DEFINITIVE PRICING SUPPLEMENT No. 961

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
File No. 333-202840

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities Offered

    

Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price

    

Amount of
Registration Fee(1)

Medium-Term Notes, Series K, Leveraged Index Return Notes® Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®

     $35,735,150      $4,449.03

 

(1) 

The total filing fee of $4,449.03 is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and will be paid by wire transfer within the time required by Rule 456(b) of the Securities Act.


Pricing Supplement No. 961

(To Product Supplement No. EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1 dated May 22, 2017, Prospectus Supplement dated March 18, 2015 and Prospectus dated March 18, 2015)

     

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)    

Registration Statement No.333-202840    

 

      3,573,515 Units

      $10 principal amount per unit

      CUSIP No. 94988U565

       LOGO

  

 

Pricing Date

Settlement Date

Maturity Date

 

 

December 21, 2017  

December 29, 2017  

December 23, 2022  

     
  Leveraged Index Return Notes® Linked to the Dow
Jones Industrial Average®
        1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Index beyond a 20% decline, with up to 80% of your principal at risk   
     Maturity of approximately five years   
     109.00% leveraged upside exposure to increases in the Index   
     All payments occur at maturity and are subject to the credit risk of Wells Fargo & Company; if Wells Fargo & Company defaults on its obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment   
     No periodic interest payments or dividends   
     In addition to the underwriting discount set forth below, the notes include a hedging-related charge of $0.075 per unit. See “Structuring the Notes”   
     Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing; intended to be held to maturity   
    

The notes are unsecured obligations of Wells Fargo & Company. The notes are not deposits or other obligations of a depository institution and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency of the United States or any other jurisdiction

 

  
       

The notes are being issued by Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”). The notes have complex features and investing in the notes involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and beginning on page PS-6 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1.

The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is $9.59 per unit, which is less than the public offering price listed below. The initial estimated value of the notes was determined for us as of the date of this term sheet by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC using its proprietary pricing models. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13 of this term sheet for additional information.

 

 

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

     Per Unit      Total  

Public offering price

   $ 10.00      $ 35,735,150.00  

Underwriting discount

   $ 0.25      $ 893,378.75  

Proceeds, before expenses, to Wells Fargo

   $ 9.75      $ 34,841,771.25  

The notes:

 

     

Are Not FDIC Insured

 

  Are Not Bank Guaranteed   May Lose Value

Merrill Lynch & Co.

December 21, 2017


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Summary

The Leveraged Index Return Notes® Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average® , due December 23, 2022 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes are not deposits or other obligations of a depository institution and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency of the United States or any other jurisdiction. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of Wells Fargo. The notes provide you a leveraged return if the Ending Value of the Market Measure, which is the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (the “Index”), is greater than its Starting Value. If the Ending Value is equal to or less than the Starting Value but greater than or equal to the Threshold Value, you will receive the principal amount of your notes. If the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, you will lose a portion, which could be significant, of the principal amount of your notes. Any payments on the notes will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index, subject to our credit risk. See “Terms of the Notes” and “The Index” below.

The public offering price of each note of $10 includes certain costs that are borne by you. Because of these costs, the estimated value of the notes on the pricing date is less than the public offering price. The costs included in the public offering price relate to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes, as well as to our funding considerations for debt of this type.

The costs related to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes include (a) the underwriting discount, (b) the projected profit that our hedge counterparty (which may be MLPF&S or one of its affiliates) expects to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and (c) hedging and other costs relating to the offering of the notes.

Our funding considerations take into account the higher issuance, operational and ongoing management costs of market-linked debt such as the notes as compared to our conventional debt of the same maturity, as well as our liquidity needs and preferences. Our funding considerations are reflected in the fact that we determine the economic terms of the notes based on an assumed funding rate that is generally lower than the interest rates implied by secondary market prices for our debt obligations and/or by other traded instruments referencing our debt obligations, which we refer to as our “secondary market rates.” As discussed below, our secondary market rates are used in determining the estimated value of the notes.

If the costs relating to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes were lower, or if the assumed funding rate we use to determine the economic terms of the notes were higher, the economic terms of the notes would be more favorable to you and the estimated value would be higher. The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is set forth on the cover page of this term sheet.

