The following profile is based on a maximum settlement amount of 126.40% of the face amount or $1,264.00 per security, an upside participation rate
of 1.6, a buffer level equal to 90% of the initial underlier level, a buffer rate of approximately 1.1111 and a buffer amount of 10%. This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. Your actual return will depend on the actual final
underlier level and whether you hold your securities to maturity.
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. The index underlying the underlier, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, is
sometimes referred to as the
underlying index
.
You May Lose Up To All Of Your Investment.
We will not repay you a fixed amount on the securities on the stated maturity date. The cash settlement amount will depend on the direction of and
percentage change in the final underlier level relative to the initial underlier level and the other terms of the securities. Because the price of the underlier will be subject to market fluctuations, the cash settlement amount you receive may be
more or less, and possibly significantly less, than the original offering price of your securities.
If the final underlier level is less than the
initial underlier level by more than the buffer amount, the cash settlement amount will be less than the face amount per security and you will be exposed on a leveraged basis to the decline in the underlier beyond the buffer amount. As a
result, you may receive less than, and possibly lose all of, the face amount per security at maturity even if the price of the underlier is greater than or equal to the initial underlier level or the buffer level at certain points during the
term of the securities.
Even if the final underlier level is greater than the initial underlier level, the amount you receive at stated maturity may
only be slightly greater than the face amount, and your yield on the securities may be less than the yield you would earn if you bought a traditional interest-bearing debt security of Wells Fargo or another issuer with a similar credit rating with
the same stated maturity date.
Your Return Will Be Limited By The Maximum Settlement Amount And May Be Lower Than The Return On A Direct
Investment In The Underlier.
Your return on the securities will be subject to a maximum settlement amount. The opportunity to participate in the
possible increases in the price of the underlier through an investment in the securities will be limited because the cash settlement amount will not exceed the maximum settlement amount. Furthermore, the effect of the upside participation rate will
be progressively reduced for all final underlier levels exceeding the final underlier level at which the maximum settlement amount is reached, which we refer to as the cap level.
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 Securities Are Subject To The Credit Risk Of Wells Fargo.
The securities are our obligations and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any amounts payable under the securities
are subject to our creditworthiness, and you will have no ability to pursue the shares of the underlier or any securities held by the underlier for payment. As a result, our actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the value of the
securities and, in the event we were to default on our obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the securities.
The Estimated Value Of The Securities On The Trade Date, Based On WFSs Proprietary Pricing Models, Is 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 trade date is 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 funding rate that is generally lower than our secondary market rates. If the costs relating to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the securities were lower, or if the assumed funding 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.
PRS-9
The Estimated Value Of The Securities Is Determined By Our Affiliates 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 Investment DescriptionDetermining the estimated value. Certain inputs to these models may be determined by WFS in its discretion. WFSs views on these inputs may
differ from other dealers views, and WFSs 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. WFSs
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 WFSs 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 original issue date or during the 3-month period
following the original 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 WFSs 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 Investment
Description.
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 price of the underlier at that time, 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 that you could receive for your security if you are able to sell it in the open market
before the stated maturity date.
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Underlier Performance.
The value of the securities prior to maturity will depend substantially on the price of
the underlier. 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 price of the underlier at such time is less than, equal to
or not sufficiently above the initial underlier level.
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Interest Rates.
The value of the securities may be affected by changes in the interest rates in the U.S. markets.
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Volatility Of The Underlier.
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 underlier changes.
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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 price of the underlier. This difference will most likely reflect a discount due to expectations and uncertainty concerning the price of the underlier 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 could be payable at maturity based on the then-current price of the underlier.
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Dividend Yields On The Securities Included In The Underlier.
The value of the securities may be affected by the
dividend yields on securities held by the underlier (the amount of such dividends may influence the closing price of the shares of the underlier).
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Currency Exchange Rates
. Since the underlier includes securities quoted in one or more foreign currencies and the
fund closing price of the underlier is based on the U.S. dollar value of such securities, the value of the securities may be affected if the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and any such foreign currency changes.
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PRS-10
In addition to the derivative component factors, the value of the securities will be affected by actual or
anticipated changes in our creditworthiness, as reflected in our secondary market rates. 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 price of the underlier. Because several factors are expected to affect the value of the securities, changes in the price of the underlier may not result in a comparable
change in the value of the securities. We anticipate that the value of the securities will always be at a discount to the maximum settlement amount.
