefits
1,042

 
821

 
1,106

 
1,477

 
1,124

 
931

 
1,170

 
1,372

Equipment
640

 
459

 
470

 
494

 
581

 
457

 
445

 
490

Net occupancy
725

 
728

 
710

 
723

 
730

 
731

 
722

 
742

Core deposit and other intangibles
311

 
311

 
312

 
312

 
338

 
342

 
349

 
341

FDIC and other deposit assessments
258

 
245

 
222

 
248

 
231

 
229

 
225

 
243

Other
3,105

 
3,196

 
3,107

 
2,717

 
3,123

 
3,117

 
3,043

 
2,616

Total noninterest expense
12,599

 
12,399

 
12,469

 
12,507

 
12,647

 
12,248

 
12,194

 
11,948

Income before income tax expense
8,156

 
8,773

 
8,549

 
8,163

 
8,311

 
8,597

 
8,655

 
8,352

Income tax expense
2,533

 
2,790

 
2,763

 
2,279

 
2,519

 
2,642

 
2,869

 
2,277

Net income before noncontrolling interests
5,623

 
5,983

 
5,786

 
5,884

 
5,792

 
5,955

 
5,786

 
6,075

Less: Net income from noncontrolling interests
48

 
187

 
67

 
80

 
83

 
226

 
60

 
182

Wells Fargo net income
$
5,575

 
5,796

 
5,719

 
5,804

 
5,709

 
5,729

 
5,726

 
5,893

Less: Preferred stock dividends and other
372

 
353

 
356

 
343

 
327

 
321

 
302

 
286

Wells Fargo net income applicable to common stock
5,203

 
5,443

 
5,363

 
5,461

 
5,382

 
5,408

 
5,424

 
5,607

Per share information
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share
$
1.02

 
1.06

 
1.04

 
1.06

 
1.04

 
1.04

 
1.02

 
1.07

Diluted earnings per common share
1.00

 
1.05

 
1.03

 
1.04

 
1.02

 
1.02

 
1.01

 
1.05

Dividends declared per common share
0.38

 
0.38

 
0.38

 
0.35

 
0.35

 
0.35

 
0.35

 
0.30

Average common shares outstanding
5,108.5

 
5,125.8

 
5,151.9

 
5,160.4

 
5,192.5

 
5,225.9

 
5,268.4

 
5,262.8

Diluted average common shares outstanding
5,177.9

 
5,193.8

 
5,220.5

 
5,243.6

 
5,279.2

 
5,310.4

 
5,350.8

 
5,353.3

Market price per common share (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
56.34

 
58.77

 
58.26

 
56.29

 
55.95

 
53.80

 
53.05

 
49.97

Low
49.51

 
47.75

 
53.56

 
50.42

 
46.44

 
49.47

 
46.72

 
44.17

Quarter-end
54.36

 
51.35

 
56.24

 
54.40

 
54.82

 
51.87

 
52.56

 
49.74

(1)
Based on daily prices reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transaction Reporting System.





264
Wells Fargo & Company
 

Average Balances, Yields and Rates Paid (Taxable-Equivalent basis) - Quarterly (1)(2) - (Unaudited)
 
Quarter ended December 31,
 
 
2015
 
 
2014
 
(in millions)
Average
balance

 
Yields/
rates

 
Interest
income/
expense

 
Average
balance

 
Yields/
rates

 
Interest
income/
expense

Earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal funds sold, securities purchased under resale agreements and other short-term investments
$
274,589

 
0.28
%
 
$
195

 
268,109

 
0.28
%
 
$
188

Trading assets
68,833

 
3.33

 
573

 
60,383

 
3.21

 
485

Investment securities (3):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
34,617

 
1.58

 
137

 
19,506

 
1.55

 
76

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
49,300

 
4.37

 
539

 
43,891

 
4.30

 
472

Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal agencies
102,281

 
2.79

 
712

 
109,270

 
2.78

 
760

Residential and commercial
21,502

 
5.51

 
297

 
24,711

 
5.89

 
364

Total mortgage-backed securities
123,783

 
3.26

 
1,009

 
133,981

 
3.36

 
1,124

Other debt and equity securities
52,701

 
3.35

 
444

 
44,980

 
3.87

 
438

Total available-for-sale securities
260,401

 
3.27

 
2,129

 
242,358

 
3.48

 
2,110

Held-to-maturity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities of U.S. Treasury and federal agencies
44,656

