UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 105314 / April 27, 2026
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-19704
In the Matter of
Wells Fargo & Company,
Respondent.
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ORDER DIRECTING FOURTH
DISBURSEMENT OF FAIR FUND
On August 6, 2020, the Commission published a Notice of Proposed Plan of Distribution
and Opportunity for Comment (“Notice”), 1 pursuant to Rule 1103 of the Commission’s Rules on
Fair Fund and Disgorgement Plans (“Commission’s Rules”); 2 and simultaneously posted the
Proposed Plan of Distribution (the “Proposed Plan”). The Notice advised interested persons that
they could obtain a copy of the Proposed Plan from the Commission’s public website or by
submitting a written request to Catherine Pappas, United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, One Penn Center, 1617 JFK Blvd., Ste. 520, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The Notice
also advised that all persons desiring to comment on the Proposed Plan could submit their
comments, in writing, within 30 days of the Notice. The Commission received one comment on
the Proposed Plan during the comment period. On January 11, 2021, after review and
consideration, the Commission issued an order approving the Proposed Plan without
modification, 3 and posted the approved Plan of Distribution (the “Plan”).
Exchange Act Rel. No. 89501 (Aug. 6, 2020).
17 C.F.R. § 201.1103.
3
See Order Approving Plan of Distribution, Exchange Act Rel. No. 90898 (Jan. 11, 2021).
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The Plan provides for the distribution of the Fair Fund, plus accumulated interest, less
taxes and investment fees (“Net Available Fair Fund”), to harmed investors according to the
methodology set forth in the Plan. In accordance with the Plan, the Claims Bar Date 4 has passed
and the Fund Administrator has processed all timely submitted claims. All investors whose
claims have been denied, in whole or in part, have been notified and provided the opportunity to
cure.
On September 12, 2022, the Division of Enforcement, pursuant to delegated authority,
issued an Order Directing Disbursement of Fair Fund, 5 directing the disbursement of
$452,175,789.98 from the Fair Fund to the Fair Fund’s escrow account at The Huntington
National Bank (the “Fair Fund’s Escrow Account”) for distribution by the Fund Administrator in
accordance with the Plan. Pursuant to the Commission’s Order, the Fund Administrator
successfully distributed over 95% of the amount disbursed, or $430,970,355.57 (the “Initial
Distribution”).
After consultation with the Tax Administrator, the Fund Administrator recommended a
second distribution (the “Second Distribution”) done in tranches to allow for tax information
solicitation of certain claimants. 6 On December 20, 2023, the Division of Enforcement, pursuant
to delegated authority, issued an Order Directing Second Disbursement of Fair Fund, 7 directing
the Fund Administrator to distribute the first tranche of the Second Distribution from the funds
held in the Fair Fund’s Escrow Account, in the amount of $17,866,919.23, to certain Eligible
Claimants in accordance with the Plan. Further, on September 16, 2024, the Division of
Capitalized terms not defined in this Order are used as defined in the Plan.
Exchange Act Rel. No. 95733 (Sept. 12, 2022).
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In accordance with paragraph 4 of the Plan, and pursuant to Court order, $4,906,950 was added to the Fair Fund
after the Initial Distribution from the related district court action, SEC v. Tolstedt, 20-cv-07987-JST (N.D. Ca.).
7
Exchange Act Rel. No. 99216 (Dec. 20, 2023).
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Enforcement, pursuant to delegated authority, issued an Order Directing Third Disbursement of
Fair Fund, directing the Commission staff to transfer $48,824,723.96 from the Fair Fund to the
Fair Fund’s Escrow Account and for the Fund Administrator to distribute the second tranche of
the Second Distribution. The second tranche was to be comprised of residual funds from the
prior disbursements and the additional funds transferred to the Fair Fund’s Escrow Account, for
a total distribution of $54,659,904.45 to certain Eligible Claimants in accordance with the Plan.
These funds have been disbursed and outreach on issued checks continues.
As of March 16, 2026, there was $24,692,548.27 remaining in the Fair Fund, comprised
of $9,190,031.94 held by the Commission, and $15,502,516.33 held in the Fair Fund’s Escrow
Account.
The Fund Administrator, in consultation with the Tax Administrator, now recommends
the disbursement of the third and final tranche of the Second Distribution to those Eligible
Claimants whose tax information solicitation has been completed. Specifically, after setting a
Reserve of $81,000.00 and withholding an additional $397,091.70 for uncashed checks from the
prior tranches, the Fund Administrator recommends a distribution of $6,368,628.06 to the benefit
of Eligible Claimants who have not received a second Distribution Payment and: (i) whose tax
information solicitation is now complete; (ii) who were late in curing a rejected claim or
requesting a check reissue; and (iii) who negotiated a check or otherwise received a payment in
the Initial Distribution, or a reissued payment from the Initial Distribution in the Second
Distribution.
Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund Administrator has submitted a Payee List, along with a
Reasonable Assurances Letter. The Commission staff has reviewed and accepted the Payee List
and requests, pursuant to Rule 1101(b)(6) of the Commission’s Rules, 17 C.F.R.
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§ 201.1101(b)(6), that the Commission authorize the transfer of $5,148,041.52 from the Fair
Fund to the Fair Fund’s Escrow Account at The Huntington National Bank, and for it to be added
to $1,220,586.54 in Fair Fund’s Escrow Account, for a total distribution of $6,368,628.06 by the
Fund Administrator in accordance with the Plan.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, that Commission staff shall transfer
$5,148,041.52 from the Fair Fund to the Fair Fund’s Escrow Account, and the Fund
Administrator shall distribute such monies, along with $1,220,586.54 held in the Fair Fund’s
Escrow Account, for a total distribution of $6,368,628.06 in accordance with the Plan.
For the Commission, by the Division of Enforcement, pursuant to delegated authority. 8
Vanessa A. Countryman
Secretary
8
17 C.F.R. § 200.30-4(a)(21)(v).
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This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.