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.
Your Return On The Securities Could Be Less Than If You Owned The Shares Of The Underlier.
Your return on the securities will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the shares of the underlier. This is in part because
the cash settlement amount payable at stated maturity will be determined by reference only to the closing price of a share of the underlier without taking into consideration the value of dividends and other distributions paid on such share. In
addition, the cash settlement amount will not be greater than the maximum settlement amount.
Historical Prices Of The Underlier Or The Securities
Included In The Underlier Should Not Be Taken As An Indication Of The Future Performance Of The Underlier During The Term Of The Securities.
The
trading price of the shares of the underlier will determine the cash settlement amount payable at maturity to you. As a result, it is impossible to predict whether the fund closing price of the underlier will fall or rise compared to the initial
underlier level. The trading price of the shares of the underlier will be influenced by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial and other factors that can affect the markets in which the underlier and the securities comprising the
underlier are traded and the values of the underlier and such securities. Accordingly, any historical prices of the underlier do not provide an indication of the future performance of the underlier.
Changes That Affect The Underlier Or The Underlying Index May Adversely Affect The Value Of The Securities And The Amount You Will Receive At Stated
Maturity.
The policies of the sponsor of the underlier (the
underlier sponsor
) concerning the calculation of the
underliers net asset value, additions, deletions or substitutions of securities in the underlier and the manner in which changes in the underlying index are reflected in the underlier, and changes in those policies, could affect the closing
price of the shares of the underlier and, therefore, may affect the value of the securities and the cash settlement amount payable at maturity. Similarly, the policies of the sponsor of the underlying index (the
underlying index
sponso
r) concerning the calculation of the underlying index and the addition, deletion or substitution of securities comprising the underlying index and the manner in which the underlying index sponsor takes account of certain changes
affecting such securities may affect the level of the underlying index and the closing price of the shares of the underlier and, therefore, may affect the value of the securities and the cash settlement amount payable at maturity. The underlying
index sponsor could also discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of the underlying index or materially alter the methodology by which it calculates the underlying 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 Underlier Or The Underlying
Index.
Actions by any company whose securities are included in the underlier or in the underlying index may have an adverse effect on the price
of its security, the final underlier level and the value of the securities. We are not affiliated with any company whose security is represented in the underlier or the underlying index. These 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 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.
PRS-11
We And Our Affiliates Have No Affiliation With The Underlier Sponsor Or The Underlying Index Sponsor And
Have Not Independently Verified Their Public Disclosure Of Information.
We and our affiliates are not affiliated in any way with the underlier
sponsor or the underlying index sponsor (collectively, the
sponsors
) and have no ability to control or predict their actions, including any errors in or discontinuation of disclosure regarding their methods or policies relating to
the management or calculation of the underlier or underlying index. We have derived the information about the sponsors and the underlier and underlying index contained in this pricing supplement from publicly available information, without
independent verification. You, as an investor in the securities, should make your own investigation into the underlier, the underlying index and the sponsors. The sponsors will not be involved in the offering of the securities made hereby in any way
and the sponsors do not have any obligation to consider your interest as an owner of the securities in taking any actions that might affect the value of the securities.
An Investment Linked To The Shares Of The Underlier Is Different From An Investment Linked To The Underlying Index.
The performance of the shares of the underlier may not exactly replicate the performance of the underlying index because the underlier may not invest in
all of the securities included in the underlying index and because the underlier will reflect transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of the underlying index. The underlier may also hold securities or derivative financial
instruments not included in the underlying index. It is also possible that the underlier may not fully replicate the performance of the underlying index due to the temporary unavailability of certain securities in the secondary market or due to
other extraordinary circumstances. In addition, because the shares of the underlier are traded on a securities exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the value of a share of the underlier may differ from the net asset value
per share of the underlier. As a result, the performance of the underlier may not correlate perfectly with the performance of the underlying index, and the return on the securities based on the performance of the underlier will not be the same
as the return on securities based on the performance of the underlying index.
You Will Not Have Any Shareholder Rights With Respect To The Shares
Of The Underlier.
You will not become a holder of shares of the underlier or a holder of securities included in the underlying index as a result
of owning a security. You will not have any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to such shares or securities. At stated maturity, you will have no right to receive delivery of any
shares or securities.