Our affiliate, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“WFS”), calculated the initial estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover page of this term sheet, based on its proprietary pricing models. Based on WFS’s proprietary pricing models and related market inputs and assumptions, WFS determined an estimated value for the notes by estimating the value of the combination of hypothetical financial instruments that would replicate the payout on the notes, which combination consists of a non-interest bearing, fixed-income bond (the “debt component”) and one or more derivative instruments underlying the economic terms of the notes (the “derivative component”). For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the notes, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13 of this term sheet.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-2   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Terms of the Notes    Redemption Amount Determination

 

  Issuer:

  

 

Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”)

  

 

On the maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per unit determined as follows:

 

  Principal
  Amount:

  

 

$10.00 per unit

  

 

LOGO

 

  Term:

  

 

Approximately five years

  

 

  Market Measure:

  

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average® (Bloomberg symbol: “INDU”), a price return index

  

 

  Starting Value:

  

 

24,782.29

  

 

  Ending Value:

  

 

The average of the closing levels of the Market Measure on each calculation day occurring during the maturity valuation period. The scheduled calculation days are subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described on page PS-19 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1.

  

 

  Threshold Value:

  

 

19,825.83 (80% of the Starting Value, rounded to two decimal places).

  

 

  Participation
  Rate:

  

 

109%

  

 

  Maturity
  Valuation Period:

  

 

December 14, 2022, December 15, 2022, December 16, 2022, December 19, 2022 and December 20, 2022

  

 

  Fees and
  Charges:

  

 

The underwriting discount of $0.25 per unit listed on the cover page and the hedging related charge of $0.075 per unit. See “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13.

  

 

  Joint Calculation
  Agents:

  

 

WFS and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), acting jointly.

  

The terms and risks of the notes are contained in this term sheet and in the following:

 

  Product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1 dated May  22, 2017: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/72971/000119312517177775/d394073d424b2.htm

 

  Prospectus supplement dated March 18, 2015 and Prospectus dated March  18, 2015: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/72971/000119312515096449/d890684d424b2.htm

These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated above or obtained from MLPF&S by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, together with this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to Wells Fargo.

“Leveraged Index Return Notes® and “LIRNs® are registered service marks of Bank of America Corporation, the parent company of MLPF&S.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-3   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Investor Considerations

 

You may wish to consider an investment in the notes if:    The notes may not be an appropriate investment for you if:

 

     You anticipate that the Index will increase from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.

 

     You are willing to risk a loss of principal and return if the Index decreases from the Starting Value to an Ending Value that is below the Threshold Value.

 

     You are willing to forgo the interest payments that are paid on conventional interest bearing debt securities.

 

     You are willing to forgo dividends or other benefits of owning the stocks included in the Index.

 

      You are willing to accept a limited market or no market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, our assumed funding rate and fees and charges on the notes.

 

      You are willing to assume our credit risk, as issuer of the notes, for all payments under the notes, including the Redemption Amount.

  

 

     You believe that the Index will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value or that it will not increase sufficiently over the term of the notes to provide you with your desired return.

 

      You seek 100% principal repayment or preservation of capital.

 

      You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.

 

      You want to receive dividends or other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Index.

 

      You seek an investment for which there will be a liquid secondary market or you are unwilling to hold the notes to maturity.

 

      You are unwilling to accept the credit risk of Wells Fargo or unwilling to obtain exposure to the Index through an investment in the notes.

We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-4   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Hypothetical Payout Profile

 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

LOGO

  

This graph reflects the returns on the notes, based on the Participation Rate of 109% and the Threshold Value of 80% of the Starting Value. The green line reflects the returns on the notes, while the dotted gray line reflects the returns of a direct investment in the stocks included in the Index, excluding dividends.

 

This graph has been prepared for purposes of illustration only. See below table for a further illustration of the range of hypothetical payments at maturity.

Hypothetical Payments at Maturity

The following table and examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes. They illustrate the calculation of the Redemption Amount and total rate of return based on a hypothetical Starting Value of 100, a hypothetical Threshold Value of 80, the Participation Rate of 109%, a hypothetical public offering price of $10.00 per unit and a range of hypothetical Ending Values. The actual amount you receive and the resulting total rate of return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Ending Value, the actual price you pay for the notes and whether you hold the notes to maturity. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes.

For recent actual levels of the Index, see “The Index” section below. The Index is a price return index and as such the Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends paid on the stocks included in the Index, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in those stocks directly. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.

