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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2022
 
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
New York 1-7657 13-4922250
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
200 Vesey Street,
New York, New York 10285
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(212) 640-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares (par value $0.20 per Share) AXP New York Stock Exchange
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐




Item 8.01 Other Events.
Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the issuance by American Express Company (the “Company”), on May 3, 2022, of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.375% Notes due May 3, 2024, $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due May 3, 2024 and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.050% Notes due May 3, 2029 pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement dated April 28, 2022 to the Prospectus dated February 12, 2021, filed as part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-253057).
Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits:
The following exhibits are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement as exhibits thereto and are filed as part of this Current Report:
ExhibitDescription
5
23
104The cover page of this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as inline XBRL



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SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
 (REGISTRANT)
   
 By:/s/ Kristina V. Fink
  Name:  Kristina V. Fink
  Title:    Corporate Secretary
 
Date: May 3, 2022
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Exhibit 5



cgsh_header.jpg
Writer’s Direct Dial: +1 212 225 2650
E-Mail: cbrod@cgsh.com

May 3, 2022
American Express Company
200 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10285
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to American Express Company, a New York corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-253057) of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.375% Notes due May 3, 2024, $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due May 3, 2024 and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.050% Notes due May 3, 2029 (collectively, the “Securities”). Such registration statement, as amended as of its most recent effective date (April 28, 2022), insofar as it relates to the Securities (as determined for purposes of Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), is herein called the “Registration Statement,” and the related prospectus, dated February 12, 2021, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement thereto, dated April 28, 2022, is herein called the “Prospectus.” The Securities were issued under an indenture, dated as of August 1, 2007 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture thereto, dated as of February 12, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and the Base Indenture as so supplemented, the “Indenture”).
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:
(a)an executed copy of the terms agreement, dated April 28, 2022, between the Company and the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto, and the American Express Company – Debt Securities – Underwriting Agreement Basic Provisions incorporated by reference therein;





Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP or an affiliated entity has an office in each of the cities listed above.


American Express Company, p. 2
(b)the Registration Statement;
(c)the Prospectus;
(d)an executed copy of each of the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture; and
(e)a copy of the Securities in global form as executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee.
In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and such other documents, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below.
In rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that the Securities have been validly issued by the Company and are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Insofar as the foregoing opinion relates to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (a) we have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it (except that no such assumption is made as to the Company regarding matters of the law of the State of New York) and (b) such opinion is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the law of the State of New York.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 3, 2022 and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.


American Express Company, p. 3



Very truly yours,
CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP
By/s/ Craig B. Brod
Craig B. Brod, a Partner