Anti-dilution Adjustments Relating To The Shares Of The Underlier Do Not Address Every Event That Could Affect Such Shares.
An adjustment factor, as described herein, will be used to determine the final underlier level of the underlier. The adjustment factor will be
adjusted by the calculation agent for certain events affecting the shares of the underlier. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment for every event that could affect such shares. If an event occurs that does not require the
calculation agent to adjust the adjustment factor, the value of the securities may be adversely affected.
An Investment In The Securities Is
Subject To Risks Associated With Foreign Securities Markets.
The underlier includes the stocks of foreign companies and you should be aware that
investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. Foreign securities markets may have less liquidity and may be more volatile than the U.S. securities markets, and market developments may affect
foreign markets differently than U.S. securities markets. Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize a foreign securities market, as well as cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in those
markets. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about non-U.S. companies that are not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and non-U.S. companies are subject to accounting, auditing
and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.
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
governments 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.
In addition, the underlier includes companies in countries with emerging markets. Countries with
emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than
more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be
PRS-12
highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions (due to economic dependence upon commodity prices and international trade), and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens,
currency devaluations or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or
impossible at times.
The securities included in the underlier may be listed on a foreign stock exchange. A foreign stock exchange may impose trading
limitations intended to prevent extreme fluctuations in individual security prices and may suspend trading in certain circumstances. These actions could limit variations in the closing price of the underlier which could, in turn, adversely affect
the value of the securities.
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. Even if the treatment of the securities as prepaid derivative contracts that are open transactions is respected, a security may be treated as a constructive
ownership transaction, with potentially adverse consequences described below under United States Federal Tax Considerations.
Furthermore, 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 an IRS notice providing a general exemption for non-delta-one financial
instruments issued in 2017, the securities should not be subject to withholding under Section 871(m). However, the IRS
PRS-14
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.
Determining
Payment at Stated Maturity
On the stated maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per security (the cash settlement amount)
calculated as follows:
PRS-15
Hypothetical Returns
The following table illustrates, for a range of hypothetical final underlier levels:
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the hypothetical percentage change from the initial underlier level to the hypothetical final underlier level; and
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the hypothetical pre-tax total return.
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Hypothetical underlier return
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Hypothetical pre-tax total
return
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50.00%
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26.40%
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40.00%
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26.40%
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30.00%
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26.40%
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20.00%
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26.40%
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16.50%
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26.40%
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10.00%
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16.00%
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5.00%
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8.00%
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0.00%
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0.00%
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-5.00%
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0.00%
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-10.00%
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0.00%
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-11.00%
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-1.11%
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-25.00%
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-16.67%
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-50.00%
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-44.44%
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-75.00%
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-72.22%
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-100.00%
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-100.00%
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The above figures are for purposes of illustration only and may have been rounded for ease of analysis. The actual amount
you receive at stated maturity and the resulting pre-tax return will depend on the actual final underlier level.
If, for example, the underlier
return were determined to be -75.00%, the pre-tax return on your securities at maturity would be approximately -72.22%, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you purchased your securities on the original issue date at the face amount and held
them to the stated maturity date, you would lose approximately 72.22% of your investment. In addition, if the underlier return were determined to be 50.00%, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your securities at maturity would be
capped at the maximum settlement amount, and the pre-tax return on your securities would therefore be capped at 26.40%, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your securities to the stated maturity date, you would not benefit from any
underlier return in excess of 16.50%.
PRS-16
Additional Terms of the Securities
Wells Fargo will issue the securities as part of a series of senior unsecured debt securities entitled Medium-Term Notes, Series K,
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.
Calculation Agent
Wells
Fargo Securities, LLC, one of our subsidiaries, will act as initial calculation agent for the securities and may appoint agents to assist it in the performance of its duties. Pursuant to the calculation agent agreement, we may appoint a different
calculation agent without your consent and without notifying you.
The calculation agent will determine the cash settlement amount you receive at
stated maturity. In addition, the calculation agent will, among other things:
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determine whether a market disruption event or non-trading day has occurred;
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determine if adjustments are required to the fund closing price of the underlier under various circumstances; and
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if the underlier undergoes a liquidation event, select a successor underlier (as defined below) or, if no successor
underlier is available, determine the fund closing price.