 

Ending Value

 

Percentage Change from the
Starting Value to the Ending
Value

 

Redemption Amount per Unit

 

Total Rate of Return on the
Notes

0.00   -100.00%   $2.000   -80.00%
50.00   -50.00%   $7.000   -30.00%
60.00   -40.00%   $8.000   -20.00%
70.00   -30.00%   $9.000   -10.00%
80.00(1)   -20.00%   $10.000   0.00%
90.00   -10.00%   $10.000   0.00%
95.00   -5.00%   $10.000   0.00%
100.00(2)   0.00%   $10.000   0.00%
105.00   5.00%   $10.545   5.45%
110.00   10.00%   $11.090   10.90%
120.00   20.00%   $12.180   21.80%
130.00   30.00%   $13.270   32.70%
140.00   40.00%   $14.360   43.60%
150.00   50.00%   $15.450   54.50%
160.00   60.00%   $16.540   65.40%

 

(1) This is the hypothetical Threshold Value.
(2) The hypothetical Starting Value of 100 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only. The actual Starting Value is 24,782.29, which was the closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-5   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Redemption Amount Calculation Examples

Example 1

The Ending Value is 50.00, or 50.00% of the Starting Value:

 

Starting Value: 100.00

 

Threshold Value: 80.00

 

Ending Value: 50.00

 

$10 –        $10 ×  

(

 

 

80 – 50

100

 

)

 

            =  $7.00   Redemption Amount per unit

Example 2

The Ending Value is 90.00, or 90.00% of the Starting Value:

 

Starting Value: 100.00

 

Threshold Value: 80.00

 

Ending Value: 90.00

Redemption Amount (per unit) = $10.00, the principal amount, since the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value but equal to or greater than the Threshold Value.

Example 3

The Ending Value is 150.00, or 150.00% of the Starting Value:

 

Starting Value: 100.00

 

Ending Value: 150.00

 

$10 –        $10 × 109% ×  

(

 

 

150 – 100

100

 

)

 

            = $15.45 Redemption Amount per unit

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-6   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Risk Factors

There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security. An investment in the notes involves significant risks, including those listed below. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-6 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1 identified above. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.

 

    Depending on the performance of the Index as measured shortly before the maturity date, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. As a result, even if the value of the Index has increased at certain times during the term of the notes, if the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, you will receive less than, and possibly lose a significant portion of, your principal amount.

 

  Your return on the notes may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. There will be no periodic interest payments on notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity.

 

    The notes are subject to the credit risk of Wells Fargo. The notes are our obligations and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any amounts payable under the notes are subject to our creditworthiness, and you will have no ability to pursue any securities included in the Index for payment. As a result, our actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the value of the notes 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 notes.

 

    Your investment return may be less than a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index.

 

    The estimated value of the notes is determined by our affiliate’s pricing models, which may differ from those of MLPF&S or other dealers. The estimated value of the notes was determined for us by WFS using its proprietary pricing models and related market inputs and assumptions. Based on these pricing models and related market inputs and assumptions, WFS determined an estimated value for the notes by estimating the value of the combination of hypothetical financial instruments that would replicate the payout on the notes, which combination consists of a non-interest bearing, fixed-income bond (the “debt component”) and one or more derivative instruments underlying the economic terms of the notes (the “derivative component”).

The estimated value of the debt component is based on a reference interest rate, determined by WFS as of a date near the time of calculation that generally tracks our secondary market rates. Because WFS does not continuously calculate our reference interest rate, the reference interest rate used in the calculation of the estimated value of the debt component may be higher or lower than our secondary market rates at the time of that calculation. Because the reference interest rate is generally higher than the assumed funding rate that is used to determine the economic terms of the notes, using the reference interest rate to value the debt component generally results in a lower estimated value for the debt component, which we believe more closely approximates a market valuation of the debt component than if we had used the assumed funding rate. WFS calculated the estimated value of the derivative component based on a proprietary derivative-pricing model, which generated a theoretical price for the derivative instruments that constitute the derivative component based on various inputs, including, but not limited to, Index performance; interest rates; volatility of the Index; time remaining to maturity; and dividend yields on the securities included in the Index. These inputs may be market-observable or may be based on assumptions made by WFS in its discretion.

The estimated value of the notes is not an independent third-party valuation and certain inputs to these models may be determined by WFS in its discretion. WFS’s views on these inputs may differ from those of MLPF&S and other dealers, and WFS’s estimated value of the notes may be higher, and perhaps materially higher, than the estimated value of the notes that would be determined by MLPF&S or other dealers in the market. WFS’s models and its inputs and related assumptions may prove to be wrong and therefore not an accurate reflection of the value of the notes.

