As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2020
Registration Nos.
and
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
41-0449260
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104
(866) 249-3302
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
code, of Wells Fargo & Company’s principal executive offices)
Anthony R. Augliera
Executive Vice President and Secretary
Wells Fargo & Company
MAC #D1130-117
301 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28282
(704) 383-4901
(Name, address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
41-0449260
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
30 Hudson Yards, Floor 14
New York, New York 10001
(415) 371-2921
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
code, of Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s principal executive offices)
Anthony R. Augliera
Executive Vice President and Secretary
Wells Fargo & Company
MAC #D1130-117
301 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28282
(704) 383-4901
(Name, address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Mary E. Schaffner Wells Fargo & Company MAC#N9305-173 Wells Fargo Center, 17th Floor Sixth and Marquette Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479 (866) 249-3302 |
Dawn Holicky Pruitt Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 2200 Wells Fargo Center 90 South Seventh Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-3901 (612) 766-7000 |
Christopher S. Schell Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP 450 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10017 (212) 450-4000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Wells Fargo & Company
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Smaller reporting company ☐ | ||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each Class of Securities to be Registered (1) |
Amount
to be Registered (2) |
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of
Registration Fee |
(7) | (8) | $13,000,000,000 (9) | $1,687,400 (9) | |
Wells Fargo & Company | ||||
Debt securities (3), warrants (4), units (5) and purchase contracts (6) | ||||
Guarantees of debt securities, warrants, units and purchase contracts of Wells Fargo Finance LLC |
||||
Wells Fargo Finance LLC | ||||
Debt securities (3), warrants (4), units (5) and purchase contracts (6) | ||||
(1) | Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. |
(2) | There is being registered hereby such indeterminate amount of the identified classes of securities as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. No additional consideration will be received for the guarantees of debt securities, warrants, units and purchase contracts of Wells Fargo Finance LLC. |
(3) | Debt securities to be offered hereunder will consist of one or more series of debt securities, as more fully described herein. |
(4) | Warrants may be issued together in units with any purchase contracts, debt securities or other securities of an affiliated or unaffiliated entity of Wells Fargo & Company. |
(5) | The units to be offered hereunder may consist of one or more warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities, other securities of an affiliated or unaffiliated entity of Wells Fargo & Company or any combination thereof. |
(6) | The purchase contracts may require the holder thereof to purchase or sell (i) securities of Wells Fargo & Company or an affiliate, a basket of such securities or any combination of the above or an index or indices of such securities, (ii) securities of an entity unaffiliated with Wells Fargo & Company, a basket of such securities or any combination of the above or an index or indices of such securities, (iii) currencies, (iv) commodities, (v) exchange-traded funds or (vi) other property. |
(7) | This Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of the registered securities that may be reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after their initial sale in market-making transactions by affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. These securities consist of (i) an indeterminate amount of such securities that are initially being registered, and will initially be offered and sold, under this Registration Statement and (ii) an indeterminate amount of other securities of Wells Fargo & Company initially offered and sold under other registration statements. All such market-making transactions with respect to securities that are made pursuant to a prospectus supplement relating to, and after the effectiveness of, this Registration Statement are being made pursuant to the base prospectus contained in this Registration Statement. |
(8) | Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3. The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by Wells Fargo & Company or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, in connection with the issuance of securities registered hereunder. |
(9) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price reflected in the table above has been estimated solely for purposes of calculating a registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such amount will be updated prior to the effectiveness of this Registration Statement to include an amount of unsold securities that were previously registered on the Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (Nos. 333-221324 and 333-221324-01) (the “Prior Registration Statement”), pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 415(a)(6)”). At such time as the Registrants request effectiveness of this Registration Statement, the Registrants will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this Registration Statement any unsold securities from the Prior Registration Statement to be included in this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the registration fee relating to those unsold securities will continue to be applied to those unsold securities registered pursuant to this Registration Statement, and no additional registration fee will be paid with respect to those unsold securities. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of unsold securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this Registration Statement. In no event will the aggregate offering price of the securities issued under this Registration Statement exceed the amount registered. No separate registration fee is required for any of the guarantees, and no separate registration fee is required for the registration of the indeterminate amount of securities to be offered solely for market-making purposes by affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. |
The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Explanatory Note
The base prospectus included in this Registration Statement may also be used by affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company, including Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors (the trade name of the retail brokerage business of Wells Fargo & Company’s affiliates, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC), in market-making transactions in the securities described in the table above after they are initially offered and sold and in other securities of Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Finance LLC offered and sold under prior registration statements.
PROSPECTUS
$13,000,000,000
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104
(866) 249-3302
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Purchase Contracts
Guarantees
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
30 Hudson Yards, Floor 14
New York, New York 10001
(415) 371-2921
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Purchase Contracts
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Wells Fargo & Company
We, Wells Fargo & Company, may from time to time offer and sell any of our securities listed above. Our wholly-owned finance subsidiary, Wells Fargo Finance LLC, also may from time to time offer and sell any of its securities listed above. We fully and unconditionally guarantee all payments of principal, interest and other amounts payable on any such securities Wells Fargo Finance LLC issues. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any additional supplements to this prospectus carefully before you invest.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
These securities are the unsecured obligations of Wells Fargo & Company or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, and, accordingly, all payments are subject to credit risk. If Wells Fargo & Company or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as issuer, and Wells Fargo & Company, as guarantor, if applicable, default on their obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. The securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of a depository institution and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency.
We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC will use this prospectus in the initial sales of the securities. In addition, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Wells Fargo Advisors (the trade name of the retail brokerage business of our affiliates, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC) or another of our affiliates, may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction in any of the securities after their initial sale.
Investing in the securities involves risks. You should consider the risk factors described in any accompanying supplement and in any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Risk Factors” on page 2.
This prospectus is dated , 2020.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we and Wells Fargo Finance LLC filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. In addition, our subsidiary, Wells Fargo Finance LLC, may sell securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC may issue. Each time we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Such prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We or Wells Fargo Finance LLC may also prepare free writing prospectuses that describe particular debt securities. Any free writing prospectus should also be read in connection with this prospectus and with any prospectus supplement referred to therein. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to an applicable prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires.
When we refer to “Wells Fargo,” “we,” “our” and “us” in this prospectus under the heading “Wells Fargo & Company,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries. When such terms are used elsewhere in this prospectus, we refer only to Wells Fargo & Company unless the context otherwise requires or as otherwise indicated.
The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us, Wells Fargo Finance LLC and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC office mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
The distribution of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
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Your investment in the securities involves risks. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors contained in our annual and quarterly reports. Additional risk factors specific to particular securities will be detailed in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should consult your financial, legal, tax and other professional advisors as to the risks associated with an investment in our securities and the suitability of the investment for you.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information about us is also available on our website at https://www.wellsfargo.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference in, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, product supplement or pricing supplement.
We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus and/or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “Exchange Act,” (i) after the initial filing of the registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, and (ii) on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the later of (1) the time that we sell all the securities offered by this prospectus and (2) the date that our broker-dealer subsidiaries cease offering securities in market-making transactions pursuant to this prospectus (other than any documents or any portions of any documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules):
● | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, including information specifically incorporated by reference into our Form 10-K from our 2019 Annual Report to Stockholders and our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; |
● | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020; and |
You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:
Office of the Corporate Secretary
Wells Fargo & Company
Two Wells Fargo Center
301 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Phone: (704) 374-3234
We will not be providing you with any financial statements for Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as permitted by the SEC in Rule 3-10(b) of Regulation S-X. Wells Fargo Finance LLC is our 100%-owned finance subsidiary, and
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the securities Wells Fargo Finance LLC may issue under this prospectus will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us. As such, you should look to, read, and rely solely upon the financial statements that we file with the SEC.
Neither we nor any underwriters or agents have authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering these securities in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.
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We are a diversified, community-based financial services company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and registered as a financial holding company and a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, we provide banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through banking locations, ATMs, the internet and mobile banking, and we have international offices to support our customers who conduct business in the global economy.
We are a separate and distinct legal entity from our banking and other subsidiaries. A significant source of funds to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock and debt service on our debt is dividends from our subsidiaries. Various federal and state statutes and regulations limit the amount of dividends that our banking and other subsidiaries may pay to us without regulatory approval.
Wells Fargo Finance LLC is a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly-owned finance subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company.
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Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will contribute the net proceeds that we receive from the sale of our securities to our general funds that will be available for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:
● | investments in or advances to our existing or future subsidiaries; |
● | repayment of obligations that have matured; |
● | the repurchase or redemption of our outstanding securities; and |
● | reducing our outstanding debt. |
Until the net proceeds have been used, they will be invested in short-term securities.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, Wells Fargo Finance LLC intends to lend the net proceeds from the sale of its offered securities to us and/or our affiliates. We expect that we and/or our affiliates will use the proceeds from these loans for general corporate purposes, including the purposes set forth above.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES OF WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
In this “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company” section, all references to “debt securities” refer only to debt securities issued by Wells Fargo & Company and not to any debt securities issued by any subsidiary or affiliate.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those debt securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of February 21, 2017 between us and Citibank, N.A., as trustee, referred to in this “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company” section as the “indenture.” We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the indenture in this section. We have also filed the indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the indenture for additional information before you buy any debt securities. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of the indenture so that you can more easily locate these provisions.
A prospectus supplement to this prospectus may relate to a series of medium-term notes, established as a series of debt securities under the indenture. In that event, references herein to terms and conditions of debt securities being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such debt securities.
General
The debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured unsubordinated debt. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. Holders of the debt securities may be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event we enter into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding.
The debt securities are our unsecured senior debt securities, but our assets consist primarily of equity in our subsidiaries. We are a separate and distinct legal entity from our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make payments on our debt securities depends on our receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from our subsidiaries. Various federal and state statutes and regulations limit the amount of dividends that our banking and other subsidiaries may pay us without regulatory approval. In addition, if any of our subsidiaries becomes insolvent, the direct creditors of that subsidiary will have a prior claim on its assets. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including your rights as an owner of our debt securities, will be subject to that prior claim, unless we are also a direct creditor of that subsidiary. This subordination of creditors of a parent company to prior claims of creditors of its subsidiaries is commonly referred to as structural subordination.
New York State law governs the indenture under which the debt securities will be issued. New York has usury laws that limit the amount of interest that can be charged and paid on loans, which includes debt securities. Under present New York usury law, the maximum permissible rate of interest, subject to some exceptions, is 16% per annum on a simple interest basis for debt securities in which less than $250,000 has been invested and 25% per annum on a simple interest basis for debt securities in which $250,000 or more has been invested. This limit may not apply to debt securities in which $2,500,000 or more has been invested. We agree, to the extent permitted by law, not to voluntarily claim the benefits of any such usury laws in connection with the debt securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of a series of debt securities, issue additional debt securities of that series having the same terms as previously issued debt securities of that series (other than the issue date, the date, if any, that interest begins to accrue and the price to public, which may vary). Any such additional debt securities, together with the initial debt securities, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture. No additional debt securities of a series may be issued if an event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to that series of debt securities.
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A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. (Section 301) These terms will include some or all of the following:
● | the title and type of the debt securities; |
● | any limit on the total principal or face amount of the debt securities of that series; |
● | the price at which the debt securities will be issued; |
● | the place or places where: |
● | we can make payments on the debt securities; |
● | the debt securities can be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; and |
● | notices and demands can be given to us relating to the debt securities and under the indenture; |
● | any optional provisions that would permit us to elect redemption of the debt securities, or the holders of the debt securities to elect repayment of the debt securities, before their final maturity; |
● | if the debt security may be extended at our option or renewed at a holder’s option, the provisions relating to extension of the debt security or renewal of the debt security; |
● | the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars, and, if a composite currency, any special provisions relating thereto; |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be paid in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated and any provisions relating thereto; |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be issued in authorized denominations other than $1,000 each and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
● | any circumstances under which the depositary (the “depositary”) for global securities (“global securities” are debt securities that we issue in accordance with the indenture to represent all or part of a series of debt securities) issued under the indenture is other than The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”); |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be listed on any securities exchange or automated quotation system; |
● | the date or dates on which the debt securities will be issued; |
● | the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will be payable; |
● | the maturity date or dates of the debt securities or the method by which those dates can be determined; |
● | if the amount payable on the debt security will be determined by reference to one or more equity-, commodity- or currency-based indices, exchange traded funds, securities, commodities, currencies, statistical measures of economic or financial performance, or a basket comprised of any of the foregoing, or any other measure (referred to herein as a “market measure”), the method by which the amount payable will be determined and information about such market measure or measures; |
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● | if the debt securities will bear interest at a fixed or floating rate or at a rate determined by reference to a market measure: |
● | the interest rate on the debt securities or the method by which the interest rate may be determined; |
● | the date from which interest will accrue; |
● | the record and interest payment dates for the debt securities; and |
● | the first interest payment date; |
● | if the debt securities may be optionally or mandatorily converted or exchanged: (i) the terms on which holders of the debt securities may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for debt, equity or other securities of an entity unaffiliated with us, or into any other property or for the cash value of any such debt securities or other property; (ii) the terms on which conversion or exchange may occur, including whether any optional conversion or exchange occurs at the option of the holder or at our option; (iii) the date on which, or period during which, such conversion or exchange may occur; (iv) the initial conversion or exchange price or rate; and (v) the circumstances or manner in which the amount of any debt securities, or any other property or the cash value of any such debt securities or other property upon conversion or exchange may be adjusted; |
● | the identity of the calculation agent (the “calculation agent”), if applicable, for the debt securities if other than Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, one of our affiliates; |
● | the identity of the security registrar and paying agent for the debt securities if other than Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo Bank”), one of our affiliates; |
● | any special tax implications of the debt securities; |
● | any events of default and covenant breaches which will apply to the debt securities in addition to those contained in the indenture; |
● | any additions or changes to the covenants contained in the indenture and the ability, if any, of the holders to waive our compliance with those additional or changed covenants; and |
● | any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture. |
When we use the term “holder” in this prospectus with respect to a registered debt security, we mean the person in whose name such debt security is registered in the security register. (Section 101)
Holders may present debt securities for exchange or transfer, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the debt securities are held as global securities, the procedures for transfer will depend upon procedures of the depositary for those global securities. See “Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” herein.
Holders may present debt securities for payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, register the transfer of the debt securities and exchange the debt securities at the agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota maintained by us for that purpose. On the date of this prospectus, the paying agent for the debt securities issued under the indenture is Wells Fargo Bank, acting through its corporate trust office at 600 South 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415. We refer to Wells Fargo Bank, acting in this capacity for our debt securities, as the “paying agent.”
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Any money that we pay to the paying agent for the purpose of making payments on the debt securities and that remains unclaimed two years after the payments were due will, at our request, be returned to us and after that time any holder of a debt security can only look to us for the payments on the debt security. (Section 1003)
Although we anticipate making payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on most debt securities in U.S. dollars, some debt securities may be payable in foreign currencies as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most U.S. banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a debt security payable in euros, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.
When we refer to the payment of “principal” in this prospectus in the context of the amount payable at stated maturity or earlier redemption or repayment of a debt security whose payment is linked to the performance of a market measure, we are referring to the amount payable on such debt security at stated maturity or earlier redemption or repayment, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, other than any interest payable at such time. Such amount may be greater than, equal to or less than the stated principal or face amount of such debt security at issuance.
Fixed Rate Debt Securities
We may issue debt securities that bear interest at a fixed rate (“fixed rate debt securities”). Each fixed rate debt security will bear interest from the date of issuance at the annual rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement until the principal is paid or made available for payment.
Floating Rate Debt Securities
We may issue debt securities that bear interest at a floating rate determined by reference to a base rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement (“floating rate debt securities”).
Redemption and Repayment
General. Any redemption by us of debt securities may be subject to the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other appropriate federal banking agency.
Optional Redemption By Us. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate the terms of our option to redeem the debt securities offered thereby.
Repayment At Option Of Holder. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate that the holder has the option to have us repay the debt securities offered thereby on a date or dates specified prior to their stated maturity date.
Open Market Purchases. We may purchase debt securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. Debt securities so purchased by us may, at our discretion, be held or resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the debt securities offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such debt securities.
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Conversion and Exchange
If any offered debt securities are optionally or mandatorily convertible or exchangeable into debt, equity or other securities of an entity unaffiliated with us, or into any other property or for the cash value of any such securities or other property, the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities will include the terms and conditions governing any conversions and exchanges.
Denominations
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 each and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Trustee
From time to time, we and certain of our subsidiaries maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions, including lending transactions, with the trustee in the ordinary course of business.
Notices
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any notices required to be given to the holders of the debt securities in global form will be given to the depositary.
Governing Law
The indenture is, and the debt securities will be, governed by and will be construed in accordance with New York law.
No Listing
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Covenants
Except as otherwise set forth in the next sentence, the indenture:
● | prohibits us and our subsidiaries from selling, pledging, assigning or otherwise disposing of shares of capital stock, or securities convertible into capital stock, of any Principal Subsidiary Bank or of any subsidiary owning, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank; and |
● | prohibits any Principal Subsidiary Bank from issuing any shares of its capital stock or securities convertible into its capital stock. |
This restriction does not apply to:
● | sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances of directors’ qualifying shares; |
● | sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances, so long as, after giving effect to the disposition and to the issuance of any shares issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities convertible or exchangeable into capital stock, we would own directly or through one or more of our subsidiaries not less than 80% of the shares of each class of capital stock of the applicable Principal Subsidiary Bank; |
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● | sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances made in compliance with an order or direction of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction; or |
● | sales of capital stock by any Principal Subsidiary Bank to its stockholders so long as before the sale we own directly or indirectly shares of the same class and the sale does not reduce the percentage of the shares of that class of capital stock owned by us. (Section 1005) |
When we use the term “subsidiary” in this “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company” section, we mean any corporation of which we own more than 50% of the outstanding shares of voting stock, except for directors’ qualifying shares, directly or indirectly through one or more of our other subsidiaries. Voting stock is stock (or the equivalent thereof) that is entitled in the ordinary course to vote for the election of a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of a corporation and does not include stock (or the equivalent thereof) that is entitled to so vote only as a result of the happening of certain events and references to “corporation” refer to corporations, associations, companies (including limited liability companies) and business trusts.
When we use the term “Principal Subsidiary Bank” in this prospectus, we mean any commercial bank or trust company organized in the United States under Federal or state law of which we own at least a majority of the shares of voting stock directly or indirectly through one or more of our subsidiaries if such commercial bank or trust company has total assets, as set forth in its most recent statement of condition, equal to more than 10% of our total consolidated assets, as set forth in our most recent financial statements filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). (Section 101) As of the date hereof, our only Principal Subsidiary Bank is Wells Fargo Bank.
Except as expressly set forth above, the indenture does not contain restrictions on our ability to:
● | incur, assume or become liable for any type of debt or other obligation; |
● | create liens on our property for any purpose; or |
● | pay dividends or make distributions on our capital stock or repurchase or redeem our capital stock. |
The indenture does not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, the indenture does not contain any provisions which would require us to repurchase or redeem or modify the terms of any of the debt securities upon a change of control or other event involving us which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger between us and another entity. It also permits the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. These transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of our subsidiaries, are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indenture; and |
● | immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, no covenant breach (as defined below) or event of default under the indenture exists. (Section 801) |
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the indenture, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indenture, in our name and, except in the case of
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a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and under the debt securities. (Section 802) The indenture permits us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of our subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the indenture to assume our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and the debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
Under the indenture, certain of our rights and obligations and certain of the rights of holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by the modification or amendment, acting as one class. However, the following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:
● | a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest; |
● | a reduction in payments due on the debt securities; |
● | a change in the place of payment or currency in which any payment on the debt securities is payable; |
● | a limitation of a holder’s right to sue us for the enforcement of payments due on the debt securities; |
● | a reduction in the percentage of outstanding debt securities required to consent to a modification or amendment of the indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults under the indenture; |
● | a reduction in the requirements contained in the indenture for quorum or voting; |
● | a limitation of a holder’s right, if any, to repayment of debt securities at the holder’s option; and |
● | a modification of any of the foregoing requirements contained in the indenture. (Section 902) |
Under the indenture, the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by a particular covenant or condition, acting as one class, may, on behalf of all holders of such series of debt securities, waive compliance by us with any covenant or condition contained in the indenture unless we specify that such covenant or condition cannot be so waived at the time we establish the series. The indenture provides that compliance with the covenant relating to Principal Subsidiary Banks described above under “—Covenants” can be waived in this manner. (Section 1008)
In addition, under the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series of debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive any past default under the indenture, except:
● | a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of that series; or |
● | a default under any provision of the indenture which itself cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security of that series. (Section 513) |
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Events of Default and Covenant Breaches
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “event of default,” with respect to any series of debt securities, means any of the following:
(1) | failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due; |
(2) | failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due; |
(3) | the entry by a court having jurisdiction of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging Wells Fargo a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking receivership, insolvency or liquidation of or in respect of Wells Fargo under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, trustee or similar official of Wells Fargo, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; |
(4) | the commencement by Wells Fargo of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, the appointment of a receiver for Wells Fargo under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law following consent by the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo to such appointment, or the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation or similar law following Wells Fargo’s consent to such decree or order; or |
(5) | any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 501) |
If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for a particular offering of debt securities, the holders of our debt securities will not have the right to accelerate the payment of principal of the debt securities as a result of a covenant breach or our failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture other than the obligations to pay principal and interest on the debt securities. (Sections 502, 513)
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a “covenant breach,” when used in the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, means any of the following:
(1) | failure to perform any of the covenants regarding capital stock of Principal Subsidiary Banks described above under “—Covenants”; |
(2) | failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture that applies to debt securities of that series for 90 days after Wells Fargo has received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the indenture; or |
(3) | any other covenant breach that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 101) |
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A covenant breach shall not be an event of default, and neither the trustee nor any holder of debt securities will have any acceleration rights if a covenant breach occurs or continues.
