Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Nos. 333-221324 and 333-221324-01
The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement and the accompanying market measure supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject To Completion, dated October 4, 2019 PRICING SUPPLEMENT No. 194 dated October , 2019 (To Market Measure Supplement dated May 18, 2018, Prospectus Supplement dated May 18, 2018 and Prospectus datedApril 5, 2019) |
Wells Fargo Finance LLC Medium-Term Notes, Series A Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Wells Fargo & Company
| |
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
■ | Linked to thelowest performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® (each referred to as an “Index”) |
■ | Unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities do not pay interest, do not repay a fixed amount of principal at maturity and are subject to potential automatic call upon the terms described below. Whether the securities are automatically called for a fixed call premium or, if not automatically called, the maturity payment amount, will depend in each case on the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the relevant call date. The lowest performing Index on any call date is the Index that has the lowest closing level on that date as a percentage of its starting level |
■ | Automatic Call. If the closing level of the lowest performing Index on any call date is greater than or equal to its call threshold level, the securities will be automatically called for the original offering price plus the call premium applicable to that call date. The call threshold level for each Index is equal to 95% of its starting level. The call premium applicable to each call date will be a percentage of the original offering price that increases for each call date based on a simple (non-compounding) return at least approximately 8.35% per annum (to be determined on the pricing date) |
Call Date | Call Premium* | ||
November 2, 2020 | At least 8.35% of the original offering price | ||
May 3, 2021 | At least 12.525% of the original offering price | ||
November 2, 2021 | At least 16.70% of the original offering price | ||
May 2, 2022 | At least 20.875% of the original offering price | ||
November 2, 2022 (the “final calculation day”) | At least 25.05% of the original offering price | ||
* The actual call premium applicable to each call date will be determined on the pricing date |
■ | Maturity Payment Amount. If the securities are not automatically called, you will receive a maturity payment amount that could be equal to or less than the original offering price per security depending on the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day as follows: | ||
■ | If the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its call threshold level but greater than or equal to its downside threshold level, you will receive the original offering price of your securities | ||
■ | If the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its downside threshold level, you will have full downside exposure to the decrease in the level of the lowest performing Index from its starting level, and you will lose more than 30%, and possibly all, of the original offering price of your securities. The downside threshold level for each Index is equal to 70% of its starting level | ||
■ | Investors may lose some, and possibly all, of the original offering price | ||
■ | Your return on the securities will dependsolelyon the performance of the Index that is the lowest performing Index on each call date. You will not benefit in any way from the performance of the better performing Indices | ||
■ | Any positive return on the securities will be limited to the applicable call premium, even if the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the applicable call date significantly exceeds its starting level. You will not participate in any appreciation of any Index beyond the applicable fixed call premium | ||
■ | All payments on the securities are subject to credit risk, and you will have no ability to pursue any securities included in any Index for payment; if Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as issuer, and Wells Fargo & Company, as guarantor, default on their obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment | ||
■ | No periodic interest or dividends | ||
■ | No exchange listing; designed to be held to maturity |
On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, the estimated value of the securities is approximately $956.88 per security. While the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date may differ from the estimated value set forth above, we do not expect it to differ significantly absent a material change in market conditions or other relevant factors. In no event will the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date be less than $936.88 per security. The estimated value of the securities was determined for us by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC using its proprietary pricing models. It is not an indication of actual profit to us or to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or any of our other affiliates, nor is it an indication of the price, if any, at which Wells Fargo Securities, LLC or any other person may be willing to buy the securities from you at any time after issuance. See “Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.
The securities have complex features and investing in the securities involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. See “Risk Factors” herein on page PRS-11.
The securities are the unsecured obligations of Wells Fargo Finance LLC, and, accordingly, all payments are subject to credit risk. If Wells Fargo Finance LLC, as issuer, and Wells Fargo & Company, as guarantor, 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.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this pricing supplement or the accompanying market measure supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Original Offering Price | Agent Discount(1) | Proceeds to Wells Fargo Finance LLC | ||
Per Security | $1,000.00 | $30.00 | $970.00 | |
Total |
(1) | The agent discount will not be more than $30.00 per security. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Finance LLC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, is the agent for the distribution of the securities and is acting as principal. See “Terms of the Securities—Agent” and “Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement for further information. |
Wells Fargo Securities
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Terms of the Securities |
Issuer: | Wells Fargo Finance LLC. | ||
Guarantor: | Wells Fargo & Company. | ||
Market Measures: | The Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® (each referred to as an “Index,” and collectively as the “Indices”). | ||
Pricing Date: | October 28, 2019.* | ||
Issue Date: | October 31, 2019.* (T+3) | ||
Original Offering Price: | $1,000 per security. References in this pricing supplement to a “security” are to a security with a face amount of $1,000. | ||
Automatic Call: | If the closing level of the lowest performing Index on any call date is greater than or equal to its call threshold level, the securities will be automatically called, and on the related call settlement date you will be entitled to receive a cash payment per security in U.S. dollars equal to the original offering price per security plus the call premium applicable to the relevant call date. The last call date is the final calculation day, and payment upon an automatic call on the final calculation day, if applicable, will be made on the stated maturity date. Any positive return on the securities will be limited to the applicable call premium, even if the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the applicable call date significantly exceeds its starting level. You will not participate in any appreciation of any Index beyond the applicable call premium. If the securities are automatically called, they will cease to be outstanding on the related call settlement date and you will have no further rights under the securities after such call settlement date. You will not receive any notice from us if the securities are automatically called. | ||
The call premium applicable to each call date will be a percentage of the original offering price that increases for each call date based on a simple (non-compounding) return of at least approximately 8.35% per annum (to be determined on the pricing date). The actual call premium and payment per security upon an automatic call that is applicable to each call date will be determined on the pricing date and will not be less than the values specified in the table below. | |||
Call Date | Call Premium | Payment per Security upon an Automatic Call | |
Call Dates and Call Premiums: | November 2, 2020* | At least 8.35% of the original offering price | At least $1,083.50 |
May 3, 2021* | At least 12.525% of the original offering price | At least $1,125.25 | |
November 2, 2021* | At least 16.70% of the original offering price | At least $1,167.00 | |
May 2, 2022* | At least 20.875% of the original offering price | At least $1,208.75 | |
November 2, 2022* | At least 25.05% of the original offering price | At least $1,250.50 | |
We refer to November 2, 2022* as the “final calculation day.” The call dates are subject to postponement for non-trading days and the occurrence of a market disruption event. See “—Postponement of a Calculation Day” below. | |||
Call Settlement Date: | Three business days after the applicable call date (as each such call date may be postponed pursuant to “—Postponement of a Calculation Day” below, if applicable);providedthat the call settlement date for the last call date is the stated maturity date. | ||
Stated Maturity Date: | November 7, 2022*. If the final calculation day is postponed, the stated maturity date will be the later of (i) November 7, 2022* and (ii) three business days after the last final calculation day as postponed. See “—Postponement of a Calculation Day” below. If the stated maturity date is not a business day, the payment to be made on the stated maturity date will be made on the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if it had been made on the stated maturity date. The securities are not subject to repayment at the option of any holder of the securities prior to the stated maturity date. | ||
*To the extent that we make any change to the expected pricing date or expected issue date, the call dates and stated maturity date may also be changed in our discretion to ensure that the term of the securities remains the same.
PRS-2
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Maturity Payment Amount: | If the securities are not automatically called, then on the stated maturity date, you will be entitled to receive a cash payment per security in U.S. dollars equal to the maturity payment amount. The “maturity payment amount” will be calculated as follows: • if the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its call threshold level but greater than or equal to its downside threshold level: $1,000; or • if the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its downside threshold level: $1,000 × performance factor of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day If the securities are not automatically called and the ending level of the lowest performing Index is less than its downside threshold level, you will lose more than 30%, and possibly all, of the original offering price of your securities at maturity. All calculations with respect to any payments on the securities (whether upon automatic call or at maturity) will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth, with five one-millionths rounded upward (e.g., 0.000005 would be rounded to 0.00001); and such payment will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward. |
Lowest Performing Index: | On any call date, the “lowest performing Index” will be the Index with the lowest performance factor on that call date (as such date may be postponed for one or more Indices pursuant to “—Postponement of a Calculation Day” below, if applicable). |
Performance Factor: | With respect to an Index on any call date, its closing level on such date divided by its starting level (expressed as a percentage). |
Closing Level: | With respect to each Index, the “closing level” of that Index on any trading day means the official closing level of that Index reported by the relevant index sponsor on such trading day, as obtained by the calculation agent on such trading day from the licensed third-party market data vendor contracted by the calculation agent at such time; in particular, taking into account the decimal precision and/or rounding convention employed by such licensed third-party market data vendor on such date. Currently, the calculation agent obtains market data from Thomson Reuters Ltd., but the calculation agent may change its market data vendor at any time without notice. The foregoing provisions of this definition of “closing level” are subject to the provisions set forth below under “Additional Terms of the Securities—Market Disruption Events,” “—Adjustments to an Index” and “—Discontinuance of an Index.” |
Starting Level: | With respect to the Dow Jones Industrial Average: , its closing level on the pricing date. With respect to the Russell 2000 Index: , its closing level on the pricing date. With respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index: , its closing level on the pricing date. |
Ending Level: | The “ending level” of an Index will be its closing level on the final calculation day. |
Call Threshold Level: | With respect to the Dow Jones Industrial Average: , which is equal to 95% of its starting level. With respect to the Russell 2000 Index: , which is equal to 95% of its starting level. With respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index: , which is equal to 95% of its starting level. |
Downside Threshold Level: | With respect to the Dow Jones Industrial Average: , which is equal to 70% of its starting level. With respect to the Russell 2000 Index: , which is equal to 70% of its starting level. With respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index: , which is equal to 70% of its starting level. |
Postponement of a Calculation Day: | The call dates are each referred to as a “calculation day.” If any calculation day is not a trading day (as defined below) with respect to any Index, such calculation day for each Index will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a trading day with respect to each Index. A calculation day for an Index is also subject to postponement due to the occurrence of a market disruption event with respect to such Index on such calculation day. See “Additional Terms of the Securities—Market Disruption Events.” |
Calculation Agent: | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
PRS-3
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
No Listing: | The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange or automated quotation system. |
Material Tax Consequences: | For a discussion of the material U.S. federal income and certain estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities, see “United States Federal Tax Considerations.” |
Agent: | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Finance LLC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company. The agent may resell the securities to other securities dealers at the original offering price of the securities less a concession not in excess of $30.00 per security. In addition, in respect of certain securities sold in this offering, the agent may pay a fee of up to $5.00 per security to selected securities dealers in consideration for marketing and other services in connection with the distribution of the securities to other securities dealers. Such fee will be paid from the discount received by the agent. The agent or another affiliate of ours expects to realize hedging profits projected by its proprietary pricing models to the extent it assumes the risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the securities. If any dealer participating in the distribution of the securities or any of its affiliates conducts hedging activities for us in connection with the securities, that dealer or its affiliate will expect to realize a profit projected by its proprietary pricing models from such hedging activities. Any such projected profit will be in addition to any discount or concession received in connection with the sale of the securities to you. |
Denominations: | $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. |
CUSIP: | 95001HBG5 |
PRS-4
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Additional Information about the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Securities |
You should read this pricing supplement together with the market measure supplement dated May 18, 2018, the prospectus supplement dated May 18, 2018 and the prospectus dated April 5, 2019 for additional information about the securities. When you read the accompanying market measure supplement and prospectus supplement, please note that all references in such supplements to the prospectus dated April 27, 2018, or to any sections therein, should refer instead to the accompanying prospectus dated April 5, 2019 or to the corresponding sections of such prospectus, as applicable. Information included in this pricing supplement supersedes information in the market measure supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus to the extent it is different from that information. Certain defined terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the prospectus supplement. When we refer to “we,” “us” or “our” in this pricing supplement, we refer only to Wells Fargo Finance LLC and not to any of its affiliates, including Wells Fargo & Company.
