DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC (Form: 8-K/A, Received: 02/22/2018 16:23:22)

REGISTERED NO. R-

REGISTERED

CUSIP NO. 237194 AM7

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report: February 7, 2018

(Date of earliest event reported)

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number: 1-13666




Florida		59-3305930
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1000 Darden Center Drive, Orlando, Florida 32837

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(407) 245-4000

(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:



¨	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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

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. ¨

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On February 22, 2018, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) completed its previously announced sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.550% Senior Notes due 2048 (the “Notes”). The Company filed certain documents in connection with the sale of the Notes on a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2018. This Form 8-K/A amends that earlier Form 8-K to add additional exhibits that were delivered in connection with the completion of the sale of the Notes.



Item 8.01	Other Events.

Sale of the Notes

On February 22, 2018, the Company completed its previously announced sale of the Notes.

A copy of the following documents delivered in connection with the sale of the Notes are filed as exhibits hereto and incorporated herein by reference: (i) the Officers' Certificate and Authentication Order dated February 22, 2018 for the 4.550% Senior Notes due 2048 (which includes the form of Note) issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated February 20, 2018, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee (ii) Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP and (iii) Opinion of Anthony G. Morrow, Esq.



Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.


(d)	Exhibits.



Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit
4.1		Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order dated February 22, 2018 for the 4.550% Senior Notes due 2048 (which includes the form of Note) issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 20, 2018 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee.
5.1		Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP
5.2		Opinion of Anthony G. Morrow, Esq.

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.



DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

By:	/s/ Ricardo Cardenas
	Ricardo Cardenas
	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Date: February 22, 2018

EXHIBIT 4.1

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE AND AUTHENTICATION ORDER

FOR 4.550% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2048

Pursuant to the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996 between Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 20, 2018 (such Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”), and the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on January 18, 2018 and the resolutions adopted by the Pricing Committee of the Company on February 7, 2018, this Officers’ Certificate and Authentication Order is being delivered to the Trustee to establish the terms of a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture, to establish the form of the Securities of such series in accordance with Section 201 of the Indenture, to request the authentication and delivery of the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture and to comply with the provisions of Section 102 of the Indenture.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein and defined in the Indenture shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

A. Establishment of Series Pursuant to Section 301 of Indenture . There is hereby established pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture a series of Securities which shall have the following terms (the numbered clauses set forth below correspond to the numbered subsections of Section 301 of the Indenture):

(1) The series of Securities hereby being authorized shall bear the title “4.550% Senior Notes due 2048” (referred to herein as the “Notes”).

(2) The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be limited to $300,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered).

(4) The date on which the principal of the Notes is due and payable shall be February 15, 2048.

(5) The Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.550% per year (based upon a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) (the “Interest Rate”) from February 22, 2018, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2018, until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment, to the Person in whose name such Notes are registered at the close of business

on the February 1 or August 1 Regular Record Date next preceding the February 15 or August 15 Interest Payment Date. Each February 15 and August 15 shall be an “Interest Payment Date” for the Notes, and the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding an Interest Payment Date shall be the “Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date.

(6) The interest on each Note that is not represented by a Global Security shall be payable at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest payable at Maturity on each Note that is not represented by a Global Security will be made against presentation of such Note at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on each Note that is represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of Notes represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture.

(7) At any time prior to August 15, 2047 (the “Par Call Date”), the Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon that would be due if the Notes matured on the Par Call Date (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to the Redemption Date. At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Notes of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face thereof, all as provided in the Indenture. No Note of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

For purposes of determining the amount at which the Notes may be redeemed, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per year equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or

interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose, that the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities having such comparable maturity.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company receives fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (1) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or their respective affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers, and their respective successors, and (2) at least one other primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

(8) The Company shall not be obligated to redeem or purchase any Notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision.

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has previously exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described in paragraph (7) above, Holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 principal amount or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to the date of repurchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).

of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by the Notes and described in such notice. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Notes, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict and compliance with laws.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:



(i)	accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(ii)	deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and
(iii)	deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased.