The indenture requires us to file an officers’ certificate with the trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of the certifying officer, whether or not any defaults exist under the terms of the indenture. (Section 1007). The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any sinking fund installment, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. For purposes of this paragraph, “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, a covenant breach with respect to the debt securities of a series or an event of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series. (Section 602)
Other than its duties in the case of a covenant breach or an event of default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee indemnification. (Sections 601, 603) If indemnification is provided, then, subject to other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, with respect to the debt securities of that series, direct the time, method and place of:
● | conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or |
● | exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. (Sections 512, 603) |
The holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy only if:
● | the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing covenant breach or event of default with respect to that series; |
● | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered reasonable indemnification to, the trustee to begin such proceeding with respect to such covenant breach or event of default; |
● | the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and |
● | the trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during those 60 days. (Section 507) |
However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce this payment. (Section 508)
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES OF WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
In this “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, “we,” “us” or “our” refer only to Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any of our affiliates, including Wells Fargo & Company; references to “Guarantor” refer only to Wells Fargo & Company and not to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; and all references to “debt securities” refer only to debt securities issued by Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any debt securities issued by Wells Fargo & Company.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those debt securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of April 25, 2018 among us, as issuer, Wells Fargo & Company, as Guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as trustee, referred to in this “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section as the “indenture.” We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the indenture in this section. We have also filed the indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the indenture for additional information before you buy any debt securities. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of the indenture so that you can more easily locate these provisions.
A prospectus supplement to this prospectus may relate to a series of medium-term notes, established as a series of debt securities under the indenture. In that event, references herein to terms and conditions of debt securities being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such debt securities.
General
The debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured unsubordinated debt. Payment on the debt securities is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Wells Fargo & Company, as Guarantor. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue.
The assets of the Guarantor consist primarily of equity in its subsidiaries, and the Guarantor is a separate and distinct legal entity from its subsidiaries. As a result, the Guarantor’s ability to address claims of holders of our debt securities against the Guarantor under the guarantee depends on its receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from its subsidiaries. Various federal and state statutes and regulations limit the amount of dividends that banking and other subsidiaries may pay to the Guarantor without regulatory approval. In addition, if any of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries becomes insolvent, the direct creditors of that subsidiary will have a prior claim on its assets. The rights of the Guarantor and the rights of its creditors will be subject to that prior claim unless the Guarantor is also a direct creditor of that subsidiary. This subordination of creditors of a parent company to prior claims of creditors of its subsidiaries is commonly referred to as structural subordination.
Holders of our debt securities are our direct creditors, as well as direct creditors of the Guarantor under the related guarantee. As a finance subsidiary, we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of our debt securities if they make claims in respect of the debt securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by the Guarantor and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor. Holders of our debt securities should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of the Guarantor, including holders of debt securities issued by the Guarantor.
The indenture does not contain restrictions on our ability to:
● | incur, assume or become liable for any type of debt or other obligation; |
● | create liens on our property for any purpose; or |
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● | pay dividends or make distributions on our capital stock or repurchase or redeem our capital stock. |
The indenture does not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, the indenture does not contain any provisions which would require us to repurchase or redeem or modify the terms of any of the debt securities upon a change of control or other event involving us which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the debt securities.
New York State law governs the indenture under which the debt securities will be issued. New York has usury laws that limit the amount of interest that can be charged and paid on loans, which includes debt securities. Under present New York usury law, the maximum permissible rate of interest, subject to some exceptions, is 16% per annum on a simple interest basis for debt securities in which less than $250,000 has been invested and 25% per annum on a simple interest basis for debt securities in which $250,000 or more has been invested. This limit may not apply to debt securities in which $2,500,000 or more has been invested. We agree, to the extent permitted by law, not to voluntarily claim the benefits of any such usury laws in connection with the debt securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of a series of debt securities, issue additional debt securities of that series having the same terms as previously issued debt securities of that series (other than the issue date, the date, if any, that interest begins to accrue and the price to public, which may vary). Any such additional debt securities, together with the initial debt securities, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture. No additional debt securities of a series may be issued if an event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to that series of debt securities.
A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. (Section 301) These terms will include some or all of the following:
● | the title and type of the debt securities; |
● | any limit on the total principal or face amount of the debt securities of that series; |
● | the price at which the debt securities will be issued; |
● | the place or places where: |
● | we can make payments on the debt securities; |
● | the debt securities can be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; and |
● | notices and demands can be given to us relating to the debt securities and under the indenture; |
● | any optional provisions that would permit us to elect redemption of the debt securities, or the holders of the debt securities to elect repayment of the debt securities, before their final maturity; |
● | if the debt security may be extended at our option or renewed at a holder’s option, the provisions relating to extension of the debt security or renewal of the debt security; |
● | the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars, and, if a composite currency, any special provisions relating thereto; |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be paid in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated and any provisions relating thereto; |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be issued in authorized denominations other than $1,000 each and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
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● | any circumstances under which the depositary for global securities issued under the indenture is other than DTC; |
● | any circumstances under which the debt securities may be listed on any securities exchange or automated quotation system; |
● | the date or dates on which the debt securities will be issued; |
● | the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will be payable; |
● | the maturity date or dates of the debt securities or the method by which those dates can be determined; |
● | if the amount payable on the debt security will be determined by reference to one or more equity-, commodity- or currency-based indices, exchange traded funds, securities, commodities, currencies, statistical measures of economic or financial performance, or a basket comprised of any of the foregoing, or any other market measure, the method by which the amount payable will be determined and information about such market measure or measures; |
● | if the debt securities will bear interest at a fixed or floating rate or at a rate determined by reference to a market measure: |
● | the interest rate on the debt securities or the method by which the interest rate may be determined; |
● | the date from which interest will accrue; |
● | the record and interest payment dates for the debt securities; and |
● | the first interest payment date; |
● | the identity of the calculation agent, if applicable, for the debt securities if other than Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, one of our affiliates; |
● | the identity of the security registrar and paying agent for the debt securities if other than Wells Fargo Bank, one of our affiliates; |
● | any special tax implications of the debt securities; |
● | any events of default and covenant breaches which will apply to the debt securities in addition to those contained in the indenture; |
● | any additions or changes to the covenants contained in the indenture and the ability, if any, of the holders to waive our compliance with those additional or changed covenants; and |
● | any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture. |
Holders may present debt securities for exchange or transfer, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the debt securities are held as global securities, the procedures for transfer will depend upon procedures of the depositary for those global securities. See “Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” herein.
Holders may present debt securities for payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, register the transfer of the debt securities and exchange the debt securities at the agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota maintained by us for that purpose. On the date of this prospectus, the paying agent for the debt securities issued under the indenture is Wells Fargo Bank, acting through its corporate trust office at 600 South 4th Street,
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Minneapolis, MN 55415. We refer to Wells Fargo Bank, acting in this capacity for our debt securities, as the “paying agent.”
Any money that we pay to the paying agent for the purpose of making payments on the debt securities and that remains unclaimed two years after the payments were due will, at our request, be returned to us and after that time any holder of a debt security can only look to us for the payments on the debt security. (Section 1003)
Although we anticipate making payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on most debt securities in U.S. dollars, some debt securities may be payable in foreign currencies as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most U.S. banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a debt security payable in euros, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.
When we refer to the payment of “principal” in this prospectus in the context of the amount payable at stated maturity or earlier redemption or repayment of a debt security whose payment is linked to the performance of a market measure, we are referring to the amount payable on such debt security at stated maturity or earlier redemption or repayment, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, other than any interest payable at such time. Such amount may be greater than, equal to or less than the stated principal or face amount of such debt security at issuance.
Fixed Rate Debt Securities
We may issue fixed rate debt securities. Each fixed rate debt security will bear interest from the date of issuance at the annual rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement until the principal is paid or made available for payment.
Floating Rate Debt Securities
We may issue floating rate debt securities that bear interest at a floating rate determined by reference to a base rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Redemption and Repayment
Optional Redemption By Us. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate the terms of our option to redeem the debt securities offered thereby.
Repayment At Option Of Holder. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate that the holder has the option to have us repay the debt securities offered thereby on a date or dates specified prior to their stated maturity date.
Open Market Purchases. We may purchase debt securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. Debt securities so purchased by us may, at our discretion, be held or resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the debt securities offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such debt securities.
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Denominations
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 each or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Trustee
From time to time, we and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions, including lending transactions, with the trustee in the ordinary course of business.
Notices
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any notices required to be given to the holders of the debt securities in global form will be given to the depositary.
Governing Law
The indenture is, and the debt securities will be, governed by and will be construed in accordance with New York law.
No Listing
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Wells Fargo & Company Guarantee
The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee, on an unsecured basis, the full and punctual payment of the principal of, interest on, and all other amounts payable under the debt securities when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or upon redemption, repayment at the option of the holders of the applicable debt securities, upon acceleration or otherwise. If for any reason we do not make any required payment in respect of our debt securities when due, the Guarantor will on demand pay the unpaid amount at the same place and in the same manner that applies to payments made by us under the indenture. The guarantee is of payment and not of collection. (Section 1601)
The Guarantor’s obligations under the guarantee are unconditional and absolute. However,
(1) | the Guarantor will not be liable for any amount of payment that we are excused from making or any amount in excess of the amount actually due and owing by us, and |
(2) | any defenses or counterclaims available to us (except those resulting solely from, or on account of, our insolvency or our status as debtor or subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding) will also be available to the Guarantor to the same extent as these defenses or counterclaims are available to us, whether or not asserted by us. (Section 1602) |
Holders of our debt securities are our direct creditors, as well as direct creditors of the Guarantor under the related guarantee. As a finance subsidiary, we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities and will have no independent assets available for distributions to holders of our debt securities if they make claims in respect of the debt securities in a bankruptcy, resolution or similar proceeding. Accordingly, any recoveries by such holders will be limited to those available under the related guarantee by the Guarantor and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor. Holders of our debt securities should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treated pari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of the Guarantor, including holders of debt securities issued by the Guarantor.
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Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger between us and another entity and/or between the Guarantor and another entity. It also permits the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets and/or by the Guarantor of all or substantially all of its property and assets.
With respect to us, these transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indenture; and |
● | immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, no covenant breach (as defined below) or event of default under the indenture exists. (Section 801) |
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the indenture, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indenture, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and under the debt securities. (Section 803) The successor entity to a consolidation or merger may be the Guarantor or a subsidiary of the Guarantor. In addition, the successor entity in a conveyance, transfer or lease may be the Guarantor. The indenture also permits us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the indenture to assume our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and the debt securities.
With respect to the Guarantor, these transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of its subsidiaries, are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than the Guarantor, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of the Guarantor’s responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including the guarantee of the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities to the extent provided in the indenture and performance of the covenants in the indenture; and |
● | immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, no covenant breach (as defined below) or event of default under the indenture exists. (Section 802) |
If the Guarantor consolidates or merges with or into any other entity or conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all of its assets in accordance with the requirements of the indenture, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for the Guarantor in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture. As a result, such successor entity may exercise the Guarantor’s rights and powers under the indenture, in the name of the Guarantor and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Guarantor’s properties, the Guarantor will be released from all its liabilities and obligations under the indenture and under the debt securities. (Section 803) The successor entity to a consolidation or merger may be a subsidiary of the Guarantor. In addition, the indenture permits the Guarantor to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to one or more of its subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the indenture to assume the Guarantor’s liabilities and obligations under the indenture and the debt securities.
When we use the term “subsidiary” in respect of any specified person in this “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, we mean any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding shares
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of voting stock, except for directors’ qualifying shares, of which shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly by such specified person or by one or more of the subsidiaries of such specified person, or by such specified person and one or more other subsidiaries of such specified person. Voting stock is stock (or the equivalent thereof) that is entitled in the ordinary course to vote for the election of a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of a corporation and does not include stock (or the equivalent thereof) that is entitled to so vote only as a result of the happening of certain events; references to “corporation” refer to corporations, associations, companies (including limited liability companies) and business trusts; and references to any “person” refer to any corporation.
Modification and Waiver
Under the indenture, certain of our rights and obligations and those of the Guarantor and certain of the rights of holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by the modification or amendment, acting as one class. However, the following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:
● | a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest; |
● | a reduction in payments due on the debt securities; |
● | a change in the place of payment or currency in which any payment on the debt securities is payable; |
● | a limitation of a holder’s right to sue us for the enforcement of payments due on the debt securities; |
● | a reduction in the percentage of outstanding debt securities required to consent to a modification or amendment of the indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults under the indenture; |
● | a reduction in the requirements contained in the indenture for quorum or voting; |
● | a limitation of a holder’s right, if any, to repayment of debt securities at the holder’s option; |
● | make any change in the guarantee that would adversely affect any holder or release the Guarantor from the guarantee other than pursuant to the terms of the indenture; and |
● | a modification of any of the foregoing requirements contained in the indenture. (Section 902) |
Under the indenture, the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by a particular covenant or condition, acting as one class, may, on behalf of all holders of such series of debt securities, waive compliance by us or the Guarantor, as applicable, with any covenant or condition contained in the indenture unless we specify that such covenant or condition cannot be so waived at the time we establish the series. (Section 1006)
In addition, under the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series of debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive any past default under the indenture, except:
● | a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of that series; or |
● | a default under any provision of the indenture which itself cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security of that series. (Section 513) |
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Events of Default and Covenant Breaches
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “event of default,” with respect to any series of debt securities, means any of the following:
(1) | failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due; |
(2) | failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due; |
(3) | the entry by a court having jurisdiction of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo Finance LLC in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging Wells Fargo Finance LLC a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking receivership, insolvency or liquidation of or in respect of Wells Fargo Finance LLC under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, trustee or similar official of Wells Fargo Finance LLC, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; |
(4) | the commencement by Wells Fargo Finance LLC of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, the appointment of a receiver for Wells Fargo Finance LLC under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law following consent by the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo Finance LLC to such appointment, or the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo Finance LLC in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation or similar law following Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s consent to such decree or order; |
(5) | the guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect, other than in accordance with the indenture, or the Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the guarantee, provided that no event of default with respect to the guarantee will occur as a result of, or because it is related directly or indirectly to, the insolvency of the Guarantor or the commencement of proceedings under Title 11, or the appointment of a receiver for the Guarantor under the Dodd-Frank Act or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation having separately repudiated the guarantee in any receivership of the Guarantor, or the commencement of any proceeding under any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, resolution or other similar law, or a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official having been appointed for or having taken possession of the Guarantor or its property, or the institution of any other comparable judicial or regulatory proceedings relative to the Guarantor, or to the creditors or property of the Guarantor; or |
(6) | any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 501) |
If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for a particular offering of debt securities, the holders of our debt securities will not have the right to accelerate the payment of principal of the debt securities as a result of a covenant breach or our failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture other than the obligations to pay principal and interest on the debt securities. (Sections 502, 513)
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Events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation relating to the Guarantor will not constitute an event of default with respect to any series of our debt securities. In addition, failure by the Guarantor to perform any of its covenants or warranties (other than a payment default) will not constitute an event of default with respect to any series of our debt securities. Therefore, events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation relating to the Guarantor (in the absence of any such event occurring with respect to us) will not permit any of the debt securities to be declared due and payable and the trustee is not authorized to exercise any remedy against us or the Guarantor upon the occurrence or continuation of these events with respect to the Guarantor. Instead, even if an event of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation relating to the Guarantor has occurred, the trustee and the holders of debt securities of a series will not be able to declare the relevant debt securities to be immediately due and payable unless there is an event of default with respect to that series as described above, such as our bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation or a payment default by us or the Guarantor on the relevant debt securities. The value you receive on any series of debt securities may be significantly less than what you would have otherwise received had our debt securities been declared due and payable immediately or the trustee been authorized to exercise any remedy against us or the Guarantor upon the occurrence or continuation of these events with respect to the Guarantor.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a “covenant breach,” when used in the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, means any of the following:
(1) | failure to perform any covenant in the indenture that applies to debt securities of that series for 90 days after Wells Fargo Finance LLC and the Guarantor have received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the indenture; or |
(2) | any other covenant breach that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 101) |
A covenant breach shall not be an event of default, and neither the trustee nor any holder of debt securities will have any acceleration rights if a covenant breach occurs or continues.
The indenture requires each of us and the Guarantor to file an officers’ certificate with the trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of a certifying officer, whether or not any defaults exist under the terms of the indenture. (Section 1005). The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any sinking fund installment, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. For purposes of this paragraph, “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, a covenant breach with respect to the debt securities of a series or an event of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series. (Section 602)
Other than its duties in the case of a covenant breach or an event of default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee indemnification. (Sections 601, 603) If indemnification is provided, then, subject to other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, with respect to the debt securities of that series, direct the time, method and place of:
● | conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or |
● | exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. (Sections 512, 603) |
The holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy only if:
● | the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing covenant breach or event of default with respect to that series; |
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● | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered reasonable indemnification to, the trustee to begin such proceeding with respect to such covenant breach or event of default; |
● | the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and |
● | the trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during those 60 days. (Section 507) |
However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce this payment. (Section 508)
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The information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or “Clearstream,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “Euroclear,” and the book-entry system and procedures has been obtained from sources that we and Wells Fargo Finance LLC believe to be reliable, but neither we nor Wells Fargo Finance LLC has independently verified the accuracy of this information.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities will be issued as fully-registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global securities through either DTC (in the United States) or through Clearstream or through Euroclear (in Europe). Investors may hold their interests in the global securities directly if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries (collectively, the “U.S. Depositaries”), which in turn will hold these interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.
Debt securities represented by a global security can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:
● | DTC notifies us or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security and we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice; |
● | at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after becoming aware that DTC has ceased to be registered as a clearing agency; |
● | we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, determine, in their sole discretion, that that debt security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form and notify the trustee of such decision; or |
● | an event of default with respect to the debt securities represented by that global security has occurred and is continuing. |
A global security that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global security as directed by DTC.
We or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, will make principal and interest payments on all debt securities represented by a global security to the paying agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the debt securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the indenture. Accordingly, we, Wells Fargo Finance LLC, the applicable trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for:
● | any aspect of DTC’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a debt security represented by a global security; |
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● | any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between those participants and the owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those participants; or |
● | the maintenance, supervision or review of any of DTC’s records relating to those beneficial ownership interests. |
DTC’s current practice is to credit participants’ accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on DTC’s records, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The agents for the debt securities represented by a global security will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants. Book-entry debt securities may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical debt security.
DTC
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by that global security for all purposes of the debt securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of debt securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their debt securities since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owner’s account.
We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC understand that, under existing industry practices, if we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global security. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York banking law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act.
DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of which, and/or their representatives, own DTC. Banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or
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indirectly, also have access to DTC’s book-entry system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
DTC has indicated that the above information with respect to DTC has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.
Clearstream
Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, or “Clearstream Participants,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Clearstream’s U.S. Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream.
Euroclear
Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or “Euroclear Participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the “Euroclear Operator,” under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. As such it is regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, referred to herein as the “Terms and Conditions.” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
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Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.
Investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the debt securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with such intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, initial settlement for the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving debt securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of debt securities received through Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such debt securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a “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.
If the debt securities are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices, and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers, and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, U.S. investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of debt securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.
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None of Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Finance LLC nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS OF WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
In this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company” section, all references to “warrants” refer only to warrants issued by Wells Fargo & Company and not to any warrants issued by any subsidiary or affiliate.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our warrants. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the warrants offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those warrants. References herein to terms and conditions of warrants being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such warrants.
Any warrants that we issue will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) and other applicable law.
General
We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional warrants, purchase contracts or debt securities issued by us, or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us, other property or any combination of these securities or other property in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities or property in the unit prior to the warrants’ expiration date. We may issue warrants to purchase or sell, on terms to be determined at the time of sale:
● | securities issued by us or by an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us, a basket of those securities or an index or indices of those securities; |
● | currencies; |
● | any other property; or |
● | any combination of the above. |
The property in the above clauses is referred to in this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company” section as “warrant property.” We may satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any warrants by delivering the warrant property or the cash value of the warrant property, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Although we anticipate making payments on most warrants in U.S. dollars, payments on some warrants may be in a foreign currency as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most United States banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will make payments on warrants that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a payment to be made in euros, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.
