Form of Medium-Term Notes, Series A, Accelerated Return Notes Linked to the Russell 2000 Index

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY 8-K 

Exhibit 4.1

[Face of Note]

            Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC

MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES A

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Wells Fargo & Company

Accelerated Return Notes^® Linked to the Russell 2000^® Index

WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under and as defined in the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & Co., or registered assigns, an amount equal to the Redemption Amount (as defined below), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, on February 26, 2021 (the “Stated Maturity Date”).  This Security shall not bear any interest. 

Any payments on this Security at Maturity will be made against presentation of this Security at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose. 

“Principal Amount” shall mean, when used with respect to this Security, the amount set forth on the face of this Security as its “Principal Amount.”

Determination of Redemption Amount

The “Redemption Amount” of this Security will equal:

All calculations with respect to the Redemption Amount 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 the Redemption Amount will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward.

“Index” shall mean the Russell 2000^® Index.

The “Pricing Date” shall mean December 19, 2019.

The “Starting Value” is 1,667.094, the Closing Level of the Index on the Pricing Date.

The “Closing Level” of the Index on any Market Measure Business Day means the official closing level of the Index reported by the Index Publisher on such Market Measure Business Day, subject to the provisions set forth below under “Discontinuance of the Index,” “Adjustments to the Index” and “Market Disruption Events.”

The “Ending Value” will be the average of the Closing Levels of the Index on each Calculation Day (as defined below) occurring during the Maturity Valuation Period (as defined below), subject to the provisions set forth below under “Market Description Events.”

The “Participation Rate” is 300.00%.

The “Capped Value” is 112.33% of the Principal Amount.

A “Market Measure Business Day” means a day on which (1) the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and The Nasdaq Stock Market, or their successors, are open for trading and (2) the Index or any Successor Index (as defined below) is calculated and published.

“Index Publisher” shall mean FTSE Russell.

“Maturity Valuation Period” means each of February 17, 2021, February 18, 2021, February 19, 2021, February 22, 2021 and February 23, 2021, subject to the provisions set forth below under “Market Disruption Events.”

“Calculation Day” means any Market Measure Business Day during the Maturity Valuation Period on which a Market Disruption Event (as defined below) has not occurred.

“Business Day” shall mean a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New York, New York.

“Joint Calculation Agency Agreement” shall mean the Joint Calculation Agency Agreement dated as of October 5, 2018 among the Company, Wells Fargo & Company, as guarantor (the “Guarantor”), and the Calculation Agents, as amended from time to time.

“Calculation Agents” shall mean the Persons that have entered into the Joint Calculation Agency Agreement with the Company and the Guarantor providing for, among other things, the determination of the Ending Value and the Redemption Amount, which term shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include their successors under such Joint Calculation Agency Agreement.  The initial Calculation Agents shall be Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and BofA Securities, Inc.  Pursuant to the Joint Calculation Agency Agreement, the Company may appoint a different Calculation Agent from time to time after the initial issuance of this Security without the consent of the Holder of this Security and without notifying the Holder of this Security.

Adjustments to the Index

If, after the Pricing Date, the Index Publisher makes a material change in the method of calculating the Index or in another way that changes the Index such that it does not, in the opinion of the Calculation Agents, fairly represent the level of the Index had those changes or modifications not been made, the Calculation Agents will, at the close of business in New York, New York, on each date that the Closing Level is to be calculated, make adjustments to the Index.  Those adjustments will be made in good faith as necessary to arrive at a calculation of a level of the Index as if those changes or modifications had not been made, and the Calculation Agents shall calculate the Closing Level of the Index, as so adjusted.

Discontinuance of the Index

If, after the Pricing Date, the Index Publisher discontinues publication of the Index, and the Index Publisher or another entity then publishes a substitute index that the Calculation Agents determine, in their sole discretion, to be comparable to the original Index (a “Successor Index”), the Calculation Agents will substitute the Successor Index as calculated by the relevant Index Publisher or any other entity and calculate the Ending Value as described in the definition of “Ending Value” above.  If the Calculation Agents select a Successor Index, the Calculation Agents will give written notice of the selection to the Trustee, to the Company, and to the Holder hereof.

If the Index Publisher discontinues publication of the Index before the end of the Maturity Valuation Period and the Calculation Agents do not select a Successor Index, then on each day that would have been a Calculation Day, until the earlier to occur of:

the Calculation Agents will compute a substitute level for the Index in accordance with the procedures last used to calculate the Index before any discontinuance as if that day were a Calculation Day.  The Calculation Agents will make available to the Holder hereof information regarding those levels by means of Bloomberg L.P., Thomson Reuters, a website, or any other means selected by the Calculation Agents in their reasonable discretion.

If a Successor Index is selected or the Calculation Agents calculate a level as a substitute for the Index, the Successor Index or level will be used as a substitute for all purposes, including for the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event exists.