The Paying Agent shall promptly pay, from funds deposited by the Company for such purpose, to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment in respect of such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered. No Note of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be repurchased in part.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

For purposes of determining the circumstances under which the Company shall be required to repurchase Notes at the option of Holders upon a Change of Control, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s Voting Stock (as defined below) measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or (3) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors (as defined below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) pursuant to such transaction, the Company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company that has agreed to be bound by the terms of the Notes and (2)(A) the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event (as defined below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, members of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) were members of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the Notes or (2) were nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors under clause (1) or (2) of this definition who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (as defined below) and equal to or higher than BBB- (or

the equivalent) by S&P (as defined below) and Fitch (or, in each case, if such rating agency ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons considered outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any rating agency selected by the Company as a replacement rating agency as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agencies” below).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or any of them, as the case may be.

“Rating Event” means the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating (as defined below) by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade below investment grade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided, that a Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Rating Event).

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

(9) The Notes shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(16) The Notes shall be issued initially only in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. The Depositary with respect to such Global Securities shall be The Depository Trust Company. The Global Securities shall bear the legends set forth in Annex A hereto.

(18) In respect of the Notes, Section 1009 “Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” of the Indenture is amended by deleting the following paragraph:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of them, may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction which would otherwise be prohibited by this Section 1009, provided, that at the time of such transaction after giving effect thereto, the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of the Attributable Value in respect of all Sale and Leaseback Transactions existing at such time which could not have been entered into except for the provisions of this paragraph plus (ii) the aggregate amount of outstanding Indebtedness secured by liens in reliance on the last paragraph of Section 1008 does not at such time exceed the greater of (x) 10% of Consolidated Capitalization of the Company or (y) $250,000,000.

and replacing it with the following paragraph:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of them, may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction which would otherwise be prohibited by this Section 1009, provided, that at the time of such transaction, after giving effect thereto, the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of the Attributable Value in respect of all Sale and Leaseback Transactions existing at such time which could not have been entered into except for the provisions of this paragraph plus (ii) the aggregate amount of outstanding Indebtedness secured by liens in reliance on the last paragraph of Section 1008 does not at such time exceed the greater of (x) 10% of Consolidated Capitalization of the Company or (y) $500,000,000.

(19) The Notes shall have such other terms and provisions as are provided in the form set forth in Annex A hereto.

B. Establishment of Form of Security Pursuant to Section 201 of Indenture . It is hereby established pursuant to Section 201 of the Indenture that the Notes shall be substantially in the form attached as Annex A hereto.

C. Order for the Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities Pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture . It is hereby ordered pursuant to Section 303 of the Indenture that the Trustee authenticate, in the manner provided by the Indenture, one Note in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 registered in the name of Cede & Co., which Note will be duly executed by the proper officers of the Company and delivered to the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, and to deliver said authenticated Note to or upon the order of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC on February 22, 2018.

D. Certification Pursuant to Section 102 of the Indenture . The undersigned have read the pertinent sections of the Indenture, including Sections 201, 301 and 303 thereof and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto, and certain other corporate documents and records. In the opinion of the undersigned, the undersigned have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to whether or not the conditions precedent to (i) the establishment of (a) a series of Securities and (b) the form of such

Securities, and (ii) the authentication and delivery of such series of Securities, contained in the Indenture have been complied with. In the opinion of the undersigned, such conditions have been complied with.

[signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto signed our names on behalf of the Company.

Dated: February 22, 2018




DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

By:		/s/ Ricardo Cardenas
Name:		Ricardo Cardenas
Title:		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

By:		/s/ William R. White, III
Name:		William R. White, III
Title:		Senior Vice President and Treasurer

ANNEX A

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

4.550% Senior Notes due 2048

[ Insert if the Security is to be a Global Security — 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 is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to 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.

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than such Depositary or a nominee thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.]

Darden Restaurants, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Florida (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _______, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________ Dollars ($________) on February 15, 2048, and to pay interest thereon from February 22, 2018, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 in each year, commencing on August 15, 2018, at the rate of 4.550% per year (the “Interest Rate”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the February 1 and August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business

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on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

The interest on any Security of this series that is not a Global Security shall be payable at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest payable at Maturity on any Security of this series that is not a Global Security will be made against presentation of this Security at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Security of this series that is represented by a Global Security shall be made to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole Holder of the Global Security represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Security of this series will be made 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.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth below, 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 below 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 under its corporate seal.



						DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

						By:
						Name:
						Title:
Attest:

Name:
Title:

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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

WELLS FARGO BANK,

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee



By:
		Authorized Signatory

Dated:

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DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

4.550% Senior Notes due 2048

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 January 1, 1996, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 20, 2018, (such Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate of the Company establishing the terms of the Securities of this series pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, 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 designated above, limited in aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000. By the terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of other separate series, which may vary as to date, amount, Stated Maturity, interest rate or method of calculating the interest rate and in other respects as therein provided, may be issued in an unlimited principal amount.

At any time prior to August 15, 2047 (the “Par Call Date”), the Securities of this series will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon that would be due if the Securities of this series matured on the Par Call Date (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on such Securities to the Redemption Date. At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Securities of this series will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture. No Security of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

For purposes of determining the amount at which the Securities of this series may be redeemed, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities of this series to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose, that the Securities of this series matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at

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the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities having such comparable maturity.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. No Security of this series of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has previously exercised its right to redeem the Securities of this series as described above, Holders of the Securities of this series may require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 principal amount or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the Securities of this series pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities of this series repurchased, to the date of repurchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).

Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below) but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to Holders of the Securities of this series describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Securities of this series on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by such Securities and described in such notice. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable

A-5

in connection with the repurchase of the Securities of this series as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Securities of this series, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the Securities of this series by virtue of such conflict and compliance with laws.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:



(i)	accept for payment all Securities of this series or portions of Securities of this series properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(ii)	deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Securities of this series or portions of Securities of this series properly tendered; and
(iii)	deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities of this series properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series or portions of Securities of this series being purchased.

The Paying Agent shall promptly pay, from funds deposited by the Company for such purpose, to each Holder of Securities of this series properly tendered the Change of Control Payment in respect of such Securities of this series, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Security of this series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Securities of this series surrendered. No Securities of this series of a principal amount of $2,000 or less shall be repurchased in part.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Securities of this series properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company shall not repurchase any Securities of this series if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

For purposes of determining the circumstances under which the Company shall be required to repurchase Securities of this series at the option of Holders upon a Change of Control, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth next to each of them below:

A-6

day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors (as defined below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) pursuant to such transaction, the Company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company that has agreed to be bound by the terms of the Securities of this series and (2)(A) the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, members of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) were members of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the Securities of this series or (2) were nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors under clause (1) or (2) of this definition who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Inc.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (as defined below) and equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (as defined below) and Fitch (or, in each case, if such rating agency ceases to rate the Securities of this series or fails to make a rating of the Securities of this series publicly available for reasons considered outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any rating agency selected by the Company as a replacement rating agency as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agencies” below).

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities of this series or fails to make a rating of the Securities of this series publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or any of them, as the case may be.

“Rating Event” means the Securities of this series are rated below an Investment Grade Rating (as defined below) by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Securities of this series is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade below investment grade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided, that a Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise

A-7

apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Rating Event).

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

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 rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. 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.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

A-8

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth and set forth herein, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations (including, if this Security is a Global Security, certain additional limitations) therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company 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 Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

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

_____________________________

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Abbreviations

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription above, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

TEN COM – as tenants in common

TEN ENT – as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT – ___________________ Custodian ____________________

(Cust) (Minor)

Under Uniform Gifts to

Minor Act

_____________________

(State)

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

_____________________________________

A-10

Assignment

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

_____________________________________________

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

_____________________________________

(Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address

Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints

_____________________________________________________________________

to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature Guaranteed

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

A-11

EXHIBIT 5.1



[Letterhead of Hunton & Williams LLP]	HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP 200 PARK AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10166-0005 TEL 212 • 309 • 1000 FAX 212 • 309 • 1100
February 22, 2018	FILE NO: 77967.64
	FILE NO: 77967.64

Board of Directors

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

1000 Darden Center Drive

Orlando, FL 32837

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-213992)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.550% Senior Notes due 2048 (the “Notes”) registered on the above-referenced Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated February 7, 2018 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between the Company and the several underwriters named therein, for whom Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives, and as described in the prospectus dated February 7, 2018, contained in the Registration Statement filed with the Commission, and the prospectus supplement, dated February 7, 2018, filed with the Commission on February 8, 2018 (the “Prospectus”).