Further Information in Prospectus Supplement
The terms and conditions set forth in this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company” will apply to each warrant unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and in that warrant. The prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:
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● | the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants; |
● | the currency with which the warrants may be purchased; |
● | whether we will issue the warrants in global or definitive form or both, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security or purchase contract included in that unit; |
● | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants; |
● | whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities or property as part of units; |
● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities or property will be separately transferable; |
● | whether the warrants are put warrants or call warrants, whether you or we will have the right to exercise the warrants and any conditions or restrictions on the exercise of the warrants; |
● | the specific warrant property, and the amount or the method for determining the amount of the warrant property, purchasable or saleable upon exercise of each warrant; |
● | the price at which and the currency with which the underlying securities, currencies or other property may be purchased or sold upon the exercise of each warrant, or the method of determining that price; |
● | whether the exercise price may be paid in cash, by the exchange of any other security or property offered with the warrants or both and the method of exercising the warrants; |
● | whether the exercise of the warrants is to be settled in cash or by delivery of the underlying securities, other property or a combination thereof; |
● | any applicable U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
● | the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars, determination, or other agents; |
● | the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange; and |
● | any other terms of the warrants. |
Significant Provisions of the Warrant Agreement
We will issue the warrants under one or more warrant agreements (each, as referred to in this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company section, a “warrant agreement”) to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the “warrant agent”), each of which will contain the general terms described below, except as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as any additional terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders of warrants should review the detailed provisions of the warrant agreement for a full description of the provisions of the warrant agreement and for other information regarding the warrants.
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Modifications without Consent of Warrantholders. We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement and the warrants without the consent of the holders, for any of the following purposes:
● | to evidence the succession of another corporation to us, and the assumption by such successor of our covenants therein; |
● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor warrant agent with respect to the warrants; |
● | to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision therein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein; or |
● | in any other manner which we may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
Modifications with Consent of Warrantholders. We and the warrant agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number of the then outstanding unexercised warrants affected, may amend or supplement the warrant agreement and the warrants for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the warrant agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders under the warrant agreement; provided, however, that no such amendment or supplement shall, without the consent of each holder affected thereby:
● | reduce the amount receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration of the warrants other than in accordance with the antidilution provisions or other similar adjustment provisions included in the applicable warrant certificate; |
● | shorten the period of time during which the warrants may be exercised; |
● | amend the anti-dilution provisions set forth in the applicable warrant certificate in a manner that is materially adverse to the holders of such warrants; or |
● | reduce the percentage of outstanding warrants the consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the warrant agreement. |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale. The warrant agreement generally will permit a consolidation or merger between us and another entity. It will also permit the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. These transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of our subsidiaries, are permitted if the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the warrant agreement. If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the warrant agreement, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the warrant agreement with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the warrant agreement. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the warrant agreement, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the warrant agreement and under the warrants. The warrant agreement permits us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of our subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the warrant agreement to assume our liabilities and obligations under the warrant agreement and the warrants.
Enforceability of Rights of Warrantholders. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrant certificates or beneficial owners of warrants. Any holder of warrant certificates may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise the warrants evidenced by the warrant certificates, in the manner provided in those warrants or pursuant to the applicable warrant agreement. No holder of any warrant certificate or beneficial owner of any warrants will be entitled to any of the
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rights of a holder of the debt securities or any other warrant property purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, including the right to receive the payments on those debt securities or other warrant property or to enforce any of the covenants or rights in the indenture or any other similar agreement.
Registration and Transfer of Warrants. Subject to the terms of the warrant agreement, warrants in registered definitive form may be presented for exchange and for registration of transfer, with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent for those warrants, or at any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to those warrants, without service charge. However, the holder will be required to pay any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the warrant agreement. The transfer or exchange will be effected only if the warrant agent for the warrants is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.
Title. We, the unit agent, the trustee, the warrant agent and any of our or their agents will treat the registered holder of any warrant as the owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.
New York Law to Govern. The warrants and the warrant agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the warrants offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS OF WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
In this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, “we,” “us” or “our” refer only to Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any of our affiliates, including Wells Fargo & Company; references to “Guarantor” refer only to Wells Fargo & Company and not to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; and all references to “warrants” refer only to warrants issued by Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any warrants issued by Wells Fargo & Company.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our warrants. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the warrants offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those warrants. References herein to terms and conditions of warrants being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such warrants.
Any warrants that we issue will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the FRB, the FDIC and the OCC and other applicable law.
General
We may offer warrants separately or together with one or more additional warrants, purchase contracts or debt securities issued by us, or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor or any combination of these securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we issue warrants as part of a unit, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether those warrants may be separated from the other securities or property in the unit prior to the warrants’ expiration date. The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the full and punctual payment of amounts payable under the warrants when the same becomes due and payable, whether at expiration, upon exercise, redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders of the applicable warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the guarantee.
We may issue warrants to purchase or sell, on terms to be determined at the time of sale:
● | securities issued by an entity not affiliated with the Guarantor; |
● | currencies; |
● | other specified securities; or |
● | any combination of the above, including indices or baskets thereof. |
The property in the above clauses is referred to in this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section as “warrant property.” We will satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any warrants by delivering the cash value of the warrant property, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Although we anticipate making payments on most warrants in U.S. dollars, payments on some warrants may be in a foreign currency as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most United States banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will make payments on warrants that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a payment to be made in euros, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.
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Further Information in Prospectus Supplement
The terms and conditions set forth in this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” will apply to each warrant unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and in that warrant. The prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:
● | the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants; |
● | the currency with which the warrants may be purchased; |
● | whether we will issue the warrants in global or definitive form or both, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security or purchase contract included in that unit; |
● | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants; |
● | whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as part of units; |
● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
● | whether the warrants are put warrants or call warrants, whether you or we will have the right to exercise the warrants and any conditions or restrictions on the exercise of the warrants; |
● | the specific warrant property, and the amount or the method for determining the amount of the warrant property, purchasable or saleable upon exercise of each warrant; |
● | the price at which and the currency with which the underlying securities, currencies or other property may be purchased or sold upon the exercise of each warrant, or the method of determining that price; |
● | the method of exercising the warrants; |
● | any applicable U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
● | the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars, determination, or other agents; |
● | the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange; and |
● | any other terms of the warrants. |
Significant Provisions of the Warrant Agreement
We will issue the warrants under one or more warrant agreements (each, as referred to in this “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, a “warrant agreement”) to be entered into among us, the Guarantor and the warrant agent, each of which will contain the general terms described below, except as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as any additional terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders of warrants should review the detailed provisions of the warrant agreement for a full description of the provisions of the warrant agreement and for other information regarding the warrants.
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Modifications without Consent of Warrantholders. We, the Guarantor and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement and the warrants without the consent of the holders, for any of the following purposes:
● | to evidence the succession of another corporation to us or the Guarantor, and the assumption by such successor of our covenants or those of the Guarantor therein, as applicable; |
● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor warrant agent with respect to the warrants; |
● | to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision therein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein; or |
● | in any other manner which we and the Guarantor may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
Modifications with Consent of Warrantholders. We, the Guarantor and the warrant agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number of the then outstanding unexercised warrants affected, may amend or supplement the warrant agreement and the warrants for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the warrant agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders under the warrant agreement; provided, however, that no such amendment or supplement shall, without the consent of each holder affected thereby:
● | reduce the amount receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration of the warrants other than in accordance with the antidilution provisions or other similar adjustment provisions included in the applicable warrant certificate; |
● | shorten the period of time during which the warrants may be exercised; |
● | amend the anti-dilution provisions set forth in the applicable warrant certificate in a manner that is materially adverse to the holders of such warrants; |
● | reduce the percentage of outstanding warrants the consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the warrant agreement; or |
● | make any change in the guarantee that would adversely affect any holder or release the Guarantor from the guarantee other than pursuant to the terms of the warrant agreement. |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale. The warrant agreement generally will permit a consolidation or merger between us and another entity and/or between the Guarantor and another entity. It will also permit the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets and/or by the Guarantor of all or substantially all of its property and assets.
With respect to us, these transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, are permitted if the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the warrant agreement.
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the warrant agreement, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the warrant agreement with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the warrant agreement. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the warrant agreement, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the warrant agreement and under the warrants. The successor entity to a consolidation or merger may be the Guarantor or a subsidiary of the Guarantor. In addition, the successor entity in a
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conveyance, transfer or lease may be the Guarantor. The warrant agreement also permits us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the warrant agreement to assume our liabilities and obligations under the warrant agreement and the warrants.
With respect to the Guarantor, these transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of its subsidiaries, are permitted if the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than the Guarantor, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of the Guarantor’s responsibilities and liabilities under the warrant agreement, including the guarantee of the full and punctual payment of amounts payable under the warrants to the extent provided in the warrant agreement.
If the Guarantor consolidates or merges with or into any other entity or conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all of its assets in accordance with the requirements of the warrant agreement, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for the Guarantor in the warrant agreement with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the warrant agreement. As a result, such successor entity may exercise the Guarantor’s rights and powers under the warrant agreement, in the name of the Guarantor and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Guarantor’s properties, the Guarantor will be released from all its liabilities and obligations under the warrant agreement and under the warrants. The successor entity to a consolidation or merger may be a subsidiary of the Guarantor. In addition, the warrant agreement permits the Guarantor to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to one or more of its subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the warrant agreement to assume the Guarantor’s liabilities and obligations under the warrant agreement and the warrants.
Enforceability of Rights of Warrantholders. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrant certificates or beneficial owners of warrants. Any holder of warrant certificates may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise the warrants evidenced by the warrant certificates, in the manner provided in those warrants or pursuant to the applicable warrant agreement. No holder of any warrant certificate or beneficial owner of any warrants will be entitled to any of the rights of a holder of the debt securities or any other warrant property purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, including the right to receive the payments on those debt securities or other warrant property or to enforce any of the covenants or rights in the indenture or any other similar agreement.
Registration and Transfer of Warrants. Subject to the terms of the warrant agreement, warrants in registered definitive form may be presented for exchange and for registration of transfer, with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent for those warrants, or at any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to those warrants, without service charge. However, the holder will be required to pay any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the warrant agreement. The transfer or exchange will be effected only if the warrant agent for the warrants is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.
Title. We, the Guarantor, the unit agent, the trustee, the warrant agent and any of our or their agents will treat the registered holder of any warrant as the owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.
New York Law to Govern. The warrants, the guarantees of such warrants and the warrant agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, neither we nor the Guarantor will pay any additional amounts on the warrants offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS OF WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
In this “Description of Units of Wells Fargo & Company” section, all references to “units” refer only to units issued by Wells Fargo & Company and not to any units issued by any subsidiary or affiliate.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our units. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the units offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those units. References herein to terms and conditions of units being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such units.
Any units that we issue will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the FRB, the FDIC and the OCC and other applicable law.
General
Units will consist of any combination of warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
● | the designation and the terms of the units and of any combination of warrants, purchase contracts and debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property constituting the units, including whether and under what circumstances the warrants, purchase contracts or debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property may be traded separately; |
● | any additional terms of the governing unit agreement or unit agreement without holders’ obligations (each as defined below); |
● | any additional provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the warrants, purchase contracts or debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property constituting the units; and |
● | any applicable U.S. federal tax consequences. |
The terms and conditions described under “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company,” “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company” and “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo & Company” and those described below under “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement” and “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations” will apply to each unit and to any warrant, purchase contract or debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property included in such unit, as applicable, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements (each, as referred to in this “Description of Units of Wells Fargo & Company” section, a “unit agreement”) to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent (the “unit agent”), each of which will contain the general terms described below, except as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as any additional terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Generally, units that do not include components requiring performance on the part of the holders of such units will be governed by one or more unit agreements designed for units where the holders do not have any further obligations under the included warrants, purchase contracts or other components (each, as referred to in this “Description of Units of Wells Fargo & Company” section, a “unit agreement without holders’ obligations”). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each unit will be issued as a
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book-entry unit, and any security comprised by such unit will be in the corresponding form. You should review the detailed provisions of the applicable unit agreement or unit agreement without holders’ obligations for a full description of the provisions of such agreement, including the definitions of some of the terms used in this prospectus and for other information regarding the units.
Payments on Units and Securities Comprised by Units. At the office of the unit agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota maintained by us for such purpose, (i) the units, accompanied by each of the securities comprised by such unit (unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates that any such securities are separable from such unit), may be presented for payment or delivery of warrant property or purchase contract property (as defined below) or any other amounts due with respect thereto, (ii) transfer of the units will be registrable and (iii) the units will be exchangeable in the manner and to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement However, holders of global securities may transfer and exchange global securities only as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the agent for the payment, transfer and exchange of the units will be Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as unit agent, acting through its corporate trust office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the units (or of any security comprised by a unit) or interest therein, except for any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement
Obligations of Unit Holder. Under the terms of each unit agreement, each holder of a unit will:
● | consent to and agree to be bound by the terms of the unit agreement; |
● | appoint the unit agent as its authorized agent to execute, deliver and perform any purchase contract included in the unit in which that holder has an interest, except in the case of pre-paid purchase contracts which require no further performance by the holder; and |
● | irrevocably agree to be a party to and be bound by the terms of any purchase contract issued pursuant to the unit agreement included in the unit in which that holder has an interest. |
Assumption of Obligations by Transferee. Upon the registration of transfer of a unit, the transferee will assume the obligations, if any, of the transferor under the unit, under any purchase contract included in the unit and under any other security constituting that unit, and the transferor will be released from those obligations. Under the unit agreement, we will consent to the transfer of these obligations to the transferee, to the assumption of these obligations by the transferee and to the release of the transferor, if the transfer is made in accordance with the provisions of the unit agreement.
Remedies. Upon the acceleration of any debt securities constituting a part of any units, our obligations and those of the holders under any purchase contracts constituting a part of the units may also be accelerated upon the request of the holders of not less than 25% of the affected purchase contracts, on behalf of all the holders.
Limitation on Actions by You as an Individual Holder. No holder of any unit will have any right under the unit agreement to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise regarding the unit agreement, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, unless the holder will have given written notice to the unit agent and to us of the occurrence and continuance of a default thereunder and:
● | in the case of an event of default under the indenture (as defined in the “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company” section), where a debt security constitutes a part of the applicable unit, the procedures relating to the event of default, including notice to us and the trustee, described in the indenture have been complied with such that such holder would have the right to begin such an action or proceeding under the indenture; and |
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● | in the case of a failure by us to observe or perform any of our obligations under the unit agreement relating to any purchase contracts, other than pre-paid purchase contracts, included in the unit: |
● | holders of not less than 25% of the affected purchase contracts have (a) requested the unit agent to institute that action or proceeding in its own name as unit agent under the unit agreement and (b) offered the unit agent reasonable indemnity; |
● | the unit agent has failed to institute that action or proceeding within 60 days of that request by such holders; and |
● | the holders of a majority of the outstanding affected units have not given directions to the unit agent inconsistent with those of the holders referred to above. |
If these conditions have been satisfied, any holder of an affected unit may then, but only then, institute such action or proceeding. Notwithstanding the above, the holder of any purchase contract that constitutes part of a unit will have the unconditional right to purchase or sell, as the case may be, purchase contract property under the purchase contract and to institute suit for the enforcement of that right. Purchase contract property is defined under “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo & Company” below.
Negative Pledge. Except as otherwise set forth in the next sentence, the unit agreement:
● | prohibits us and our subsidiaries from selling, pledging, assigning or otherwise disposing of shares of capital stock, or securities convertible into capital stock, of any Principal Subsidiary Bank or of any subsidiary owning, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank; and |
● | prohibits any Principal Subsidiary Bank from issuing any shares of its capital stock or securities convertible into its capital stock. |
This restriction does not apply to:
● | sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances of directors’ qualifying shares; |
● | sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances, so long as, after giving effect to the disposition and to the issuance of any shares issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities convertible or exchangeable into capital stock, we would own directly or through one or more of our subsidiaries not less than 80% of the shares of each class of capital stock of the applicable Principal Subsidiary Bank; |
● | sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances made in compliance with an order or direction of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction; or |
● | sales of capital stock by any Principal Subsidiary Bank to its stockholders so long as before the sale we own directly or indirectly shares of the same class and the sale does not reduce the percentage of the shares of that class of capital stock owned by us. |
Modification without Consent of Holders. We and the unit agent may amend or supplement the unit agreement and the terms of the purchase contracts without the consent of the holders:
● | to evidence the assumption by a successor of our covenants; |
● | to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor unit agent or collateral agent; |
● | to add covenants for the protection of the holders of the units; |
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● | to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”); |
● | to cure any ambiguity; |
● | to establish the forms or terms of unit certificates, units or purchase contracts of any series; |
● | to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or |
● | in any other manner which we may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
Modification with Consent of Holders. We and the unit agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of all series of outstanding units affected, may modify the rights of the holders of the units of each series so affected or the terms of any purchase contracts included in any of those series of units and the terms of the unit agreement relating to the purchase contracts of each series so affected. However, we and the unit agent may not make the following first three modifications without the consent of each affected holder of outstanding purchase contracts included in units and may not make the following last two modifications without the consent of each affected holder of outstanding units:
● | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any purchase contract; |
● | materially adversely affect the holders’ rights and obligations under any purchase contract; |
● | reduce the percentage of purchase contracts constituting part of outstanding units the consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement relating to those purchase contracts or for the waiver of any defaults under the unit agreement relating to those purchase contracts; |
● | materially and adversely affect the holders’ units or the terms of the unit agreement (other than terms related to the first three clauses above); or |
● | reduce the percentage of outstanding units and consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement (other than terms related to the first three clauses above). |
Modifications of any debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture included in units may only be made in accordance with the indenture, as described under “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company—Modification and Waiver.” Modifications of any warrants comprised by units may only be made in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement as described under “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company—Significant Provisions of the Warrant Agreement” above.
Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations
Remedies. The unit agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the units governed by the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of units or interests in those units. Any holder of units or interests in those units may, without the consent of the unit agent or any other holder or beneficial owner of units, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its rights under the unit agreement without holders’ obligations. However, the holders of units or interests in those units may only enforce their rights under any debt securities or under any warrants issued as parts of those units in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the warrant agreement.
Modification without Consent of Holders. We and the unit agent may amend or supplement the unit agreement without holders’ obligations without the consent of the holders:
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● | to evidence the assumption by a successor of our covenants; |
● | to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor unit agent or collateral agent; |
● | to add covenants for the protection of the holders of the units; |
● | to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Investment Company Act; |
● | to cure any ambiguity; |
● | to establish the forms or terms of unit certificates, units or purchase contracts of any series; |
● | to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or |
● | in any other manner which we may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
Modification with Consent of Holders. We and the unit agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of all series of outstanding units affected, may modify the rights of the holders of the units of each series so affected or the terms of any purchase contracts included in any of those series of units and the terms of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations relating to the purchase contracts of each series so affected. However, we and the unit agent may not, without the consent of each affected holder of outstanding units, make any modification that would:
● | materially and adversely affect the holders’ units or the terms of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations; or |
● | reduce the percentage of outstanding units and consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations. |
Modifications of any debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture included in units may only be made in accordance with the indenture, as described under “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company—Modification and Waiver.” Modifications of any warrants comprised by units may only be made in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement as described under “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company—Significant Provisions of the Warrant Agreement” above.
Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement and the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations
The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations each contains the provisions described below.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale. The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations will generally permit a consolidation or merger between us and another entity. They will also permit the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. These transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of our subsidiaries, are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable; and |
● | immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, we or the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, are not in default in the performance of the covenants of the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, that are applicable to us. |
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If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and under the units. The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations permit us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of our subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations to assume our liabilities and obligations under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and the units.
No Trust Indenture Act Qualification. The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations will not be qualified as indentures under, and the unit agent will not be required to qualify as a trustee under, the Trust Indenture Act. Accordingly, the holders of units and purchase contracts will not have the benefits of the protections of the Trust Indenture Act.
Replacement of Unit Certificates. We will replace any mutilated certificate evidencing a definitive unit or purchase contract at the expense of the holder upon surrender of that certificate to the unit agent. We will replace certificates that have been destroyed, lost or stolen at the expense of the holder upon delivery to us and the unit agent of evidence satisfactory to us and the unit agent of the destruction, loss or theft of the certificates. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen certificate, an indemnity satisfactory to the unit agent and to us may be required at the expense of the holder of the units or purchase contracts evidenced by that certificate before a replacement will be issued.