 

    The estimated value of the notes on the pricing date, based on WFS’s proprietary pricing models, is less than the public offering price. The public offering price of the notes includes certain costs that are borne by you. Because of these costs, the estimated value of the notes on the pricing date is less than the public offering price. The costs included in the public offering price relate to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes, as well as to our funding considerations for debt of this type. The costs related to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes include the underwriting discount, the projected profit that our hedge counterparty (which may be MLPF&S or one of its affiliates) expects to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and hedging and other costs relating to the offering of the notes. Our funding considerations are reflected in the fact that we determine the economic terms of the notes 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 notes were lower, or if the assumed funding rate we use to determine the economic terms of the notes were higher, the economic terms of the notes would be more favorable to you and the estimated value would be higher.

 

   

The public offering price you pay for the notes exceeds the initial estimated value. If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, the assumed funding rate used to determine the economic terms of the notes, and the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes (which includes a hedging related charge), as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13. These factors, together with

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-7   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

 

customary bid ask spreads, other transaction costs and various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, including changes in the level of the Index, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways.

 

    The initial estimated value does not represent the price at which we, MLPF&S or any of our respective affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The value of your notes at any time after issuance will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted with accuracy, including the performance of the Index, our creditworthiness and changes in market conditions. MLPF&S has advised us that any repurchases by them or their affiliates are expected to be made at prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. If you sell your notes to a dealer other than MLPF&S in a secondary market transaction, the dealer may impose its own discount or commission.

 

    The notes will be not listed on any securities exchange or quotation system and a trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. None of us, MLPF&S or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in the secondary market. If a secondary market does exist, it may be limited, which may affect the price you receive upon any sale. Consequently, you should be willing to hold the notes until the maturity date.

 

    If you attempt to sell the notes prior to maturity, their market value, if any, will be affected by various factors that interrelate in complex ways, and their market value may be less than the principal amount. The following factors are expected to affect the value of the notes: value of the Index at such time; volatility of the Index; economic and other conditions generally; interest rates; dividend yields; our creditworthiness; and time to maturity.

 

    Our trading, hedging and other business activities, and those of the agents, may affect your return on the notes and their market value and create conflicts of interest with you. Our business, hedging and trading activities, and those of MLPF&S and our respective affiliates (including trading in shares of companies included in the Index), and any hedging and trading activities we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates engage in for our clients’ accounts, may adversely affect the level of the Index and, therefore, adversely affect the market value of and return on the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you. We, the agents, and our respective affiliates may also publish research reports on the Index or one of the companies included in the Index, which may be inconsistent with an investment in the notes and may adversely affect the level of the Index. For more information about the hedging arrangements related to the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-13.

 

    You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Index.

 

    The Index sponsor may adjust the Index in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests.

 

    You will have no rights of a holder of the securities included in the Index, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities.

 

    While we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in the Index, we, MLPF&S and our respective affiliates do not control any company included in the Index, and have not verified any disclosure made by any company.

 

    There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agents, one of which is our affiliate and one of which is MLPF&S. As joint calculation agents, we will determine any values of the Index and make any other determination necessary to calculate any payments on the notes. In making these determinations, we may be required to make discretionary judgments that may adversely affect any payments on the notes. See the sections entitled “Description of LIRNs—Market Disruption Events,” “—Adjustments to an Index,” and “—Discontinuance of an Index” in the accompanying product supplement.

 

    The U.S. federal tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” below, “Risk Factors—General Risks Relating to LIRNs—The U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the LIRNs are unclear” beginning on page PS-12 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1 and “United States Federal Tax Considerations” beginning on page PS-30 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-8   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

The Index

All disclosures contained in this term sheet regarding the Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. That information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P Dow Jones”), the index sponsor. The consequences of the index sponsor discontinuing publication of the Index are discussed in the section entitled “Description of LIRNs—Discontinuance of an Index” on page PS-20 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1. None of us, the calculation agents, or MLPF&S has independently verified the accuracy or completeness of any information with respect to the Index in connection with the notes, nor accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Index or any successor index.

In addition, information about the Index may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, the index sponsor’s website (including information regarding the Index’s sector weightings). We are not incorporating by reference into this term sheet the website or any material it includes. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available information regarding the Index is accurate or complete.

On July 2, 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“McGraw-Hill”), which owned the S&P Indices business, and CME Group, Inc., which is a 90% owner of the joint venture that owned the Dow Jones Indexes business, announced the launch of a new joint venture, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC owns the S&P Indices business and the Dow Jones Indexes business, including the Index.