You may access the market measure supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus on the SEC website www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filing for the relevant date on the SEC website):
• | Market Measure Supplement dated May 18, 2018: |
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/72971/000119312518167616/d593569d424b2.htm |
• | Prospectus Supplement dated May 18, 2018: |
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/72971/000119312518167593/d523952d424b2.htm |
• | Prospectus dated April 5, 2019: |
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/72971/000138713119002551/wfc-424b2_040519.htm |
PRS-5
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Estimated Value of the Securities |
The original offering price of each security of $1,000 includes certain costs that are borne by you. Because of these costs, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be less than the original offering price. The costs included in the original offering price relate to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities, as well as to our funding considerations for debt of this type.
The costs related to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities include (i) the agent discount (if any), (ii) the projected profit that our hedge counterparty (which may be one of our affiliates) expects to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the securities and (iii) hedging and other costs relating to the offering of the securities.
Our funding considerations take into account the higher issuance, operational and ongoing management costs of market-linked debt such as the securities as compared to conventional debt of Wells Fargo & Company of the same maturity, as well as our and our affiliates’ liquidity needs and preferences. Our funding considerations are reflected in the fact that we determine the economic terms of the securities based on an assumed rate that is generally lower than our internal funding rate, which is described below and is used in determining the estimated value of the securities.
If the costs relating to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities were lower, or if the assumed rate we use to determine the economic terms of the securities were higher, the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you and the estimated value would be higher. The estimated value of the securities as of the pricing date will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.
Determining the estimated value
Our affiliate, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“WFS”), calculated the estimated value of the securities set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement based on its proprietary pricing models. Based on these pricing models and related market inputs and assumptions referred to in this section below, WFS determined an estimated value for the securities by estimating the value of the combination of hypothetical financial instruments that would replicate the payout on the securities, which combination consists of a non-interest bearing, fixed-income bond (the “debt component”) and one or more derivative instruments underlying the economic terms of the securities (the “derivative component”).
The estimated value of the debt component is based on an internal funding rate that reflects, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the securities. This rate is used for purposes of determining the estimated value of the securities since we expect secondary market prices, if any, for the securities that are provided by WFS or any of its affiliates to generally reflect such rate. WFS determined the estimated value of the securities based on this internal funding rate, rather than the assumed rate that we use to determine the economic terms of the securities, for the same reason.
WFS calculated the estimated value of the derivative component based on a proprietary derivative-pricing model, which generated a theoretical price for the derivative instruments that constitute the derivative component based on various inputs, including the “derivative component factors” identified in “Risk Factors—The Value Of The Securities Prior To Stated Maturity Will Be Affected By Numerous Factors, Some Of Which Are Related In Complex Ways.” These inputs may be market-observable or may be based on assumptions made by WFS in its discretion.
The estimated value of the securities determined by WFS is subject to important limitations. See “Risk Factors—The Estimated Value Of The Securities Is Determined By Our Affiliate’s Pricing Models, Which May Differ From Those Of Other Dealers” and “—Our And The Guarantor’s Economic Interests And Those Of Any Dealer Participating In The Offering Are Potentially Adverse To Your Interests.”
Valuation of the securities after issuance
The estimated value of the securities is not an indication of the price, if any, at which WFS or any other person may be willing to buy the securities from you in the secondary market. The price, if any, at which WFS or any of its affiliates may purchase the securities in the secondary market will be based upon WFS’s proprietary pricing models and will fluctuate over the term of the securities due to changes in market conditions and other relevant factors. However, absent changes in these market conditions and other relevant factors, except as otherwise described in the following paragraph, any secondary market price will be lower than the estimated value on the pricing date because the secondary market price will be reduced by a bid-offer spread, which may vary depending on the aggregate face amount of the securities to be purchased in the secondary market transaction, and the expected cost of unwinding any related hedging transactions. Accordingly, unless market conditions and other relevant factors change significantly in your favor, any secondary market price for the securities is likely to be less than the original offering price.
If WFS or any of its affiliates makes a secondary market in the securities at any time up to the issue date or during the 3-month period following the issue date, the secondary market price offered by WFS or any of its affiliates will be increased by an amount reflecting a portion of the costs associated with selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities that are included in the original offering price. Because this portion of the costs is not fully deducted upon issuance, any secondary market price offered by WFS or any of its affiliates during this period will be higher than it would be if it were based solely on WFS’s proprietary pricing models less the bid-offer spread and hedging unwind costs described above. The amount of this increase in the secondary market price will decline steadily to zero over this 3-month period. If you hold the securities through an account at WFS or any of its affiliates, we expect that this increase will also be reflected in the value indicated for the securities on your brokerage account statement.
PRS-6
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
If WFS or any of its affiliates makes a secondary market in the securities, WFS expects to provide those secondary market prices to any unaffiliated broker-dealers through which the securities are held and to commercial pricing vendors. If you hold your securities through an account at a broker-dealer other than WFS or any of its affiliates, that broker-dealer may obtain market prices for the securities from WFS (directly or indirectly), but could also obtain such market prices from other sources, and may be willing to purchase the securities at any given time at a price that differs from the price at which WFS or any of its affiliates is willing to purchase the securities. As a result, if you hold your securities through an account at a broker-dealer other than WFS or any of its affiliates, the value of the securities on your brokerage account statement may be different than if you held your securities at WFS or any of its affiliates.
The securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Although WFS and/or its affiliates may buy the securities from investors, they are not obligated to do so and are not required to make a market for the securities. There can be no assurance that a secondary market will develop.
PRS-7
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Investor Considerations |
We have designed the securities for investors who:
■ | believe that the closing level of the lowest performing Index will be greater than or equal to its call threshold level on one of the call dates; |
■ | seek the potential for a fixed return if the closing level of the lowest performing Index is greater than its call threshold level on any call date in lieu of full participation in any potential appreciation of any or all Indices; |
■ | understand that if the securities are not automatically called and the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its starting level by more than 30%, they will be fully exposed to the decline in the lowest performing Index from its starting level, and will lose more than 30%, and possibly all, of the original offering price per security at maturity; |
■ | understand that the term of the securities may be as short as approximately one year and that they will not receive a higher call premium payable with respect to a later call date if the securities are called on an earlier call date; |
■ | understand that the return on the securities will depend solely on the performance of the Index that is the lowest performing Index on each call date and that they will not benefit in any way from the performance of the better performing Indices; |
■ | understand that the securities are riskier than alternative investments linked to only one of the Indices or linked to a basket composed of each Index; |
■ | understand and are willing to accept the full downside risks of each Index; |
■ | are willing to forgo interest payments on the securities and dividends on the securities included in the Indices; and |
■ | are willing to hold the securities until maturity. |
The securities are not designed for, and may not be a suitable investment for, investors who:
■ | seek a liquid investment or are unable or unwilling to hold the securities to maturity; |
■ | require full payment of the original offering price of the securities at stated maturity; |
■ | believe that the closing level of the lowest performing Index will be less than its call threshold level on each call date; |
■ | seek a security with a fixed term; |
■ | are unwilling to accept the risk that, if the closing level of the lowest performing Index is less than its call threshold level on each call date, they will not receive any positive return on their investment in the securities; |
■ | are unwilling to accept the risk that the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day may decline by more than 30% from its starting level; |
■ | are unwilling to purchase securities with an estimated value as of the pricing date that is lower than the original offering price and that may be as low as the lower estimated value set forth on the cover page; |
■ | seek current income; |
■ | seek exposure to a basket composed of each Index or a similar investment in which the overall return is based on a blend of the performances of the Indices, rather than solely on the lowest performing Index; |
■ | are unwilling to accept the risk of exposure to equity markets, including the large and small capitalization segments of the United States equity market and a group of United States and foreign non-financial stocks listed on the Nasdaq stock market; |
■ | seek exposure to the upside performance of any or each Index beyond the applicable call premiums; |
■ | are unwilling to accept the credit risk of Wells Fargo Finance LLC and Wells Fargo & Company; or |
■ | prefer the lower risk of fixed income investments with comparable maturities issued by companies with comparable credit ratings. |
PRS-8
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Determining Timing and Amount of Payment on the Securities |
The timing and amount of the payment you will receive will be determined as follows:
PRS-9
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Hypothetical Payout Profile |
The following profile illustrates the potential payment on the securities for a range of hypothetical percentage changes in the closing level of the lowest performing Index from the pricing date to the applicable call date. The profile is based on a hypothetical call premium of 8.35% for the first call date, 12.525% for the second call date, 16.70% for the third call date, 20.875% for the fourth call date and 25.05% for the final call date (the minimum call premiums that may be determined on the pricing date). This profile has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. Your actual return will depend on (i) the Index that is the lowest performing Index on each call date; (ii) whether the securities are automatically called; (iii) if the securities are automatically called, the actual call premium and the actual call date on which the securities are called; (iv) if the securities are not automatically called, the actual ending level of the lowest performing Index; and (v) whether you hold your securities to maturity or earlier automatic call. The performance of the better performing Indices is not relevant to your return on the securities.
PRS-10
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Risk Factors |
The securities have complex features and investing in the securities will involve risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below as well as the other information contained in this pricing supplement and the accompanying market measure supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, including the documents they incorporate by reference. As described in more detail below, the value of the securities may vary considerably before the stated maturity date due to events that are difficult to predict and are beyond our control. You should reach an investment decision only after you have carefully considered with your advisors the suitability of an investment in the securities in light of your particular circumstances.
If The Securities Are Not Automatically Called And The Ending Level Of The Lowest Performing Index Is Less Than Its Downside Threshold Level, You Will Lose More Than 30%, And Possibly All, Of The Original Offering Price Of Your Securities At Maturity.
We will not repay you a fixed amount on the securities at stated maturity. If the closing level of the lowest performing Index is less than its call threshold level on each call date, the securities will not be automatically called, and you will receive a maturity payment amount that will be equal to or less than the original offering price per security, depending on the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
If the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its downside threshold level, the maturity payment amount will be reduced by an amount equal to the decline in the level of the lowest performing Index from its starting level (expressed as a percentage of its starting level). The downside threshold level for each Index is 70% of its starting level. For example, if the securities are not automatically called and the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day has declined by 30.1% from its starting level to its ending level, you will not receive any benefit of the contingent downside protection feature and you will lose 30.1% of the original offering price per security. As a result, you will not receive any protection if the level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day declines significantly and you may lose some, and possibly all, of the original offering price per security at stated maturity, even if the level of the lowest performing Index is greater than or equal to its starting level or its downside threshold level at certain times during the term of the securities.
If the securities are not automatically called, your return on the securities will be zero or negative, and therefore will be less than the return you would earn if you bought a traditional interest-bearing debt security of Wells Fargo Finance LLC or another issuer with a similar credit rating with the same stated maturity date.