The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations will provide that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no replacement certificate need be delivered:
● | during the period beginning 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption or of any other exercise of any right held by us with respect to the unit or any security constituting such unit evidenced by the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate and ending on the day of the giving of that notice; |
● | if the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate evidences any security selected or called for redemption or other exercise of a right held by us; or |
● | at any time on or after the date of settlement or redemption for any purchase contract included in the unit, or at any time on or after the last exercise date for any warrant included in the unit, evidenced by the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate, except with respect to any units that remain or will remain outstanding following the date of settlement or redemption or the last exercise date. |
Title. We, the unit agent, the trustee, the warrant agent and any of our or their agents will treat the registered owner of any unit as its owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.
New York Law to Govern. The unit agreement, the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, the units and the pre-paid purchase contracts constituting part of the units will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Neither the unit agreement nor the unit agreement without holders’ obligations requires the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, these agreements do not contain any provisions which would require us to repurchase or redeem or modify the terms of any of the units upon a change of control or other event involving us which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the units.
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Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the units offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such units.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS OF WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
In this “Description of Units of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, “we,” “us” or “our” refer only to Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any of our affiliates, including Wells Fargo & Company; references to “Guarantor” refer only to Wells Fargo & Company and not to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; and all references to “units” refer only to units issued by Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any units issued by Wells Fargo & Company.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our units. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the units offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those units. References herein to terms and conditions of units being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such units.
Any units that we issue will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the FRB, the FDIC and the OCC and other applicable law.
General
Units will consist of any combination of warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor. The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the full and punctual payment of amounts payable under the units when the same becomes due and payable, whether at expiration, upon exercise, redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders of the applicable units. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the guarantee.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
● | the designation and the terms of the units and of any combination of warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor constituting the units, including whether and under what circumstances warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor may be traded separately; |
● | any additional terms of the governing unit agreement or unit agreement without holders’ obligations (each as defined below); |
● | any additional provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the warrants, purchase contracts, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor constituting the units; and |
● | any applicable U.S. federal tax consequences. |
The terms and conditions described under “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC,” “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” and “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” and those described below under “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement” and “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations” will apply to each unit and to any warrant, purchase contract, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor included in such unit, as applicable, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements (each, as referred to in this “Description of Units of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, a “unit agreement”) to be entered into among us, the Guarantor and the unit agent, each of which will contain the general terms described below, except as stated in the applicable prospectus
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supplement, as well as any additional terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Generally, units that do not include components requiring performance on the part of the holders of such units will be governed by one or more unit agreements designed for units where the holders do not have any further obligations under the included warrants, purchase contracts or other components (each, as referred to in this “Description of Units of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, a “unit agreement without holders’ obligations”). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each unit will be issued as a book-entry unit, and any security comprised by such unit will be in the corresponding form. You should review the detailed provisions of the applicable unit agreement or unit agreement without holders’ obligations for a full description of the provisions of such agreement, including the definitions of some of the terms used in this prospectus and for other information regarding the units.
Payments on Units and Securities Comprised by Units. At the office of the unit agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota maintained by us for such purpose, (i) the units, accompanied by each of the securities comprised by such unit (unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates that any such securities are separable from such unit), may be presented for payment or any other amounts due with respect thereto, (ii) transfer of the units will be registrable and (iii) the units will be exchangeable in the manner and to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, holders of global securities may transfer and exchange global securities only as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the agent for the payment, transfer and exchange of the units will be Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as unit agent, acting through its corporate trust office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the units (or of any security comprised by a unit) or interest therein, except for any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement
Obligations of Unit Holder. Under the terms of each unit agreement, each holder of a unit will:
● | consent to and agree to be bound by the terms of the unit agreement; |
● | appoint the unit agent as its authorized agent to execute, deliver and perform any purchase contract included in the unit in which that holder has an interest, except in the case of pre-paid purchase contracts which require no further performance by the holder; and |
● | irrevocably agree to be a party to and be bound by the terms of any purchase contract issued pursuant to the unit agreement included in the unit in which that holder has an interest. |
Assumption of Obligations by Transferee. Upon the registration of transfer of a unit, the transferee will assume the obligations, if any, of the transferor under the unit, under any purchase contract included in the unit and under any other security constituting that unit, and the transferor will be released from those obligations. Under the unit agreement, we will consent to the transfer of these obligations to the transferee, to the assumption of these obligations by the transferee and to the release of the transferor, if the transfer is made in accordance with the provisions of the unit agreement.
Remedies. Upon the acceleration of any debt securities constituting a part of any units, our obligations and those of the holders under any purchase contracts constituting a part of the units may also be accelerated upon the request of the holders of not less than 25% of the affected purchase contracts, on behalf of all the holders.
Limitation on Actions by You as an Individual Holder. No holder of any unit will have any right under the unit agreement to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise regarding the unit agreement, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, unless the holder will have given written notice to the unit agent, to us and to the Guarantor of the occurrence and continuance of a default thereunder and:
● | in the case of an event of default under the indenture (as defined in the “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section), where a debt security constitutes a part of the applicable unit, the procedures relating to the event of default, including notice to us, the |
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Guarantor and the trustee, described in the indenture have been complied with such that such holder would have the right to begin such an action or proceeding under the indenture; and
● | in the case of a failure by us to observe or perform any of our obligations under the unit agreement relating to any purchase contracts, other than pre-paid purchase contracts, included in the unit: |
● | holders of not less than 25% of the affected purchase contracts have (a) requested the unit agent to institute that action or proceeding in its own name as unit agent under the unit agreement and (b) offered the unit agent reasonable indemnity; |
● | the unit agent has failed to institute that action or proceeding within 60 days of that request by such holders; and |
● | the holders of a majority of the outstanding affected units have not given directions to the unit agent inconsistent with those of the holders referred to above. |
If these conditions have been satisfied, any holder of an affected unit may then, but only then, institute such action or proceeding. Notwithstanding the above, the holder of any purchase contract that constitutes part of a unit will have the unconditional right to purchase or sell, as the case may be, purchase contract property under the purchase contract and to institute suit for the enforcement of that right. Purchase contract property is defined under “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo Finance” below.
Modification without Consent of Holders. We, the Guarantor and the unit agent may amend or supplement the unit agreement and the terms of the purchase contracts without the consent of the holders:
● | to evidence the assumption by a successor of our covenants or those of the Guarantor; |
● | to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor unit agent or collateral agent; |
● | to add covenants for the protection of the holders of the units; |
● | to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Investment Company Act; |
● | to cure any ambiguity; |
● | to establish the forms or terms of unit certificates, units or purchase contracts of any series; |
● | to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or |
● | in any other manner which we and the Guarantor may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
Modification with Consent of Holders. We, the Guarantor and the unit agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of all series of outstanding units affected, may modify the rights of the holders of the units of each series so affected or the terms of any purchase contracts included in any of those series of units and the terms of the unit agreement relating to the purchase contracts of each series so affected. However, we, the Guarantor and the unit agent may not make the following first three modifications without the consent of each affected holder of outstanding purchase contracts included in units and may not make the following last three modifications without the consent of each affected holder of outstanding units:
● | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any purchase contract; |
● | materially adversely affect the holders’ rights and obligations under any purchase contract; |
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● | reduce the percentage of purchase contracts constituting part of outstanding units the consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement relating to those purchase contracts or for the waiver of any defaults under the unit agreement relating to those purchase contracts; |
● | materially and adversely affect the holders’ units or the terms of the unit agreement (other than terms related to the first three clauses above); |
● | reduce the percentage of outstanding units and consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement (other than terms related to the first three clauses above); or |
● | make any change in the guarantee that would adversely affect any holder or release the Guarantor from the guarantee other than pursuant to the terms of the unit agreement. |
Modifications of any debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture included in units may only be made in accordance with the indenture, as described under “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Modification and Waiver.” Modifications of any warrants comprised by units may only be made in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement as described under “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Significant Provisions of the Warrant Agreement” above.
Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations
Remedies. The unit agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the units governed by the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of units or interests in those units. Any holder of units or interests in those units may, without the consent of the unit agent or any other holder or beneficial owner of units, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its rights under the unit agreement without holders’ obligations. However, the holders of units or interests in those units may only enforce their rights under any debt securities or under any warrants issued as parts of those units in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the warrant agreement.
Modification without Consent of Holders. We, the Guarantor and the unit agent may amend or supplement the unit agreement without holders’ obligations without the consent of the holders:
● | to evidence the assumption by a successor of our covenants or those of the Guarantor; |
● | to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor unit agent or collateral agent; |
● | to add covenants for the protection of the holders of the units; |
● | to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Investment Company Act; |
● | to cure any ambiguity; |
● | to establish the forms or terms of unit certificates, units or purchase contracts of any series; |
● | to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision; or |
● | in any other manner which we and the Guarantor may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect. |
Modification with Consent of Holders. We, the Guarantor and the unit agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of all series of outstanding units affected, may modify the rights of the holders of the units of each series so affected or the terms of any purchase contracts included in any of those series of units and the terms of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations relating to the purchase contracts of each series so
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affected. However, we, the Guarantor and the unit agent may not, without the consent of each affected holder of outstanding units, make any modification that would:
● | materially and adversely affect the holders’ units or the terms of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations; |
● | reduce the percentage of outstanding units and consent of whose holders is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations; or |
● | make any change in the guarantee that would adversely affect any holder or release the Guarantor from the guarantee other than pursuant to the terms of the unit agreement without holders’ obligations. |
Modifications of any debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture included in units may only be made in accordance with the indenture, as described under “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Modification and Waiver.” Modifications of any warrants comprised by units may only be made in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement as described under “Description of Warrants of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Significant Provisions of the Warrant Agreement” above.
Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement and the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations
The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations each contains the provisions described below.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale. The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations will generally permit a consolidation or merger between us and another entity and/or between the Guarantor and another entity. They will also permit the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets and/or by the Guarantor of all or substantially all of its property and assets.
With respect to us, these transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable; and |
● | immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, we or the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, are not in default in the performance of the covenants of the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, that are applicable to us. |
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and under the units. The successor entity to a consolidation or merger may be the Guarantor or a subsidiary of the Guarantor. In addition, the successor entity in a conveyance, transfer or lease may be the Guarantor. The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations also permit us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the unit agreement or the
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unit agreement without holders’ obligations to assume our liabilities and obligations under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and the units.
With respect to the Guarantor, these transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of its subsidiaries, are permitted if:
● | the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than the Guarantor, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of the Guarantor’s responsibilities and liabilities under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, including the guarantee of the full and punctual payment of amounts payable under the units to the extent provided in the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable; and |
● | immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, the Guarantor or the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than the Guarantor, is not in default in the performance of the covenants of the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, that are applicable to the Guarantor. |
If the Guarantor consolidates or merges with or into any other entity or conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all of its assets in accordance with the requirements of the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for the Guarantor in the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable. As a result, such successor entity may exercise the Guarantor’s rights and powers under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, as applicable, in the name of the Guarantor and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of the Guarantor’s properties, the Guarantor will be released from all its liabilities and obligations under the unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and under the units. The successor entity to a consolidation or merger may be a subsidiary of the Guarantor. In addition, the unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations permit the Guarantor to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to one or more of its subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations to assume the Guarantor’s liabilities and obligations under the unit agreement or the unit agreement without holders’ obligations and the units.
No Trust Indenture Act Qualification. The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations will not be qualified as indentures under, and the unit agent will not be required to qualify as a trustee under, the Trust Indenture Act. Accordingly, the holders of units and purchase contracts will not have the benefits of the protections of the Trust Indenture Act.
Replacement of Unit Certificates. We will replace any mutilated certificate evidencing a definitive unit or purchase contract at the expense of the holder upon surrender of that certificate to the unit agent. We will replace certificates that have been destroyed, lost or stolen at the expense of the holder upon delivery to us and the unit agent of evidence satisfactory to us, the Guarantor and the unit agent of the destruction, loss or theft of the certificates. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen certificate, an indemnity satisfactory to the unit agent and to us may be required at the expense of the holder of the units or purchase contracts evidenced by that certificate before a replacement will be issued.
The unit agreement and the unit agreement without holders’ obligations will provide that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no replacement certificate need be delivered:
● | during the period beginning 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption or of any other exercise of any right held by us with respect to the unit or any security constituting such unit evidenced by the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate and ending on the day of the giving of that notice; |
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● | if the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate evidences any security selected or called for redemption or other exercise of a right held by us; or |
● | at any time on or after the date of settlement or redemption for any purchase contract included in the unit, or at any time on or after the last exercise date for any warrant included in the unit, evidenced by the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate, except with respect to any units that remain or will remain outstanding following the date of settlement or redemption or the last exercise date. |
Title. We, the Guarantor, the unit agent, the trustee, the warrant agent and any of our or their agents will treat the registered owner of any unit as its owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.
New York Law to Govern. The unit agreement, the unit agreement without holders’ obligations, the units, the pre-paid purchase contracts constituting part of the units and the guarantees of such units and purchase contracts will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Neither the unit agreement nor the unit agreement without holders’ obligations requires the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, these agreements do not contain any provisions which would require us to repurchase or redeem or modify the terms of any of the units upon a change of control or other event involving us which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the units.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, neither we nor the Guarantor will pay any additional amounts on the units offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such units.
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS OF WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
In this “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo & Company” section, all references to “purchase contracts” refer only to purchase contracts issued by Wells Fargo & Company and not to any purchase contracts issued by any subsidiary or affiliate.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our purchase contracts. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the purchase contracts offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those purchase contracts. References herein to terms and conditions of purchase contracts being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such purchase contracts.
Any purchase contracts that we issue will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the FRB, the FDIC and the OCC and other applicable law.
General
We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more warrants or debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us or other property, for the purchase or sale of:
● | securities issued by us or by an entity affiliated or not affiliated with us, a basket of those securities or an index or indices of those securities; |
● | currencies; |
● | commodities; |
● | exchange-traded funds; |
● | any other property; or |
● | any combination of the above. |
This property in the above clauses is referred to in this “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo & Company” section as “purchase contract property.”
Each purchase contract will obligate the holder to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, the purchase contract property at a specified price or prices, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell the purchase contract property and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
Although we anticipate making payments on most purchase contracts in U.S. dollars, payments on some purchase contracts may be in a foreign currency as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most United States banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will make payments on purchase contracts that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a payment to be made in euros, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.
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Pre-Paid Purchase Contracts
Purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations under the purchase contracts at the time they are issued (“pre-paid purchase contracts”). In certain circumstances, our obligation to settle pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute our senior indebtedness.
Purchase Contracts Issued as Part of Units
Purchase contracts issued as part of a unit will be governed by the terms and provisions of a unit agreement or, in the case of pre-paid purchase contracts issued as part of a unit that contains no other purchase contracts, a unit agreement without holders’ obligations. See “Description of Units of Wells Fargo & Company—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement” and “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations.” The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following:
● | whether the purchase contract obligates the holder to purchase or sell the purchase contract property; |
● | whether and when a purchase contract issued as part of a unit may be separated from the other securities or other property comprised by such unit prior to such purchase contract’s settlement date; |
● | the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell the purchase contract property; |
● | any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract; and |
● | whether the purchase contracts will be issued in definitive or global form or in any combination of such forms, although, in any case, the form of the purchase contract included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security or warrant included in that unit. |
Settlement of Purchase Contracts. Where purchase contracts issued together with debt securities as part of a unit require the holders to buy purchase contract property, the unit agent may apply principal payments from such debt securities in satisfaction of the holders’ obligations under the related purchase contract as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The unit agent will not so apply such principal payments if the holder has delivered cash to meet its obligations under the purchase contract. To settle the purchase contract and receive the purchase contract property, the holder must present and surrender the unit certificates at the office of the unit agent. If a holder settles its obligations under a purchase contract that is part of a unit in cash rather than by delivering the debt security that is part of the unit, that debt security will remain outstanding if the maturity extends beyond the relevant settlement date and, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder will receive that debt security or an interest in the relevant global security.
Pledge by Purchase Contract Holders to Secure Performance. To secure the obligations of the purchase contract holders contained in the purchase contracts that are issued as part of a unit and in the unit agreement, the holders, acting through the unit agent, as their attorney-in-fact, will assign and pledge the items in the following sentence (the “pledge”) to a bank or trust company selected by us, in its capacity as collateral agent, for our benefit. The pledge is a security interest in, and a lien upon and right of set-off against, all of the holders’ right, title and interest in and to:
● | any debt securities or other property that are or become part of units that include the purchase contracts, or other property as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement (the “pledged items”); |
● | all additions to and substitutions for the pledged items as may be permissible, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
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● | all income, proceeds and collections received or to be received, or derived or to be derived, at any time from or in connection with the pledged items described in the two clauses above; and |
● | all powers and rights owned or thereafter acquired under or with respect to the pledged items. |
The pledge constitutes collateral security for the performance when due by each holder of its obligations under the unit agreement and the applicable purchase contract. The collateral agent will forward all payments from the pledged items to us, unless such payments have been released from the pledge in accordance with the unit agreement. We will use the payments received from the pledged items to satisfy the obligations of the holder of the unit under the related purchase contract.
Property Held in Trust by Unit Agent. If a holder fails to settle in cash its obligations under a purchase contract that is part of a unit and fails to present and surrender its unit certificate to the unit agent when required, that holder will not receive the purchase contract property. Instead, the unit agent will hold that holder’s purchase contract property, together with any distributions, as the registered owner in trust for the benefit of the holder until the holder presents and surrenders the certificate or provides satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen. We or the unit agent may require an indemnity from the holder for liabilities related to any destroyed, lost or stolen certificate. If the holder does not present the unit certificate, or provide the necessary evidence of destruction or loss and indemnity, on or before the second anniversary of the settlement date of the related purchase contract, the unit agent will pay to us the amounts it received in trust for that holder. Thereafter, the holder may recover those amounts only from us and not the unit agent. The unit agent will have no obligation to invest or to pay interest on any amounts it holds in trust pending distribution.
Title. We, the unit agent, the trustee, the warrant agent and any of our or their agents will treat the registered holder of any purchase contract as the owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the purchase contracts offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such purchase contracts.
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS OF WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
In this “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section, “we,” “us” or “our” refer only to Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any of our affiliates, including Wells Fargo & Company; references to “Guarantor” refer only to Wells Fargo & Company and not to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; and all references to “purchase contracts” refer only to purchase contracts issued by Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any purchase contracts issued by Wells Fargo & Company.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our purchase contracts. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the purchase contracts offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those purchase contracts. References herein to terms and conditions of purchase contracts being provided in the “applicable prospectus supplement” may be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, applicable product supplement and/or applicable pricing supplement for such purchase contracts.
Any purchase contracts that we issue will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the FRB, the FDIC and the OCC and other applicable law.
General
We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more warrants, debt securities issued by us or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Guarantor or any combination of these securities. The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the full and punctual payment of amounts payable under the purchase contracts when the same becomes due and payable, whether at expiration, upon exercise, redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders of the applicable purchase contracts. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the guarantee.
Such purchase contracts may be for the purchase or sale of:
● | securities issued by an entity not affiliated with the Guarantor; |
● | currencies; |
● | commodities; |
● | other specified securities; or |
● | any combination of the above, including indices or baskets thereof. |
This property in the above clauses is referred to in this “Description of Purchase Contracts of Wells Fargo Finance LLC” section as “purchase contract property.”
Each purchase contract will obligate the holder to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, the purchase contract property at a specified price or prices, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell the purchase contract property and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract. We will satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contracts by delivering the cash value of the purchase contract property, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Although we anticipate making payments on most purchase contracts in U.S. dollars, payments on some purchase contracts may be in a foreign currency as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently,
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few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most United States banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will make payments on purchase contracts that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a payment to be made in euros, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.
Pre-Paid Purchase Contracts
Purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations under the purchase contracts at the time they are issued. In certain circumstances, our obligation to settle pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute our senior indebtedness.
Purchase Contracts Issued as Part of Units
Purchase contracts issued as part of a unit will be governed by the terms and provisions of a unit agreement or, in the case of pre-paid purchase contracts issued as part of a unit that contains no other purchase contracts, a unit agreement without holders’ obligations. See “Description of Units of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement” and “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement Without Holders’ Obligations.” The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following:
● | whether the purchase contract obligates the holder to purchase or sell the purchase contract property; |
● | whether and when a purchase contract issued as part of a unit may be separated from the other securities or other property comprised by such unit prior to such purchase contract’s settlement date; |
● | the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell the purchase contract property; |
● | any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract; and |
● | whether the purchase contracts will be issued in definitive or global form or in any combination of such forms, although, in any case, the form of the purchase contract included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security or warrant included in that unit. |
Settlement of Purchase Contracts. Where purchase contracts issued together with debt securities as part of a unit require the holders to buy purchase contract property, the unit agent may apply principal payments from such debt securities in satisfaction of the holders’ obligations under the related purchase contract as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The unit agent will not so apply such principal payments if the holder has delivered cash to meet its obligations under the purchase contract. To settle the purchase contract and receive the purchase contract property, the holder must present and surrender the unit certificates at the office of the unit agent. If a holder settles its obligations under a purchase contract that is part of a unit in cash rather than by delivering the debt security that is part of the unit, that debt security will remain outstanding if the maturity extends beyond the relevant settlement date and, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder will receive that debt security or an interest in the relevant global security.