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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
means any of the following events as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion:
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(A)
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The occurrence or existence of a material suspension of or limitation imposed on trading by the relevant stock exchange
or otherwise relating to the shares (or other applicable securities) of the underlier or any successor underlier on the relevant stock exchange at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the close of trading on such day, whether by reason
of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by such relevant stock exchange or otherwise.
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(B)
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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 the shares (or other applicable securities) of the underlier or any successor underlier 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.
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(C)
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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, shares (or other applicable securities) of the underlier or any successor underlier on the relevant stock exchange at any time during the one-hour period that
ends at the close of trading on that day.
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(D)
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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 shares (or other applicable securities) of the underlier or any successor underlier 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.
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(E)
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The closure of the relevant stock exchange or any related futures or options exchange with respect to the underlier or
any successor underlier 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 the close of trading on that day.
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(F)
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The relevant stock exchange or any related futures or options exchange with respect to the underlier or any successor
underlier fails to open for trading during its regular trading session.
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For purposes of determining whether a market disruption
event has occurred:
PRS-17
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(1)
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close of trading
means the scheduled closing time of the relevant stock exchange with respect to the
underlier or any successor underlier; and
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(2)
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the
scheduled closing time
of the relevant stock exchange or any related futures or options exchange
on any trading day for the underlier or any successor underlier 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.
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If a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on the determination date, the
determination date will be postponed to the first succeeding trading day on which a market disruption event has not occurred and is not continuing; however, if such first succeeding trading day has not occurred as of the eighth trading day after the
originally scheduled determination date, that eighth trading day shall be deemed to be the determination date. If the determination date has been postponed eight trading days after the originally scheduled determination date and a market disruption
event occurs or is continuing with respect to the underlier on such eighth trading day, the calculation agent will determine the closing price of the underlier on such eighth trading day based on its good faith estimate of the value of the shares
(or other applicable securities) of the underlier as of the close of trading on such eighth trading day.
Anti-dilution Adjustments Relating to
the Underlier; Alternate Calculation
Anti-dilution Adjustments
The calculation agent will adjust the adjustment factor as specified below if any of the events specified below occurs with respect to the underlier and
the effective date or ex-dividend date, as applicable, for such event is after the trade date and on or prior to the determination date.
The
adjustments specified below do not cover all events that could affect the underlier, and there may be other events that could affect the underlier for which the calculation agent will not make any such adjustments, including, without limitation, an
ordinary cash dividend. Nevertheless, the calculation agent may, in its sole discretion, make additional adjustments to any terms of the securities upon the occurrence of other events that affect or could potentially affect the market price of, or
shareholder rights in, the underlier, with a view to offsetting, to the extent practical, any such change, and preserving the relative investment risks of the securities. In addition, the calculation agent may, in its sole discretion, make
adjustments or a series of adjustments that differ from those described herein if the calculation agent determines that such adjustments do not properly reflect the economic consequences of the events specified in this pricing supplement or would
not preserve the relative investment risks of the securities. All determinations made by the calculation agent in making any adjustments to the terms of the securities, including adjustments that are in addition to, or that differ from, those
described in this pricing supplement, will be made in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, with the aim of ensuring an equitable result. In determining whether to make any adjustment to the terms of the securities, the calculation agent
may consider any adjustment made by the Options Clearing Corporation or any other equity derivatives clearing organization on options contracts on the underlier.
For any event described below, the calculation agent will not be required to adjust the adjustment factor unless the adjustment would result in a change
to the adjustment factor then in effect of at least 0.10%. The adjustment factor resulting from any adjustment will be rounded up or down, as appropriate, to the nearest one-hundred thousandth.
|
(A)
|
Stock Splits and Reverse Stock Splits
|
If a stock split or reverse stock split has occurred, then once such split has become effective, the adjustment factor will be adjusted
to equal the
product
of the prior adjustment factor and the number of securities which a holder of one share (or other applicable security) of the underlier before the effective date of such stock split or reverse stock split would have owned
or been entitled to receive immediately following the applicable effective date.