No Periodic Interest Will Be Paid On The Securities.
No periodic payments of interest will be made on the securities. However, if the agreed-upon tax treatment is successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), you may be required to recognize taxable income over the term of the securities. You should review the section of this pricing supplement entitled “United States Federal Tax Considerations.”
The Potential Return On The Securities Is Limited To The Call Premium.
The potential return on the securities is limited to the applicable call premium, regardless of the performance of the lowest performing Index on the applicable call date. The lowest performing Index on the applicable call date may appreciate by significantly more than the percentage represented by the applicable call premium from the pricing date through the applicable call date, in which case an investment in the securities will underperform a hypothetical alternative investment providing a 1-to-1 return based on the performance of the lowest performing Index. In addition, you will not receive the value of dividends or other distributions paid with respect to any Index. Furthermore, if the securities are called on an earlier call date, you will receive a lower call premium than if the securities were called on a later call date, and accordingly, if the securities are called on one of the earlier call dates, you will not receive the highest potential call premium.
The Securities Are Subject To The Full Risks Of Each Index And Will Be Negatively Affected If Any Index Performs Poorly, Even If The Other Indices Perform Favorably.
You are subject to the full risks of each Index. If any Index performs poorly, you will be negatively affected, even if the other Indices perform favorably. The securities are not linked to a basket composed of the Indices, where the better performance of some Indices could offset the poor performance of others. Instead, you are subject to the full risks of whichever Index is the lowest performing Index on each call date. As a result, the securities are riskier than an alternative investment linked to only one of the Indices or linked to a basket composed of each Index. You should not invest in the securities unless you understand and are willing to accept the full downside risks of each Index.
You Will Be Subject To Risks Resulting From The Relationship Between The Indices.
It is preferable from your perspective for the Indices to be correlated with each other so that their levels will tend to increase or decrease at similar times and by similar magnitudes. By investing in the securities, you assume the risk that the Indices will not exhibit this relationship. The less correlated the Indices, the more likely it is that the closing level of any one of the Indices will be below its call threshold level on each call date and below its downside threshold level on the final calculation day.
All that is necessary for the securities to not be automatically called for the applicable call premium is for one of the Indices to be below its call threshold level on the applicable call date and all that is necessary for you to suffer a loss on your investment in the securities is for one of the Indices to close below its downside threshold level on the final calculation day; the performance of the better performing
PRS-11
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Indices is not relevant to your return on the securities. It is impossible to predict what the relationship between the Indices will be over the term of the securities. Each Index represents a different equity market. The Russell 2000 Index represents the small capitalization segment of the United States equity market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average represents the performance of 30 United States blue chip companies, and the Nasdaq-100 Index tracks 100 of the largest United States and foreign non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. These different equity markets may not perform similarly over the term of the securities.
Higher Call Premiums Are Associated With Greater Risk.
The securities offer the potential to receive a call premium that reflects a per annum rate that is higher than the fixed rate we would pay on conventional debt securities of the same maturity. These higher potential call premiums are associated with greater levels of expected risk as of the pricing date as compared to conventional debt securities, including the risk that the securities will not be automatically called and the risk that you may lose some, and possibly all, of the original offering price per security at maturity. The volatility of the Indices and the correlation among the Indices are important factors affecting this risk. Volatility is a measurement of the size and frequency of daily fluctuations in the level of an Index, typically observed over a specified period of time. Volatility can be measured in a variety of ways, including on a historical basis or on an expected basis as implied by option prices in the market. Correlation is a measurement of the extent to which the levels of the Indices tend to fluctuate at the same time, in the same direction and in similar magnitudes. Greater expected volatility of the Indices or lower expected correlation among the Indices as of the pricing date may result in higher call premiums, but it also represents a greater expected likelihood as of the pricing date that the closing level of at least one Index will be less than its call threshold level on each call date such that the securities will not be automatically called for the applicable call premium, and that the closing level of at least one Index will be less than its downside threshold level on the final calculation day such that you will lose some, and possibly all, of the original offering price per security at maturity. In general, the higher the call premiums relative to the fixed rate we would pay on conventional debt securities, the greater the expected risk that the securities will not be automatically called and that you will lose some, and possibly all, of the original offering price per security at maturity.
You Will Be Subject To Reinvestment Risk.
If your securities are automatically called early, the term of the securities may be reduced to as short as approximately one year. There is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the securities at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the securities are automatically called prior to maturity.
The Securities Are Subject To Credit Risk.
The securities are our obligations, are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any other third party. Any amounts payable under the securities are subject to creditworthiness and you will have no ability to pursue any securities included in any Index for payment. As a result, our and the Guarantor’s actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the value of the securities and, in the event we and the Guarantor were to default on the obligations under the securities and the guarantee, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the securities.
As A Finance Subsidiary, We Have No Independent Operations And Will Have No Independent Assets.
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 the holders of our securities if they make claims in respect of such 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 rankpari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantor. Holders will have recourse only to a single claim against the Guarantor and its assets under the guarantee. Holders of the securities should accordingly assume that in any such proceedings they would not have any priority over and should be treatedpari passu with the claims of other unsecured, unsubordinated creditors of the Guarantor, including holders of unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities issued by the Guarantor.
Holders Of The Securities Have Limited Rights Of Acceleration.
Payment of principal on the securities may be accelerated only in the case of payment defaults that continue for a period of 30 days, certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency relating to Wells Fargo Finance LLC only, whether voluntary or involuntary, certain situations under which the guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect or if the Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the guarantee. If you purchase the securities, you will have no right to accelerate the payment of principal on the securities if we fail in the performance of any of our obligations under the securities, other than the obligations to pay principal and interest on the securities. See “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Events of Default and Covenant Breaches” in the accompanying prospectus.
Holders Of The Securities Could Be At Greater Risk For Being Structurally Subordinated If Either We Or The Guarantor Convey, Transfer Or Lease All Or Substantially All Of Our Or Its Assets To One Or More Of The Guarantor’s Subsidiaries.
Under the indenture, we may convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries. Similarly, the Guarantor may convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to one or more of its subsidiaries. In either case, third-party creditors of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries would have additional assets from which to recover on their claims while holders of the securities would be structurally subordinated to creditors of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries with respect to such
PRS-12
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
assets. See “Description of Debt Securities of Wells Fargo Finance LLC—Consolidation, Merger or Sale” in the accompanying prospectus.
The Securities Will Not Have The Benefit Of Any Cross-Default Or Cross-Acceleration With Other Indebtedness Of The Guarantor; Events Of Bankruptcy, Insolvency, Receivership Or Liquidation Relating To The Guarantor And Failure By The Guarantor To Perform Any Of Its Covenants Or Warranties (Other Than A Payment Default Under The Guarantee) Will Not Constitute An Event Of Default With Respect To The Securities.
The securities will not have the benefit of any cross-default or cross-acceleration with other indebtedness of the Guarantor. In addition, events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or liquidation relating to the Guarantor and failure by the Guarantor to perform any of its covenants or warranties (other than a payment default under the guarantee) will not constitute an event of default with respect to the securities.
The Estimated Value Of The Securities On The Pricing Date, Based On WFS’s Proprietary Pricing Models, Will Be Less Than The Original Offering Price.
The original offering price of the securities includes certain costs that are borne by you. Because of these costs, the estimated value of the securities on the pricing date will be less than the original offering price. The costs included in the original offering price relate to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities, as well as to our funding considerations for debt of this type. The costs related to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities include (i) the agent discount (if any), (ii) the projected profit that our hedge counterparty (which may be one of our affiliates) expects to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the securities and (iii) hedging and other costs relating to the offering of the securities. Our funding considerations are reflected in the fact that we determine the economic terms of the securities based on an assumed rate that is generally lower than our internal funding rate, which is described above under “Estimated Value of the Securities—Determining the estimated value.” If the costs relating to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities were lower, or if the assumed rate we use to determine the economic terms of the securities were higher, the economic terms of the securities would be more favorable to you and the estimated value would be higher.
The Estimated Value Of The Securities Is Determined By Our Affiliate’s Pricing Models, Which May Differ From Those Of Other Dealers.
The estimated value of the securities was determined for us by WFS using its proprietary pricing models and related market inputs and assumptions referred to above under “ Estimated Value of the Securities—Determining the estimated value.” Certain inputs to these models may be determined by WFS in its discretion. WFS’s views on these inputs may differ from other dealers’ views, and WFS’s estimated value of the securities may be higher, and perhaps materially higher, than the estimated value of the securities that would be determined by other dealers in the market. WFS’s models and its inputs and related assumptions may prove to be wrong and therefore not an accurate reflection of the value of the securities.
The Estimated Value Of The Securities Is Not An Indication Of The Price, If Any, At Which WFS Or Any Other Person May Be Willing To Buy The Securities From You In The Secondary Market.
The price, if any, at which WFS or any of its affiliates may purchase the securities in the secondary market will be based on WFS’s proprietary pricing models and will fluctuate over the term of the securities as a result of changes in the market and other factors described in the next risk factor. Any such secondary market price for the securities will also be reduced by a bid-offer spread, which may vary depending on the aggregate face amount of the securities to be purchased in the secondary market transaction, and the expected cost of unwinding any related hedging transactions. Unless the factors described in the next risk factor change significantly in your favor, any such secondary market price for the securities is likely to be less than the original offering price.
If WFS or any of its affiliates makes a secondary market in the securities at any time up to the issue date or during the 3-month period following the issue date, the secondary market price offered by WFS or any of its affiliates will be increased by an amount reflecting a portion of the costs associated with selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities that are included in the original offering price. Because this portion of the costs is not fully deducted upon issuance, any secondary market price offered by WFS or any of its affiliates during this period will be higher than it would be if it were based solely on WFS’s proprietary pricing models less the bid-offer spread and hedging unwind costs described above. The amount of this increase in the secondary market price will decline steadily to zero over this 3-month period. If you hold the securities through an account at WFS or any of its affiliates, we expect that this increase will also be reflected in the value indicated for the securities on your brokerage account statement. If you hold your securities through an account at a broker-dealer other than WFS or any of its affiliates, the value of the securities on your brokerage account statement may be different than if you held your securities at WFS or any of its affiliates, as discussed above under “Estimated Value of the Securities—Valuation of the securities after issuance.”
The Value Of The Securities Prior To Stated Maturity Will Be Affected By Numerous Factors, Some Of Which Are Related In Complex Ways.
The value of the securities prior to stated maturity will be affected by the then-current level of each Index, interest rates at that time and a number of other factors, some of which are interrelated in complex ways. The effect of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. The following factors, which we refer to as the “derivative component factors,” are expected to affect the value of the securities. When we refer to the “value” of your security, we mean the value you could receive for your security if you are able to sell it in the open market before the stated maturity date.