Pledge by Purchase Contract Holders to Secure Performance. To secure the obligations of the purchase contract holders contained in the purchase contracts that are issued as part of a unit and in the unit agreement, the holders, acting through the unit agent, as their attorney-in-fact, will assign and pledge the items in the following sentence to a bank or trust company selected by us, in its capacity as collateral agent, for our benefit. The pledge is a security interest in, and a lien upon and right of set-off against, all of the holders’ right, title and interest in and to:
● | the pledged items; |
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● | all additions to and substitutions for the pledged items as may be permissible, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
● | all income, proceeds and collections received or to be received, or derived or to be derived, at any time from or in connection with the pledged items described in the two clauses above; and |
● | all powers and rights owned or thereafter acquired under or with respect to the pledged items. |
The pledge constitutes collateral security for the performance when due by each holder of its obligations under the unit agreement and the applicable purchase contract. The collateral agent will forward all payments from the pledged items to us, unless such payments have been released from the pledge in accordance with the unit agreement. We will use the payments received from the pledged items to satisfy the obligations of the holder of the unit under the related purchase contract.
Property Held in Trust by Unit Agent. If a holder fails to settle in cash its obligations under a purchase contract that is part of a unit and fails to present and surrender its unit certificate to the unit agent when required, that holder will not receive the purchase contract property. Instead, the unit agent will hold that holder’s purchase contract property, together with any distributions, as the registered owner in trust for the benefit of the holder until the holder presents and surrenders the certificate or provides satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen. We or the unit agent may require an indemnity from the holder for liabilities related to any destroyed, lost or stolen certificate. If the holder does not present the unit certificate, or provide the necessary evidence of destruction or loss and indemnity, on or before the second anniversary of the settlement date of the related purchase contract, the unit agent will pay to us the amounts it received in trust for that holder. Thereafter, the holder may recover those amounts only from us and not the unit agent. The unit agent will have no obligation to invest or to pay interest on any amounts it holds in trust pending distribution.
Title. We, the Guarantor, the unit agent, the trustee, the warrant agent and any of our or their agents will treat the registered holder of any purchase contract as the owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, neither we nor the Guarantor will pay any additional amounts on the purchase contracts offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such purchase contracts.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
We are offering our securities and Wells Fargo Finance LLC is offering its securities fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us on a continuing basis through Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and through any additional agents named in the applicable pricing supplement (individually an “agent” and collectively the “agents”) who have agreed to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the securities. We or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase the securities, and we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, may reject any offer in whole or in part. Each agent may reject, in whole or in part, any offer it solicited to purchase securities. We or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, will pay an agent, in connection with sales of these securities resulting from a solicitation that such agent made or an offer to purchase that such agent received, a commission in an amount agreed upon at the time of sale. Such commission will be set forth in the applicable pricing supplement. The discount or commission that may be received by any member of FINRA for any sales of securities pursuant to this prospectus, together with the reimbursement of any counsel fees by us and/or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, will not exceed 8.00% of the initial gross proceeds from the sale of any securities being sold. Any agreement that we enter into with agents will contain, to the extent required, contractual provisions required to comply with the “Restrictions on Qualified Financial Contracts of Systemically Important U.S. Banking Organizations and the U.S. Operations of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations; Revisions to the Definition of Qualifying Master Netting Agreement and Related Definitions” as issued by the FRB, the FDIC and the OCC and other applicable law.
We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC may also sell the securities to an agent as principal for its own account at a discount to be agreed upon at the time of sale. Such discount will be set forth in the applicable pricing supplement. That agent may resell the securities to investors and other purchasers at a fixed offering price or at prevailing market prices, or prices related thereto at the time of resale or otherwise, as that agent determines and as we or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, will specify in the applicable pricing supplement. Unless the applicable pricing supplement states otherwise, any securities sold to agents as principal will be purchased at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount less the agreed upon discount. An agent may offer the securities it has purchased as principal to other dealers. The agent may sell the securities to any dealer at a discount and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the discount allowed to any other dealer will not be in excess of the discount that the agent will receive from us or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable. After the initial public offering of securities that an agent is to resell on a fixed public offering price basis, the agent may change the public offering price and discount.
We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC may arrange for securities to be sold through agents or may sell securities directly to investors on our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s, as applicable, own behalf or through an affiliate. No commissions will be paid on securities sold directly by us or Wells Fargo Finance LLC. We or Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as applicable, may accept offers to purchase securities through additional agents and may appoint additional agents to solicit offers to purchase securities. Any other agents will be named in the applicable pricing supplement.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and an affiliate of Wells Fargo Finance LLC, will comply with Rule 5121 of the Conduct Rules of FINRA in connection with each placement of the securities in which it participates. If Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or one of our other wholly-owned subsidiaries or affiliated entities participates in a sale of the securities, such subsidiary or entity will not confirm sales to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the customer in accordance with Rule 5121.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Wells Fargo Advisors (the trade name of the retail brokerage business of Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC) or another of our and Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s affiliates may use the applicable pricing supplement, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related product supplement and/or other supplement and this prospectus for offers and sales related to market-making transactions in the securities. Such entities may act as principal or agent in these transactions, and the sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
Each of the agents may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC and the agents have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including
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liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments made in respect of those liabilities. We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC have also agreed to reimburse the agents for specified expenses.
We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC estimate that we and Wells Fargo Finance LLC will spend approximately $16,237,400 for legal fees, printing fees, trustee fees, CUSIP fees, rating agency fees and other expenses allocable to the offering, including, for securities linked to an index, a licensing fee payable to the sponsor of the index.
The original public offering price of an offering of securities will include the agent discount or commission indicated in the applicable pricing supplement, the offering expenses described in the preceding paragraph associated with that offering, the projected profit our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s hedge counterparty expects to realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in hedging our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s obligations under the securities and any other costs identified in the applicable pricing supplement. We and Wells Fargo Finance LLC expect to hedge our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s, as applicable, obligations under the securities through affiliated or unaffiliated counterparties. Because hedging our and Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s or our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s counterparty’s control, such hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or could result in a loss. The discount or commission, offering expenses, projected profit of our or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s hedge counterparty and any other costs identified in the applicable pricing supplement reduce the economic terms of the securities. In addition, the fact that the original offering price includes these items is expected to adversely affect the secondary market prices of the securities. These secondary market prices are also likely to be reduced by the cost of unwinding the related hedging transaction.
When we and Wells Fargo Finance LLC issue the securities offered by this prospectus, except for securities issued upon a reopening of an existing tranche or series of securities, they will be new securities without an established trading market. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement, neither we nor Wells Fargo Finance LLC intend to apply for the listing of the securities on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system. An agent may make a market for the securities, as applicable laws and regulations permit, but is not obligated to do so and may discontinue making a market in any or all of the securities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of any trading market for these securities.
When an agent acts as principal for its own account, to facilitate the offering of the securities, the agent may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. Specifically, the agent may overallot in connection with any offering of the securities, creating a short position in the securities for its own account. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities, the agent may bid for, and purchase, the securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities by an agent through dealers, the agent may reclaim selling concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the agent repurchases previously distributed securities in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. The agents are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
Purchasers of our and Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s securities may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges in accordance with the laws and practices of the country of purchase in addition to the original public offering price disclosed in the applicable pricing supplement.
Agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services, including investment and/or commercial banking services, for us, Wells Fargo Finance LLC, our subsidiaries or Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses. In connection with the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus, we and Wells Fargo Finance LLC may enter into swap or other hedging transactions with, or arranged by, agents or their affiliates. These agents or their affiliates may receive compensation, trading gain or other benefits from these transactions.
Delivery of the securities will be made against payment therefor on or about the issue date specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days after the date the securities are priced, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the applicable pricing supplement specifies that the issue date is more
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than two business days after the date on which the securities are priced, purchasers who wish to trade such securities at any time prior to the second business day preceding the issue date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the securities will not settle in T+2, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement; such purchasers should also consult their own advisors in this regard.
Each agent will agree that it will, to the best of its knowledge and belief, comply with all applicable securities laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers our and Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s securities or possesses or distributes this prospectus or any other offering material and will obtain any required consent, approval or permission for its purchase, offer, sale or delivery of such securities under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes purchases, offers, sales or deliveries. Neither we nor Wells Fargo Finance LLC will have any responsibility for an agent’s compliance with applicable securities laws.
In addition to the above, we may sell our securities and Wells Fargo Finance LLC may sell its securities fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us through other agents, underwriters or dealers or directly to one or more purchasers. In this case, the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement will include additional information with respect to the plan of distribution, including the terms of the offering.
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Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP will issue an opinion about the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus. Mary E. Schaffner, who is our Senior Company Counsel, or another of our lawyers, will issue an opinion to the underwriters or agents on certain matters related to the securities. Ms. Schaffner owns, or has the right to acquire, a number of shares of our common stock which represents less than 0.1% of the total outstanding common stock. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP represents Wells Fargo & Company and certain of its subsidiaries in other legal matters. Ms. Schaffner may rely on Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as to matters of New York law. The opinions of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Ms. Schaffner and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP will be conditioned upon, and subject to certain assumptions regarding, future action that Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Finance LLC and the trustee, as applicable, are required to take in connection with the issuance and sale of any particular security, the specific terms of the securities and other matters which may affect the validity of the securities but which cannot be ascertained on the date of such opinions.
The consolidated financial statements of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered.
Registration Fee | $ | 1,687,400 | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses* | 10,000,000 | |||
Trustee Fees and Expenses* | 3,500,000 | |||
Accounting Fees and Expenses* | 600,000 | |||
Blue Sky and Legal Investment Fees and Expenses* | 100,000 | |||
Printing and Engraving Fees* | 200,000 | |||
Rating Agency Fees* | 200,000 | |||
Listing Fees* | 100,000 | |||
Miscellaneous* | 50,000 | |||
Total* | $ | 16,237,400 |
*Estimated pursuant to instruction to Item 511 of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Wells Fargo & Company
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes indemnification of directors and officers of a Delaware corporation under certain circumstances against expenses, judgments and the like in connection with litigation. Article Fourteenth of the restated certificate of incorporation of Wells Fargo & Company, as amended, provides for broad indemnification of directors and officers. Wells Fargo & Company also maintains insurance coverage relating to certain liabilities of directors and officers.
Pursuant to the terms of forms of underwriting or distribution agreements filed or to be filed in connection with this Registration Statement, the directors and officers of Wells Fargo & Company will be indemnified against certain civil liabilities that they may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act of 1933”), in connection with this Registration Statement and the related prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement.
Wells Fargo Finance LLC
Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act authorizes indemnification of members, managers or other persons under certain circumstances against all claims and demands. Section 11.4 of the limited liability company agreement of Wells Fargo Finance LLC provides for broad indemnification of members, directors and officers. Wells Fargo Finance LLC also maintains insurance coverage relating to certain liabilities of directors and officers.
Pursuant to the terms of forms of underwriting or distribution agreements filed or to be filed in connection with this Registration Statement, the directors and officers of Wells Fargo Finance LLC will be indemnified against certain civil liabilities that they may incur under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with this Registration Statement and the related prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement.
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ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed on the Exhibit Index to this Registration Statement, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by Wells Fargo & Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the Registration Statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after
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effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the securities in the Registration Statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the Registration Statement or prospectus that was part of the Registration Statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
Each of the undersigned Registrants undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of such undersigned Registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, such undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of such undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of such undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by such undersigned Registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about such undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of such undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by such undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(b) Each of the undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Wells Fargo & Company annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of a Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, such Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by such Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, such Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Number | Description |
Form
of
Filing |
* | To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference or by a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Wells Fargo & Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on June 8, 2020.
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY |
||
By: |
/s/ Charles W. Scharf |
|
Charles W. Scharf | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on June 8, 2020 by the following persons in the capacities with Wells Fargo & Company indicated:
*Charles W. Scharf, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of each of the directors named above pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the directors named and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of such directors.
/s/ Charles W. Scharf |
|
Charles W. Scharf, Attorney-in-Fact |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Wells Fargo Finance LLC certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on June 8, 2020.
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC |
||
By: |
/s/ William Threadgill |
|
William Threadgill | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on June 8, 2020 by the following persons in the capacities with Wells Fargo Finance LLC indicated:
/s/ William Threadgill | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
William Threadgill | (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
/s/ Duane Church | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
Duane Church | (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
/s/ Greg Michael Cooley | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
Greg Michael Cooley | (Principal Accounting Officer) |
Le Roy Davis | ) | |
Walter E. Dolhare | ) | All of the Board of Directors of |
Michael F. Riley | ) | Wells Fargo Finance LLC* |
*William Threadgill, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of each of the directors named above pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the directors named and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of such directors.
/s/ William Threadgill
|
|
William Threadgill, Attorney-in-Fact |
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Exhibit 4(d)
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
AGREEMENT
This Limited Liability Company Agreement of Wells Fargo Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) is made as of April 19, 2018, by Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation, as the sole member (“Member”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Member hereby, intending to be legally bound, agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1 Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Article I shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, have the meanings herein specified.
“Additional Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 hereof.
“Additional Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 hereof.
“Affiliate” means with respect to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified Person. As used in this definition, the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Assignee” means any Person who is an assignee of a Member’s limited liability company interest in the Company, or part thereof, and who does not become a Member pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof.
“Authorized Person” means any person designated by the Company as its agent pursuant to § 18.204 of the Delaware Act, including without limitation, each person designated as an Authorized Person in Section 2.1(iii) hereof.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company established pursuant to Article VI of this Agreement.
“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Unit Holder, the aggregate amount of money and the initial fair market value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof with respect to the Units held by such Unit Holder.
“Certificate” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company, initially filed on March 17, 2017, and any and all amendments thereto and restatements thereof filed on or after such date on behalf of the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware Act.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any corresponding federal tax statute enacted after the date of this Agreement. A reference to a specific section of the Code refers not only to such specific section but also to any corresponding provision of any federal tax statute enacted after the date of this Agreement, as such specific section or corresponding provision is in effect on the date of application of the provisions of this Agreement containing such reference.
“Company” means Wells Fargo Finance LLC, the limited liability company hereby established under and pursuant to the Delaware Act and this Agreement.
“Covered Person” means (i) a Member, a Director, an Officer, and any Affiliate of a Member; (ii) as applicable, any officer, director, member, partner, employee, representative or agent of a Member; and (iii) any employee, representative, or agent of the Company, including without limitation any Authorized Person.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq., as amended from time to time.
“Director” means any person designated as a Director of the Company by the Members or the Board pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 15.1 of this Agreement.
“Fiscal Year” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Company and ending on December 31 of the year of formation, (ii) any subsequent twelve (12) month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31, or (iii) any portion of the period described in Clause (ii) of this sentence for which the Company is required to allocate Profits, Losses and other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Article VIII hereof.
“Liquidating Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.3 hereof.
“Majority Vote” means the approval of, or the affirmative vote by, Members holding a majority of the Units held by Members.
“Manager” means Directors when acting as the Board pursuant to the provisions of Article VI hereof, and Officers of the Company, subject to any limitations on the authority of the Directors and any Officer to act as “Manager” under the Delaware Act or this Agreement,
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or as otherwise imposed from time to time by the Members (in the case of Directors and Officers) and/or the Board (in the case of Officers).
“Member” means any Person named as a member in the recitals to this Agreement or who executes this Agreement as a member and includes any Person admitted as an Additional Member or a Substitute Member pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and “Members” means two (2) or more of such Persons when acting in their capacities as members of the Company. “Members” shall also include the sole Member of the Company at any time there is only one Member. For purposes of the Delaware Act, the Members shall constitute one (1) class or group of members.
“Net Cash Flow” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period of the Company, the gross cash receipts of the Company from all sources, but excluding any amounts, such as gross receipts taxes, that are held by the Company as a collection agent or in trust for others or that are otherwise not unconditionally available to the Company, less all amounts paid by or for the account of the Company during the same Fiscal Year or other period (including, without limitation, payments of principal and interest on any Company indebtedness), and less any amounts determined by the Board to be necessary to provide a reasonable reserve for working-capital needs or any other contingencies of the Company. Net Cash Flow shall be determined in accordance with the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting and otherwise in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. Net Cash Flow shall not be reduced by depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions, depletion, similar allowances or other non-cash items, but shall be increased by any reduction of reserves previously established.
“Officer” means any person either initially designated by the Member or subsequently elected or appointed as an Officer of the Company by the Board pursuant to Section 7.1 or Section 15.1 hereof.
“Person” includes any individual, association, corporation, partnership (general or limited), joint venture, trust, estate, limited liability company or partnership, or other legal entity or organization.
“Profits” and “Losses” means, for each Fiscal Year, the net profits or net losses, as the case may be, of the Company for such Fiscal Year, determined on the accrual method of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
“Substitute Member” means a Person who is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof, and who is named as a Member on Schedule A to this Agreement.
“Treasury Regulations” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
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“Unit” means a limited liability company interest in the Company representing such fractional part of the limited liability company interest of all Unit Holders pursuant to this Agreement as is equal to the quotient of one (1) divided by the total number of Units.
“Unit Holder” means any Person who holds one (1) or more Units, regardless of whether such Person is a Member and regardless of whether such Units were initially acquired by such Person from the Company or by assignment from another Unit Holder.
Section 1.2 Headings. The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
ARTICLE II
THE COMPANY
Section 2.1 Formation.
(i) The Member, by the filing of the Certificate on March 22, 2018, by the “Authorized Person” (as defined in subparagraph (iii) of this Section 2.1) and the execution of this Agreement, hereby (a) ratifies, approves, and confirms the formation of, and forms the Company as a limited liability company under and pursuant to the Delaware Act, and (b) hereby subscribes and pays for the Units set forth on Schedule A for the initial Capital Contribution also set forth on Schedule A. The Member agrees that the rights, powers, duties and liabilities of the Member, Directors and Officers shall be as provided in the Delaware Act, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
(ii) The name and mailing address of each Member or Unit Holder shall be listed on Schedule A attached hereto. The Directors and/or Officers shall be required to update Schedule A from time to time as necessary to accurately reflect the information therein. Any amendment or revision to Schedule A made in accordance with this Agreement shall not be deemed an amendment to this Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement to Schedule A shall be deemed to be a reference to Schedule A as amended and in effect from time to time.
(iii) Mindi D. O’Hayre is hereby designated as an “Authorized Person” of the Company and the Member hereby ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery, and filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware by the Authorized Person on March 22, 2018. As of the date of this Agreement, all powers of the person named above as an “Authorized Person” shall cease, and the Member and each Officer named in, or elected or appointed pursuant to this Agreement, shall hereafter be deemed to be the designated Authorized Person and shall continue as the designated Authorized Person.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Company is “Wells Fargo Finance LLC”.
Section 2.3 Existence. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Delaware Act.
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Section 2.4 Registered Agent and Office. The Company’s registered agent and office in Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808. At any time, an Officer may designate another registered agent and/or registered office.
Section 2.5 Principal Place of Business. The principal place of business of the Company shall be at 375 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10152, which location may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Company shall have such additional offices from time to time as determined by the Board of Directors
Section 2.6 Qualification in Other Jurisdictions. Any Officer shall cause the Company to be qualified, formed or registered under assumed or fictitious name statutes or similar laws in any jurisdiction in which the Company transacts business and to file under another name in other jurisdictions if required in order to conduct business there. Any Officer, as an authorized person, within the meaning of the Delaware Act, shall execute, deliver and file any certificates (and any amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to do business in a jurisdiction in which the Company may wish to conduct business.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND POWERS OF THE COMPANY
Section 3.1 Purpose. The purpose of the Company is to engage in all lawful activities for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Delaware Act, and to engage in any and all activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto.
Section 3.2 Powers of the Company.