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

February 22, 2018

Page 2

We have examined originals or reproductions or certified copies of certain corporate records of the Company, and certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering this opinion, including:


1.	the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the documents incorporated therein by reference;


2.	the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, effective June 29, 2016, as certified by an Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof;


3.	the Bylaws of the Company, as amended, effective June 29, 2016, as certified by an Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof;

the Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1996, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2018 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as Trustee (such Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”);


5.	a copy of the global note representing the Notes; and


6.	resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to a written consent dated January 18, 2018, and resolutions adopted by the Pricing Committee of the Company pursuant to a written consent dated February 7, 2018, each as certified by an Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof.

For purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed without verification (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such documents, (iii) the genuineness of all signatures not witnessed by us, (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons, and (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all parties and the validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof (other than the authorization, execution and delivery of documents by the Company and the validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof upon the Company).

We do not purport to express an opinion on any laws other than the laws of the State of New York and the Federal laws of the United States of America. We note that as to matters of Florida law, you have received an opinion, dated the date hereof, of Anthony G. Morrow, Esq., your Senior Vice President, Division General Counsel, which is also filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Based solely upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Notes have been duly authorized by the Company, and when executed and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

February 22, 2018

Page 3

Underwriters as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or general principles of equity, whether considered at law or in equity, concepts of materiality, unconscionability, reasonableness, impracticability or impossibility of performance and any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. We express no opinion regarding any provision of the Indenture that purports to avoid the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provisions of applicable law or any provision that permits holders to collect any portion of the stated principal amount upon the acceleration of the Notes to the extent determined to constitute unearned interest.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on or about the date hereof (the “Current Report”), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. We consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Current Report and to the reference to this firm under the heading “Validity of the Notes” therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to advise you of facts or circumstances that hereafter come to our attention, or of changes in law that hereafter occur, which could affect the views contained herein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Hunton & Williams LLP

13935/08091

EXHIBIT 5.2

[Letterhead of Darden Restaurants, Inc.]

February 22, 2018

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

1000 Darden Center Drive

Orlando, Florida 32837


Re:	Registration Statement on Form S-3 File No. 333-213992

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Senior Vice President, Division General Counsel - Securities and Finance of Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and in such capacity I am familiar with the above-captioned Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of an indeterminate amount of debt securities of the Company to be offered from time to time, and a Prospectus Supplement dated February 7, 2018 to the Prospectus dated February 7, 2018 (together, the “Prospectus”) relating to the offer and sale by the Company under the Registration Statement of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.550% Senior Notes due 2048 (the “Notes”). The Notes are to be issued under the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 20, 2018 (such Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”) between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”) and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated February 7, 2018 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between the Company and several underwriters named therein, for whom Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives.

I have examined such documents and reviewed such questions of law as I have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of my opinions set forth below. In rendering my opinions, I have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to me as copies. I have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. As to questions of fact material to my opinions, I have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.

I am certified as an Authorized House Counsel to provide legal services in the State of Florida on behalf of Darden Restaurants, Inc. and its subsidiaries only, and do not purport to be an expert on any other laws other than the laws of the United States and the State of Florida and this opinion is rendered only with respect to such laws.

Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:


1.	The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida.


2.	The Company has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes.

The Notes have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and, when duly executed by the Company in accordance with the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on January 18, 2018 and of the Pricing Committee of the Company adopted by written consent dated February 7, 2018 relating to the Notes, and the Indenture, authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered on behalf of the Company against

payment of the consideration therefor specified in the Underwriting Agreement, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

My opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of Florida and the federal laws of the United States of America.

I hereby consent to your filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the caption “Validity of Debt Securities” contained in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, I do not hereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Anthony G. Morrow

Authorized House Counsel,

Member of the State Bar of Michigan only