PRS-13
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
• | Performance of the Indices. The value of the securities prior to maturity will depend substantially on the then-current level of each Index. The price at which you may be able to sell the securities before stated maturity may be at a discount, which could be substantial, from their original offering price, if the level of the lowest performing Index at such time is less than, equal to or not sufficiently above its starting level, its call threshold level or its downside threshold level. |
• | Interest Rates.The value of the securities may be affected by changes in the interest rates in the U.S. markets. |
• | Volatility Of The Indices. Volatility is the term used to describe the size and frequency of market fluctuations. The value of the securities may be affected if the volatility of the Indices changes. |
• | Correlation Among The Indices. Correlation refers to the extent to which the levels of the Indices tend to fluctuate at the same time, in the same direction and in similar magnitudes. The correlation among the Indices may be positive, zero or negative. The value of the securities is likely to decrease if the correlation among the Indices decreases. |
• | Time Remaining To Maturity. The value of the securities at any given time prior to maturity will likely be different from that which would be expected based on the then-current levels of the Indices. This difference will most likely reflect a discount due to expectations and uncertainty concerning the levels of the Indices during the period of time still remaining to the stated maturity date. In general, as the time remaining to maturity decreases, the value of the securities will approach the amount that would be payable at maturity based on the then-current levels of the Indices. |
• | Dividend Yields On Securities Included In The Indices. The value of the securities may be affected by the dividend yields on securities included in the Indices. |
In addition to the derivative component factors, the value of the securities will be affected by actual or anticipated changes in our and the Guarantor’s creditworthiness. The value of the securities will also be limited by the automatic call feature because if the securities are automatically called, the return will not be greater than the applicable call premium. You should understand that the impact of one of the factors specified above, such as a change in interest rates, may offset some or all of any change in the value of the securities attributable to another factor, such as a change in the level of any or all of the Indices. Because numerous factors are expected to affect the value of the securities, changes in the levels of the Indices may not result in a comparable change in the value of the securities.
The Securities Will Not Be Listed On Any Securities Exchange And We Do Not Expect A Trading Market For The Securities To Develop.
The securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Although the agent and/or its affiliates may purchase the securities from holders, they are not obligated to do so and are not required to make a market for the securities. There can be no assurance that a secondary market will develop. Because we do not expect that any market makers will participate in a secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to sell your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which the agent is willing to buy your securities.
If a secondary market does exist, it may be limited. Accordingly, there may be a limited number of buyers if you decide to sell your securities prior to stated maturity. This may affect the price you receive upon such sale. Consequently, you should be willing to hold the securities to stated maturity.
Historical Levels Of The Indices Should Not Be Taken As An Indication Of The Future Performance Of The Indices During The Term Of The Securities.
The trading prices of the securities included in the Indices will determine the closing levels of the Indices and, therefore, whether the securities will be automatically called on any of the call dates or the maturity payment amount. As a result, it is impossible to predict whether the closing levels of the Indices will fall or rise compared to their respective starting levels. Trading prices of the securities included in the Indices will be influenced by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial and other factors that can affect the markets in which those securities are traded and the values of those securities themselves. Accordingly, any historical levels of the Indices do not provide an indication of the future performance of the Indices.
Changes That Affect The Indices May Adversely Affect The Value Of The Securities And The Amount You Will Receive At Stated Maturity.
The policies of an index sponsor concerning the calculation of the relevant Index and the addition, deletion or substitution of securities comprising such Index and the manner in which an index sponsor takes account of certain changes affecting such securities may affect the level of such Index and, therefore, may affect the value of the securities, the likelihood of the occurrence of an automatic call and the maturity payment amount. An index sponsor may discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the relevant Index or materially alter the methodology by which it calculates such Index. Any such actions could adversely affect the value of the securities.
We Cannot Control Actions By Any Of The Unaffiliated Companies Whose Securities Are Included In The Indices.
Actions by any company whose securities are included in an Index may have an adverse effect on the price of its security, the closing level of such Index on any call date and the value of the securities. Neither we nor the Guarantor are affiliated with any of the companies included in any Index. These unaffiliated companies will not be involved in the offering of the securities and will have no obligations with respect to the securities, including any obligation to take our or your interests into consideration for any reason. These companies will not receive any of the proceeds of the offering of the securities and will not be responsible for, and will not have participated in, the determination of the timing of, prices for, or quantities of, the securities to be issued. These companies will not be involved with the
PRS-14
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
administration, marketing or trading of the securities and will have no obligations with respect to any amounts to be paid to you on the securities.
We And Our Affiliates Have No Affiliation With Any Index Sponsor And Have Not Independently Verified Their Public Disclosure Of Information.
We and our affiliates are not affiliated in any way with any index sponsor and have no ability to control or predict their actions, including any errors in or discontinuation of disclosure regarding the methods or policies relating to the calculation of the applicable Index. We have derived the information about the index sponsors and the Indices contained in this pricing supplement and the accompanying market measure supplement from publicly available information, without independent verification. You, as an investor in the securities, should make your own investigation into each Index and the index sponsors. The index sponsors are not involved in the offering of the securities made hereby in any way and have no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the securities in taking any actions that might affect the value of the securities.
An Investment In The Securities Is Subject To Risks Associated With Investing In Stocks With A Small Market Capitalization.
The stocks that constitute the Russell 2000 Index are issued by companies with relatively small market capitalization. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large capitalization companies. As a result, the Russell 2000 Index may be more volatile than that of an equity index that does not track solely small capitalization stocks. Stock prices of small capitalization companies are also generally more vulnerable than those of large capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small capitalization companies may be thinly traded, and be less attractive to many investors if they do not pay dividends. In addition, small capitalization companies are typically less well-established and less stable financially than large capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of those individuals. Small capitalization companies tend to have lower revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their target markets, fewer financial resources and fewer competitive strengths than large capitalization companies. These companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products or services.
An Investment In The Securities Is Subject To Risks Associated With Investing in Non-U.S. Companies.
Some of the stocks included in the Nasdaq-100 Index are issued by companies incorporated outside of the United States. The prices and performance of securities of non-U.S. companies are subject to political, economic, financial, military and social factors which could negatively affect foreign securities markets, including the possibility of recent or future changes in a foreign government’s economic, monetary and fiscal policies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities, the possibility of imposition of withholding taxes on dividend income, the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, the possibility of outbreaks of hostility or political instability and the possibility of natural disaster or adverse public health developments. Moreover, the relevant non-U.S. economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important respects, such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, trade surpluses or deficits, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.
A Call Settlement Date And The Stated Maturity Date May Be Postponed If A Calculation Day Is Postponed.
A calculation day with respect to an Index will be postponed if the applicable originally scheduled calculation day is not a trading day with respect to any Index or if the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event has occurred or is continuing with respect to that Index on that calculation day. If such a postponement occurs with respect to a calculation day other than the final calculation day, then the related call settlement date will be postponed. If such a postponement occurs with respect to the final calculation day, the stated maturity date will be the later of (i) the initial stated maturity date and (ii) three business days after the last final calculation day as postponed.
Our And The Guarantor’s Economic Interests And Those Of Any Dealer Participating In The Offering Are Potentially Adverse To Your Interests.
You should be aware of the following ways in which our and the Guarantor’s economic interests and those of any dealer participating in the distribution of the securities, which we refer to as a “participating dealer,” are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the securities. In engaging in certain of the activities described below, our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may take actions that may adversely affect the value of and your return on the securities, and in so doing they will have no obligation to consider your interests as an investor in the securities. Our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may realize a profit from these activities even if investors do not receive a favorable investment return on the securities.
• | The calculation agent is our affiliate and may be required to make discretionary judgments that affect the return you receive on the securities. WFS, which is our affiliate, will be the calculation agent for the securities. As calculation agent, WFS will determine the closing level of each Index on each calculation day and whether the securities are automatically called and may be required to make other determinations that affect the return you receive on the securities. In making these determinations, the calculation agent may be required to make discretionary judgments, including determining whether a market disruption event has occurred with respect to any Index on a scheduled calculation day, which may result in postponement of that calculation day with respect to that Index; determining the closing level of an Index if a calculation day is postponed with respect to that Index to the last day to which it may be postponed and a market disruption event occurs with respect to that Index on that day; if an Index is discontinued, selecting a successor equity index or, if no successor equity index is available, determining the closing level of that Index on any calculation day; and determining whether to adjust the closing |
PRS-15
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
level of an Index on a calculation day in the event of certain changes in or modifications to that Index. In making these discretionary judgments, the fact that WFS is our affiliate may cause it to have economic interests that are adverse to your interests as an investor in the securities, and WFS’s determinations as calculation agent may adversely affect your return on the securities. |
• | The estimated value of the securities was calculated by our affiliate and is therefore not an independent third-party valuation. WFS calculated the estimated value of the securities set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement, which involved discretionary judgments by WFS, as described under “Risk Factors—The Estimated Value Of The Securities Is Determined By Our Affiliate’s Pricing Models, Which May Differ From Those Of Other Dealers” above. Accordingly, the estimated value of the securities set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement is not an independent third-party valuation. |
• | Research reports by our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may be inconsistent with an investment in the securities and may adversely affect the levels of the Indices. Our affiliates or any participating dealer in the offering of the securities or its affiliates may, at present or in the future, publish research reports on the Indices or the companies whose securities are included in an Index. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may, at present or in the future, express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the securities. Any research reports on the Indices or the companies whose securities are included in an Index could adversely affect the level of the applicable Index and, therefore, could adversely affect the value of and your return on the securities. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Indices from multiple sources and should not rely on the views expressed by us or our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates. In addition, any research reports on the Indices or the companies whose securities are included in an Index published on or prior to the pricing date could result in an increase in the levels of the Indices on the pricing date, which would adversely affect investors in the securities by increasing the level at which each Index must close on each calculation day in order for investors in the securities to receive a favorable return. |
• | Business activities of our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates with the companies whose securities are included in an Index may adversely affect the level of such Index. Our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may, at present or in the future, engage in business with the companies whose securities are included in an Index, including making loans to those companies (including exercising creditors’ remedies with respect to such loans), making equity investments in those companies or providing investment banking, asset management or other advisory services to those companies. These business activities could adversely affect the level of such Index and, therefore, could adversely affect the value of and your return on the securities. In addition, in the course of these business activities, our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may acquire non-public information about one or more of the companies whose securities are included in an Index. If our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates do acquire such non-public information, we and they are not obligated to disclose such non-public information to you. |
• | Hedging activities by our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may adversely affect the levels of the Indices. We expect to hedge our obligations under the securities through one or more hedge counterparties, which may include our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates. Pursuant to such hedging activities, our hedge counterparties may acquire securities included in an Index or listed or over-the-counter derivative or synthetic instruments related to the Indices or such securities. Depending on, among other things, future market conditions, the aggregate amount and the composition of such positions are likely to vary over time. To the extent that our hedge counterparties have a long hedge position in any of the securities included in an Index, or derivative or synthetic instruments related to the Indices or such securities, they may liquidate a portion of such holdings at or about the time of a calculation day or at or about the time of a change in the securities included in the Indices. These hedging activities could potentially adversely affect the levels of the Indices and, therefore, could adversely affect the value of and your return on the securities. |
• | Trading activities by our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may adversely affect the levels of the Indices. Our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may engage in trading in the securities included in an Index and other instruments relating to the Indices or such securities on a regular basis as part of their general broker-dealer and other businesses. Any of these trading activities could potentially adversely affect the levels of the Indices and, therefore, could adversely affect the value of and your return on the securities. |
• | A participating dealer or its affiliates may realize hedging profits projected by its proprietary pricing models in addition to any selling concession, creating a further incentive for the participating dealer to sell the securities to you.If any participating dealer or any of its affiliates conducts hedging activities for us in connection with the securities, that participating dealer or its affiliates will expect to realize a projected profit from such hedging activities. If a participating dealer receives a concession for the sale of the securities to you, this projected hedging profit will be in addition to the concession, creating a further incentive for the participating dealer to sell the securities to you. |
The U.S. Federal Tax Consequences Of An Investment In The Securities Are Unclear.