General

The Index is widely used as an indicator of the pattern of the price movement of United States equities. The calculation of the value of the Index, discussed below in further detail, is a price-weighted average of the stocks of 30 blue-chip companies that are generally the leaders in their industry. The Index represents large and well-known United States companies and covers all industries with the exception of transportation and utilities.

The Index is price-weighted rather than market capitalization-weighted, which means that weightings are based only on changes in the stocks’ prices, rather than by both price changes and changes in the number of shares outstanding. The value of the Index is the sum of the primary exchange prices of each of the 30 component stocks included in the Index divided by a divisor. The divisor used to calculate the price-weighted average of the Index is not simply the number of component stocks; rather, the divisor is adjusted to smooth out the effects of stock splits and other corporate actions. While this methodology reflects current practice in calculating the Index, no assurance can be given that the index sponsor will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the amounts payable on the notes at maturity.

The Index does not reflect the payment of dividends on the stocks underlying it and therefore the payment on the notes will not produce the same return you would receive if you were able to purchase such underlying stocks and hold them until maturity.

Index Construction and Maintenance

The Index is maintained by an Averages Committee, which is composed of three representatives of the S&P Dow Jones and two representatives of the Wall Street Journal. The Averages Committee meets regularly. At each meeting, the Averages Committee reviews pending corporate actions that may affect index constituents, statistics comparing the composition of the indices to the market, companies that are being considered as candidates for addition to an index, and any significant market events. In addition, the Committee may revise index policy covering rules for selecting companies, treatment of dividends, share counts or other matters. While stock selection is not governed by quantitative rules, a stock typically is added only if the company has an excellent reputation, demonstrates sustained growth and is of interest to a large number of investors.

Maintaining adequate sector representation within the index is also a consideration in the selection process for the Index. Changes to the indices are made on an as-needed basis. There is no annual or semi-annual reconstruction. Rather, changes in response to corporate actions and market developments can be made at any time.

 

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by Wells Fargo & Company (“WFC”). Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC;    Dow Jones® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are registered trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by WFC.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-9   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Corporate Actions.

The table below summarizes the types of index maintenance adjustments and indicates whether or not an index divisor adjustment is required.

 

Corporation Action    Adjustment Made to the Index    Divisor Adjustment?
Spin-off    The price of the parent company is adjusted according to the terms of the spin-off. Any potential impacts on index constituents are evaluated by the Averaging Committee on a case by case basis.    Yes
Rights Offering    The price is adjusted according to the terms of the rights offering.    Yes
Stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split    The price is adjusted according to the terms of the stock split or dividend.    Yes
Share Issuance, Share Repurchase, Equity Offering or Warrant Conversion    No impact.    No
Special dividends    Price of the stock making the special dividend payment is reduced by the per share special dividend amount after the close of trading on the day before the dividend ex-date.    Yes
Constituent Change    Deletions due to delistings, acquisition or any other corporate event resulting in the deletion of the stock from the index will be replaced on the effective date of the drop.    Yes

The following graph shows the daily historical performance of the Index in the period from January 1, 2008 through December 21, 2017. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. On the pricing date, the closing level of the Index was 24,782.29.

Historical Performance of the Index

 

LOGO

This historical data on the Index is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Index during any period set forth above is not an indication that the level of the Index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the notes.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-10   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

License Agreement

We and S&P Dow Jones have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to us and certain of our affiliated or subsidiary companies, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the Index, which is owned and published by S&P Dow Jones, in connection with certain securities, including the notes.

The license agreement between us and S&P Dow Jones provides that the following language must be set forth in this term sheet.

“The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by S&P Dow Jones. S&P Dow Jones makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the notes particularly. S&P Dow Jones’ only relationship to Wells Fargo & Company is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names, and service marks of S&P Dow Jones and of the Index, which is determined, composed, and calculated by S&P Dow Jones without regard to Wells Fargo & Company or the notes. S&P Dow Jones has no obligation to take the needs of Wells Fargo & Company or the needs of holders of the notes into consideration in determining, composing, or calculating the Index. S&P Dow Jones is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices, or quantities of the notes to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the amount payable at maturity. S&P Dow Jones has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the notes.

S&P DOW JONES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P DOW JONES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P DOW JONES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OR ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN DOW JONES AND WELLS FARGO & COMPANY.”

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-11   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Supplement to the Plan of Distribution

Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.

We will deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than two business days following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than two business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units. If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account.