If a dividend or distribution of shares (or other applicable securities) to which the securities are linked has been made by the
underlier ratably to all holders of record of such shares (or other applicable security), then the adjustment factor will be adjusted on the ex-dividend date to equal the prior adjustment factor plus the
product
of the prior adjustment factor
and the number of shares (or other applicable security) of the underlier which a holder of one share (or other applicable security) of the underlier before the ex-dividend date would have owned or been entitled to receive immediately following that
date; provided, however, that no adjustment will be made for a distribution for which the number of securities of the underlier paid or distributed is based on a fixed cash equivalent value.
|
(C)
|
Extraordinary Dividends
|
If an extraordinary dividend (as defined below) has occurred, then the adjustment factor will be adjusted on the ex-dividend date to
equal the
product
of the prior adjustment factor and a fraction, the numerator of which
PRS-18
is the closing price per share (or other applicable security) of the underlier on the trading day preceding the ex-dividend date, and the denominator of which is the amount by which the
closing price per share (or other applicable security) of the underlier on the trading day preceding the ex-dividend date exceeds the extraordinary dividend amount (as defined below).
For purposes of determining whether an extraordinary dividend has occurred:
|
(1)
|
extraordinary dividend
means any cash dividend or distribution (or portion thereof) that the
calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, is extraordinary or special; and
|
|
(2)
|
extraordinary dividend amount
with respect to an extraordinary dividend for the securities of the
underlier will equal the amount per share (or other applicable security) of the underlier of the applicable cash dividend or distribution that is attributable to the extraordinary dividend, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole
discretion.
|
A distribution on the securities of the underlier described below under the section entitled
Reorganization Events below that also constitutes an extraordinary dividend will only cause an adjustment pursuant to that Reorganization Events section.
If the underlier declares or makes a distribution to all holders of the shares (or other applicable security) of the underlier of any
non-cash assets, excluding dividends or distributions described under the section entitled Stock Dividends above, then the calculation agent may, in its sole discretion, make such adjustment (if any) to the adjustment factor as it
deems appropriate in the circumstances. If the calculation agent determines to make an adjustment pursuant to this paragraph, it will do so with a view to offsetting, to the extent practical, any change in the economic position of a holder of the
securities that results solely from the applicable event.
|
(E)
|
Reorganization Events
|
If the underlier, or any successor underlier, is subject to a merger, combination, consolidation or statutory exchange of securities with
another exchange traded fund, and the underlier is not the surviving entity (a
reorganization event
), then, on or after the date of such event, the calculation agent shall, in its sole discretion, make an adjustment to the
adjustment factor or the method of determining the cash settlement amount or any other terms of the securities as the calculation agent determines appropriate to account for the economic effect on the securities of such event, and determine the
effective date of that adjustment. If the calculation agent determines that no adjustment that it could make will produce a commercially reasonable result, then the calculation agent may deem such event a liquidation event (as defined below).
Liquidation Events
If the underlier is
de-listed, liquidated or otherwise terminated (a
liquidation event
), and a successor or substitute exchange traded fund exists that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the underlier, then,
upon the calculation agents notification of that determination to the trustee and Wells Fargo, any subsequent fund closing price for the underlier will be determined by reference to the fund closing price of such successor or substitute
exchange traded fund (such exchange traded fund being referred to herein as a
successor underlier
), with such adjustments as the calculation agent determines are appropriate to account for the economic effect of such substitution
on holders of the securities.
If the underlier undergoes a liquidation event prior to, and such liquidation event is continuing on, the date that
any fund closing price of the underlier is to be determined and the calculation agent determines that no successor underlier is available at such time, then the calculation agent will, in its discretion, calculate the fund closing price for the
underlier on such date by a computation methodology that the calculation agent determines will as closely as reasonably possible replicate the underlier, provided that if the calculation agent determines in its discretion that it is not practicable
to replicate the underlier (including but not limited to the instance in which the underlying index sponsor discontinues publication of the underlying index), then the calculation agent will calculate the fund closing price for the underlier in
accordance with the formula last used to calculate such fund closing price before such liquidation event, but using only those securities that were held by the underlier immediately prior to such liquidation event without any rebalancing or
substitution of such securities following such liquidation event.
If a successor underlier is selected or the calculation agent calculates the fund
closing price as a substitute for the underlier, such successor underlier or fund closing price will be used as a substitute for the underlier for all purposes, including for purposes of determining whether a market disruption event exists.
Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, a liquidation event with respect to the underlier may adversely affect the value of the securities.