 
2.18

 
246

 
32,930

 
2.25

 
187

Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions
2,158

 
6.07

 
33

 
902

 
4.92

 
11

Federal agency mortgage-backed securities
28,185

 
2.42

 
170

 
5,586

 
2.07

 
29

Other debt securities
4,876

 
1.77

 
22

 
6,118

 
1.81

 
27

Total held-to-maturity securities
79,875

 
2.35

 
471

 
45,536

 
2.22

 
254

Total investment securities
340,276

 
3.05

 
2,600

 
287,894

 
3.28

 
2,364

Mortgages held for sale (4)
19,189

 
3.66

 
176

 
19,191

 
3.90

 
187

Loans held for sale (4)
363

 
4.96

 
5

 
6,968

 
1.43

 
25

Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial - U.S.
250,445

 
3.25

 
2,048

 
218,297

 
3.32

 
1,825

Commercial and industrial - Non U.S.
47,972

 
1.97

 
239

 
43,049

 
2.03

 
221

Real estate mortgage
121,844

 
3.30

 
1,012

 
112,277

 
3.69

 
1,044

Real estate construction
21,993

 
3.27

 
182

 
18,336

 
4.33

 
200

Lease financing
12,241

 
4.48

 
136

 
12,268

 
5.35

 
164

Total commercial
454,495

 
3.16

 
3,617

 
404,227

 
3.39

 
3,454

Consumer:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate 1-4 family first mortgage
272,871

 
4.04

 
2,759

 
264,799

 
4.16

 
2,754

Real estate 1-4 family junior lien mortgage
53,788

 
4.28

 
579

 
60,177

 
4.28

 
648

Credit card
32,795

 
11.61

 
960

 
29,477

 
11.71

 
870

Automobile
59,505

 
5.74

 
862

 
55,457

 
6.08

 
849

Other revolving credit and installment
38,826

 
5.83

 
571

 
35,292

 
6.01

 
534

Total consumer
457,785

 
4.99

 
5,731

 
445,202

 
5.06

 
5,655

Total loans (4)
912,280

 
4.08

 
9,348

 
849,429

 
4.27

 
9,109

Other
5,166

 
4.82

 
61

 
4,829

 
5.30

 
64

Total earning assets
$
1,620,696

 
3.18
%
 
$
12,958

 
1,496,803

 
3.31
%
 
$
12,422

Funding sources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing checking
$
39,082

 
0.05
%
 
$
5

 
40,498

 
0.06
%
 
$
6

Market rate and other savings
640,503

 
0.06

 
93

 
593,940

 
0.07

 
99

Savings certificates
29,654

 
0.54

 
41

 
35,870

 
0.80

 
72

Other time deposits
49,806

 
0.52

 
64

 
56,119

 
0.39

 
55

Deposits in foreign offices
107,094

 
0.14

 
38

 
99,289

 
0.15

 
37

Total interest-bearing deposits
866,139

 
0.11

 
241

 
825,716

 
0.13

 
269

Short-term borrowings
102,915

 
0.05

 
12

 
64,676

 
0.12

 
19

Long-term debt
190,861

 
1.49

 
713

 
183,286

 
1.35

 
620

Other liabilities
16,453

 
2.14

 
88

 
15,580

 
2.44

 
96

Total interest-bearing liabilities
1,176,368

 
0.36

 
1,054

 
1,089,258

 
0.37

 
1,004

Portion of noninterest-bearing funding sources
444,328

 


 


 
407,545

 
—

 
—

Total funding sources
$
1,620,696

 
0.26

 
1,054

 
1,496,803

 
0.27

 
1,004

Net interest margin and net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis (5)
 
 
2.92
%
 
$
11,904

 
 
 
3.04
%
 
$
11,418

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noninterest-earning assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
17,804

 
 
 
 
 
16,932

 
 
 
 
Goodwill
25,580

 
 
 
 
 
25,705

 
 
 
 
Other
123,207

 
 
 
 
 
124,320

 
 
 
 
Total noninterest-earning assets
$
166,591

 
 
 
 
 
166,957

 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing funding sources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
$
350,670

 
 
 
 
 
324,080

 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
65,224

 
 
 
 
 
65,672

 
 
 
 
Total equity
195,025

 
 
 
 
 
184,750

 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing funding sources used to fund earning assets
(444,328
)
 
 
 
 
 
(407,545
)
 
 
 
 
Net noninterest-bearing funding sources
$
166,591

 
 
 
 
 
166,957

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
1,787,287

 
 
 
 
 
1,663,760

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Our average prime rate was 3.29% and 3.25% for the quarters ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The average three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) was 0.41% and 0.24% for the same quarters, respectively.
(2)
Yield/rates and amounts include the effects of hedge and risk management activities associated with the respective asset and liability categories.
(3)
Yields and rates are based on interest income/expense amounts for the period, annualized based on the accrual basis for the respective accounts. The average balance amounts represent amortized cost for the periods presented.
(4)
Nonaccrual loans and related income are included in their respective loan categories.
(5)
Includes taxable-equivalent adjustments of $316 million and $238 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively, primarily related to tax-exempt income on certain loans and securities. The federal statutory tax rate was 35% for the periods presented.