There is no direct legal authority regarding the proper U.S. federal tax treatment of the securities, and we do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS. Consequently, significant aspects of the tax treatment of the securities are uncertain, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment of the securities as prepaid derivative contracts that are “open transactions” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment of the securities, the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities might be materially and adversely affected.
PRS-16
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), imposes a withholding tax of up to 30% on “dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to non-U.S. investors in respect of certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities. In light of Treasury regulations, as modified by an IRS notice, that provide a general exemption for financial instruments issued prior to January 1, 2021 that do not have a “delta” of one, as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement the securities should not be subject to withholding under Section 871(m). However, information about the application of Section 871(m) to the securities will be updated in the final pricing supplement. Moreover, the IRS could challenge a conclusion that the securities should not be subject to withholding under Section 871(m). If withholding applies to the securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.
In addition, in 2007 the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on various issues regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. Any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, including the character and timing of income or loss and the degree, if any, to which income realized by non-U.S. persons should be subject to withholding tax, possibly with retroactive effect. You should read carefully the discussion under “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in this pricing supplement. You should also consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities, as well as tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
PRS-17
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Hypothetical Returns |
If the securities are automatically called:
Assuming that the securities are automatically called, the following table illustrates, for each hypothetical call date on which the securities are automatically called:
• | the hypothetical payment per security on the related call settlement date, assuming that the call premiums are equal to the minimum call premiums that may be determined on the pricing date; and |
• | the hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return. |
Hypothetical call date on which securities are automatically called | Hypothetical payment per security on related call settlement date | Hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return |
1st call date | $1,083.50 | 8.35% |
2nd call date | $1,125.25 | 12.525% |
3rd call date | $1,167.00 | 16.70% |
4th call date | $1,208.75 | 20.875% |
5th call date | $1,250.50 | 25.05% |
If the securities are not automatically called:
Assuming that the securities are not automatically called, the following table illustrates, for a range of hypothetical performance factors of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day:
• | the hypothetical maturity payment amount per security; and |
• | the hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return. |
Hypothetical performance factor of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day(1) | Hypothetical maturity payment amount per security | Hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return |
94.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
90.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
80.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
70.00% | $1,000.00 | 0.00% |
69.00% | $690.00 | -31.00% |
60.00% | $600.00 | -40.00% |
50.00% | $500.00 | -50.00% |
25.00% | $250.00 | -75.00% |
0.00% | $0.00 | -100.00% |
(1) | The performance factor of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is equal to its ending level divided by its starting level (expressed as a percentage). |
The above figures are for purposes of illustration only and may have been rounded for ease of analysis. The actual payment per security upon an automatic call or maturity payment amount and the resulting pre-tax rate of return will depend on (i) the Index that is the lowest performing Index on each call date; (ii) whether the securities are automatically called; (ii) if the securities are automatically called, the actual call premium and the actual call date on which the securities are called; and (iii) if the securities are not automatically called, the actual ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
PRS-18
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Hypothetical Payment Upon An Automatic Call |
Set forth below are two examples of calculations of the amount payable if the securities are automatically called on a call date. The securities will be automatically called on a call date if the closing level of the lowest performing Index on such call date is greater than or equal to its call threshold level. The following examples assume hypothetical call premiums equal to the minimum call premiums that may be determined on the pricing date and assume the hypothetical starting level, call threshold level and closing levels for each Index indicated in the examples. The terms used for purposes of these hypothetical examples do not represent any actual starting level. The hypothetical starting level of 100.00 for each Index has been chosen for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the actual starting level for any Index. The actual starting level for each Index will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth under “Terms of the Securities” above. For historical data regarding the actual closing levels of the Indices, see the historical information provided herein. These examples are for purposes of illustration only and the values used in the examples may have been rounded for ease of analysis.
Example 1. The closing level of the lowest performing Index on the first call date is greater than its call threshold level, and the securities are automatically called on the first call date:
Dow Jones Industrial Average | Russell 2000 Index | Nasdaq-100 Index | |
Hypothetical starting level: | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
Hypothetical closing level on first call date: | 125.00 | 140.00 | 130.00 |
Hypothetical call threshold level: | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 |
Performance factor (closing level on first call datedividedby starting level): | 125.00% | 140.00% | 130.00% |
Step 1: Determine which Index is the lowest performing Index on the first call date.
In this example, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has the lowest performance factor on the first call date and is, therefore, the lowest performing Index on the first call date.
Step 2: Determine the payment upon automatic call.
Since the hypothetical closing level of the lowest performing Index on the first call date is greater than its hypothetical call threshold level, the securities are automatically called on the first call date and you will receive on the related call settlement date the original offering price of your securities plus a call premium of 8.35% of the original offering price per security. Even though the lowest performing Index appreciated by 25.00% from its starting level to its closing level on the first call date in this example, your return is limited to the call premium of 8.35% that is applicable to such call date.
On the call settlement date, you would receive $1,083.50 per security.
PRS-19
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Example 2. The securities are not automatically called prior to the last call date (the final calculation day). The closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is greater than its call threshold level, and the securities are automatically called on the final calculation day:
Dow Jones Industrial Average | Russell 2000 Index | Nasdaq-100 Index | |
Hypothetical starting level: | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
Hypothetical closing level on call dates prior to the final calculation day: | Various (allabove call threshold level) | Various (allbelow call threshold level) | Various (allbelow call threshold level) |
Hypothetical closing level on final calculation day: | 120.00 | 105.00 | 110.00 |
Hypothetical call threshold level: | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 |
Performance factor on final calculation day (closing level on final calculation daydividedby starting level): | 120.00% | 105.00% | 110.00% |
Step 1: Determine which Index is the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
In this example, the Russell 2000 Index has the lowest performance factor on the final calculation day and is, therefore, the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
Step 2: Determine the payment upon automatic call.
Since the hypothetical closing level of the lowest performing Index on each call date prior to the last call date (which is the final calculation day) is less than its hypothetical call threshold level, the securities are not called prior to the final calculation day. Since the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is greater than its call threshold level, the securities are automatically called on the final calculation day and you will receive on the related call settlement date (which is the stated maturity date) the original offering price of your securities plus a call premium of 25.05% of the original offering price per security.
On the call settlement date (which is the stated maturity date), you would receive $1,250.50 per security.
PRS-20
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Hypothetical Maturity Payment Amount |
If the closing level of the lowest performing Index is less than its call threshold level on each call date, the securities will not be automatically called, and you will receive a maturity payment amount that will be equal to or less than the original offering price per security, depending on the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day. Set forth below are two examples of calculations of the maturity payment amount, assuming that the securities have not been automatically called and assuming the hypothetical starting level, downside threshold level and ending levels for each Index indicated in the examples. The terms used for purposes of these hypothetical examples do not represent any actual starting level or downside threshold level. The hypothetical starting level of 100.00 for each Index has been chosen for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the actual starting level for any Index. The actual starting level and downside threshold level for each Index will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth under “Terms of the Securities” above. For historical data regarding the actual closing levels of the Indices, see the historical information provided herein. These examples are for purposes of illustration only and the values used in the examples may have been rounded for ease of analysis.
Example 1. The ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its call threshold level but greater than its downside threshold level and the maturity payment amount is equal to the original offering price:
Dow Jones Industrial Average | Russell 2000 Index | Nasdaq-100 Index | |
Hypothetical starting level: | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
Hypothetical ending level: | 90.00 | 120.00 | 120.00 |
Hypothetical downside threshold level: | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 |
Performance factor (ending leveldivided by starting level): | 90.00% | 120.00% | 120.00% |
Step 1: Determine which Index is the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
In this example, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has the lowest performance factor and is, therefore, the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
Step 2: Determine the maturity payment amount based on the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
Since the hypothetical ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its hypothetical call threshold level but greater than its hypothetical downside threshold level, you would be repaid the original offering price of your securities at maturity.
On the stated maturity date, you would receive $1,000.00 per security.
PRS-21
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Example 2. The ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less than its downside threshold level and the maturity payment amount is less than the original offering price:
Dow Jones Industrial Average | Russell 2000 Index | Nasdaq-100 Index | |
Hypothetical starting level: | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
Hypothetical ending level: | 120.00 | 50.00 | 110.00 |
Hypothetical downside threshold level: | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 |
Performance factor (ending leveldivided by starting level): | 120.00% | 50.00% | 110.00% |
Step 1: Determine which Index is the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
In this example, the Russell 2000 Index has the lowest performance factor and is, therefore, the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
Step 2: Determine the maturity payment amount based on the ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day.
Since the hypothetical ending level of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day is less its hypothetical downside threshold level, you would lose a portion of the original offering price of your securities and receive a maturity payment amount equal to $500.00 per security, calculated as follows:
= $1,000 × performance factor of the lowest performing Index on the final calculation day
= $1000 × 50.00%
= $500.00
On the stated maturity date, you would receive $500.00 per security, resulting in a loss of 50.00%. As this example illustrates, if any Index depreciates below its downside threshold level on the final calculation day, you will incur a loss on the securities at maturity, even if the other Indices have appreciated or have not declined below their respective downside threshold levels.
To the extent that the starting level, call threshold level, downside threshold level and ending level of the lowest performing Index differ from the values assumed above, the results indicated above would be different.
PRS-22
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Additional Terms of the Securities |
Wells Fargo Finance LLC will issue the securities as part of a series of senior unsecured debt securities entitled “Medium-Term Notes, Series A,” which is more fully described in the prospectus supplement. Information included in this pricing supplement supersedes information in the market measure supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus to the extent that it is different from that information.
Certain Definitions
A “trading day” with respect to an Index means a day, as determined by the calculation agent, on which (i) the relevant stock exchanges with respect to each security underlying such Index are scheduled to be open for trading for their respective regular trading sessions and (ii) each related futures or options exchange with respect to such Index is scheduled to be open for trading for its regular trading session.
The “relevant stock exchange” for any security underlying an Index means the primary exchange or quotation system on which such security is traded, as determined by the calculation agent.
The “related futures or options exchange” for an Index means an exchange or quotation system where trading has a material effect (as determined by the calculation agent) on the overall market for futures or options contracts relating to such Index.
Calculation Agent
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, one of our affiliates and a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, will act as calculation agent for the securities and may appoint agents to assist it in the performance of its duties. Pursuant to a calculation agent agreement, we may appoint a different calculation agent without your consent and without notifying you.
The calculation agent will determine whether the securities are automatically called on any of the call dates and the amount of the payment you receive upon automatic call or at stated maturity. In addition, the calculation agent will, among other things:
• | determine whether a market disruption event has occurred; |
• | determine the closing levels of the Indices under certain circumstances; |
• | determine if adjustments are required to the closing level of an Index under various circumstances; and |
• | if publication of an Index is discontinued, select a successor equity index (as defined below) or, if no successor equity index is available, determine the closing level of that Index. |
All determinations made by the calculation agent will be at the sole discretion of the calculation agent and, in the absence of manifest error, will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on us and you. The calculation agent will have no liability for its determinations.