PRS-19
If any event is both a reorganization event and a liquidation event, such event will be treated as a
reorganization event for purposes of the securities unless the calculation agent makes the determination referenced in the last sentence of the section entitled Anti-dilution AdjustmentsReorganization Events above.
Alternate Calculation
If at any time
the method of calculating the underlier or a successor underlier, or the underlying index, is changed in a material respect, or if the underlier or a successor underlier is in any other way modified so that the underlier does not, in the opinion of
the calculation agent, fairly represent the price of the securities of the underlier or such successor underlier had such changes or modifications not been made, then the calculation agent may, at the close of business in New York City on the date
that any fund closing price is to be determined, make such calculations and adjustments as, in the good faith judgment of the calculation agent, may be necessary in order to arrive at a closing price of the underlier comparable to the underlier or
such successor underlier, as the case may be, as if such changes or modifications had not been made, and calculate the fund closing price and the cash settlement amount with reference to such adjusted closing price of the underlier or such successor
underlier, as applicable.
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 cash settlement amount, calculated as provided herein. The cash settlement amount will be calculated as though the date of acceleration were the determination date.
PRS-20
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of
the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, an equity index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. See Description of Exchange Traded FundsThe
iShares
®
MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the accompanying market measure supplement for additional information about the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF.
Effective with the November 2015 semi-annual index review, companies traded outside of their country of classification (i.e., foreign listed
companies) will become eligible for inclusion in the component country indices included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. In order for a component country index to be eligible to include foreign listed companies, it must meet the Foreign
Listing Materiality Requirement. To meet the Foreign Listing Materiality Requirement, the aggregate market capitalization of all securities represented by foreign listings should represent at least (i) 5% of the free float-adjusted market
capitalization of the relevant component country index and (ii) 0.05% of the free-float adjusted market capitalization of the MSCI ACWI Investable Market Index (an index that measures equity performance in both the developed and emerging
markets). In connection with the November 2015 semi-annual index review, one of the component country indices included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, the MSCI China Index, became eligible to include foreign listed companies. The newly eligible
foreign listed securities were added at half their free float-adjusted market capitalization as part of the November 2015 semi-annual index review, and their remaining free float-adjusted market capitalization were added as part of the May 2016
semi-annual index review.
The information about the MSCI Emerging Markets Index contained herein updates the information included in the
accompanying market measure supplement. See Description of Equity IndicesThe MSCI Emerging Markets Index
SM
in the accompanying market measure supplement for additional
information about the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
Historical Information
We obtained the closing prices listed below from Bloomberg Financial Markets without independent verification.
The historical performance of the underlier should not be taken as an indication of the future performance of the underlier during the term of the
securities.
The following graph sets forth the daily closing prices of the underlier on each day in the period from January 1, 2007 through
January 17, 2017. The closing price on January 17, 2017 was $36.66.
PRS-21
The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices, as well as end-of-period closing prices, of
the underlier for each quarter in the period from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2016 and for the period from January 1, 2017 to January 17, 2017. The closing price on January 17, 2017 was $36.66.