(i) The Company, acting by and through the Board and its Officers on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, shall possess and exercise all power and authority to take any and all actions necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental or convenient to or for the furtherance of the purpose set forth in Section 3.1, including, but not limited to, the power:
(a) to conduct its business, carry on its operations and have and exercise the powers granted to a limited liability company by the Delaware Act in any state, territory, district or possession of the United States, or in any foreign country that may be necessary, convenient or incidental to the accomplishment of the purpose of the Company;
(b) to acquire by purchase, lease, contribution of property or otherwise, own, hold, operate, maintain, finance, improve, lease, sell, convey, mortgage, transfer, demolish or dispose of any real or personal property that may be necessary, convenient or incidental to the accomplishment of the purpose of the Company;
(c) to enter into, perform and carry out contracts of any kind, including, without limitation, contracts with the Directors, the Officers ,any Member, any Affiliate thereof,
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or any agent of the Company necessary to, in connection with, convenient to, or incidental to the accomplishment of the purpose of the Company;
(d) to purchase, take, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with, shares or other interests in or obligations of domestic or foreign corporations, associations, general or limited partnerships, trusts, limited liability companies or partnerships, or individuals or direct or indirect obligations of the United States or of any government, state, territory, governmental district or municipality or of any instrumentality of any of them;
(e) to lend money for its proper purpose, to invest and reinvest its funds, to take and hold real and personal property for the payment of funds so loaned or invested;
(f) to sue and be sued, complain and defend, and participate in administrative or other proceedings, in its name;
(g) to employ and otherwise engage employees and agents of the Company (who may be designated as Officers with titles), and define their duties and fix their compensation;
(h) to indemnify any Person in accordance with the Delaware Act;
(i) to cease its activities and cancel its Certificate;
(j) to negotiate, enter into, renegotiate, extend, renew, terminate, modify, amend, waive, execute, acknowledge or take any other action with respect to any lease, contract or security agreement in respect of any assets of the Company;
(k) to borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness, and to secure the same by a mortgage, pledge or other lien on the assets of the Company;
(l) to pay, collect, compromise, litigate, arbitrate or otherwise adjust or settle any and all other claims or demands of or against the Company or to hold such proceeds against the payment of contingent liabilities; and
(m) to make, execute, acknowledge and file any and all documents or instruments necessary, convenient or incidental to the accomplishment of the purpose of the Company.
(ii) The Company may merge with, or consolidate into, another limited liability company or other business entity (as defined in Section 18-209(a) of the Delaware Act) upon a Majority Vote.
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ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS, UNITS,
AND ADVANCES
Section 4.1 Capital Contributions.
(i) The records of the Company shall reflect the cash or property that each Unit Holder has contributed or is deemed to have contributed to the capital of the Company and the agreed value of such Capital Contributions.
(ii) No Unit Holder shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Company. However, a Unit Holder (if the sole Member) may make additional Capital Contributions to the Company from time to time, and if the Unit Holder is not a Member or is not the sole Member, then the Unit Holder may make such additional Capital Contributions upon approval by a Majority Vote of the Members.
Section 4.2 Units. A Unit Holder’s limited liability company interest in the Company shall be represented by the “Unit” or “Units” held by such Unit Holder. Each Unit Holder’s respective Units shall be set forth on Schedule A attached hereto. Each Unit Holder hereby agrees that its limited liability company interest in the Company and in its Units shall for all purposes be personal property. A Unit Holder has no interest in specific Company property.
Section 4.3 Status of Capital Contributions.
(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the amount of a Unit Holder’s Capital Contributions may be returned to it, in whole or in part, at any time, but only with the consent of all Members. Any such returns of Capital Contributions shall be made to all Unit Holders in proportion to the number of Units then held by each Unit Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no return of a Unit Holder’s Capital Contributions shall be made hereunder if such distribution would violate applicable state law. Under circumstances requiring a return of any Capital Contribution, no Unit Holder shall have the right to demand or receive property other than cash, except as may be specifically provided in this Agreement.
(ii) No Unit Holder shall receive any interest, salary or drawing with respect to its Capital Contributions or for services rendered on behalf of the Company or otherwise in its capacity as a Unit Holder, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided herein and by applicable state law, the Members shall be liable only to make their capital contributions pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, and no Member or Assignee shall be required to lend any funds to the Company or, after a Member’s Capital Contributions have been fully paid pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof, to make any additional capital contributions to the Company. No Unit Holder shall have any personal liability for the repayment of any Capital Contribution of any other Member or Assignee.
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Section 4.4 Advances. If any Unit Holder shall advance any funds to the Company in excess of its Capital Contributions, the amount of such advance shall not entitle it to any increase in its share of the distributions of the Company. The amount of any such advance shall be a debt obligation of the Company to such Unit Holder and shall be repaid to it by the Company with interest at a rate equal to (i) the rate of interest set forth in any note or other writing memorializing such advance, or if the Unit Holder and the Company do not enter into any such note or other writing, then (ii) the lesser of (a) the applicable federal rate under Section 1274(d) of the Code and (b) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, and upon such other terms and conditions as shall be mutually determined by such Unit Holder and a Manager. Any such advance shall be payable and collectible only out of Company assets, and the other Unit Holders shall not be personally obligated to repay any part thereof. No Person who makes any nonrecourse loan to the Company shall have or acquire, as a result of making such loan, any direct or indirect interest in the profits, capital or property of the Company, other than as a creditor.
ARTICLE V
MEMBERS AND MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
Section 5.1 Powers of Members. The Members shall have the power to exercise any and all rights or powers granted to the Members pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement. The Members shall also have the power to authorize the Board, by Majority Vote, to possess and exercise any right or power not already vested in the Board pursuant to Section 6.1 or any other provision of this Agreement. In addition to the foregoing, the Members have the power to exercise any and all other rights or powers of the Company and do all lawful acts and things as are not by the Delaware Act or this Agreement directed or required to be exercised or done by the Board. Except as provided herein, the Members shall have no power to bind the Company.
Section 5.2 Reimbursements. The Company may reimburse the Members for all ordinary and necessary out of pocket expenses incurred by the Members on behalf of the Company.
Section 5.3 Partition. Each Member waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for partition of the Company’s property.
Section 5.4 Meetings of the Members.
(i) Meetings of the Members may be called at any time by any Member. Notice of any meeting shall be given to all Members not less than two (2) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of such meeting. Each Member may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Member is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Member or its attorney-in-fact.
(ii) The Members shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Members, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Members, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other
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matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote. Any action required to be taken at any meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting, if the Members consent in writing and the writings are filed with the minutes of meeting of the Members
(iii) All actions requiring the approval of the Members, whether under the Delaware Act or pursuant to this Agreement, shall be by Majority Vote.
(iv) Meetings of the Members may be held by means of conference telephone or by other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting
ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.1 Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of one or more Directors named in or hereafter elected by the Members as provided in this Agreement. Except as provided herein, it is intended that this grant of authority shall authorize the Board to function in all matters not otherwise reserved to the Members as if the Company were a corporation formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Board were the board of directors of such corporation. The authorized number of Directors shall initially be fixed at three (3) persons. The Members from time to time hereafter shall determine the number of Directors to constitute the Board, provided that thereafter the authorized number of Directors may be increased or decreased by the Members at any time in their sole discretion, upon notice to all Directors. Each Director elected shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified or until such Director's earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be Members. Vacancies, except vacancies caused by removal pursuant to Section 6.7 of this Article VI, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors may be filled by a majority of the Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, and the Directors so chosen shall hold office until the next election of Directors and until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced.
Section 6.2 Meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of the Company may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board or President on one (1) day notice to each Director, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by facsimile, by electronic mail or by any other means of communication; special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of one or more of the Directors. Whenever any notice is required to be given, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the persons attend a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business at such meeting.
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Section 6.3 Quorum and Acts of the Board. At all meetings of the Board a majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by this Agreement. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such written actions of the Board will be effective on the date such acts are approved or such earlier or later date as the Board may designate, except as may be designated or required by applicable law.
Section 6.4 Electronic Communications. Members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 6.5 Committees of Directors. The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Company. The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.
In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending this Agreement, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the Members the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company’s property and assets, recommending to the Members a dissolution of the Company or a revocation of a dissolution; and unless the resolution of the Board designating the committee expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a distribution. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
Section 6.6 Compensation of Directors. The Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of Directors. The Directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at such meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as Director. No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the Company in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
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Section 6.7 Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by law, any Director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, by a Majority Vote. Any vacancy caused by any such removal may be filled by a Majority Vote.
Section 6.8 Directors as Agents. The Directors, to the extent of their powers set forth in this Agreement, are agents of the Company for the purposes of the Company’s business, and the actions of the Directors taken in accordance with this Agreement shall bind the Company.
Section 6.9 Directors as Managers Under the Delaware Act. Directors shall be deemed to be “Managers” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act when acting collectively as the Board of the Company pursuant to this Article VI; provided, however, that no individual Director (other than a Director who is the sole member of the Board or a Director acting as the sole member of a Committee of the Board established pursuant to this Article VI), shall be considered to be a “Manager” of the Company within the meaning of the Act. The authority granted to Directors as Manager shall be subject to any powers and rights reserved to Members to manage the Company’s business by the Delaware Act or under this Agreement, and any limitations on such authority imposed by this Agreement or by the Members from time to time.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
Section 7.1 Officers.
(i) Except as provided in Section 7.7 below, the Officers of the Company shall be chosen by the Board and shall include at least a President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. The Board may also choose a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents including Executive, Senior and Assistant Vice Presidents, and one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. A person elected or appointed to be an Officer is by such election or appointment designated a Manager by the Members for purposes of the Delaware Act. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. The Board may appoint such other Officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall have such titles, shall hold their offices for such terms, and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. The Board may authorize Officers elected by the Board to appoint other Officers and agents pursuant to procedures prescribed by this Agreement, if any, or by resolution of the Board. The salaries of all Officers and agents of the Company shall be fixed by or in the manner prescribed by the Board. The Officers of the Company shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Officers need not be Members. Any Officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board or, to the extent applicable, may be filled pursuant to Section 7.7.
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(ii) The initial officers of the Company shall be those persons named as “Officers” of the Company pursuant to Section 15.1 hereof and shall serve in the capacities so indicated until their successors are duly elected or appointed by the Board pursuant to Section 7.1(i) hereof.
Section 7.2 Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer be elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board, if then present at such meeting, and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Board or prescribed by the by-laws. The Chairman of the Board shall in addition be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties given to the President in Section 7.3 of this Article.
Section 7.3 President. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board to the Chairman of the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall be responsible for general and active management of the business of the Company. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, if such an officer be chosen, or if there is none, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Members and the Board, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President may execute bonds, mortgages, leases and other contracts, except where required by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company.
Section 7.4 Vice President. In the absence of the President or in the event of such Officer’s inability to act, the Vice President, if any (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Vice President, if any, shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7.5 Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the Members and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Company and of the Board in a book to be kept for that purpose, may certify as necessary the accuracy and completeness of such records and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the Members and special meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board (or if there be no such determination, then in order of their election) shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary's inability to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7.5 The Treasurer. The Treasurer (who may have the title “Chief Financial Officer,” in addition to, or instead of the title “Treasurer”) shall have the custody of the Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements,
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and shall render to the President and the Board, at its regular meetings, or when the Board so requires, an account of all of the Treasurer's transactions and of the financial condition of the Company.
Section 7.6 Officers as Managers and Agents.
(i) Officers shall be deemed to be “Managers” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act; provided, however, the authority granted to Officers as Managers shall be subject to any powers and rights reserved to Members and/or to Directors pursuant to Section 6.9 of this Agreement to manage the Company’s business by the Delaware Act or under this Agreement, and any limitations on such authority imposed by this Agreement or by the Members or the Board from time to time.
(ii) The Officers, to the extent of their powers set forth in, or now or hereafter granted by the Board pursuant to this Agreement are also agents of the Company for the purpose of the Company's business, and the actions of any Officer taken in accordance with this Agreement or any resolutions of the Board shall bind the Company.
Section 7.7 Election and Appointment of Officers. The Chairman of the Board, President, and any Executive Vice President, acting singly, may also appoint and terminate the appointment of any Officer of the Company, except that the Board shall have the sole authority to choose Officers holding the titles of Chairman of the Board, President, and Executive Vice President, and any Executive Vice President, acting singly, may also appoint and terminate the appointment of any other Officer of the Company having such titles and such duties as may be determined by the Chairman of the Board, President, or any such Executive Vice President as necessary for the prompt and orderly transaction of the Company’s business. All such appointments and termination of appointments shall be made in a written document filed with the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company. Any Officer appointed pursuant to this Section shall maintain his or her status as an Officer until the earlier of the filing of a written termination of such appointment with the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or the termination of such Officer’s employment with the Company.
Section 7.8 Third Party Reliance. Any person dealing with the Company or any Member, Director or Officer in connection with the business of the Company, may rely upon a certificate signed by a Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company as to:
(i) the identity of a Member, Director or Officer of the Company;
(ii) the existence or non-existence of any fact or facts that constitute a condition precedent to acts by the Board, the Members or the Officers or in any matter related to the affairs of the Company;
(iii) the Persons who are authorized to execute and deliver any instrument or document of, or on behalf of, the Company; or
(iv) any act or failure to act by the Company or as to any other matter whatsoever involving the Company, or any Member, Director or Officer.
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ARTICLE VIII
ALLOCATIONS
Section 8.1 Profits and Losses. Profits and Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion to the number of Units held by each Unit Holder.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 9.1 Net Cash Flow. Except as otherwise provided in Article XIV hereof (relating to the dissolution of the Company), any distribution of the Net Cash Flow during any Fiscal Year shall be made to the Unit Holders in proportion to the number of Units held by each Unit Holder.
Section 9.2 Distribution Rules.
(i) All distributions pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof shall be at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined by the Board.
(ii) All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any state or local tax law with respect to any payment, distribution or allocation to the Company or the Unit Holders shall be treated as amounts distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to this Article IX for all purposes of this Agreement. The Board is authorized to withhold from distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the Unit Holders and to pay over to any federal, state or local government any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any other federal, state or local law and shall allocate such amounts to those Unit Holders with respect to which such amounts were withheld.
Section 9.3 Limitations on Distribution. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Unit Holder on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate Sections 18-607 or 18-804 of the Delaware Act or other applicable law.
ARTICLE X
BOOKS AND RECORDS
Section 10.1 Books, Records and Financial Statements. At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall maintain, at its principal place of business, separate books of account for the Company that shall show a true and accurate record of all costs and expenses incurred, all charges made, all credits made and received and all income derived in connection with the operation of the Company business in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, in accordance with this Agreement. Such books of account, together with a certified copy of this Agreement and of the Certificate, shall at all times be maintained at the principal place of business of the Company and shall be open to inspection and
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examination at reasonable times by each Member and its duly authorized representative for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest in the Company. The books of account and the records of the Company shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal Year under the direction of the Treasurer, or if required by the Board, by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Board.
Section 10.2 Accounting Method. For both financial and tax reporting purposes and for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, the books and records of the Company shall be kept on the accrual method of accounting applied in a consistent manner and shall reflect all Company transactions and be appropriate and adequate for the Company’s business.
ARTICLE XI
LIABILITY, EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 11.1 Liability. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Covered Person shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Covered Person.
Section 11.2 Exculpation.
(i) No Covered Person shall be liable to the Company or to any other Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such Covered Person by this Agreement, except that a Covered Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Covered Person’s (a) willful misconduct, (b) knowing violation of law, (c) with respect to a Covered Person who is a Director or an Officer, a breach of the duty of loyalty provided for in Section 11.7 of this Agreement.
(ii) Each Covered Person and Liquidating Trustee shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented by another Covered Person or Liquidating Trustee or by any other Person as to matters the Covered Person or Liquidating Trustee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, Profits, Losses or Net Cash Flow, or the value and amount of assets or reserves or contracts, agreements or other undertakings that would be sufficient to pay claims and obligations of the Company or to make reasonable provision to pay such claims and obligations or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to Members or creditors might properly be paid.
Section 11.3 Conflicts of Interest. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between the Company and a Covered Person, or any Member and a
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Covered Person or (ii) whenever this Agreement or any other agreement to which the Company is or may become a party provides that a Covered Person shall act in a manner that is, or provide terms that are fair to the Company or any Member, the Covered Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action, or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Covered Person, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Covered Person shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Covered Person at law or in equity or otherwise.
Section 11.4 Indemnification.
(i) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and this Agreement, a Covered Person shall be entitled to indemnification from the Company for any claim, liability, loss, damage and expense (collectively, a “Loss”) incurred by such Covered Person by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such Covered person by this Agreement, except that no Covered Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any Loss incurred by such Covered Person by reason of willful misconduct or a knowing violation of law with respect to such acts or omissions; provided, however, no Covered Person shall have any personal liability on account of any indemnity under this Section 11.4.
(ii) The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Member, Director, Officer, employee, or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any Loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such Loss under this Agreement.
(iii) Unless ordered by a court having jurisdiction over the matter, any claim for indemnification under this Section 11.4 shall be made by the Company only as authorized following a determination that indemnification of the Covered Person is appropriate in the circumstances because the Covered Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraph (ii) of this section. Such determination shall be made (a) with respect to a Covered Person who, at the time of such determination, is a Member, (1) by a majority vote of the Members who are not also recipients of, or parties to any claim, action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is sought (the "Non-Affected Members"), or (2) by a committee of Non-Affected Members designated by majority vote of such Non-Affected Members, or (3) if there are no Non-Affected Members, or if the Non-Affected Members so order, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; and (b) with respect to a Covered Person who is a Director or Officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the Directors who are not recipients of, or parties to any claim, action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is sought (the "Non-Affected Directors"), or (2) by a committee of Non-Affected Directors designated by majority vote of such Non-Affected Directors, or (3) if there are no Non-Affected Directors, or if the Non-Affected Directors so order, by
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independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the Members, and (c) with respect to any Covered Person who is not a Member, Director, or an Officer, by the Directors acting pursuant to Section 6.3 of this Agreement. Wherever this paragraph refers to the taking of an action by the majority vote of the Non-Affected Members or the Non-Affected Directors and notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 5.4 and 6.3 of this Agreement, such action may be taken either at a meeting at which a majority of the Non-Affected Members or the Non-Affected Directors are present (even though such number would not constitute a quorum at a meeting of Members or Directors) or in writing signed by a majority of the Non-Affected Members or the Non-Affected Directors, as the case may be.
Section 11.5 Expenses. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including legal fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section 11.4 hereof.
Section 11.6 Outside Businesses. Except as otherwise provided in any employment agreement or other agreement any Member, Director, Officer, or Affiliate thereof may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Company, and the Company, the Members, Directors, and Officers shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Company, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Except as otherwise provided in any employment agreement or other agreement, no Member, Director, Officer, or Affiliate thereof shall be obligated to present any particular investment opportunity to the Company even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Company, could be taken by the Company, and any Member, Director, Officer, or Affiliate thereof shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment opportunity.
Section 11.7 Duties of Board and Officers. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, each Director and Officer shall have a fiduciary duty of loyalty and care similar to that of directors and officers of business corporations organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XII
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS AND UNITS
Section 12.1 Additional Units. If approved by Majority Vote, the Company is authorized to raise additional capital by offering and selling, or causing to be offered and sold, additional limited liability company interests in the Company (“Additional Units”) to any Person in such amounts and on such terms as the Members may determine. Each Person who subscribes for any of the Additional Units shall be admitted as an additional member of the Company (each, an “Additional Member” and collectively, the “Additional Members”) at the time such Person is named as a Member on Schedule A hereto. An Additional Member shall be bound by this Agreement whether or not such Additional
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Member executes this Agreement. The legal fees and expenses associated with such admission shall be borne by the Company.
ARTICLE XIII
ASSIGNABILITY AND SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
Section 13.1 Assignability of Units.
(i) A Member may assign the whole or any part of its Units or other interests in the Company to an Affiliate in such Member’s sole discretion and without the prior consent of the Board. Any such assignment shall, nevertheless, not entitle the assignee to become a Substitute Member or to be entitled to exercise or receive any of the rights, powers or benefits of a Member, other than the right to receive distributions, to which the assigning Member would be entitled, unless the assigning Member designates, in a written instrument, its assignee to become a Substitute Member. Such written instrument or Substitute Member designation does not require the approval or prior consent of the Board.
(ii) No Member may assign the whole or any part of its Units or other interests in the Company to any Person who is not an Affiliate without the prior consent of the Board, which consent may be given or withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board. If the prior consent of the Board is obtained for any such assignment, such assignment shall, nevertheless, not entitle the assignee to become a Substitute Member or to be entitled to exercise or receive any of the rights, powers or benefits of a Member, other than the right to receive distributions to which the assigning Member would be entitled, unless the assigning Member designates, in a written instrument delivered to the Board or otherwise to the satisfaction of the Board, its assignee to become a Substitute Member and the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, consents to the admission of such assignee as a Member; and provided further, that such assignee shall not become a Substitute Member without having paid to the Company a fee sufficient to cover all reasonable expenses of the Company in connection with such assignee’s admission as a Substitute Member. A Substitute Member shall be bound by this Agreement whether or not such Substitute Member executes this Agreement. If a Member assigns all of its interest in the Company and the assignee of such interest is entitled to become a Substitute Member pursuant to this Section 13.1, then unless otherwise agreed, such assignee shall be admitted to the Company effective immediately prior to the effective date of the assignment, and, immediately following such admission, the assigning Member shall cease to be a Member of the Company.
Section 13.2 Recognition of Assignment by Company. No assignment, or any part thereof, that is in violation of this Article XIII shall be valid or effective, and neither the Company nor the Members shall recognize the same for the purpose of making distributions of Net Cash Flow pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof with respect to such Company interest or part thereof. Neither the Company nor the nonassigning Members shall incur any liability as a result of refusing to make any such distributions to the assignee of any such invalid assignment.
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Section 13.3 Indemnification. In the case of an assignment or attempted assignment of an interest in the Company that has not received the consents required by Section 13.1 hereof, the parties engaging or attempting to engage in such assignment shall be liable to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from all costs, liabilities and damages that any of such indemnified Persons may incur (including, without limitation, incremental tax liability and lawyers’ fees and expenses) as a result of such assignment or attempted assignment and efforts to enforce the indemnity granted hereby.