Market Disruption Events
A “market disruption event” with respect to an Index means any of the following events as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion:
(A) | The occurrence or existence of a material suspension of or limitation imposed on trading by the relevant stock exchanges or otherwise relating to securities which then comprise 20% or more of the level of such Index or any successor equity index at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the close of trading on that day, whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by those relevant stock exchanges or otherwise. |
(B) | The occurrence or existence of a material suspension of or limitation imposed on trading by any related futures or options exchange or otherwise in futures or options contracts relating to such Index or any successor equity index on any related futures or options exchange at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the close of trading on that day, whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the related futures or options exchange or otherwise. |
(C) | The occurrence or existence of any event, other than an early closure, that materially disrupts or impairs the ability of market participants in general to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, securities that then comprise 20% or more of the level of such Index or any successor equity index on their relevant stock exchanges at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the close of trading on that day. |
(D) | The occurrence or existence of any event, other than an early closure, that materially disrupts or impairs the ability of market participants in general to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, futures or options contracts relating to such Index or any successor equity index on any related futures or options exchange at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the close of trading on that day. |
(E) | The closure on any exchange business day of the relevant stock exchanges on which securities that then comprise 20% or more of the level of such Index or any successor equity index are traded or any related futures or options exchange with respect to such Index or any successor equity index prior to its scheduled closing time unless the earlier closing time is announced by the relevant stock exchange or related futures or options exchange, as applicable, at least one hour prior to the earlier of (1) the actual closing time for the regular trading session on such relevant stock exchange or related futures or options exchange, as applicable, and (2) the submission deadline for orders to be entered into the relevant stock exchange or related futures or options exchange, as applicable, system for execution at such actual closing time on that day. |
PRS-23
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
(F) | The relevant stock exchange for any security underlying such Index or successor equity index or any related futures or options exchange with respect to such Index or successor equity index fails to open for trading during its regular trading session. |
For purposes of determining whether a market disruption event has occurred with respect to an Index:
(1) | the relevant percentage contribution of a security to the level of such Index or any successor equity index will be based on a comparison of (x) the portion of the level of such index attributable to that security and (y) the overall level of such Index or successor equity index, in each case immediately before the occurrence of the market disruption event; |
(2) | the “close of trading” on any trading day for such Index or any successor equity index means the scheduled closing time of the relevant stock exchanges with respect to the securities underlying such Index or successor equity index on such trading day; provided that, if the actual closing time of the regular trading session of any such relevant stock exchange is earlier than its scheduled closing time on such trading day, then (x) for purposes of clauses (A) and (C) of the definition of “market disruption event” above, with respect to any security underlying such Index or successor equity index for which such relevant stock exchange is its relevant stock exchange, the “close of trading” means such actual closing time and (y) for purposes of clauses (B) and (D) of the definition of “market disruption event” above, with respect to any futures or options contract relating to such Index or successor equity index, the “close of trading” means the latest actual closing time of the regular trading session of any of the relevant stock exchanges, but in no event later than the scheduled closing time of the relevant stock exchanges; |
(3) | the “scheduled closing time” of any relevant stock exchange or related futures or options exchange on any trading day for such Index or any successor equity index means the scheduled weekday closing time of such relevant stock exchange or related futures or options exchange on such trading day, without regard to after hours or any other trading outside the regular trading session hours; and |
(4) | an “exchange business day” means any trading day for such Index or any successor equity index on which each relevant stock exchange for the securities underlying such Index or any successor equity index and each related futures or options exchange with respect to such Index or any successor equity index are open for trading during their respective regular trading sessions, notwithstanding any such relevant stock exchange or related futures or options exchange closing prior to its scheduled closing time. |
If a market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to an Index on any calculation day, then such calculation day for such Index will be postponed to the first succeeding trading day for such Index on which a market disruption event for such Index has not occurred and is not continuing; however, if such first succeeding trading day has not occurred as of the eighth trading day for such Index after the originally scheduled calculation day, that eighth trading day shall be deemed to be the calculation day for such Index. If a calculation day has been postponed eight trading days for an Index after the originally scheduled calculation day and a market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to such Index on such eighth trading day, the calculation agent will determine the closing level of such Index on such eighth trading day in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the closing level of such Index last in effect prior to commencement of the market disruption event, using the closing price (or, with respect to any relevant security, if a market disruption event has occurred with respect to such security, its good faith estimate of the value of such security at the scheduled closing time of the relevant stock exchange for such security or, if earlier, the actual closing time of the regular trading session of such relevant stock exchange) on such date of each security included in such Index. As used herein, “closing price” means, with respect to any security on any date, the relevant stock exchange traded or quoted price of such security as of the scheduled closing time of the relevant stock exchange for such security or, if earlier, the actual closing time of the regular trading session of such relevant stock exchange. Notwithstanding the postponement of a calculation day for an Index due to a market disruption event with respect to such Index on such calculation day, the originally scheduled calculation day will remain the calculation day for any Index not affected by a market disruption event on such day.
Adjustments to an Index
If at any time the method of calculating an Index or a successor equity index, or the closing level thereof, is changed in a material respect, or if an Index or a successor equity index is in any other way modified so that such index does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the level of such index had those changes or modifications not been made, then the calculation agent will, at the close of business in New York, New York, on each date that the closing level of such index is to be calculated, make such calculations and adjustments as, in the good faith judgment of the calculation agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a level of an index comparable to such Index or successor equity index as if those changes or modifications had not been made, and the calculation agent will calculate the closing level of such Index or successor equity index with reference to such index, as so adjusted. Accordingly, if the method of calculating an Index or successor equity index is modified so that the level of such index is a fraction or a multiple of what it would have been if it had not been modified (e.g., due to a split or reverse split in such equity index), then the calculation agent will adjust such Index or successor equity index in order to arrive at a level of such index as if it had not been modified (e.g., as if the split or reverse split had not occurred).
PRS-24
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Discontinuance of an Index
If a sponsor or publisher of an Index (each, an “index sponsor”) discontinues publication of an Index, and such index sponsor or another entity publishes a successor or substitute equity index that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to such Index (a “successor equity index”), then, upon the calculation agent’s notification of that determination to the trustee and Wells Fargo Finance LLC, the calculation agent will substitute the successor equity index as calculated by the relevant index sponsor or any other entity for purposes of calculating the closing level of such Index on any date of determination. Upon any selection by the calculation agent of a successor equity index, Wells Fargo Finance LLC will cause notice to be given to holders of the securities.
In the event that an index sponsor discontinues publication of an Index prior to, and the discontinuance is continuing on, a calculation day and the calculation agent determines that no successor equity index is available at such time, the calculation agent will calculate a substitute closing level for such Index in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating such Index last in effect prior to the discontinuance, but using only those securities that comprised such Index immediately prior to that discontinuance. If a successor equity index is selected or the calculation agent calculates a level as a substitute for such Index, the successor equity index or level will be used as a substitute for such Index for all purposes, including the purpose of determining whether a market disruption event exists.
If on a calculation day an index sponsor fails to calculate and announce the level of an Index, the calculation agent will calculate a substitute closing level of such Index in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating such Index last in effect prior to the failure, but using only those securities that comprised such Index immediately prior to that failure;provided that, if a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on such day with respect to such Index, then the provisions set forth above under “—Market Disruption Events” shall apply in lieu of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, discontinuance of the publication of, or the failure by the relevant index sponsor to calculate and announce the level of, an Index may adversely affect the value of the securities.
Events of Default and Acceleration
If an event of default with respect to the securities has occurred and is continuing, the amount payable to a holder of a security upon any acceleration permitted by the securities, with respect to each security, will be equal to the maturity payment amount, calculated as provided herein, as though the date of acceleration were the final calculation day; provided that if the closing level of the lowest performing Index on the date of acceleration is equal to or greater than its call threshold level, then the amount payable will be calculated using a call premium that is prorated to the date of acceleration.
PRS-25
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
The Dow Jones Industrial Average® |
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an equity index that is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement in the United States equity market. See “Description of Equity Indices—The Dow Jones Industrial AverageSM” in the accompanying market measure supplement for additional information about the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
In addition, information about the Dow Jones Industrial Average may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sponsor’s website (including information regarding the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s sector weightings). We are not incorporating by reference into this pricing supplement the website or any material it includes. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available information regarding the Dow Jones Industrial Average is accurate or complete.
Historical Information
We obtained the closing levels of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification.
The following graph sets forth daily closing levels of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for the period from January 1, 2014 to October 3, 2019. The closing level on October 3, 2019 was 26201.04. The historical performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average should not be taken as an indication of the future performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average during the term of the securities.
Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones Holdings”) and has been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P Dow Jones Indices”) and sublicensed for certain purposes to Wells Fargo & Company, our parent company. The Dow Jones Industrial Average® is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices and has been licensed to Wells Fargo & Company, our parent company, for use by Wells Fargo & Company and certain of its affiliated or subsidiary companies (including us). The securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices, Dow Jones Holdings or their respective affiliates, and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices, Dow Jones Holdings or their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the securities.
PRS-26
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
The Russell 2000® Index |
The Russell 2000 Index is an equity index that is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the United States equity market. See “Description of Equity Indices—The Russell Indices” in the accompanying market measure supplement for additional information about the Russell 2000 Index.
In addition, information about the Russell 2000 Index may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, the Russell 2000 Index sponsor’s website (including information regarding the Russell 2000 Index’s sector weightings). We are not incorporating by reference into this pricing supplement the website or any material it includes. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available information regarding the Russell 2000 Index is accurate or complete.
Historical Information
We obtained the closing levels of the Russell 2000 Index in the graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification.
The following graph sets forth daily closing levels of the Russell 2000 Index for the period from January 1, 2014 to October 3, 2019. The closing level on October 3, 2019 was 1486.347. The historical performance of the Russell 2000 Index should not be taken as an indication of the future performance of the Russell 2000 Index during the term of the securities.
“Russell 2000®” and “FTSE Russell” are trademarks of the London Stock Exchange Group companies, and have been licensed to Wells Fargo & Company, our parent company, for use by Wells Fargo & Company and certain of its affiliated or subsidiary companies (including us). The securities, based on the performance of the Russell 2000® Index, are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by FTSE Russell and FTSE Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the securities.
PRS-27
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
The Nasdaq-100 Index® |
We obtained all information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Nasdaq-100 Index®, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, from publicly available information. That information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”). Nasdaq has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Nasdaq-100 Index® at any time. Neither we nor the agent has independently verified the accuracy or completeness of any information with respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index® in connection with the offer and sale of the securities.
The Nasdaq 100-Index® does not reflect the payment of dividends on the stocks underlying it and therefore the payment on the securities will not produce the same return you would receive if you were able to purchase the underlying stocks and hold them until maturity.
The Nasdaq-100 Index® is a modified market capitalization-weighted index of stocks of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nasdaq-100 Index®, which includes companies across a variety of major industry groups, was launched on January 31, 1985, with a base index value of 125.00, as adjusted. Current information regarding the market value of the Nasdaq-100 Index® is available from Nasdaq as well as numerous market information services.
The Nasdaq-100 Index® share weights of the component securities of the Nasdaq-100 Index® at any time are based upon the total shares outstanding in each of those securities and are additionally subject, in certain cases, to rebalancing. Accordingly, each underlying stock’s influence on the level of the Nasdaq-100 Index® is directly proportional to the value of its Nasdaq-100 Index® share weight.
In addition, information about the Nasdaq-100 Index® may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, the Nasdaq-100 Index® sponsor’s website (including information regarding the Nasdaq-100 Index’s sector weightings). We are not incorporating by reference into this pricing supplement the website or any material it includes. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available information regarding the Nasdaq-100 Index® is accurate or complete.