|
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High
|
|
Low
|
|
Last
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$39.53
|
|
$35.03
|
|
$38.75
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$44.42
|
|
$39.13
|
|
$43.82
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$50.11
|
|
$39.50
|
|
$49.78
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$55.64
|
|
$47.27
|
|
$50.10
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$50.37
|
|
$42.17
|
|
$44.79
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$51.70
|
|
$44.43
|
|
$45.19
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$44.43
|
|
$31.33
|
|
$34.53
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$33.90
|
|
$18.22
|
|
$24.97
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$27.09
|
|
$19.94
|
|
$24.81
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$34.64
|
|
$25.65
|
|
$32.23
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$39.29
|
|
$30.75
|
|
$38.91
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$42.07
|
|
$37.56
|
|
$41.50
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$43.22
|
|
$36.83
|
|
$42.12
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$43.98
|
|
$36.16
|
|
$37.32
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$44.77
|
|
$37.59
|
|
$44.77
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$48.58
|
|
$44.77
|
|
$47.62
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$48.69
|
|
$44.63
|
|
$48.69
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$50.21
|
|
$45.50
|
|
$47.60
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$48.46
|
|
$34.95
|
|
$35.07
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$42.80
|
|
$34.36
|
|
$37.94
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2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$44.76
|
|
$38.23
|
|
$42.94
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$43.54
|
|
$36.68
|
|
$39.19
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$42.37
|
|
$37.42
|
|
$41.32
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$44.35
|
|
$40.14
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|
$44.35
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2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$45.20
|
|
$41.80
|
|
$42.78
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$44.23
|
|
$36.63
|
|
$38.57
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$43.29
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|
$37.34
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|
$40.77
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$43.66
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|
$40.44
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$41.77
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2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$40.99
|
|
$37.09
|
|
$40.99
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Second Quarter
|
|
$43.95
|
|
$40.82
|
|
$43.23
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Third Quarter
|
|
$45.85
|
|
$41.56
|
|
$41.56
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$42.44
|
|
$37.73
|
|
$39.29
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2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$41.07
|
|
$37.92
|
|
$40.13
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$44.09
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|
$39.04
|
|
$39.62
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Third Quarter
|
|
$39.78
|
|
$31.32
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|
$32.78
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Fourth Quarter
|
|
$36.29
|
|
$31.55
|
|
$32.19
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2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$34.28
|
|
$28.25
|
|
$34.25
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$35.26
|
|
$31.87
|
|
$34.36
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$38.20
|
|
$33.77
|
|
$37.45
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Fourth Quarter
|
|
$38.10
|
|
$34.08
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|
$35.01
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2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 1, 2017 to January 17, 2017
|
|
$36.71
|
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$35.43
|
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$36.66
|
PRS-22
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 plans 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:
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PTCE 96-23, for specified transactions determined by in-house asset managers;
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PTCE 95-60, for specified transactions involving insurance company general accounts;
|
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PTCE 91-38, for specified transactions involving bank collective investment funds;
|
|
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|
PTCE 90-1, for specified transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; and
|
|
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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:
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|
|
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.
PRS-23
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
holders 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-24
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.
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 or the potential application of the alternative minimum tax or of the Medicare tax on investment income. 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, which is based on current market conditions, 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. 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.
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;
|
PRS-25
|
|
|
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. Subject to the discussion below concerning the potential application of the constructive ownership rules under Section 1260 of the Code, 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.
Potential
Application of Section 1260 of the Code.
There is a risk that your purchase of a security may be treated as entry into a constructive ownership transaction, within the meaning of Section 1260 of the Code, with respect to
shares of the underlier. In that case, all or a portion of any long-term capital gain you would otherwise recognize in respect of your securities would be recharacterized as ordinary income to the extent such gain exceeded the net underlying
long-term capital gain. Although the matter is unclear, the net underlying long-term capital gain may equal the amount of long-term capital gain you would have realized if on the issue date you had purchased shares of the underlier
with a value equal to the amount you paid to acquire your securities and subsequently sold those shares for their fair market value at the time your securities are sold, exchanged or retired (which would reflect the percentage increase, without
regard to the participation rate, in the value of the shares of the underlier over the term of the securities). Alternatively, the net underlying long-term capital gain could be calculated using a number of shares of the underlier that
reflects the participation rate used to calculate the payment that you will receive on your securities. Any long-term capital gain recharacterized as ordinary income under Section 1260 would be treated as accruing at a constant rate over the
period you held your securities, and you would be subject to an interest charge in respect of the deemed tax liability on the income treated as accruing in prior tax years. Due to the lack of governing authority under Section 1260, our counsel
is not able to opine as to whether or how Section 1260 applies to the securities. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of the constructive ownership rule.
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 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 described above. 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:
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an individual who is classified as a nonresident alien;
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a foreign corporation; or
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a foreign estate or trust.
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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.
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Securities.
Subject to 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 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 or indices that include U.S.
equities (such equities and indices,
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 upon
issuance, based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a
Specified Security
).
In Notice 2016-76 (the
Notice
), the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS announced that revised regulations under Section 871(m) would exempt financial instruments issued in 2017 that are not delta-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 delta-one transactions within the meaning of the Notice 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 the underlier or its underlying assets, 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.
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 individuals 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
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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.
FATCA Legislation
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. entitys 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 and, after 2018, to payments of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement) of
certain financial instruments treated as providing U.S.-source interest or dividends. If the securities were treated as debt instruments, 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.
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