Market Disruption Events

“Market Disruption Event” means one or more of the following events, as determined by the Calculation Agents in their sole discretion:

For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred:

If (i) a Market Disruption Event occurs on a scheduled Calculation Day during the Maturity Valuation Period or (ii) any scheduled Calculation Day is determined by the Calculation Agents not to be a Market Measure Business Day by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration, or otherwise (any such day in either (i) or (ii) being a “Non-Calculation Day”), the Closing Level of the Index for the applicable Non-Calculation Day will be the Closing Level of the Index on the next Calculation Day that occurs during the Maturity Valuation Period.  For example, if the first and second scheduled Calculation Days during the Maturity Valuation Period are Non-Calculation Days, then the Closing Level of the Index on the next Calculation Day will also be the Closing Level for the Index on the first and second scheduled Calculation Days during the Maturity Valuation Period.  If no further Calculation Days occur after a Non-Calculation Day, or if every scheduled Calculation Day during the Maturity Valuation Period is a Non-Calculation Day, then the Closing Level of the Index for that Non-Calculation Day and each following Non-Calculation Day (or for all the scheduled Calculation Days during the Maturity Valuation Period, if applicable) will be determined (or, if not determinable, estimated) by the Calculation Agents in a commercially reasonable manner on the last scheduled Calculation Day during the Maturity Valuation Period, regardless of the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event on that last scheduled Calculation Day.

Calculation Agent

            The Calculation Agents have the sole discretion to make all determinations regarding this Security as described in this Security, including determinations regarding the Starting Value, the Ending Value, the Index, the Redemption Amount, any Market Disruption Events, a Successor Index, Market Measure Business Days, Business Days, Calculation Days, Non-Calculation Days, and determinations related to the discontinuance of the Index.  Absent manifest error, all determinations of the Calculation Agents will be conclusive for all purposes and final and binding on the Holder hereof and the Company, without any liability on the part of the Calculation Agents.

            The Company covenants that, so long as this Security is Outstanding, there shall at all times be a Calculation Agent (which shall be a broker-dealer, bank or other financial institution) with respect to this Security.

Tax Considerations

The Company agrees, and by acceptance of a beneficial ownership interest in this Security each Holder of this Security will be deemed to have agreed (in the absence of a statutory, regulatory, administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary), for United States federal income tax purposes to characterize and treat this Security as a prepaid derivative contract that is an “open transaction.”

Redemption and Repayment

This Security is not subject to redemption at the option of the Company or repayment at the option of the Holder hereof prior to February 26, 2021.  This Security is not entitled to any sinking fund.

Acceleration

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect to this Security shall occur and be continuing, the Redemption Amount (calculated as set forth in the next sentence) of this Security may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.  The amount payable to the Holder hereof upon any acceleration permitted under the Indenture will be equal to the Redemption Amount described under “Determination of Redemption Amount,” determined as if the date of acceleration were the sole Calculation Day.

__________________

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature or its duly authorized agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

DATED: 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the
series designated therein described
in the within-mentioned Indenture.

[Reverse of Note]

WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC

MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES A

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by Wells Fargo & Company

Accelerated Return Notes^® Linked to the Russell 2000^® Index

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture dated as of April 25, 2018, as amended or supplemented from time to time (herein called the “Indenture”), among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantor and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series of the Securities designated as Medium-Term Notes, Series A, of the Company.  The amount payable on the Securities of this series may be determined by reference to the performance of one or more equity-, commodity- or currency-based indices, exchange traded funds, securities, commodities, currencies, statistical measures of economic or financial performance, or a basket comprised of two or more of the foregoing, or any other market measure or may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating rate.  The Securities of this series may mature at different times, be redeemable at different times or not at all, be repayable at the option of the Holder at different times or not at all and be denominated in different currencies.

The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons and will be either (a) book-entry securities represented by one or more Global Securities recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary or (b) certificated securities issued to and registered in the names of, the beneficial owners or their nominees.

The Company agrees, to the extent permitted by law, not to voluntarily claim the benefits of any laws concerning usurious rates of interest against a Holder of this Security.

Guarantee

The Securities of this series are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor as and to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

Modification and Waivers

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal

amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected, acting together as a class.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding affected by certain provisions of the Indenture, acting together as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company or the Guarantor with those provisions of the Indenture.  Certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences may be waived under the Indenture by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series.  Solely for the purpose of determining whether any consent, waiver, notice or other action or Act to be taken or given by the Holders of Securities pursuant to the Indenture has been given or taken by the Holders of Outstanding Securities in the requisite aggregate principal amount, the principal amount of this Security will be deemed to be equal to the amount set forth on the face hereof as the “Principal Amount” hereof.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

Defeasance

Section 403 and Article Fifteen of the Indenture and the provisions of clause (ii) of Section 401(1)(B) of the Indenture, relating to defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness on this Security and (b) certain restrictive covenants, upon compliance by the Company or the Guarantor with certain conditions set forth therein, shall not apply to this Security.  The remaining provisions of Section 401 of the Indenture shall apply to this Security.

Authorized Denominations

This Security is issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $10 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $10.

Registration of Transfer

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Security at the office or agency of the Company in the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a new Security or Securities of this series, with the same terms as this Security, in authorized denominations for an equal aggregate Principal Amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor, as provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations provided therein and to the limitations described below, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

This Security is exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form only if (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, (y) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form and notifies the Trustee thereof or (z) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented hereby has occurred and is continuing.  If this Security is exchangeable

pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities in registered form, having the same date of issuance, Stated Maturity Date and other terms and of authorized denominations aggregating a like amount. 

This Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor.  Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Securities in definitive form and will not be considered the Holders hereof for any purpose under the Indenture.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Obligation of the Company Absolute

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the Redemption Amount at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed, except as otherwise provided in this Security.

No Personal Recourse

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the Redemption Amount, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any successor corporation or of the Guarantor or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

Defined Terms

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless otherwise defined in this Security.

Governing Law

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

ABBREVIATIONS

                        The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto

the within Security of WELLS FARGO FINANCE LLC and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ attorney to transfer the said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

NOTICE:  The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.