MLPF&S has advised us that it or its affiliates may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however, it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions. MLPF&S has informed us that at MLPF&S’s discretion, assuming no changes in market conditions from the pricing date, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial estimated value of the notes for a short initial period after the issuance of the notes. Any price offered by MLPF&S for the notes is expected to be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Index and the remaining term of the notes. However, none of us, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates will purchase your notes at a price that equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the notes.

MLPF&S has informed us that, as of the date of this term sheet, it expects that if you hold your notes in a MLPF&S account, the value of the notes shown on your account statement will be based on MLPF&S’s estimate of the value of the notes if MLPF&S or another of its affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated to do; and that estimate will be based upon the price that MLPF&S may pay for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions, and other considerations, as mentioned above, and will include transaction costs. Any such price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value of the notes.

The distribution of the Note Prospectus in connection with these offers or sales will be solely for the purpose of providing investors with the description of the terms of the notes that was made available to investors in connection with their initial offering. Secondary market investors should not, and will not be authorized to, rely on the Note Prospectus for information regarding Wells Fargo or for any purpose other than that described in the immediately preceding sentence.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-12   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

Structuring the Notes

The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Index. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. Because of the higher issuance, operational and ongoing management costs of market-linked notes as compared to our conventional debt of the same maturity, as well as our liquidity needs and preferences, the assumed funding rate we use in pricing market-linked notes is generally lower than the interest rates implied by secondary market prices for our debt obligations and/or by other traded instruments referencing our debt obligations. This relatively lower assumed funding rate, which is reflected in the economic terms of the notes, along with other costs relating to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes, resulted in the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date being less than the public offering price. If the costs relating to selling, structuring, hedging and issuing the notes were lower, or if the funding rate we use to determine the economic terms of the notes were higher, the economic terms of the notes would be more favorable to you and the estimated value would be higher.

The Redemption Amount payable at maturity will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index. In order to meet these payment obligations, at the time we issue the notes, we expect to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with MLPF&S or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, which may include us, MLPF&S and one of our respective affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Index, the tenor of the notes and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.

MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by us, MLPF&S or any other hedge providers. Any profit in connection with such hedging activity will be in addition to any other compensation that we, the agents, and our respective affiliates receive for the sale of notes, which creates an additional incentive to sell the notes to you.

For further information, see “Risk Factors—General Risks Relating to LIRNs” beginning on page PS-6 and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on page PS-16 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-13   


Leveraged Index Return Notes®

Linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, due December 23, 2022

 

 

 

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

You should read carefully the discussion under “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” in this term sheet.

In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, which is based on current market conditions, a note should be treated as a prepaid derivative contract that is an “open transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. By purchasing a note, you agree (in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary) to this treatment. There is uncertainty regarding this treatment, and the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or a court might not agree with it.

Assuming this treatment of the notes is respected and subject to the discussion in “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, the following U.S. federal income tax consequences should result under current law:

 

    You should not recognize taxable income over the term of the notes prior to maturity, other than pursuant to a sale or exchange.

 

    Upon a sale or exchange of a note (including retirement at maturity), you should recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and your tax basis in the note. Such gain or loss should be long-term capital gain or loss if you held the note for more than one year.

Subject to the discussion below, if you are a non-U.S. holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) of the notes, you generally should not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax in respect of any amount paid to you with respect to the notes, provided that (i) income in respect of the notes is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and (ii) you comply with the applicable certification requirements.

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; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, 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.

Possible Withholding Under Section 871(m) of the Code. Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to non-U.S. holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities (“U.S. underlying equities”) or indices that include U.S. underlying equities. Section 871(m) generally applies to instruments that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more U.S. underlying equities, as determined based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (a “specified equity-linked instrument” or “specified ELI”). However, the regulations exempt financial instruments issued in 2017 that do not have a “delta” of one. Based on the terms of the notes and representations provided by us, our counsel is of the opinion that the notes should not be treated as transactions that have a “delta” of one within the meaning of the regulations with respect to any U.S. underlying equity and, therefore, should not be specified ELIs subject to withholding tax under Section 871(m).

A determination that the notes are not subject to Section 871(m) is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this treatment. Moreover, Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances. For example, if you enter into other transactions relating to a U.S. underlying equity, you could be subject to withholding tax or income tax liability under Section 871(m) even if the notes are not specified ELIs 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 notes.

In the event withholding applies, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld.

You should read the section entitled “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement. The preceding discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of owning and disposing of the notes.

You should consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of an investment in the notes and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 


 

Leveraged Index Return Notes®

  TS-14