Section 13.4 Effective Date of Assignment. Any valid assignment of a Member’s interest in the Company, or part thereof, pursuant to the provisions of Section 13.1 hereof shall be effective as of the close of business on the last day of the calendar month in which the Board gives its consent, if required, to such assignment (or the last day of the calendar month in which such assignment occurs, if later), unless, in the case of assignment to an Affiliate, a written instrument of the assigning Member sets forth a different effective date, or, in any case, the Board in its discretion approves a different effective date. The Company shall, from the effective date of such assignment, thereafter pay all further distributions on account of the Company interest (or part thereof) so assigned, to the assignee of such interest, or part thereof.
ARTICLE XIV
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION
Section 14.1 No Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substitute Members in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or by the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event under the Delaware Act that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company.
Section 14.2 Events Causing Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) the expiration of the term of the Company, as provided in Section 2.3 hereof;
(ii) a Majority Vote of the Members;
(iii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.3 Notice of Dissolution. Upon the dissolution of the Company, the Person or Persons approved by a Majority Vote to carry out the winding up of the Company (the “Liquidating Trustee”) shall promptly notify the Members of such dissolution.
Section 14.4 Liquidation. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Liquidating Trustee shall immediately commence to wind up the Company’s affairs; provided, however, that a reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Company and the satisfaction of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Members to minimize the normal losses attendant upon a
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liquidation. The Unit Holders shall continue to share Profits and Losses during liquidation in the same proportions, as specified in Article VIII hereof, as before liquidation. Each Member shall be furnished with a statement prepared by the Company’s certified public accountants that shall set forth the assets and liabilities of the Company as of the date of dissolution. The proceeds of liquidation shall be distributed, as realized, in the following order and priority:
(i) to creditors of the Company, including Unit Holders who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law, in satisfaction of the liabilities of the Company (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof), other than liabilities for distributions to Unit Holders; and
(ii) to the Unit Holders the remaining proceeds of liquidation in proportion to the number of Units held by each Unit Holder.
Section 14.5 Termination. The Company shall terminate when all of the assets of the Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company, shall have been distributed to the Unit Holders in the manner provided for in this Article XIV, and the Certificate shall have been canceled in the manner required by the Delaware Act.
Section 14.6 Claims of the Members. The Members and Assignees shall look solely to the Company’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Company remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Members and Assignees shall have no recourse against the Company or any other Member or Manager.
Section 14.7 Revocation of Dissolution. Notwithstanding the occurrence of an event set forth in Section 18-801(a)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of the Delaware Act, the Company shall not be dissolved if the Company is continued in accordance with Section 18-806 of the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE XV
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 15.1 First Officers and Directors. The Member hereby designates, as the initial Officers and Directors of this Company, the persons set forth next to their respective offices in Schedule B.
ARTICLE XVI
AMENDMENTS
Section 16.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Board. The Board, without the approval of any Member may amend any provision of this Agreement, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all documents required or desirable in connection therewith, to reflect:
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(i) a change in the name of the Company or the location of the principal place of business of the Company;
(ii) the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of Members or Assignees in accordance with this Agreement;
(iii) a change that is (a) of an inconsequential nature and does not adversely affect the Members or Assignees in any material respect; (b) necessary or desirable to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that would be inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provision with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, in each case so long as such change does not adversely affect the Members or Assignees; (c) necessary or desirable to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state statute, so long as such change is made in a manner which minimizes any adverse effect on the Members or Assignees; or (d) required or contemplated by this Agreement; or
(iv) any other amendments similar to the foregoing.
Section 16.2. Amendment Procedures. Except as specifically provided in Section 16.1 and Section 16.2, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made solely in accordance with the following requirements:
(i) Amendments of this Agreement may be proposed only by the Board or any Member;
(ii) If an amendment is proposed, the Board shall seek the written approval of, or call a meeting of the Members to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by a Majority Vote, unless a greater percentage is required by this Agreement; and
(iii) The Board shall notify all Members upon final adoption of any proposed amendment.
ARTICLE XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 17.1 Notices. All notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail as follows:
(i) if given to the Company, in care of the President, at the Company’s mailing address set forth on Schedule A attached hereto;
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(ii) if given to a Director, at such Director’s mailing address as provided to the Company; or
(iii) if given to any Member, at the address set forth opposite its name on Schedule A attached hereto, or at such other address as such Member may hereafter designate by written notice to the Company.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received. Whenever any notice is required to be given under this Agreement, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Section 17.2 Failure to Pursue Remedies. The failure of any party to seek redress for violation of, or to insist upon the strict performance of, any provision of this Agreement shall not prevent a subsequent act, which would have originally constituted a violation, from having the effect of an original violation.
Section 17.3 Cumulative Remedies. The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.
Section 17.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, legal representatives and assigns.
Section 17.5 Interpretation. Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. All references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.
Section 17.6 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.
Section 17.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one instrument.
Section 17.8 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
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Section 17.9 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member hereof has executed this Agreement as of the date first above stated.
MEMBER: | ||||
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY | ||||
By | /s/ Barbara S. Brett | |||
Name: | Barbara S. Brett | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
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SCHEDULE A
COMPANY
Name | Mailing Address |
Wells Fargo Finance LLC |
375 Park Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10152 |
MEMBER(S)
Name |
Mailing Address |
Number of Units |
Initial
Capital
Contribution |
Wells Fargo & Company |
420 Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94104
|
1,000 | $1,000 |
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SCHEDULE B
INITIAL DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF
WElls fargo finance llc
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Le Roy Davis
Walter E. Dolhare
Michael F. Riley
OFFICERS
William Threadgill | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Barbara Janine Garafalo | Vice President |
Le Roy Davis | Senior Vice President and Treasurer |
James McMullin | Secretary |
Barbara S. Brett | Senior Vice President |
Greg Michael Cooley | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
David L. Pitelka | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 5(a)
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 2200 Wells Fargo Center 90 South Seventh Street Minneapolis Minnesota 55402-3901 Phone +1 612 766 7000 Fax +1 612 766 1600
|
||
June 8, 2020 |
Wells Fargo & Company
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) of the Company and Wells Fargo Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Wells Fargo Finance”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the proposed offer and sale by the Company from time to time of the following securities:
(i) unsecured unsubordinated debt securities of the Company in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Debt Securities”);
(ii) warrants of the Company for the purchase or sale of (1) securities issued by the Company or by an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities or an index or indices of such securities, (2) currencies, (3) any other property, or (4) any combination of the foregoing, in each case in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Warrants”);
(iii) purchase contracts of the Company for the purchase or sale of (1) securities issued by the Company or by an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities or an index or indices of such securities, (2) currencies, (3) commodities, (4) exchange-traded funds, (5) any other property, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, in each case in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Purchase Contracts”);
(iv) units of the Company consisting of any combination of Warrants, Purchase Contracts, Debt Securities issued by the Company or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Company or other property in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference
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into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Units”, and together with the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Purchase Contracts, the “Company Securities”); and
(v) guarantees by the Company of the following securities of Wells Fargo Finance:
(a) unsecured unsubordinated debt securities of Wells Fargo Finance (the “Wells Fargo Finance Debt Securities”) in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Debt Security Guarantees”);
(b) warrants of Wells Fargo Finance for the purchase or sale of (1) securities issued by an entity not affiliated with the Company, (2) currencies, (3) other specified securities, or (4) any combination of the foregoing, including indices or baskets thereof (the “Wells Fargo Finance Warrants”), in each case in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Warrant Guarantees”);
(c) purchase contracts of Wells Fargo Finance (the “Wells Fargo Finance Purchase Contracts”) for the purchase or sale of (1) securities issued by an entity not affiliated with the Company, (2) currencies, (3) commodities, (4) other specified securities, or (5) any combination of the foregoing, including indices or baskets thereof, in each case in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Purchase Contract Guarantees”); and
(d) units consisting of any combination of Wells Fargo Finance Debt Securities, Wells Fargo Finance Warrants, Wells Fargo Finance Purchase Contracts or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the Company (the “Wells Fargo Finance Units” and, together with the Wells Fargo Finance Debt Securities, the Wells Fargo Finance Warrants and the Wells Fargo Finance Purchase Contracts, the “Wells Fargo Finance Securities”) in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Unit Guarantees”, and together with the Debt Security Guarantees, the Warrant Guarantees and the Purchase Contract Guarantees, the “Guarantees” and the Guarantees, together with the Company Securities, the “Securities”).
The Securities may be offered separately or together with other Securities, in separate series, in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in the prospectus and one or more supplements to the prospectus (collectively, the “Prospectus”) constituting a part of the Registration Statement, and in the Registration Statement.
The Debt Securities are to be issued under the indenture filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Registration Statement entered into by the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”).
The Warrants are to be issued under one or more warrant agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Warrant
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Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company and warrant agents to be named by the Company.
The Purchase Contracts are to be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Purchase Contract Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company and purchase contract agents to be named by the Company.
The Units are to be issued under one or more unit agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Unit Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company and unit agents to be named by the Company.
The Debt Security Guarantees are to be issued under the indenture filed as Exhibit 4(h) to the Registration Statement entered into by Wells Fargo Finance, the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Wells Fargo Finance Indenture”).
The Warrant Guarantees are to be issued under one or more warrant agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Wells Fargo Finance Warrant Agreements”), to be entered into by Wells Fargo Finance, the Company and the warrants agents to be named by Wells Fargo Finance.
The Purchase Contract Guarantees are to be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Wells Fargo Finance Purchase Contracts”), to be entered into by Wells Fargo Finance, the Company and the purchase contract agents to be named by Wells Fargo Finance.
The Unit Guarantees are to be issued under one or more unit agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Wells Fargo Finance Unit Agreements”), to be entered into by Wells Fargo Finance, the Company and the unit agents to be named by Wells Fargo Finance.
The Indenture, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contract Agreements, the Unit Agreements, the Wells Fargo Finance Indenture, the Wells Fargo Finance Warrant Agreements, the Wells Fargo Finance Purchase Contract Agreements and the Wells Fargo Finance Unit Agreements are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Governing Documents.”
Certain terms of the Securities to be issued by the Company from time to time will be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof or certain authorized officers of the Company as part of the corporate action taken and to be taken (the “Corporate Proceedings”) in connection with issuance of the Securities. We have examined or are otherwise familiar with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended through the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the By-Laws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof (the “By-Laws”), the Registration Statement, such of the Corporate Proceedings
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that have occurred as of the date hereof, and such other documents, records, and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. with respect to any Debt Securities, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due execution, authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities, and (c) in the case of Debt Securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of another Security, the issuance of such Debt Securities upon conversion, exercise or settlement of such other Security in accordance with the terms of such other
Security or any instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exercise or settlement as approved by the Corporate Proceedings, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. The Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
2. with respect to any Warrants, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Warrant Agreement, and (c) the due execution, countersignature and delivery of such Warrants, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
3. with respect to any Purchase Contracts, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings and (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Purchase Contract Agreement, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
4. with respect to any Units, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Unit Agreement, (c) if the Units are to be evidenced by certificates, the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of unit certificates evidencing such Units pursuant to such Unit Agreement, and (d) completion of all actions in respect of the Securities constituting a component of such Units referred to in the applicable numbered paragraphs hereof, such Unit Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and any certificates evidencing such Units will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Unit Agreement.
5. with respect to any Debt Security Guarantee, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution, authentication and delivery of the related Wells Fargo Finance Debt Securities, and (c) in the case of a Debt Security Guarantee of Wells Fargo Finance Debt Securities issuable upon exercise or settlement of another Wells Fargo Finance security, the issuance of such Wells Fargo Finance Debt Securities upon exercise or settlement of such other security in accordance with the terms of such other
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security or any instrument governing such other security providing for such exercise or settlement as approved by the corporate proceedings of Wells Fargo Finance, such Debt Security Guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The Wells Fargo Finance Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
6. with respect to any Warrant Guarantee, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Wells Fargo Finance Warrant Agreement, and (c) the due execution, countersignature and delivery of the related Wells Fargo Finance Warrants, such Warrant Guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
7. with respect to any Purchase Contract Guarantee, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, and (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Wells Fargo Finance Purchase Contract Agreement, such Purchase Contract Guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
8. with respect to any Unit Guarantee, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Wells Fargo Finance Unit Agreement, (c) if the Wells Fargo Finance Units are to be evidenced by certificates, the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of unit certificates evidencing such Wells Fargo Finance Units pursuant to such Wells Fargo Finance Unit Agreement, and (d) completion of all actions in respect of the Wells Fargo Finance Securities constituting a component of such Wells Fargo Finance Units referred to in the applicable numbered paragraphs hereof, such Unit Guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
The foregoing opinions as to the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of provisions of such instruments and agreements are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, voidable transactions, fraudulent conveyance, receivership or other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights, (ii) general equity principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain specific remedies or enforce specific terms, and (iv) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States.
With respect to the foregoing opinions in paragraphs (5), (6), (7) and (8) above, we hereby advise you that (i) in the absence of an effective waiver or consent, a guarantor or other accommodation party may be discharged from its guaranty, accommodation security or other
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support to the extent the supported obligations are modified or other action or inaction by a creditor increases the scope of the accommodation party’s risk or otherwise detrimentally affects its interests (such as by impairing the value of collateral securing the supported obligations, negligently administering the supported obligations, or releasing the borrower or another guarantor or co-accommodation party of the supported obligations); and (ii) a guarantor or other accommodation party may have the right to revoke its guaranty, accommodation security or other support with respect to supported obligations incurred after the revocation, notwithstanding the absence of an express right of revocation in the documents providing for support.
The foregoing opinions assume that (a) the Company will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) the consideration designated in the applicable Corporate Proceedings for any Securities shall have been received by the Company and such consideration shall be legally sufficient; (c) each party to any Governing Document other than the Company shall have complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce such agreements or instruments against the Company and shall have satisfied those legal requirements applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreements or instruments enforceable against it; (d) the Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be effective; (e) at the time of the issuance, execution, authentication and delivery of the Securities, the Corporate Proceedings related thereto will not have been modified or rescinded, there will not have occurred any change in the law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws affecting the authorization, issuance, execution, authentication, acknowledgement, delivery, filing, validity or enforceability of such Securities or any related Governing Documents, neither the issuance and sale of such Securities nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Securities or the related Governing Documents will result in a violation of any agreement or instrument then binding upon the Company or any order of any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and any other securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement, as applicable, of such Securities will have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance (in each case within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such other securities); (f) the Securities will be issued in accordance with, and in compliance with any limitations on issuance contained in, the Corporate Proceedings related thereto and the Securities will be issued within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such Securities under such Governing Documents; (g) the terms of the Securities will be established in conformity with the related Governing Documents; (h) none of the particular terms of the Securities or Governing Documents hereafter established will violate, or be void or voidable under, any applicable law; (i) all certificates evidencing any Securities will be in the form required by law and approved for issuance by the Company; (j) the Securities will be duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and/or registrar thereof in the name and on behalf of the holders thereof, as applicable; (k) in the case of any Securities represented by, or issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of, as applicable, or constituting a component of, any other Securities, all actions in respect of such other Securities referred to in the applicable numbered paragraph above shall have been completed; (l) in the case of any Security which relates to, or which guarantees a Wells Fargo Finance Security which relates to, a security of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with the
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June 8, 2020
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Company, a basket of those securities, a currency, a commodity, an index, a basket of indices or other market measure (collectively, a “Market Measure”), such Security or Wells Fargo Finance Security will be settled in cash based on the value of such Market Measure and neither the Company nor Wells Fargo Finance will be required to register such Market Measure under the Securities Act in connection with the issuance of the related Security or Wells Fargo Finance Security, as applicable; and (m) a prospectus supplement and any other offering material describing each series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law, will be timely filed with the Commission.
We have also assumed, without investigation, the following: (a) the accuracy and truthfulness of all public records of the Company and of all certifications, documents and other proceedings examined by us that have been produced by officials of the Company acting within the scope of their official capacities, without verifying the accuracy or truthfulness of such representations, (b) the genuineness of such signatures appearing upon such public records, certifications, documents and proceedings, (c) that each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine, and (d) the legal capacity of the natural persons who are involved on behalf of the Company to enter into and perform the referenced instrument or agreement or to carry out their role in the transactions contemplated thereby.
We express no opinion as to (i) whether a court would award a judgment in a currency other than United States dollars or as to the enforceability of any provision specifying rates of exchange for, or requiring indemnity against loss in, converting into a specified currency the proceeds or amount of a court judgment in another currency, (ii) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any particular court or other governmental authority (either as to personal jurisdiction or subject matter jurisdiction), any waivers of the right to jury trial, any waivers of service of process requirements that would otherwise be applicable, any agreement that a judgment rendered by a court in one jurisdiction may be enforced in another jurisdiction, or any provision otherwise affecting the jurisdiction or venue of courts, or (iii) any provision waiving legal, statutory or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or administrative rights.
The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to facts, documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such facts, documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.
Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of any other laws. We have assumed for the purposes of this opinion that New York law will be chosen to govern each Governing Document.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to being named in the Prospectus included therein under the caption “Legal Opinions.” In
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June 8, 2020
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giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours, | ||
FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP | ||
By: | /s/ Dawn Holicky Pruitt | |
Dawn Holicky Pruitt |
Exhibit 5(b)
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 2200 Wells Fargo Center 90 South Seventh Street Minneapolis Minnesota 55402-3901 Phone +1 612 766 7000 Fax +1 612 766 1600
|
||
June 8, 2020 | ||
Wells Fargo Finance LLC
30 Hudson Yards, Floor 14
New York, New York 10001
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Wells Fargo Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) of the Company and Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (“Wells Fargo”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the proposed offer and sale by the Company from time to time of the following securities:
(i) unsecured unsubordinated debt securities of the Company in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Debt Securities”);
(ii) warrants of the Company for the purchase or sale of (1) securities issued by an entity not affiliated with Wells Fargo, (2) currencies, (3) other specified securities, or (4) any combination of the foregoing, including indices or baskets thereof, in each case in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Warrants”);
(iii) purchase contracts of the Company for the purchase or sale of (1) securities issued by an entity not affiliated with Wells Fargo, (2) currencies, (3) commodities, (4) other specified securities, or (5) any combination of the foregoing, including indices or baskets thereof, in each case in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Purchase Contracts”); and
(iv) units consisting of any combination of Debt Securities, Warrants, Purchase Contracts or other securities of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with Wells Fargo (the “Units” and, together with the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Purchase Contracts, the “Securities”) in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions.
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The Securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Wells Fargo as and to the extent provided in the applicable Governing Document (as defined below).
The Securities may be offered separately or together with other Securities, in separate series, in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in the prospectus and one or more supplements to the prospectus (collectively, the “Prospectus”) constituting a part of the Registration Statement, and in the Registration Statement.
The Debt Securities are to be issued under the indenture filed as Exhibit 4(h) to the Registration Statement entered into by the Company, Wells Fargo and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Indenture”).
The Warrants are to be issued under one or more warrant agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Warrant Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company, Wells Fargo and the warrant agents to be named by the Company.
The Purchase Contracts are to be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Purchase Contracts”), to be entered into by the Company, Wells Fargo and the purchase contract agents to be named by the Company.
The Units are to be issued under one or more unit agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Unit Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company, Wells Fargo and the unit agents to be named by the Company.
The Indenture, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contract Agreements and the Unit Agreements are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Governing Documents.”
Certain terms of the Securities to be issued by the Company from time to time will be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof or certain authorized officers of the Company as part of the corporate action taken and to be taken (the “Corporate Proceedings”) in connection with issuance of the Securities. We have examined or are otherwise familiar with the Certificate of Formation of the Company, as amended through the date hereof (the “Certificate of Formation”), the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as amended through the date hereof (the “Limited Liability Company Agreement”), the Registration Statement, such of the Corporate Proceedings that have occurred as of the date hereof, and such other documents, records, and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
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Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. with respect to any Debt Securities, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due execution, authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities, and (c) in the case of Debt Securities issuable upon exercise or settlement of another Security, the issuance of such Debt Securities upon exercise or settlement of such other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or any instrument governing such other Security providing for such exercise or settlement as approved by the Corporate Proceedings, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. The Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
2. with respect to any Warrants, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Warrant Agreement, and (c) the due execution, countersignature and delivery of such Warrants, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
3. with respect to any Purchase Contracts, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings and (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Purchase Contract Agreement, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
4. with respect to any Units, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Unit Agreement, (c) if the Units are to be evidenced by certificates, the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of unit certificates evidencing such Units pursuant to such Unit Agreement, and (d) completion of all actions in respect of the Securities constituting a component of such Units referred to in the applicable numbered paragraphs hereof, such Unit Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and any certificates evidencing such Units will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Unit Agreement.
The foregoing opinions as to the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of provisions of such instruments and agreements are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, voidable transactions, fraudulent conveyance, receivership or other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights, (ii) general equity principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain specific remedies or enforce specific terms, and (iv) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States.