 
Wells Fargo & Company
265


Glossary of Acronyms
 
 
 
 
ABS
Asset-backed securities
GSE
Government-sponsored entity
ACL
Allowance for credit losses
G-SIB
Globally systemic important bank
ALCO
Asset/Liability Management Committee
HAMP
Home Affordability Modification Program
ARM
Adjustable-rate mortgage
HUD
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
ASC
Accounting Standards Codification
LCR
Liquidity coverage ratio
ASU
Accounting Standards Update
LHFS
Loans held for sale
AUA
Assets under administration
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate
AUM
Assets under management
LIHTC
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
AVM
Automated valuation model
LOCOM
Lower of cost or market value
BCBS
Basel Committee on Bank Supervision
LTV
Loan-to-value
BHC
Bank holding company
MBS
Mortgage-backed security
CCAR
Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review
MHA
Making Home Affordable programs
CD
Certificate of deposit
MHFS
Mortgages held for sale
CDO
Collateralized debt obligation
MSR
Mortgage servicing right
CDS
Credit default swaps
MTN
Medium-term note
CET1
Common Equity Tier 1
NAV
Net asset value
CFTC
U. S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
NPA
Nonperforming asset
CLO
Collateralized loan obligation
OCC
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
CLTV
Combined loan-to-value
OCI
Other comprehensive income
CMBS
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
OTC
Over-the-counter
CPP
Capital Purchase Program
OTTI
Other-than-temporary impairment
CRE
Commercial real estate
PCI Loans
Purchased credit-impaired loans
DOJ
U. S. Department of Justice
PTPP
Pre-tax pre-provision profit
DPD
Days past due
RBC
Risk-based capital
ESOP
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
RMBS
Residential mortgage-backed securities
FAS
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
ROA
Wells Fargo net income to average total assets
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
ROE
Wells Fargo net income applicable to common stock
FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
 
to average Wells Fargo common stockholders' equity
FFELP
Federal Family Education Loan Program
RWAs
Risk-weighted assets
FHA
Federal Housing Administration
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
FHFA
Federal Housing Finance Agency
S&P
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services
FHLB
Federal Home Loan Bank
SPE
Special purpose entity
FHLMC
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
TARP
Troubled Asset Relief Program
FICO
Fair Isaac Corporation (credit rating)
TDR
Troubled debt restructuring
FNMA
Federal National Mortgage Association
VA
Department of Veterans Affairs
FRB
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
VaR
Value-at-Risk
GAAP
Generally accepted accounting principles
VIE
Variable interest entity
GNMA
Government National Mortgage Association
 
 


266
Wells Fargo & Company
 


Exhibit 21

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE PARENT
 
 
 
The table below is a list of direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Parent as of December 31, 2015, and the state or jurisdiction in which the subsidiaries are organized. Pursuant to Item 601(b)(21)(ii) of Regulation S-K, certain subsidiaries of the Parent have been omitted from this list because, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, such subsidiaries would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X.
 
 
 
Subsidiary
 
Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization
AILS, Inc.
 
Delaware
Augustus Ventures, L.L.C.
 
Nevada
Azalea Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Bergamasco Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
Biscoe Finance, LLC
 
Delaware
Brittlebush Financing, LLC
 
Nevada
Carnation Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Danube I Limited Partner, LLC
 
Delaware
Eastdil Secured Broker Services, Inc.
 
Delaware
EVEREN Capital Corporation
 
Delaware
Falcon Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
First Clearing, LLC
 
Delaware
FNL Insurance Company, Ltd
 
Hawaii
Greenfield Funding, LLC
 
Minnesota
Iapetus Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
IntraWest Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Island Finance Holding Company, LLC
 
Cayman Islands
Komondor Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
Mastiff Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
Monument Street Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
Mulberry Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Norwest Financial Funding, Inc.
 
Nevada
Norwest Limited LP, LLLP
 
Delaware
Norwest Venture Partners X, LP
 
Delaware
OmniPlus Capital Corporation
 
Tennessee
Pelican Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Peony Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Pheasant Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
PRN Holdings, LLC
 
Delaware
Pumi Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
Pyrenees Funding, LLC
 
Delaware
REDUS Properties, Inc.
 
Delaware
Ruby Asset Management Inc.
 
Maryland
Sagebrush Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Saguaro Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Salvo Finance GP
 
Delaware
Silver Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Sirius Funding, LLC
 
Delaware




Sparta GP Holding, LLC
 
Delaware
Stagecoach Wagon Wheel, Inc.
 
California
The Thirty-Eight Hundred Fund, LLC
 
Delaware
Thirty-Eight Hundred Holdings, LLC
 
Delaware
Thirty-Eight Hundred Investments Limited
 
Cayman Islands
Trade School Finance LLC
 
Delaware
Union Hamilton Reinsurance, Ltd.
 
