Wells Fargo & Company
July 24, 2023
Page 2
The foregoing opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, receivership or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and subject to general equity principles, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and except further as enforcement thereof may be limited by any governmental authority that limits, delays or prohibits the making of payments outside of the United States. As contemplated by the foregoing qualifications, in rendering the foregoing opinions, we are expressing no opinion as to Federal or state laws relating to fraudulent transfers.
We have relied as to certain relevant facts upon certificates of, and/or information provided by officers and employees of the Company as to the accuracy of such factual matters without independent verification thereof or other investigation. We have also relied, without investigation, upon the following assumptions: (i) the Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Depositary, (ii) natural persons acting on behalf of the Company have sufficient legal capacity to enter into and perform, on behalf of the Company, the transaction in question; (iii) each party to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreements or instruments enforceable against it; (iv) each party to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company has complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce such agreements or instruments against the Company; and (v) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the specific issues addressed and to documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.
As to matters relating to the Series EE Preferred Stock being validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, we have relied, with the Company’s consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith addressed to the Company by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. All assumptions, qualifications and exceptions in such opinion are incorporated herein by reference.
Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of Minnesota and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of any other laws.