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The foregoing opinions assume that (a) the Company will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) the consideration designated in the applicable Corporate Proceedings for any Securities shall have been received by the Company and such consideration shall be legally sufficient; (c) each party to any Governing Document other than the Company shall have complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce such agreements or instruments against the Company and shall have satisfied those legal requirements applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreements or instruments enforceable against it; (d) the Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be effective; (e) at the time of the issuance, execution, authentication and delivery of the Securities, the Corporate Proceedings related thereto will not have been modified or rescinded, there will not have occurred any change in the law or in the Certificate of Formation or Limited Liability Company Agreement affecting the authorization, issuance, execution, authentication, acknowledgement, delivery, filing, validity or enforceability of such Securities or any related Governing Documents, neither the issuance and sale of such Securities nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Securities or the related Governing Documents will result in a violation of any agreement or instrument then binding upon the Company or any order of any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and any other securities issuable upon exercise or settlement of such Securities will have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance (in each case within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such other securities); (f) the Securities will be issued in accordance with, and in compliance with any limitations on issuance contained in, the Corporate Proceedings related thereto and the Securities will be issued within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such Securities under such Governing Documents; (g) the terms of the Securities will be established in conformity with the related Governing Documents; (h) none of the particular terms of the Securities or Governing Documents hereafter established will violate, or be void or voidable under, any applicable law; (i) all certificates evidencing any Securities will be in the form required by law and approved for issuance by the Company; (j) in the case of any Securities represented by, or issuable upon exercise or settlement of, or constituting a component of, any other Securities, all actions in respect of such other Securities referred to in the applicable numbered paragraph above shall have been completed; (k) the Securities will be duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and/or registrar thereof in the name and on behalf of the holders thereof, as applicable; (l) in the case of any Security which relates to a security of an entity affiliated or not affiliated with Wells Fargo, a basket of those securities, a currency, a commodity, an index, a basket of indices or other market measure (collectively, a “Market Measure”), such Security will be settled in cash based on the value of such Market Measure and the Company will not be required to register such Market Measure under the Securities Act in connection with the issuance of the related Security; and (m) a prospectus supplement and any other offering material describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law, will be timely filed with the Commission.
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We have also assumed, without investigation, the following: (a) the accuracy and truthfulness of all public records of the Company and of all certifications, documents and other proceedings examined by us that have been produced by officials of the Company acting within the scope of their official capacities, without verifying the accuracy or truthfulness of such representations, (b) the genuineness of such signatures appearing upon such public records, certifications, documents and proceedings, (c) that each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine, and (d) the legal capacity of the natural persons who are involved on behalf of the Company to enter into and perform the referenced instrument or agreement or to carry out their role in the transactions contemplated thereby.
We express no opinion as to (i) whether a court would award a judgment in a currency other than United States dollars or as to the enforceability of any provision specifying rates of exchange for, or requiring indemnity against loss in, converting into a specified currency the proceeds or amount of a court judgment in another currency, (ii) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any particular court or other governmental authority (either as to personal jurisdiction or subject matter jurisdiction), any waivers of the right to jury trial, any waivers of service of process requirements that would otherwise be applicable, any agreement that a judgment rendered by a court in one jurisdiction may be enforced in another jurisdiction, or any provision otherwise affecting the jurisdiction or venue of courts, or (iii) any provision waiving legal, statutory or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or administrative rights.
The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to facts, documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such facts, documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.
Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of any other laws. We have assumed for the purposes of this opinion that New York law will be chosen to govern each Governing Document.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to being named in the Prospectus included therein under the caption “Legal Opinions.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
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Very truly yours, | ||
FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP | ||
By: | /s/ Dawn Holicky Pruitt | |
Dawn Holicky Pruitt |
Exhibit 23(c)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Wells Fargo & Company:
We consent to the use in the Form S-3 Registration Statement dated June 8, 2020 of Wells Fargo & Company of our reports dated February 26, 2020, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, 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, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the "consolidated financial statements”), and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG LLP
San Francisco, California
June 8, 2020
Exhibit 23(d)
June 8, 2020 | |
Re: | Registration Statement, filed by Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Finance LLC |
Wells Fargo & Company 420 Montgomery Street San Francisco, California 94104
Wells Fargo Finance LLC 30 Hudson Yards, Floor 14 New York, New York 10001 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special tax counsel to Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Wells Fargo Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in connection with the preparation and filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), including a prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement, as amended, for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the issuance from time to time of, among other things, (i) the Company’s Medium-Term Notes, Series T and (ii) Wells Fargo Finance LLC’s debt securities (collectively, the “Notes”).
We hereby consent to any reference to us, in our capacity as special tax counsel to the Company and Wells Fargo Finance LLC, or any opinion of ours delivered in that capacity, in a pricing supplement relating to the offer and sale of any particular Notes prepared and filed by the Company and/or Wells Fargo Finance LLC with the Securities and Exchange Commission on this date or a future date.
In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Exhibit 24(a)
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 29th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Steven D. Black | ||
Steven D. Black |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Celeste A. Clark | ||
Celeste A. Clark |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Theodore F. Craver, Jr. | ||
Theodore F. Craver, Jr. |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Wayne M. Hewett | ||
Wayne M. Hewett |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 17th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Donald M. James | ||
Donald M. James |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 18th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Maria R. Morris | ||
Maria R. Morris |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Charles H. Noski | ||
Charles H. Noski |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 28th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Richard B. Payne, Jr. | ||
Richard B. Payne, Jr. |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Juan A. Pujadas | ||
Juan A. Pujadas |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Ronald L. Sargent | ||
Ronald L. Sargent |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 15th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Charles W. Scharf | ||
Charles W. Scharf |
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint CHARLES W. SCHARF, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, ELLEN PATTERSON AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units; and guarantees by the Company of any of foregoing types of securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company or a special purpose entity (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 16th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Suzanne M. Vautrinot | ||
Suzanne M. Vautrinot |
Exhibit 24(b)
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, does hereby make, constitute and appoint William Threadgill, DUANE CHURCH, and James McMullin, and each or any of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned's name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; and other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 7th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Le Roy Davis | ||
Le Roy Davis |
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, does hereby make, constitute and appoint William Threadgill, DUANE CHURCH, and James McMullin, and each or any of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned's name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; and other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 26th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Walter E. Dolhare | ||
Walter E. Dolhare |
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
Power of Attorney
of Director and/or Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, does hereby make, constitute and appoint William Threadgill, DUANE CHURCH, and James McMullin, and each or any of them, the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned's name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt securities of the Company; securities, currency, commodity or other types of warrants; purchase contracts for certain types of securities, currencies, or commodities; and other securities related to or in any combination of any of the foregoing, including as units (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company for re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 27th day of May, 2020.
/s/ Michael F. Riley | ||
Michael F. Riley |
Exhibit 25(a)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee
Pursuant to Section 305 (b)(2) ___
CITIBANK, N.A.
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
A National Banking Association | 13-5266470 |
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization | (I.R.S. Employer |
if not a U.S. national bank) | Identification No. ) |
399 Park Avenue, | |
New York, New York | 10043 |
(Address of principal executive office) | (Zip Code) |
Citibank, N.A.
388 Greenwich Street, 6th floor
New York, N.Y. 10013
(212) 816-7621
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 41-0449260 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization) | identification no.) |
420 Montgomery Street | |
San Francisco, California | 94104 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
(Title of Indenture Securities)
Item 1. General Information.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
(a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Name | Address |
Comptroller of the Currency | Washington, D.C. |
Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. |
(b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
Items 3-15. | Not Applicable. |
Item 16. | List of Exhibits. |
List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.
Exhibit 1 - Copy of Articles of Association of the Trustee, as now in effect. (Exhibit 1 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).
Exhibit 2 - Copy of certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 3 - Copy of authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 3 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 4 - Copy of existing By-Laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).
Exhibit 5 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 6 - The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. (Exhibit 6 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 7 - Copy of the latest Report of Condition of Citibank, N.A. (as of March 31, 2020- attached)
Exhibit 8 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 9 - Not applicable.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York and State of New York, on the 1st day of June, 2020.
CITIBANK, N.A. | |||
By | /s/ Kerry Hehir | ||
Kerry Hehir | |||
Senior Trust Officer |
Exhibit 7
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries |
In millions of dollars |
March 31, 2020 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Cash and due from banks (including segregated cash and other deposits) | $ | 23,755 | $ | 23,967 | ||||
Deposits with banks, net of allowance | 262,165 | 169,952 | ||||||
Securities borrowed and purchased under agreements to resell (including $155,637 and $153,193 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value), net of allowance | 262,536 | 251,322 | ||||||
Brokerage receivables, net of allowance | 68,555 | 39,857 | ||||||
Trading account assets (including $190,227 and $120,236 pledged to creditors at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) | 365,000 | 276,140 | ||||||
Investments: | ||||||||
Available-for-sale debt securities (including $8,989 and $8,721 pledged to creditors as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) | 308,219 | 280,265 | ||||||
Held-to-maturity debt securities (including $1,119 and $1,923 pledged to creditors as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively), net of allowance | 82,315 | 80,775 | ||||||
Equity securities (including $1,213 and $1,162 at fair value as of March 31, 20120 and December 31, 2019, respectively) | 8,349 | 7,523 | ||||||
Total investments | $ | 398,883 | $ | 368,563 | ||||
Loans: | ||||||||
Consumer (including $18 and $18 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 288,430 | 309,548 | ||||||
Corporate (including $3,981 and $4,067 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 432,590 | 389,935 | ||||||
Loans, net of unearned income | $ | 721,020 | $ | 699,483 | ||||
Allowance for credit losses on loans (ACLL) | (20,841 | ) | (12,783 | ) | ||||
Total loans, net | $ | 700,179 | $ | 686,700 | ||||
Goodwill | 21,264 | 22,126 | ||||||
Intangible assets (including MSRs of $367 and $495 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, at fair value) | 4,560 | 4,822 | ||||||
Other assets (including $14,663 and $12,830 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value), net of allowance | 112,873 | 107,709 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,219,770 | $ | 1,951,158 |
The following table presents certain assets of consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs), which are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet above. The assets in the table below include those assets that can only be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs, presented on the following page, and are in excess of those obligations. In addition, the assets in the table below include third-party assets of consolidated VIEs only and exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation.
In millions of dollars |
March 31, 2020 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Assets of consolidated VIEs to be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs | ||||||||
Cash and due from banks | $ | 110 | $ | 108 | ||||
Trading account assets | 6,278 | 6,719 | ||||||
Investments | 987 | 1,295 | ||||||
Loans, net of unearned income | ||||||||
Consumer | 42,573 | 46,977 | ||||||
Corporate | 19,845 | 16,175 | ||||||
Loans, net of unearned income | $ | 62,418 | $ | 63,152 | ||||
Allowance for credit losses on loans (ACLL) | (3,729 | ) | (1,841 | ) | ||||
Total loans, net | $ | 58,689 | $ | 61,311 | ||||
Other assets | 70 | 73 | ||||||
Total assets of consolidated VIEs to be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs | $ | 66,134 | $ | 69,506 |
Statement continues on the next page.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries |
(Continued)
In millions of dollars, except shares and per share amounts |
March 31, 2020 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Non-interest-bearing deposits in U.S. offices | $ | 113,371 | $ | 98,811 | ||||
Interest-bearing deposits in U.S. offices (including $1,090 and $1,624 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 462,327 | 401,418 | ||||||
Non-interest-bearing deposits in offices outside the U.S. | 85,439 | 85,692 | ||||||
Interest-bearing deposits in offices outside the U.S. (including $1,557 and $695 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 523,774 | 484,669 | ||||||
Total deposits | $ | 1,184,911 | $ | 1,070,590 | ||||
Securities loaned and sold under agreements to repurchase (including $62,734 and $40,651 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 222,324 | 166,339 | ||||||
Brokerage payables | 74,368 | 48,601 | ||||||
Trading account liabilities | 163,995 | 119,894 | ||||||
Short-term borrowings (including $8,364 and $4,946 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 54,951 | 45,049 | ||||||
Long-term debt (including $52,914 and $55,783 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 266,098 | 248,760 | ||||||
Other liabilities (including $4,339 and $6,343 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value), including allowance | 60,141 | 57,979 | ||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 2,026,788 | $ | 1,757,212 | ||||
Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
Preferred stock ($1.00 par value; authorized shares: 30 million), issued shares: as of March 31, 2020—719,200 and as of December 31, 2019—719,200, at aggregate liquidation value | $ | 17,980 | $ | 17,980 | ||||
Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized shares: 6 billion), issued shares: as of March 31, 2020—3,099,632,709 and as of December 31, 2019—3,099,602,856 | 31 | 31 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 107,550 | 107,840 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 163,438 | 165,369 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost: March 31, 2020—1,017,824,700 shares and December 31, 2019—985,479,501 shares | (64,147 | ) | (61,660 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) | (32,521 | ) | (36,318 | ) | ||||
Total Citigroup stockholders’ equity | $ | 192,331 | $ | 193,242 | ||||
Noncontrolling interest | 651 | 704 | ||||||
Total equity | $ | 192,982 | $ | 193,946 | ||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,219,770 | $ | 1,951,158 |
The following table presents certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs, which are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet above. The liabilities in the table below include third-party liabilities of consolidated VIEs only and exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation. The liabilities also exclude amounts where creditors or beneficial interest holders have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup.
In millions of dollars |
March 31, 2020 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 |
||||||
Liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup | ||||||||
Short-term borrowings | $ | 11,397 | $ | 10,031 | ||||
Long-term debt | 25,393 | 25,582 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 926 | 917 | ||||||
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup | $ | 37,716 | $ | 36,530 |
The Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
Exhibit 25(b)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee
Pursuant to Section 305 (b)(2) ___
CITIBANK, N.A.
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
A National Banking Association | 13-5266470 |
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization | (I.R.S. Employer |
if not a U.S. national bank) | Identification No. ) |
399 Park Avenue, | |
New York, New York | 10043 |
(Address of principal executive office) | (Zip Code) |
Citibank, N.A.
388 Greenwich Street, 6th floor
New York, N.Y. 10013
(212) 816-7621
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 41-0449260 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization) | identification no.) |
30 Hudson Yards | |
New York, New York | 10001 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
WELLS
FARGO & COMPANY
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 41-0449260 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization) | identification no.) |
420 Montgomery Street | |
San Francisco, California | 94104 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
SENIOR
DEBT SECURITIES OF WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC AND GUARANTEES OF
WELLS FARGO & COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE DEBT SECURITIES
(Title of Indenture Securities)
Item 1. General Information. |
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
(a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Name | Address |
Comptroller of the Currency | Washington, D.C. |
Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. |
(b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor. |
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
Items 3-15. | Not Applicable. |
Item 16. | List of Exhibits. |
List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.
Exhibit 1 - Copy of Articles of Association of the Trustee, as now in effect. (Exhibit 1 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).
Exhibit 2 - Copy of certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 3 - Copy of authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 3 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 4 - Copy of existing By-Laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).
Exhibit 5 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 6 - The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. (Exhibit 6 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 7 - Copy of the latest Report of Condition of Citibank, N.A. (as of March 31, 2020- attached)
Exhibit 8 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 9 - Not applicable.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York and State of New York, on the 1st day of June, 2020.
CITIBANK, N.A. | |||
By | /s/ Kerry Hehir | ||
Kerry Hehir | |||
Senior Trust Officer |
Exhibit 7
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries |
In millions of dollars |
March 31, 2020
(Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Cash and due from banks (including segregated cash and other deposits) | $ | 23,755 | $ | 23,967 | ||||
Deposits with banks, net of allowance | 262,165 | 169,952 | ||||||
Securities borrowed and purchased under agreements to resell (including $155,637 and $153,193 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value), net of allowance | 262,536 | 251,322 | ||||||
Brokerage receivables, net of allowance | 68,555 | 39,857 | ||||||
Trading account assets (including $190,227 and $120,236 pledged to creditors at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) | 365,000 | 276,140 | ||||||
Investments: | ||||||||
Available-for-sale debt securities (including $8,989 and $8,721 pledged to creditors as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively) | 308,219 | 280,265 | ||||||
Held-to-maturity debt securities (including $1,119 and $1,923 pledged to creditors as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively), net of allowance | 82,315 | 80,775 | ||||||
Equity securities (including $1,213 and $1,162 at fair value as of March 31, 20120 and December 31, 2019, respectively) | 8,349 | 7,523 | ||||||
Total investments | $ | 398,883 | $ | 368,563 | ||||
Loans: | ||||||||
Consumer (including $18 and $18 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 288,430 | 309,548 | ||||||
Corporate (including $3,981 and $4,067 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 432,590 | 389,935 | ||||||
Loans, net of unearned income | $ | 721,020 | $ | 699,483 | ||||
Allowance for credit losses on loans (ACLL) | (20,841 | ) | (12,783 | ) | ||||
Total loans, net | $ | 700,179 | $ | 686,700 | ||||
Goodwill | 21,264 | 22,126 | ||||||
Intangible assets (including MSRs of $367 and $495 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, at fair value) | 4,560 | 4,822 | ||||||
Other assets (including $14,663 and $12,830 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value), net of allowance | 112,873 | 107,709 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,219,770 | $ | 1,951,158 |
The following table presents certain assets of consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs), which are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet above. The assets in the table below include those assets that can only be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs, presented on the following page, and are in excess of those obligations. In addition, the assets in the table below include third-party assets of consolidated VIEs only and exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation.
In millions of dollars |
March 31, 2020
(Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Assets of consolidated VIEs to be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs | ||||||||
Cash and due from banks | $ | 110 | $ | 108 | ||||
Trading account assets | 6,278 | 6,719 | ||||||
Investments | 987 | 1,295 | ||||||
Loans, net of unearned income | ||||||||
Consumer | 42,573 | 46,977 | ||||||
Corporate | 19,845 | 16,175 | ||||||
Loans, net of unearned income | $ | 62,418 | $ | 63,152 | ||||
Allowance for credit losses on loans (ACLL) | (3,729 | ) | (1,841 | ) | ||||
Total loans, net | $ | 58,689 | $ | 61,311 | ||||
Other assets | 70 | 73 | ||||||
Total assets of consolidated VIEs to be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs | $ | 66,134 | $ | 69,506 |
Statement continues on the next page.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries |
(Continued)
In millions of dollars, except shares and per share amounts |
March 31, 2020 (Unaudited) |
December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||
Non-interest-bearing deposits in U.S. offices | $ | 113,371 | $ | 98,811 | ||||
Interest-bearing deposits in U.S. offices (including $1,090 and $1,624 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 462,327 | 401,418 | ||||||
Non-interest-bearing deposits in offices outside the U.S. | 85,439 | 85,692 | ||||||
Interest-bearing deposits in offices outside the U.S. (including $1,557 and $695 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 523,774 | 484,669 | ||||||
Total deposits | $ | 1,184,911 | $ | 1,070,590 | ||||
Securities loaned and sold under agreements to repurchase (including $62,734 and $40,651 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 222,324 | 166,339 | ||||||
Brokerage payables | 74,368 | 48,601 | ||||||
Trading account liabilities | 163,995 | 119,894 | ||||||
Short-term borrowings (including $8,364 and $4,946 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 54,951 | 45,049 | ||||||
Long-term debt (including $52,914 and $55,783 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value) | 266,098 | 248,760 | ||||||
Other liabilities (including $4,339 and $6,343 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, at fair value), including allowance | 60,141 | 57,979 | ||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 2,026,788 | $ | 1,757,212 | ||||
Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
Preferred stock ($1.00 par value; authorized shares: 30 million), issued shares: as of March 31, 2020—719,200 and as of December 31, 2019—719,200, at aggregate liquidation value | $ | 17,980 | $ | 17,980 | ||||
Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized shares: 6 billion), issued shares: as of March 31, 2020—3,099,632,709 and as of December 31, 2019—3,099,602,856 | 31 | 31 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 107,550 | 107,840 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 163,438 | 165,369 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost: March 31, 2020—1,017,824,700 shares and December 31, 2019—985,479,501 shares | (64,147 | ) | (61,660 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) | (32,521 | ) | (36,318 | ) | ||||
Total Citigroup stockholders’ equity | $ | 192,331 | $ | 193,242 | ||||
Noncontrolling interest | 651 | 704 | ||||||
Total equity | $ | 192,982 | $ | 193,946 | ||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,219,770 | $ | 1,951,158 |
The following table presents certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs, which are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheet above. The liabilities in the table below include third-party liabilities of consolidated VIEs only and exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation. The liabilities also exclude amounts where creditors or beneficial interest holders have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup.
In millions of dollars |
March 31, 2020 (Unaudited) |
December 31,2019 | ||||||
Liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup | ||||||||
Short-term borrowings | $ | 11,397 | $ | 10,031 | ||||
Long-term debt | 25,393 | 25,582 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 926 | 917 | ||||||
Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup | $ | 37,716 | $ | 36,530 |
The Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.