Calculation of the Nasdaq-100 Index
At any moment in time, the value of the Nasdaq-100 Index® equals the aggregate value of the then-current Nasdaq-100 Index® share weights of each of the Nasdaq-100 Index® component securities, which are based on the total shares outstanding of each such Nasdaq-100 Index® component security, multiplied by each such security’s respective last sale price on the Nasdaq Stock Market (which may be the official closing price published by the Nasdaq Stock Market), and divided by a scaling factor (the “divisor”), which becomes the basis for the reported Nasdaq-100 Index® value. The divisor serves the purpose of scaling such aggregate value to a lower order of magnitude which is more desirable for Nasdaq-100 Index® reporting purposes.
Underlying Stock Eligibility Criteria
Initial Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for initial inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index®, a security must meet the following criteria:
• | the issuer of the security’s U.S. listing must be exclusively on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (unless the security was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing); |
• | a security must be issued by a non-financial company; |
• | a security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings; |
• | a security must have an average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares (measured annually during the ranking review process described below); |
• | if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, then that security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the United States or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the United States (measured annually during the ranking review process); |
• | the issuer of the security may not have entered into a definitive agreement or other arrangement which would likely result in the security no longer being Nasdaq-100 Index® eligible; |
• | the issuer of the security may not have annual financial statements with an audit opinion that is currently withdrawn; and |
• | the security must have “seasoned” on the Nasdaq, NYSE or NYSE MKT. Generally, a company is considered to be seasoned if it has been listed on a market for at least three full months (excluding the first month of initial listing). |
Continued Eligibility Criteria
In addition, to be eligible for continued inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index®, the security must meet the following criteria:
• | the issuer of the security’s primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market; |
PRS-28
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
• | the security must be issued by a non-financial company; |
• | the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings; |
• | the security must have an average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares in the previous three month trading period (measured annually during the ranking review process); |
• | if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, then that security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the United States or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the United States; |
• | the issuer must have an adjusted market capitalization equal to or exceeding 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the NASDAQ-100 Index®at each month-end. In the event a company does not meet this criterion for two consecutive month-ends, it will be removed from the Nasdaq-100 Index®effective after the close of trading on the third Friday of the following month; and |
• | the issuer of the security may not have annual financial statements with an audit opinion that is currently withdrawn. |
For the purposes of Nasdaq-100 Index®eligibility criteria, if the security is a depositary receipt representing a security of a non-U.S. issuer, then references to the “issuer” are references to the issuer of the underlying security.
These Nasdaq-100 Index®eligibility criteria may be revised from time to time by Nasdaq without regard to the securities.
Annual Ranking Review
The composition of the Nasdaq-100 Index®is evaluated on an annual basis, except under extraordinary circumstances that may result in an interim evaluation, as follows (this evaluation is referred to herein as the “Ranking Review”). Securities listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market that meet the applicable eligibility criteria are ranked by market value. Nasdaq-100 Index®-eligible securities that are already in the Nasdaq-100 Index®and whose issuer is ranked in the top 100 eligible companies (based on market capitalization) are retained in the Nasdaq-100 Index®. A Nasdaq-100® Index issuer that is ranked 101 to 125 is also retained, provided that such issuer was ranked in the top 100 eligible issuers as of the previous Ranking Review or was added to the Nasdaq-100 Index® subsequent to the previous Ranking Review. Nasdaq-100 Index® issuers not meeting such criteria are replaced. The replacement securities chosen are those Nasdaq-100 Index®-eligible securities not currently in the Nasdaq-100 Index® whose issuers have the largest market capitalization. The data used in the ranking includes end of October market data and is updated for total shares outstanding submitted in a publicly filed SEC document via EDGAR through the end of November. If a security is a depositary receipt, the total shares outstanding is the actual depositary shares outstanding as reported by the depositary banks.
Generally, the list of annual additions and deletions as a result of the annual evaluation is publicly announced via a press release in the early part of December. Replacements are made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in December. Moreover, if at any time during the year other than the Ranking Review, a Nasdaq-100 Index®issuer no longer meets the continued eligibility criteria or is otherwise determined by Nasdaq to become ineligible for continued inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index®, the issuer security will be replaced with the largest market capitalization security not currently in the Nasdaq-100 Index®and meeting the Nasdaq-100 Index®initial eligibility criteria listed above. Ordinarily, a security will be removed from the Nasdaq-100 Index® at its last sale price. If, however, at the time of its removal the security is halted from trading on its primary listing market and an official closing price cannot readily be determined, the security may, in Nasdaq’s discretion, be removed at a zero price. The zero price will be applied to the security after the close of the market but prior to the time the official closing value of the Nasdaq-100 Index® is disseminated, which is ordinarily 5:16:00 p.m. EST.
Index Maintenance
Changes in the price and/or the aggregate value of the then-current Nasdaq-100 Index® share weights of each of the Nasdaq-100 Index® component securities driven by corporate events such as stock dividends, stock splits and certain spin-offs and rights issuances are adjusted on the ex-date. If the change in total shares outstanding arising from other corporate actions is greater than or equal to 10.0%, the change will be made to the Nasdaq-100 Index®as soon as practicable. Otherwise, if the change in total shares outstanding is less than 10.0%, then all such changes are accumulated and made effective at one time on a quarterly basis after the close of trading on the third Friday in each of March, June, September and December. The Nasdaq-100 Index®share weights for those underlying stocks are derived from each security’s total shares outstanding. The Nasdaq-100 Index®share weights for those underlying stocks are adjusted by the same percentage amount by which the total shares outstanding have changed in those Nasdaq-100 Index® securities.
The price of the component security is adjusted for the amount of the special cash dividend. A dividend is considered special if the information provided by the listing exchange in their announcement of the ex-date indicates that the dividend is special. A special dividend may also be referred to as extra, extraordinary, non-recurring, one-time, unusual, etc.
Index Rebalancing
On a quarterly basis coinciding with the quarterly scheduled Index Share adjustment procedures, the Nasdaq-100 Index®will be rebalanced if it is determined that: (1) the current weight of the single largest market capitalization component security is greater than 24.0% and (2) the “collective weight” of those component securities whose individual current weights are in excess of 4.5%, when added together, exceed 48.0% of the Nasdaq-100 Index®. In addition, a special rebalancing of the Nasdaq-100 Index®may be conducted at any time if it is determined necessary to maintain the integrity of the Nasdaq-100 Index®.
PRS-29
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
If either one or both of these weight distribution requirements are met upon quarterly review or it is determined that a special rebalancing is required, a weight rebalancing will be performed.
First, relating to weight distribution requirement (1) above, if the current weight of the single largest component security exceeds 24.0%, then the weights of all Large Stocks (those greater than 1%) will be scaled down proportionately towards 1.0% by enough for the adjusted weight of the single largest component security to be set to 20.0%.
Second, relating to weight distribution requirement (2) above, for those component securities whose individual current weights or adjusted weights in accordance with the preceding step are in excess of 4.5%, if their “collective weight” exceeds 48.0%, then the weights of all Large Stocks will be scaled down proportionately towards 1.0% by just enough for the “collective weight,” so adjusted, to be set to 40.0%.
The aggregate weight reduction among the Large Stocks resulting from either or both of the above rescaling will then be redistributed to the Small Stocks (those stocks less than or equal to 1%) in the following iterative manner.
In the first iteration, the weight of the largest Small Stock will be scaled upwards by a factor which sets it equal to the average Index weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller remaining Small Stocks will be scaled up by the same factor reduced in relation to each stock’s relative ranking among the Small Stocks such that the smaller the component security in the ranking, the less the scale-up of its weight. This is intended to reduce the market impact of the weight rebalancing on the smallest component securities in the Nasdaq-100 Index®.
In the second iteration, the weight of the second largest Small Stock, already adjusted in the first iteration, will be scaled upwards by a factor which sets it equal to the average index weight of 1.0%. The weights of each of the smaller remaining Small Stocks will be scaled up by this same factor reduced in relation to each stock’s relative ranking among the Small Stocks such that, once again, the smaller the stock in the ranking, the less the scale-up of its weight.
Additional iterations will be performed until the accumulated increase in weight among the Small Stocks exactly equals the aggregate weight reduction among the Large Stocks from rebalancing in accordance with weight distribution requirement (1) and/or weight distribution requirement (2).
Then, to complete the rebalancing procedure, once the final percent weights of each of the component securities are set, the Nasdaq-100 Index® share weights will be determined anew based upon the last sale prices and aggregate capitalization of the Nasdaq-100 Index® at the close of trading on the last day in February, May, August and November. Changes to the Nasdaq-100 Index® share weights will be made effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in March, June, September and December and an adjustment to the Nasdaq-100 Index® divisor will be made to ensure continuity of the Nasdaq-100 Index®.
Ordinarily, new rebalanced weights will be determined by applying the above procedures to the current Nasdaq-100 Index® share weights. However, Nasdaq may from time to time determine rebalanced weights, if necessary, by applying the above procedure to the actual current market capitalization of the component securities. In such instances, Nasdaq would announce the different basis for rebalancing prior to its implementation.
During at the quarterly rebalancing, data is cutoff as of the previous month-end and no changes are made to the Nasdaq-100 Index® from that cutoff until the quarterly share change effective date with the single exception for corporate actions with an ex-date. Nasdaq may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure the integrity of the Nasdaq-100 Index®.
License Agreement
Wells Fargo & Company, our parent company, and Nasdaq have entered into a non-transferable, non-exclusive license agreement providing for a sub-license to Wells Fargo & Company and certain of its affiliated or subsidiary companies (including us), in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the NASDAQ-100 Index in connection with the issuance of the securities.
The license agreement between Wells Fargo & Company and Nasdaq provides that the following language must be stated in this pricing supplement:
“The securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NASDAQ, Inc. or its affiliates (Nasdaq with its affiliates are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the securities. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the securities particularly, or the ability of the Nasdaq-100 Index® to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Finance LLC is in the licensing of the Nasdaq®, Nasdaq-100®, and Nasdaq-100 Index® registered trademarks and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of the Nasdaq-100 Index® which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Finance LLC or the securities. Nasdaq has no obligation to take the needs of Wells Fargo & Company, Wells Fargo Finance LLC or the owners of the securities into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Nasdaq-100 Index®. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the securities to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the securities is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the securities.
PRS-30
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ-100 INDEX® OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC, OWNERS OF THE SECURITIES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ-100 INDEX® OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ-100 INDEX® OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.”
Historical Information
We obtained the closing levels of the Nasdaq-100 Index in the graph below from Bloomberg Financial Markets, without independent verification.
The following graph sets forth daily closing levels of the Nasdaq-100 Index for the period from January 1, 2014 to October 3, 2019. The closing level on October 3, 2019 was 7638.395. The historical performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index should not be taken as an indication of the future performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index during the term of the securities.
Nasdaq® and Nasdaq-100 Index® are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. and have been licensed to Wells Fargo & Company, our parent company, for use by Wells Fargo & Company and certain of its affiliated or subsidiary companies (including us).
PRS-31
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Benefit Plan Investor Considerations |
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan to which Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) applies (a “plan”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan. When we use the term “holder” in this section, we are referring to a beneficial owner of the securities and not the record holder.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit plans, as well as individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans to which Section 4975 of the Code applies (also “plans”), from engaging in specified transactions involving “plan assets” with persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code (collectively, “parties in interest”) with respect to such plan. A violation of those “prohibited transaction” rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available. Therefore, a fiduciary of a plan should also consider whether an investment in the securities might constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code.
Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, certain church plans, as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA, and foreign plans, as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA (collectively, “Non-ERISA Arrangements”), are not subject to the requirements of ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to similar rules under other applicable laws or regulations (“Similar Laws”).
We and our affiliates may each be considered a party in interest with respect to many plans. Special caution should be exercised, therefore, before the securities are purchased by a plan. In particular, the fiduciary of the plan should consider whether statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available. The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the securities. Those class exemptions are:
• | PTCE 96-23, for specified transactions determined by in-house asset managers; |
• | PTCE 95-60, for specified transactions involving insurance company general accounts; |
• | PTCE 91-38, for specified transactions involving bank collective investment funds; |
• | PTCE 90-1, for specified transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; and |
• | PTCE 84-14, for specified transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers. |
In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide an exemption for transactions between a plan and a person who is a party in interest (other than a fiduciary who has or exercises any discretionary authority or control with respect to investment of the plan assets involved in the transaction or renders investment advice with respect thereto) solely by reason of providing services to the plan (or by reason of a relationship to such a service provider), if in connection with the transaction of the plan receives no less, and pays no more, than “adequate consideration” (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA).
Any purchaser or holder of the securities or any interest in the securities will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding that either:
• | no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or holder to acquire or purchase the securities constitutes assets of any plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement; or |
• | the purchase and holding of the securities by such purchaser or holder will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation under any Similar Laws. |
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any plan consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences under ERISA and the Code of the acquisition of the securities and the availability of exemptive relief.
The securities are contractual financial instruments. The financial exposure provided by the securities is not a substitute or proxy for, and is not intended as a substitute or proxy for, individualized investment management or advice for the benefit of any purchaser or holder of the securities. The securities have not been designed and will not be administered in a manner intended to reflect the individualized needs and objectives of any purchaser or holder of the securities.
Each purchaser or holder of the securities acknowledges and agrees that:
(i) | the purchaser or holder or its fiduciary has made and shall make all investment decisions for the purchaser or holder and the purchaser or holder has not relied and shall not rely in any way upon us or our affiliates to act as a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder with respect to (a) the design and terms of the securities, (b) the purchaser or holder’s |
PRS-32
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
investment in the securities, or (c) the exercise of or failure to exercise any rights we have under or with respect to the securities; |
(ii) | we and our affiliates have acted and will act solely for our own account in connection with (a) all transactions relating to the securities and (b) all hedging transactions in connection with our obligations under the securities; |
(iii) | any and all assets and positions relating to hedging transactions by us or our affiliates are assets and positions of those entities and are not assets and positions held for the benefit of the purchaser or holder; |
(iv) | our interests may be adverse to the interests of the purchaser or holder; and |
(v) | neither we nor any of our affiliates is a fiduciary or adviser of the purchaser or holder in connection with any such assets, positions or transactions, and any information that we or any of our affiliates may provide is not intended to be impartial investment advice. |
Purchasers of the securities have the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase, holding and subsequent disposition of the securities does not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law. Nothing herein shall be construed as a representation that an investment in the securities would be appropriate for, or would meet any or all of the relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by, plans or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement.
PRS-33
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
United States Federal Tax Considerations |
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income and certain estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities. It applies to you only if you purchase a security for cash in the initial offering at the “issue price,” which is the first price at which a substantial amount of the securities is sold to the public, and hold the security as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. It does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances or if you are an investor subject to special rules, such as:
• | a financial institution; |
• | a “regulated investment company”; |
• | a tax-exempt entity, including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth IRA”; |
• | a dealer or trader subject to a mark-to-market method of tax accounting with respect to the securities; |
• | a person holding a security as part of a “straddle” or conversion transaction or who has entered into a “constructive sale” with respect to a security; |
• | a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; or |
• | an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding the securities or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult your tax adviser as to your particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of the securities.
We will not attempt to ascertain whether any of the issuers of the underlying stocks of the Indices (the “underlying stocks”) is treated as a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code or as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code. If any of the issuers of the underlying stocks were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply to you, in the case of a USRPHC if you are a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) and in the case of a PFIC if you are a U.S. holder (as defined below), upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities. You should refer to information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or another governmental authority by the issuers of the underlying stocks and consult your tax adviser regarding the possible consequences to you if any of the issuers of the underlying stocks is or becomes a USRPHC or PFIC.
This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date of this pricing supplement, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address the effects of any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, any alternative minimum tax consequences, the potential application of the Medicare tax on investment income or the consequences to taxpayers subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the application of U.S. federal income and estate tax laws to your particular situation (including the possibility of alternative treatments of the securities), as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction.
Tax Treatment of the Securities
In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, a security should be treated as a prepaid derivative contract that is an “open transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. By purchasing a security, you agree (in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary) to this treatment.
Due to the absence of statutory, judicial or administrative authorities that directly address the U.S. federal tax treatment of the securities or similar instruments, significant aspects of the treatment of an investment in the securities are uncertain. We do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS, and the IRS or a court might not agree with the treatment described below. Moreover, our counsel’s opinion is based on market conditions as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement and is subject to confirmation in the final pricing supplement. Accordingly, you should consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of an investment in the securities. Unless otherwise indicated, the following discussion is based on the treatment of the securities as prepaid derivative contracts that are “open transactions.”
PRS-34
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
This section applies only to U.S. holders. You are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of a security that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
• | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
• | a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or |
• | an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
Tax Treatment Prior to Maturity. You should not be required to recognize income over the term of the securities prior to maturity, other than pursuant to a sale, exchange or retirement as described below.
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Securities. Upon a sale, exchange or retirement of the securities, you should recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement and your tax basis in the securities that are sold, exchanged or retired. Your tax basis in the securities should equal the amount you paid to acquire them. This gain or loss should be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement you held the securities for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders are generally subject to taxation at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Possible Alternative Tax Treatments of an Investment in the Securities
Alternative U.S. federal income tax treatments of the securities are possible that, if applied, could materially and adversely affect the timing and/or character of income, gain or loss with respect to them. It is possible, for example, that the securities could be treated as debt instruments governed by Treasury regulations relating to the taxation of contingent payment debt instruments. In that case, regardless of your method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you generally would be required to accrue income based on our comparable yield for similar non-contingent debt, determined as of the time of issuance of the securities, in each year that you held the securities, even though we are not required to make any payment with respect to the securities prior to maturity. In addition, any gain on the sale, exchange or retirement of the securities would be treated as ordinary income.
Other possible U.S. federal income tax treatments of the securities could also affect the timing and character of income or loss with respect to the securities. In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require holders of these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; whether short-term instruments should be subject to any such accrual regime; the relevance of factors such as the exchange-traded status of the instruments and the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the securities, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the possible alternative treatments of an investment in the securities and the issues presented by this notice.
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies only to non-U.S. holders. You are a “non-U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of a security that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
• | an individual who is classified as a nonresident alien; |
• | a foreign corporation; or |
• | a foreign estate or trust. |
You are not a non-U.S. holder for purposes of this discussion if you are (i) an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition or (ii) a former citizen or resident of the United States. If you are or may become such a person during the period in which you hold a security, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the securities.
PRS-35
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Securities. Subject to the possible application of Section 897 of the Code and the discussion below regarding Section 871(m), you generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of amounts paid to you, provided that income in respect of the securities is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
If you are engaged in a U.S. trade or business, and if income from the securities is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business, you generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax with respect to that income in the same manner as if you were a U.S. holder, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. If you are such a holder and you are a corporation, you should also consider the potential application of a 30% (or lower treaty rate) branch profits tax.
Tax Consequences Under Possible Alternative Treatments. If all or any portion of a security were recharacterized as a debt instrument, subject to the possible application of Section 897 of the Code and the discussions below regarding FATCA and Section 871(m), any payment made to you with respect to the security generally should not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax, provided that: (i) income or gain in respect of the security is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and (ii) you provide an appropriate IRS Form W-8 certifying under penalties of perjury that you are not a United States person.
Other U.S. federal income tax treatments of the securities are also possible. In 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. Among the issues addressed in the notice is the degree, if any, to which income with respect to instruments such as the securities should be subject to U.S. withholding tax. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, it is possible that any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues might materially and adversely affect the withholding tax consequences of an investment in the securities, possibly with retroactive effect. Accordingly, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the issues presented by the notice.
Possible Withholding Under Section 871(m) of the Code. Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to non-U.S. holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities (“U.S. underlying equities”) or indices that include U.S. underlying equities. Section 871(m) generally applies to instruments that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more U.S. underlying equities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “specified security”). However, the regulations, as modified by an IRS notice, exempt financial instruments issued prior to January 1, 2021 that do not have a “delta” of one. Based on the terms of the securities and representations provided by us, our counsel is of the opinion that the securities should not be treated as transactions that have a “delta” of one within the meaning of the regulations with respect to any U.S. underlying equity and, therefore, should not be specified securities subject to withholding tax under Section 871(m).
A determination that the securities are not subject to Section 871(m) is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this treatment. Moreover, Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances. For example, if you enter into other transactions relating to a U.S. underlying equity, you could be subject to withholding tax or income tax liability under Section 871(m) even if the securities are not specified securities subject to Section 871(m) as a general matter. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the securities.
This information is indicative and will be updated in the final pricing supplement or may otherwise be updated by us in writing from time to time. Non-U.S. holders should be warned that Section 871(m) may apply to the securities based on circumstances as of the pricing date for the securities and, therefore, it is possible that the securities will be subject to withholding tax under Section 871(m).
In the event withholding applies, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax
If you are an individual non-U.S. holder or an entity the property of which is potentially includible in such an individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example, a trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the individual has retained certain interests or powers), you should note that, absent an applicable treaty exemption, the securities may be treated as U.S. situs property subject to U.S. federal estate tax. If you are such an individual or entity, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of investing in the securities.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Amounts paid on the securities, and the proceeds of a sale, exchange or other disposition of the securities, may be subject to information reporting and, if you fail to provide certain identifying information (such as an accurate taxpayer identification number if you are a U.S. holder) or meet certain other conditions, may also be subject to backup withholding at the rate specified in the Code. If you are a non-U.S. holder that provides an appropriate IRS Form W-8, you will generally establish an exemption from backup withholding. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not additional taxes and may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the relevant information is timely furnished to the IRS.
PRS-36
Market Linked Securities— Auto-Callable with Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Lowest Performing of the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, the Russell 2000® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index® due November 7, 2022 |
FATCA
Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. This legislation applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest, dividends or dividend equivalents or other U.S.-source “fixed or determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). If required under FATCA, withholding applies to payments of FDAP income. While existing Treasury regulations would also require withholding on payments of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement) of certain financial instruments treated as paying U.S.-source interest or dividends, the U.S. Treasury Department has indicated in subsequent proposed regulations its intent to eliminate this requirement. The U.S. Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization. If the securities were treated as debt instruments or as subject to Section 871(m), the withholding regime under FATCA would apply to the securities. If withholding applies to the securities, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. If you are a non-U.S. holder, or a U.S. holder holding securities through a non-U.S. intermediary, you should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of FATCA to the securities.
The preceding discussion constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of owning and disposing of the securities.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of an investment in the securities and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
PRS-37