Bermuda
Violet Asset Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
Wachovia Investors, Inc.
 
North Carolina
Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp.
 
Delaware
Wachovia Preferred Funding Holding Corp.
 
California
Wachovia Trade Finance Corporation
 
Delaware
Wells Capital Management Incorporated
 
California
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Auto Receivables, LLC
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Bank International
 
Ireland
Wells Fargo Bank South Central, National Association
 
United States
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
 
United States
Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Distribution Finance, LLC
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc.
 
Minnesota
Wells Fargo Financial National Bank
 
United States
Wells Fargo Funding, Inc.
 
Minnesota
Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Real Estate Funding 1, Inc.
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Insurance Re, Inc.
 
Vermont
Wells Fargo International B.V.
 
Netherlands
Wells Fargo Investment Group, Inc.
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Merchant Services, L.L.C.
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Real Estate Investment Corporation
 
Delaware
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
 
Delaware
WFC Holdings Corporation
 
Delaware
Whippet Funding, LLC
 
Delaware




Exhibit 23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Wells Fargo & Company:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements noted below on Forms S‑3, S-4, and S‑8 of Wells Fargo & Company of our reports dated February 24, 2016, with respect to the consolidated balance sheet of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 , and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 , and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 , which reports appear in the December 31, 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Wells Fargo & Company.
Registration Statement Number
Form
Description
333-195697
S-3
Universal Shelf 2014
333-202840
S-3
Debt Shelf 2015
333-205270
S-3
Wells Fargo Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
333-154879
S-4/S-8
Wachovia Corporation
333-152415
S-8
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
333-168819
S-8
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
333-192903
S-8
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
333-173386
S-8
401(k) Plan
333-180997
S-8
Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan
333-173387
S-8
Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan
333-105091
S-8
Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan
333-149566
S-8
Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan
333-158711
S-8
Directors Stock Compensation and Deferral Plan
333-176266
S-8
Special Deferral Plan for Select Employees and Special Award Plan
333-142941
S-8
Deferred Compensation Plan
333-164082
S-8
Deferred Compensation Plan
333-207636
S-8
Deferred Compensation Plan
333-158712
S-8
Wells Fargo Stock Purchase Plan
333-161529
S-8
Wachovia Deferred Compensation Obligations
333-200400
S-8
Supplemental 401(k) Plan


/s/ KPMG LLP         

San Francisco, California
February 24, 2016






Exhibit 24
 
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
 
Power of Attorney of Director
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute, and appoint JAMES H. QUIGLEY, a director and Chairman of the Audit and Examination Committee of the Board of Directors, and ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, JR., a director and member of the Audit and Examination Committee of the Board of Directors, and each or either of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place, and stead, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director of said Company to an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 , and all amendments thereto, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations of said Commission, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each or either of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 23rd day of February, 2016.
  
/s/ JOHN D. BAKER II
/s/ CYNTHIA H. MILLIGAN
/s/ ELAINE L. CHAO
/s/ FEDERICO F. PEÑA
/s/ JOHN S. CHEN
/s/ JAMES H. QUIGLEY
/s/ LLOYD H. DEAN
/s/ STEPHEN W. SANGER
/s/ ELIZABETH A. DUKE
/s/ JOHN G. STUMPF
/s/ SUSAN E. ENGEL
/s/ SUSAN G. SWENSON
/s/ ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, JR.
/s/ SUZANNE M. VAUTRINOT
/s/ DONALD M. JAMES
 





Exhibit 31(a)
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, John G. Stumpf, certify that:
 
1.        I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 , of Wells Fargo & Company;
2.        Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) 
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)  
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) 
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)  
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) 
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) 
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: February 24, 2016
/s/ JOHN G. STUMPF                                      
John G. Stumpf
Chief Executive Officer





Exhibit 31(b)
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, John R. Shrewsberry, certify that:
 
1.        I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 , of Wells Fargo & Company;
2.        Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) 
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)  
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;  
(c) 
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)  
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) 
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) 
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: February 24, 2016
/s/ JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY               
John R. Shrewsberry
Chief Financial Officer





Exhibit 32(a)
 
 
Certifications Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002  
  
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Wells Fargo & Company (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2015 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John G. Stumpf, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
(1)    
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and  
 
(2)    
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN G. STUMPF                                          
John G. Stumpf
Chief Executive Officer
Wells Fargo & Company
February 24, 2016





Exhibit 32(b)
 
 
Certifications Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Wells Fargo & Company (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2015 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John R. Shrewsberry, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
(1)    
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and  
 
(2)    
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY                 
John R. Shrewsberry
Chief Financial Officer
Wells Fargo & Company
February 24, 2016